Today, Japanese singer-songwriter, composer, and record producer YOSHIKI donated $100,000 to the COVID-19 Relief Fund through YOSHIKI FOUNDATION AMERICA, a non-profit public interest company managed by the artist himself.

The COVID-19 Relief Fund was created by The Recording Academy® and MusiCares© to help support struggling music artists who are having to postpone and cancel tours in response to the pandemic outbreak. YOSHIKI is a board member of The Recording Academy®, which is known for presenting the Grammy Awards.

YOSHIKI said: “In a time when we are being told to conduct self-control and restraint, I’m still called out by people on whether it’s best to put shows on holdーfor the benefit of fans included. The financial damage of that is of course substantial. Many different industriesーnot just the entertainment industryーare on the verge of danger, as are people of varying positions [across society]. As someone in the world of music, I would hope there would be some way of offering help to those involved in the music industry around the world, Japan included, during this difficult time, and so I have donated to the COVID-19 Relief Fund. The danger of COVID-19 is a global problem, not just Japan. I pray from the bottom of my heart that this will all be over much quicker by everyone cooperating to conduct self-restraint and wait this out to lessen the spread of the virus, and that the entertainment industry can once again return to its thriving self.”

　
Steve Boom, Chairman of the Board at MusiCares, also expressed his deep gratitude to the donations which go towards relieving the burden of musicians and those involved in music. He said that everyone’s cooperation will ensure that the necessary funds and resources are there for people to continue their careers.

YOSHIKI continues to post information related to the coronavirus via his social media pages. On March 11, he interviewed Shinya Yamanaka, the director of the Center for iPS Cell Research and winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The interview can be seen below and has English subtitles.

Desserts brand Pastel is collaborating with popular Sanrio character Pompompurin to release a selection of puddings at Pastel stores around Japan for the whole month of April.

Pastel prides itself on the smooth texture of its purinーa type of Japanese custard pudding. The company will celebrate Pompompurin’s birthday, which falls on April 16, with a line of 4 adorable Pompompurin desserts.

Pompompurin’s Mini Pudding – ¥380 (Before Tax)

The classic style of Japanese custard pudding, smooth and topped with whipped cream. It’s finished with a cute sprinkled design of Pompompurin.

Soft and Fluffy Pompompurin – ¥450 (Before Tax)

Pompompurin is looking cute in this one as he pokes his head out of the caramel-drizzled and marshmallow-topped pudding.

Pompompurin’s À La Mode – ¥600 (Before Tax)

Served in an original design cup branded with Pompompurin’s adorable face, this à la mode includes a pudding topped with an orange slice and cherry.

Pompompurin’s Chiffon – ¥2,200 (Before Tax)

This fluffy chiffon cake is about 15 meters across in size, and is made with pudding cream, glazed in caramel sauce, and topped with a Pompompurin who’s just taking a little rest. *Available on weekends only

Shopper Bag Design (Available while supplies last)

When you order any of these desserts, you’ll receive an exclusive Pastel x Pompompurin collaborative bag which makes for a great gift or souvenir to friends.

Don’t miss out on these tasty Pompompurin treats.

Kaname Inn Tatemachi, a hotel in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, has announced a project named “Room for rescue” which will offer free accommodation to foreigners unable to travel back to their home countries from Japan due to lockdowns and restrictions from going outside as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

With flights cancelled around the world, there is no way for foreigners to return home from Japan, resulting in them being forced to change their plans and extend their stay. They are living their days in constant worry, both financially and mentally. To ensure that foreign travellers don’t feel like their trip to Japan was a bad experience, free accommodation is becoming available to those who meet certain prescribed conditions.

In response to the decreasing number of tourists, Kaname Inn Tatemachi opened its doors to Japanese citizens through Facebook for free accommodation to help support businesses like local restaurants that could no longer make a living. They received a lot of guests, as well as a request from a friend who asked if someone from the Netherlands could stay there because they couldn’t get back to their country. This sparked the “Room for rescue” project for stranded foreign tourists to stay at Kaname Inn Tatemachi for free too.

Kaname Inn Tatemachi is using its own funds to pay for the project and allow free stay. However, doing this long term will put strain on the business, so to help pay for hotel use and staff’s wages, the hotel has opened up a crowd funding page which you can find here.

“HARAJUKU AR BOX -table projection mapping cafe-,” a cafe in Harajuku whose name speaks for itself, has announced its second collaboration with Rilakkuma to bring the new Rilakkuma Fruits Cafe which will open for a limited time from April 3, 2020 to June 28, 2020.

The cafe’s first collaboration with Rilakkuma was in December last year. It was called “Korilakkuma Cafe: another me in the mirror” and earned itself many fans for its cute food and decor, but especially for its interactive tables which used projection mapping technology to have Rilakkuma and friends running around people’s tables.

Harajuku’s Korilakkuma Cafe: another me in the mirror | Food Review: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/284456

Fruit is the theme of the new Rilakkuma Fruits Cafe, which follows that Chairoikoguma and the other characters have gathered lots of nutritious fruit to fill up the belly of hungry Rilakkuma.

Food

Rilakkuma’s Fruit Salad – ¥1,590

Get your fill of refreshing fruit from this fruit salad plate which has Rilakkuma poking his cute face out from behind it all. When you order this dish, you’ll need to touch the fruits that appear on the table to give them to Rilakkuma.

Korilakkuma’s Apple Cheese Gratin – ¥1,690

A combination of hot apple and melted cheese, you’ll find yourself addicted to the sweet and sour mix of flavours. Pick lots of apples with Rilakkuma and company with the projection mapping game. (*Serving April 3, 2020 – May 17, 2020 only)

Chairoikoguma’s Orange Burger – ¥1,690

The bun of this hearty burger is branded with Chairokoguma’s cute bear face. But what happens when you squeeze Rilakkuma’s orange? (*Serving May 20, 2020 – June 28, 2020 only)

Desserts

Rilakkuma’s Maku Maku Fruit Tree Parfait – ¥1,590

Korilakkuma’s Maku Maku Strawberry Tree Parfait – ¥1,590 (Serving April 3, 2020 – May 17, 2020 only)

Kiiroitori’s Maku Maku Peach Tree Parfait – ¥1,590 (Serving May 20, 2020 – June 28, 2020 only)

For dessert, you have a selection of fruit-topped parfaits to choose from featuring Rilakkuma, Korilakkuma, and Kiiroitori.

Drinks

Rilakkuma & Friends Maku Maku Drinks – ¥790 / With Glass – ¥1,990

Warm & Fluffy With Everyone Cafe Latte – ¥890

Pick between one of the cold beverages, or if it’s a cold day, warm up with a hot drink. Feel warm and fluffy like Rilakkuma and his friends with a warm beverage after your parfait.

Exclusive Merchandise & Bonus Items

Pin Badges (9 Designs/Chosen Randomly) – ¥400

Acrylic Key Rings (8 Designs/Chosen Randomly) – ¥500

Get your hands on a selection of original merchandise too, including pin badges, acrylic key rings, and more.

Stickers (4 Designs/Chosen Randomly)

Coasters (4 Designs/Chosen Randomly)

Book a table online in advance and receive one of four possible stickers. Order a drink at the cafe and get one of the four coasters!

You’re sure to get your five-a-day when you dine at the Rilakkuma Fruits Cafe, opening for spring on April 3, 2020 in Harajuku.

©2020San-X Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

will.i.am posted a video on his official YouTube channel for a song entitled #SING4LIFE which features himself, U2’s Bono, and Jennifer Hudson on vocals and YOSHIKI on piano.

Bono wrote the song after being inspired by the people of Italy who, despite being isolated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, were singing from their rooftops and balconies.

As soon as Bono wrote the song he uploaded his solo version to his Instagram page. He subsequently collaborated with will.i.am who got his longtime friend YOSHIKI on board, and Jennifer Hudson joined thereafter.

YOSHIKI answered the call to arms and wrote the score immediately, recording the piano just two hours later.

will.i.am described the song’s intention on Instagram: “When you see empty streets…The empty streets shouldn’t make you feel depressed or afraid…When you see empty streets during these times, try to feel love…The empty streets is a sign that humanity is doing the right thing.”

He continues: “There are a lot of people feeling anxiety and worry and stress…So we #SING4LIFE to lift up their spirits ..We #SING4LIFE to bring them some type of JOY during these times.”

 

この投稿をInstagramで見る

 

When you see empty streets…The empty streets shouldn’t make you feel depressed or afraid…When you see empty streets during these times, try to feel love…The empty streets is a sign that humanity is doing the right thing…We are like a school of fish or a flock of birds moving in the right direction together…and that direction is to stop the virus from spreading…So we #STAYHOME…And because the world has taken a Pause and things being cancelled, there are a lot of people that are out of work…There are a lot of people feeling anxiety and worry and stress…So we #SING4LIFE to lift up their spirits ..We #SING4LIFE to bring them some type of JOY during these times…thank you #BONO @U2 for kicking this off and writing a beautiful song…thank you @iamjhud and @yoshikiofficial for lending your talents and massive hearts… and thank you @weareparisi and @johnnygoldstein for helping produce this from your Phones and laptops from around the world…this entire song was produced from laptops while in isolation…the video was made from our Phones…thank you to all the Doctors and Nurses…thank you to all the people working at the supermarkets and pharmacy’s during this time…#SING4LIFE…

i.am/will(@iamwill)がシェアした投稿 – 2020年 3月月24日午後12時56分PDT

He also thanked his collaborators: “thank you #BONO @U2 for kicking this off and writing a beautiful song…thank you @iamjhud and @yoshikiofficial for lending your talents and massive hearts.”

 

この投稿をInstagramで見る

 

”I know you are trying hard to restrain yourself to fight against this virus. I believe that your effort… everyone’s effort, will affect the entire human race. We will overcome, we can do this together. I’m praying for your health and safety.” 皆さんも大変な思いをして、このウィルスの終息に向け、自粛をされていると思います。”一人一人の努力が人類全体を救う”と思います。一緒に頑張ろう。みんなの健康と安全を祈っています。 REPOST: @iamwill @U2 @iamjhud @yoshikiofficial #bono #u2 #iamwill #blackeyedpeas #jenniferhudson #yoshiki #xjapan #StayHome #SpreadLOVE #新型コロナウイルス #coronavirus #COVID19 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz-DoaHi3zo

Yoshiki(@yoshikiofficial)がシェアした投稿 – 2020年 3月月24日午後9時21分PDT

YOSHIKI added his own comment on Instagram: “I know you are trying hard to restrain yourself to fight against this virus. I believe that your effort… everyone’s effort, will affect the entire human race. We will overcome, we can do this together. I’m praying for your health and safety.”

YOSHIKI decided to stay in Los Angeles instead of returning home to Japan due to the coronavirus outbreak. He has continued to offer his support through his social media pages to fans around the world.

Meiji Kinenkan, located in Minato, Tokyo, was officially designated as a Tangible Cultural Property this month.

Meiji Kinenkan was built in 1881 as a dining and reception hall used for receiving important guests from abroad to the Akasaka Temporary Palace. In October 1881, a dinner was held at the site with Prince Albert Victor and Prince George who visited Japan that autumn. Five years later, in 1886, Empress Shōken received foreign guests in Western clothing for the first time. In 1888, a meeting attended by Emperor Meiji was held to discuss the draft of the Constitution, which is represented in artwork you can see on the walls of Meiji Kinenkan. During the construction of Meiji Jingu Gaien in 1918, Meiji Kinenkan was dedicated to Meiji Jingu from the Ito family and relocated to where it stands today. Before the war, the building was known as the “Constitution Memorial Hall” and was used for events related to the Imperial Family. It was renamed “Meiji Kinenkan” in 1947 and became a wedding hall of Meiji Jingu.

Dining hall used as the stage for Emperor Meiji’s Imperial Court diplomacy

Golden roosters flutter on the walls around the black-lacquered mantle piece mirror

This building was used for court diplomacy under Emperor Meiji. Located on the grounds of Meiji Kinenkan, its interior exemplifies the idea of “Modern Meiji.” It has survived two relocations, the Great Kantō earthquake of 1923, and the Second World War. The lavish decor is a harmonious fusion of the traditional and the modern, with the overhead chandeliers, golden roosters, and mantle piece with its black lacquering and towering mirror.

Overlooking the garden, offering not only a modern cafe experience but banquets too

The Meiji Kinenkan Main Building was designated as an Tangible Cultural Property for its 100+ years of history, honouring its historical background, cultural role, and value as a building. Today, it is used for many different things, from a wedding reception to a venue for company parties.

On weekdays, it is mainly used for its “kinkei” lounge, a spacious area that faces a gorgeous green garden planted with a variety of flowers that bloom through the seasons. Its interior decor also has history, such as its ceiling which is a reflection of the Meiji Period. They even serve cake from Meiji Kinenkan’s original sweets brand “Kaminomi no Mori” and coffee.

Sanrio’s popular character Pompompurin is celebrating his 24th anniversary at three branches of the Pompompurin Cafe in Harajuku, Yokohama, and Umeda with a special birthday menu that will be served for the whole month of April.

A special celebratory menu for the floppy-eared golden retriever

The official date for Pompompurin’s birthday is April 16. The birthday menu line-up includes two food items, a drink made in collaboration with popular Japanese picture book author Yukako Ohde, and some novelty gifts.

Birthday Menu

Happy Birthday Flower Bouquet Bisque – ¥1,590 (Before Tax)

This cute bisque soup has Pompompurin and Muffin holding a colourful boquet made from broccoli and mashed potatoes made to look like roses. It has a rich but mild flavour, and is both adorable and filling.

Happy Birthday Strawberry Mousse – ¥790 (Before Tax)

The strawberry mousse has a fluffy texture and refreshing, sweet taste. It can be eaten as it is or drizzled with the accompanying raspberry sauce.

Yukako Ohde x Pompompurin Lemonade – ¥550 (Before Tax)

Take a sip from this delicious lemonade from a straw adorned with a cute, warm illustration of Pompompurin by Yukako Ohde.

Exclusive Anniversary Novelty Gifts

Lunch Mat Design

Customers who dine at any of the three cafes during the anniversary celebration will receive a free lunch mat.

Coaster Designs

And those who order the lemonade will receive a coaster with designs illustrated by Yukako Ohde. The designs are different at each branch of the Pompompurin Cafe. You can also receive another special coaster if you spend over ¥1,000 each (tax included) at Pompompurin Cafe Umeda and KIDDY LAND Osaka Umeda. Simply show your receipts at the cafe.

©1996,2020 SANRIO CO., LTD. APPROVAL NO.S605291

Bread, Espresso & is a cafe chain with 17 branches in Japan, including Omotesando. The company is set to open an entirely new cafeーspecialising in Bread, Espresso &’s popular mū breadーcalled mūya on April 17, 2020 in Asakusa Mizumachi.

Bread, Espresso &: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/254815

Mizumachi is a new shopping centre also opening on April 17, 2020. It’s near Solamachi in Tokyo Skytree Town, and sits betwixt Kaminarimon and Tokyo Skytree.

mū

Mū is an original bread recipe baked up by Bread, Espresso & that’s made with lots of butter, giving it a rich taste. The word means “soft” in French. When you break a piece off the fluffy loaf, that rich buttery smell fills your nose.

inside the cafe

The mū loaf is a cube shape, and the interior of the shop has cube designs all over it.

Customers sit at tables with chairs that stack up like cubes – a unique and original design.

French toast

Mū is the main dish at mūya, which can be served as it is, as a sandwich, as French toast, or even in a parfait.

When you’re passing through Asakusa, be sure to pop into mūya to try the famous mū bread of Bread, Espresso &.

If you’re looking to indulge yourself during your trip to Japan, and happen to be staying in Osaka, then Hotel New Otani Osaka’s pastry shop Patisserie SATSUKI has you covered with their new “Spring Truffle Toast” which is made with Bianchetto truffles. Only 5 servings are served per dayーand 10 on weekends and public holidays.

The arrival of Japan’s unprecedented bread boom

In recent years, Japan as a country has seen a boom in the baking and serving of bread. NOGAMI, a bread shop in Osaka, is credited with lighting the fire of the “shokupan” boom, a type of fluffy bread in Japan. This has resulted in many more shops opening selling shokupan. In spring 2017, Hotel New Otani Osaka decided it wanted the people of Kansai to buzz about high quality shokupan too, so it developed its French-inspired “Spring Truffle Toast.” Since releasing, the bread has continued to sell out, and if you don’t place an order for one you won’t be able to get your hands on it. Their tasty truffle toast has returned again this year.

Premium toast with loaded truffle

Spring Truffle Toast With Bianchetto Truffles – ¥1,500 Per Loaf (Before Tax)

The ambrosial Spring Truffle Toast lacks nothing when it comes to taste, texture, and smell. The ingredients used to make ordinary bread like eggs, milk, and butter aren’t used for the shop’s Spring Truffle Toast. Instead, strong flour, yeast, water, and finely chopped spring truffles are used. To bring out even more flavour, truffle butter, pure olive oil, and shortening is used.

The same goes for the crustーeggs and milk aren’t used like in ordinary bread. And to prevent the bread from drying out, more time and labour is put into kneading the dough. A lava pot is used to bake the dough. By using far infrared to heat it, it makes the finished bread nice and chewy.

The shop’s head chef wanted to ensure that the bread’s fragrant smell is preserved when you take the lid off, and so the entire loaf is lathered in truffle oil, which also gives it a moist taste.

The bread can be toasted and enjoyed on its own, and you’re guaranteed great flavour and smell, but you can take it to the next level by topping it with a fried egg or scrambled egg to create an extraordinary and filling meal.

These truffles can only be harvested in spring

Truffles are a delicacy in kitchens around the world. The types used for the Spring Truffle Toast are Bianchetto. They are a very popular traditional truffle of Italy and can only be harvested from mid-March to April. As a result, they are extremely rare in Japan, making the toast that much more special.

FLOWERS BY NAKED is an annual flower-themed digital art event held by NAKED Inc. As part of this year’s event, FLOWERS BY NAKED 2020 – Sakura –, a special addendum event entitled “Nijo Castle Sakura Matsuri” will take place during the evenings at the World Heritage Site Nijo Castle From March 20 to April 12 this year.

FLOWERS BY NAKED is an interactive digital art experience. It has been held at Nijo Castle during the autumns of 2018 and 2019, but this will be the event’s first time being held in Kyoto during the spring season. 2020’s theme is cherry blossoms, and this will be showcased in a number of wonderful ways.

Prologue | NAKED BIG BOOK

“NAKED BIG BOOK, a monument of the beginning of this exhibition, will show collaboration works by an artist Ryotaro Muramatsu and a photographer LESLIE KEE. LESLIE KEE contained energy into photographs as the quiet expression, and Ryotaro Muramatsu reinterprets his works to dynamic photography art.​”

Arrival of Spring | Kara-mon Gate (Important Cultural Property)

“Projection mapping expresses the coming of Spring on Karamon-Gate as an important cultural property.”

Flowers Wall ~ SAKURA ~ | Inner Moat

“Projection mapping of impressive sakura on the moats in Nijo-jo Castle. The landscape will transition following sakura.”

Sakura Droplets | Seiryu-en Garden

“A mystical space surrounded by real sakura where bubbles confined spring fragrance float as the sakura droplet.​ ​”

The event is working on countermeasures against the coronavirus, such as installing disinfectants and having staff wear masks. It requests that visitors take normal measures against the infection such as cough etiquette and washing your hands. Click here for more information.

TOKYO BANANA WORLD released a new vegan-friendly almond caramel flavour of its popular Tokyo Banana sponge cakeーthe official souvenir sweet of Tokyoーat the TOKYO BANANA store on the JR side of Tokyo Station on March 15, 2020.

This is TOKYO BANANA’s first vegan-friendly sweet. It’s made from 100% plant-based ingredients while keeping 100% of the product’s delicious flavour. That includes almond milk, which is promoted for its health and beauty benefits, and delicious caramel.

TOKYO BANANA Almond Caramel Sandwiches – Box of 4: ¥680 (Tax Included) / Box of 8: ¥1,200 (Tax Included)

Other ingredients include beat sugar, which is made from beetroot, a subtle banana flavour, and crunchy roasted almonds, all wrapped together in a bite-size sponge cake.

The product is both vegan and vegetarian friendly, containing no eggs or dairy products.

This tasty snack is available only at TOKYO BANANA in Tokyo Station, so be sure to pop buy and pick some up if you’re travelling through there.

It’s been one year since AKOMEYA TOKYO in la kagū opened in Tokyo in March 2019, and to celebrate, the shopping centre is releasing lots of new products for guests to enjoy starting on April 8, 2020.

AKOMEYA TOKYO in la kagū, the flagship store of AKOMEYA TOKYO, is celebrating its 1st anniversary with a new bigger and better product line-up. At the end of 2019, the new AKOMEYA Shokudo restaurant opened, and AKOMEYA TOKYO in la kagū began selling fresh vegetables and introduced AKOMEYA TOKYO’s first line of Western-style clothing.

Floor 1F

AKOMEYA TOKYO in la kagū has upped its variation of food products, including a rice, vegetables, nuts, condiments, and more.

AKOMEYA Shokudo Kagurazaka to Open On April 1st

Seasonal Kobachizen – ¥2,200 (Before Tax)

Sweet and Sour Chicken & Vegetable Gozen – ¥1,500 (Before Tax)

The “Seasonal Kobachizen” is served with fresh white rice and a wide range of deliciously-made ingredients and condiments. There is also a line-up of classic Japanese food too available casually as self-service.

Desserts – From ¥700 (Before Tax)

Enjoy teatime too with AKOMEYA Shokudo Kagurazaka’s dessert line-up. It will be a great place to pop into if you’re strolling around Kagurazaka or doing some shopping.

*AKOMEYA Chubo will be open until March 29. It will close on March 30 and 31 for refurbishment before reopening on April 1 as AKOMEYA Shokudo.

More Details: https://www.akomeya.jp/shop/pg/1lakagukouji

Fragrant Smoked Food Products

Over 20 new smoked food products will be introduced made using special cooking methods. The cashew nuts, pistachios, spices, and coffee beans are smoked without any heat going into them before being smoked again inside a drum-shaped mixer to ensure every grain is coated. The soy sauces, oils, and dressings also have very tiny smoke bubbles in the liquid. Everything in the line-up is rich in smoky flavour

The Hive and Barrow’s Vegetables

The Hive and Barrow is a husband and wife company which moved from the United Kingdom to Chiba Prefecture in 2010. With no agricultural experience, they were able to clear land at a mountain and begin producing a wide variety of organic vegetables outdoors in nature. The eye-catching colours of their produce, as well as its rich smell, is proof of their love and dedication to grow incredible vegetables. They sell fresh veg everyday, as well as exquisite hummous, soup bases, pickles and more, all using their fresh produce.

Floor 2F

The second floor houses Japanese lifestyle products, with a fun line-up that encourages the enjoyment of picking something out.

Western-Style Clothing to Dress Up Your Day

The clothing line-up offered on the second floor of AKOMEYA TOKYO in la kagū is not tied down by trends. It’s a collection for when you want to look chic and polished offered by made-in-Japan brands that are dedicated when it comes to quality. The items are inspired to make you feel happy when you put them onーso find your favourite style.

Stocked Brands:
Alwel / ANSPINNEN / Catworth / dahl’ia / fruits of life / JOHN SMEDLEY / les Briqu’a braque / MANTERO / MATRIOCHIKA / NAPRON / R&D.M.Co- / Yarmo

Japanese Accessories

Enjoy a collection of brand accessories that boast tradition and craftsmanship from all across Japan. Each and every item is handmade with love and care by artisans, and without stereotypical designs in mind, so you can adorn yourself with originality.

Stocked Brands:

HARIO Lampwork Factory / NAGAE＋ / TRIPLE O

As part of the anniversary celebration, those who spend over ¥3,000 (tax included) at AKOMEYA TOKYO in la kagū from April 8 will receive a limited-edition tea towel. These are limited in stock and won’t be available once all are given out.