Last year, the Pola Museum Annex in Tokyo hosted a charity auction to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic breaking out across the globe. As the world continues to feel the effects of the virus, the charity event is returning for a second year, and is set to be held from November 12 until December 5, 2021. The title for this year’s art exhibition is ‘Find Your Travel.’     

Lemon Tree - Yuka Kashihara. Acrylic and oil on canvas.  2020. 

 

POLA Dot or snowball ~Based on Tosa Mitsuyoshi’s Colored Painting of Yugiri from The Tale of Genji~ - Tetsuya Noguchi. Acrylic. 2020. 

our whereabouts - Moe Nakamura. Camphor, bronze, oil. 2021. 

Philanthropy - Yuko Higuchi. Hemp paper, pen, watercolor. 2020. 

Baby Heel-less Shoes - Noritaka Tatehama. Cowhide, pigskin, dye, metal zipper, coated crystal glass. 2020. 

  Last year’s charity auction raised over ¥9,145,000 (about $83,000) for the Japanese Red Cross. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues around the globe, and as Japan remains locked down, this year’s event hopes to raise even more useful funds to help medical professionals on the front lines.  20 artists are participating in the exhibition, with each creating one work based on the theme of ‘travel.’ In addition to simply viewing these pieces at the exhibition, a silent auction will also be held online. With travel being severely restricted, these works of art seek to inspire and encourage visitors to imagine a better future, when the world is open once again. All proceeds will once again be donated to the Japanese Red Cross.   

Tokyo Disneyland® is set to open its all-new Beauty and the Beast area of the park tomorrow on September 28, 2020. It's opening in line with the new Big Hero 6 attraction, Minnie Mouse area where guests can meet Minnie, and the park's new popcorn shop.   MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON was granted early access to the news areas, so here's our review!   Check out our review of the new Beauty and the Beast area too here: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/362152  

The Happy Ride with Baymax: The world's first Big Hero 6 attraction

The Happy Ride with Baymax ride has guests joining one of the personal healthcare companion robots on an exciting cart ride. The park is limiting the number of people allowed on the attraction at once due to the pandemic. To board the attraction, guests need to download the app after entering the park.  

Big Pop: Tokyo Disneyland's first popcorn shop

Tokyo Disneyland's first permanent popcorn shop opens in Tomorrowland. This space-themed shop serves up a whole range of flavours like cookie cream, caramel and cheese, and strawberry milk. There's also four different popcorn baskets to choose form, including Big Hero 6 and Beauty and the Beast designs.  

Minnie's Style Studio: Meet Minnie Mouse

This studio imagines Minnie Mouse as an international fashion designer who designs outfits, shoots photos, and more. Guests can meet Minnie Mouse at her studio if they book in advance.   ©Disney

Tokyo Disneyland® is set to open its all-new Beauty and the Beast area of the park tomorrow on September 28, 2020. It's opening in line with the new Big Hero 6 attraction, Minnie Mouse area where guests can meet Minnie, and the park's new popcorn shop.   MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON was granted early access to the Beauty and the Beast area - here's our review!   Check out our review of the new Big Hero 6 attraction and Minnie's Style Studio too here: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/362221  

The world of Beauty and the Beast brought to life

The area connects Belle's village to Beast's castle by way of the forest. At the entrance to the village, guests will immediately spot the cottage of Maurine, Belle's father and the vilage inventor. Beyond that is Gaston's water fountain as well as a restaurant inspired by Gaston's bar. There are also other shops that Belle visits in the film, such as the bookshop. It's like stepping into the magical world itself. When you leave the village and head through the forest, you are met by the spectacle that is Beast's castle, coloured in a cute pink. There's a large-scale attraction inside called "Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast."  

The Tokyo Disneyland-original attraction "Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast"

The attraction, located inside the towering 30m-tall castle, features magical cups that guests board. The cups dance in rhythm to music from the film as they take guests through iconic moments seen in the Disney classic. There are many surprises and discoveries to be found inside the castle. The park is limiting the number of people allowed on the attraction at once due to the pandemic. To board the attraction, guests need to download the app after entering the park.  

Village shops based on the movie

The Village Shops area features a line of shops inspired by those seen in Belle's town, each of which sells various items from clothing to accessories and souvenirs. There are around 100 pieces of merchandise for fans to sift through. The shops are also carrying out measures against COVID-19, showcasing the items in a display only so they cannot be touched when entering the store. Guests must use the sign-up system on the app beforehand if they want to enter the shop.  

La Taverne de Gaston

All the little details have been captured to recreate Gaston's bar, making it like a snippet right out of the film.

Big Bite Croissant

 

Very Cheers

Sweet Gaston

The menu features a line-up dishes, drinks, and desserts, like sausage croissants with, French toasted cheese sandwiches, soft drinks made to look like beer, and more. The bar also requires booking on the app prior to visiting.

Le Fou's Churros (Apple Caramel)

Le Fou's is located next to La Taverne de Gaston where you can get your fingers on snacks like apple caramel churros. And don't miss up on visiting the new popcorn wagon either which serves popcorn in a Beauty and the Beast bucket.   The new Beauty and the Beast area is a must-visit for any fan of the film, or for people who want to feel like a Disney princess.   ©Disney

In an effort to ensure the safety and protect the health of guests and staff, Universal Studios Japan (USJ) introduced strict measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on June 8, 2020, such as limiting the number of people who could enter the park each day and enforcing thorough cleaning routines. This enabled the park to reopen after its temporary closure. It has since been able to deliver its scope of fun and excitement to guests, albeit in a more structured way. USJ wants to make wearing masks more fun too, and so it is releasing a range of character-inspired face masks, such as Snoopy, Elmo and the Cookie Monster, on August 7. Part of the money made from sales of these masks will be donated to the USJ Wonder Kids Program which helps support children in need.

Universal Studios Japan original design masks

The masks' unique designs take the mouths of each character. These can be worn together with each respective characters' headband which are also sold at USJ. Designs include Elmo, Cookie Monster, Snoopy, Tim, Jurassic Park, and Jaws.   Photos provided by Universal Studios Japan.HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR. (s20)Minions and all related elements and indicia TM & © 2020 Universal Studios. All rights reserved.TM & © 2020 Universal Studios.© 2020 Peanuts© '76, '20 SANRIO© 2020 Sesame WorkshopTM & © Universal Studios & Amblin EntertainmentTM & © Universal Studios.TM Universal Studios.

Over 50 manga artists in Japan are coming together for the launch of the new “MANGA Day to Day” project which will depict daily life during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The project is set to roll out for free in mid-June on Twitter and Comic Days. A teaser by famous manga artist Tetsuya Chiba (Ashita no Joe; Notari Matsutarō) was released on May 22, 2020.   A related project entitled “Day to Day” is also taking place over on the Japanese literature news website TREE where over 50 popular authors have penned writings and essays on the restrictions of today’s everyday life. In addition to Japan, both projects have caught the attention of overseas news media and websites too. Like the related “Day to Day” project, “MANGA Day to Day” will have one new manga strip released for free each day on Twitter and Comic Days. A piece entitled Akudama by Tetsuya Chiba is already available to see over on the project’s official Twitter account.   People’s lives have changed drastically as a result of the pandemic. To pass down this time in history to the next 100, or even 200 years, the pieces contributed to the “MANGA Day to Day” project will be compiled into a book that’s scheduled for release in early 2021. A special edition of the book will also be compiled featuring both the manga and writing pieces.   Be sure to follow the Twitter account below to keep up to date.

A BATHING APE® released its new face mask case on Saturday (May 23) for people to hygienically put away their face masks, whether to store away or for on the go. The cases will be given to everyone that purchases something from the BAPE STORE® or BAPE.COM in Japan. The case features BAPE's iconic APE HEAD design. It's made from PVC and so can be hand washed so people can safely and hygienically store their face masks. The case can of course be used to store hand sanitiser or hand wipes too.