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.

Japanese jeans select shop Right-on is now taking pre-orders for their new “Denim Masks” which are made using “wash denim.”

Denim Mask – ¥1,290 (Before Tax)

“Washi Denim” is a material used in Right-on’s private brand “BACK NUMBER” which has sold over 450,00 products. The inside of the mask is antibacterial and odor-resistant, protecting the masks from yellowing as a result of staphylococcus. The fabric is also cool touch and so can be used for the hot weather too. And of course the mask can be washed.

The straps on the side have an adjuster so you can fit it to you face.

The top of the nose part is cut to make the mask fit better so it can be worn comfortable for long periods of time.

Like many institutions around the world now, Mori Art Museum is temporarily closed as a result of COVID-19. But that hasn’t stopped the museum spreading creativity as it recently launched a new page on its website titled “Mori Art Museum Digital.”

The page comes as part of a new agenda by Mori Art Museum which it is calling “MAM @ HOME” which encourages people to “Stay Home, Stay Creative.” The project aims for the museum to stay connected with people even while the building itself is closed by offering a host of free art-related content.

This includes the “Future and the Arts 3D Walkthrough” which had to end in response to the museum’s closure, an online sneak preview of the postponed “MAM Screen 013: Mounira Al Solh,” the “ARTISTS COOKBOOK” which features recipes, photos and stories from artists around the world, and more.

Program #1: Online Sneak Preview of MAM Screen 013: Mounira Al Solh

Mounira Al Solh – Rawane’s Song (2006)

Mounira Al Solh – As If I Don’t Fit There (2006)

Since “MAM Screen 013: Mounira Al Aolh” has been postponed as a measure against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Mori Art Museum is introducing two works online prior to the official screening: Rawane’s Song (2006) and As If I Don’t Fit There (2006).

Mounira Al Solh works internationally and is based in her home country Lebonan and in Europe. Her work offers humorous takes on everyday events and stories, as well as episodes based on the lives of women from a contemporary society where political and religious conflicts as well as issues surrounding refugees occurs.

Program #2: Future and the Arts 3D Walkthrough

Due to the museum’s closure, “Future and the Arts: AI, Robotics, Cities, Life – How Humanity Will Live Tomorrow” was forced to end earlier than scheduled. Since then, the museum has been able to share walkthroughs of the exhibition via Instagram Live, as well as photos. Now people can enjoy the exhibition in a more immersive way as the museum introduces a virtual, 3D walkthrough, which they were able to capture thanks to the galleries being empty. It’s a complete recreation of the exhibition for people to enjoy at home.

Special #1: ARTISTS COOKBOOK by MAM

As a special project during Mori Art Museum’s closure, the museum has introduced “ARTISTS COOKCOOK by MAM,” a collection of recipes, stories, and photographs that artists from around the world have shared with them. The first recipe showcased is the “Kusama Lotus” by Kataoka Mami, the Director of Mori Art Museum. She describes lotus roots as reminiscent of polka dots and white nets, and that it’s a dish we could keep eating forever. She calls it a “dish for infinity.”

More recipes can be found on the museum’s official social media pages, so be sure to check them out.

Learning Online: Enjoy, Play, Learn Art @ HOME

Mori Art Museum hosts various programs and events where people can deepen their knowledge about contemporary art from around the world. The museum has posted an archived list of videos from some of their programs which people can tune in to from the comfort of their homes.

Neco Republic launched online pre-orders of its new face masks, called “SAVE THE CAT MASK,” via its website on May 6, 2020. Neco Republic is a company who pours efforts into helping save cats in Japan; they manage various businesses including the cat cafe Neco Republic which takes in rescue cats, NECOREPA/ which sells a variety of products and items with all proceeds going towards their efforts to taking in stray cats, Neco Ichi Neco Za which is a rescue cat event held in Japan, and more.

The “SAVE THE CAT MASK” series was launched for cat lovers and as a way to help cats in the process. The previous batch of these masks sold out in just two days.

High quality materials and skilful sewing, all made in Japan

SAVE THE CAT MASK – ¥1,980 for one / ¥9,900 for five

The masks are made from high quality natural cotton with all manufacturing carried out in Japan. They are sewed using a Japanese sewing method known as ayaori which ensures elasticity and makes it harder for the masks to wrinkle. The masks can also be washed repeatedly. Maintaining hygiene is of utmost important when it comes to face masks, and so these face masks are made so you can hand wash them lightly with detergent as well as put them in a net before putting them in the washing machine.

The masks are all sewn in Gifu Prefecture which is where Neco Republic is based.

Cute designs inspired by cats

There are five design variations of the masks each inspired by a different cat breed including calico, Russian Blue, tuxedo, white, and black. They are also shaped subtly like a cat which most likely won’t be noticed by other people meaning you can express you love of cats secretly.

Save cats during the process

The masks aren’t only for us humansーthey benefit our cats too. All proceeds from the masks will go towards Neco Republic’s rescue cat cafe as well as be used for the company’s efforts for helping rescue cats.

UNICEF Japan launched a spin-off story of the manga series Left-Handed Ellen on May 1 to help support children from the novel coronavirus. The web series gives tips on how to raise kids.

What is Left-Handed Ellen?

Left-Handed Ellen is a web manga series written by Kappy and illustrated by nifumi. Kappy became popular for his Facebook Police web manga. Left-Handed Ellen was the first full-length manga series to win the Special Prize at the Cakes Creator Content which was organised by Note. The series was made into a televised drama in October 2019.

The new spin-off made in collaboration with UNICEF Japan takes inspiration from UNICEF’s “6 Hints On Raising Kids” which was released on April 10 this year. It was made with parents in mind who are having to stay at home more with their children now due to COVID-19 and gives tips on teaching them about the virus, spending one-on-one time with them, how to stay positive each day, and so on.

Schools in 190 countries and regions are currently closed as a result of the pandemic, with around 60% of the world’s children at home from the lockdown. The sudden change to everyday life where we’re having to stay at home over long periods of time is sure to cause household stress levels to rise. There is also fear of an increase in fights and abuse at home. Kappy, who himself is raising a child at home, made the following comment with regards to this new manga collaboration.

Kappy | Comment

“I have a daughter who is 1-and-a-half years old. Me and my wife are working together to bring her up. But we’re also swamped with work, so when I’m not in tiptop shape there are times I feel like I can’t raise her to the best of my ability. UNICEF release their own message about this, but I think the most important thing in all of this is to lay down a daily routine so you can live a more peaceful life. And it doesn’t have to be something special. It might be something ordinary that you can do which will benefit someone else. Myself, for example, all I can do right now is draw manga. So if me drawing manga as I usually do helps somebody else in some way, I don’t think there’s a more economical way of doing so. If parents can bring back a sense of normality I believe the kids will be able to relax too. When I hear things about fighting at home and domestic violence my mind automatically wants to think that that has no relation to us. But in these times when we can’t even do the things that are the most natural to us, spending time with family is important, and so I hope [this manga] helps people remember that.”

©左ききのエレン

Here at MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON, we post news and information about Japan in six languages. Our aim is to deliver a variety of content related to Japan for those who love and enjoy Japanese culture.

Right now, people across the globe are in self-isolation as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The same goes for Japan too, so we’ve taken this opportunity to create a new series on the website to show how we’re spending time at home here in Japan. The future is yet uncertain, and we hope for normality to return for all of us soon. We created a new articles series called Stay Home with which we hope to take your mind off the situation, even for just a little bit, to help you feel calmer. It might give you some tips on what you can do while spending time at home.

In this edition of Stay Home, we’re taking a look at six more cute, easy-to-make toast recipes that were featured with the trending Japanese hashtag #おうちカフェ (“Cafe at Home”). Try making them yourself at home for breakfast, lunch, or as a snack.

Related Article: Stay Home: 6 Toast Arrangements to Bring the Cafe Experience to Your Home During the Lockdown

1: Orange Toast | @candyrose914

Candy Rose’s recipe shows us how to make orange toast. Orange and chocolate is a tried and tested combination. The fresh cream adds a dessert-like quality to the toast.

Ingredients
・Bread 　・Navel Orange & Chocolate Jam 　・Orange Jam　・Fresh cream　・Orange

Method
1: Simmer the orange in white wine and granulated sugar.
2: Toast bread and smear with the jam.
3: Add a dollop of fresh cream on top.
4: Top with sliced orange and tuck in!

2: Mini Strawberry & Red Bean Paste Butter Toast | @__yk._

yk.’s toast recipe is a combination of Japanese and western flavours with red bean paste and buttered brioche which looks cute when it’s cut thick and small like in the picture♡

Ingredients
・Brioche toast　・Strawberries　・Red bean paste　・Butter　・Fresh cream

Method
1: Toast the bread and add the red bean paste.
2: Top with a strawberry and fresh cream.
3: Finish with a knob of butter and enjoy!

3: Apple Toast | @ruko_0519

KAORUKO’s toast recipe is a great dessert idea too. It’s a super simple recipe made with microwaved apple compote.

Ingredients
・Bread　・Apple　・Lemon juice　・Sugar　・Fruit granola

Method
1: Slice apple with the skin on.
2: Add 1 tbsp of lemon juice and 30g sugar to the apple and microwave for 3 minutes.
3: Slice a thin slice of bread and toast. Add the apple compote to the toast and finish with a sprinkle of fruity granola.

4: Marshmallow Toast | @woo.rrei

Rei has added marshmallows to their toast to create a fluffy, dessert-like, and cafe-worthy recipe.

Ingredients
・Bread　・Marshmallows　・Chocolate Sauce

Method
1: Slice a thin piece of bread and toast. Top with marshmallows.
2: Toast once again under a grill until the marshmallows take on colour.
3: Drizzle with chocolate syrup and you’re done!

5: Open Avocado Sandwich | @keijunrin

Keiko’s recipe makes a fresh open-style sandwich with lots of avocado. The egg yolk adds a melt-in-the-mouth texture. The texture of the whole thing is nice and smooth.

Ingredients
・Bread　・Avocado　・Pink pepper　・Egg yolk　・Mayonnaise

Method
1: Add the avocado to a slice of bread and grind on some rose pepper.
2: Drop on an egg yolk and lightly toast under a grill.
3: Drizzle with mayonnaise and enjoy!

6: Bread Gratin | @izumxx_37

izumi’s recipe is a combination of bread and “naporitan” which is a Japanese pasta dish. It’s a hearty serving that makes for a great lunch.

Ingredients
・Bread　・Naporitan pasta　・White Sauce　・Cheese

Method
1: Make naporitan and white sauce in advance. Cut the naporitan into small pieces.
2: Slice 1 thin and 1 thick slice of bread.
3: Cut out the inside of the thick slice. Place this hollowed-out thick piece on top of the thin slice of bread. This thin slice forms the bottom of your bread.
4: Add the naporitan inside. Drizzle in white sauce so it’s like a lid over the pasta.
5: Sprinkle on cheese, toast, and you’re done!

Bring the cafe experience into your own home by making your own fun toast arrangements.

Pola Museum of Art, an art museum in Hakone, Kanagawa, has launched a new page on its website for people to immersive themselves in the world of art while at home. From gallery talk videos to painting activities that kids and adults alike can enjoy, the web page is packed full of fun and diverse content.

The page is split into four sections: “Watch,” “Read,” “Create,” and “Learn About Pola Museum of Art.”

＜Watch＞

A menu of videos showcasing exhibitions and artwork from the museum. This includes videos hosted by the museum’s curators who talk about certain works of art, paintings, art tools, and more.

＜Read＞

Learn more about art by reading commentary about artists and their works. This includes manga, life drawing, and much more. Discover the history of these artists, see how scientific research has brought to life the process of how they created their works, and more.

＜Create＞

A wide selection of video tutorials encourage you to simply move your hand to create something yourself. From painting to cutouts, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

＜Learn About Pola Museum of Art＞

This section is a chance for people who have never heard of the Pola Museum of Art, or who have never visited it, to get to know the place. It covers everything from Fuji Hakone Izu National Park where the museum is located to the work that goes on behind the scenes at the museum.

Pola Museum of Art will continue to update the page, so be sure to check it out.

Q-pot. dropped its new collection of textile style face masks from its “Made in Japan” apparel line Q-pot.Dress via its online shop on April 22, 2020. The company is now taking orders for its 4th batch of masks.

The masks feature the same textile design seen in Q-pot.Dress’s attire collection. The “Chocolate College” design features Q-pot.’s signature motif. Due to high demand, the company is bringing the mask back in a kid’s size. “Honey Lemon” will also be available again.

The “Candy” design from the brand’s autumn collection which was released around Halloween has also been introduced into the fray. The fourth batch of masks are available to order until May 6, 2020 at 23:59 (JST).

The masks are a great way for parents and kids, as well as friends, to coordinate their outfits and look stylish.

With flights cancelled around the world, it is becoming increasingly harder for foreigners to return home from Japan, resulting in them being forced to change their plans, extend their stay, and live every day in stress and uncertainty. To lend a helping hand to foreign travellers in this stressful time, three accommodation companies Slacktide Co., Ltd, Shared Value Co.,Ltd. and Life Bonds, LLC, who manage Kaname Inn Tatemachi, Sakura Cross Hotel and BONDS HOUSE respectively, have launched a joint accommodation project called “Room for Rescue” which provides free accommodation to international visitors who cannot return home as a result of the current travel restrictions.

This collaborative project was launched to ensure that foreign travellers don’t feel like their trip to Japan was a bad experience, which could be a reason to avoid visiting Japan again in the future and heavily impact the tourism industry.

Tokyo:BONDS HOUSE

Tokyo:Sakura Cross Hotel

Kanazawa: KANAME INN

Currently, three accommodations in Tokyo and one in Kanazawa have opened their doors to stranded foreigners.

Room for Rescue: Request a Room

https://kaname-inn.com/room-for-rescue/

To apply for a room, you need a valid visa and a cancelled flight ticket which meets Room for Rescue’s criteria. For more information, please refer to the application page. The Room for Rescue project is also looking for more accommodations to join the fight against coronavirus and open their doors to stranded foreigners. If you own an accommodation in Japan and want to help foreign travellers, please apply using the link below.

Become Part of Room for Rescue (for accommodation owners)
https://kaname-inn.com/room-for-rescue/contact/

If you are an individual who wants to support this project, please consider donating via their crowdfunding page mentioned in the information section below.

A daruma doll inspired by Amabie has been released by Hanjiro, a company that has been making Shirakawa daruma dolls for 300 years. The dolls were released exclusively online in Japan on April 27 and shipping will begin rolling out from May 6.

Amabie is a three-legged mermaid or merman in Japanese folklore that is set to emerge from the sea to warn of and bring good luck during epidemics. The creature has trended on Japanese social media recently in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Amabie Daruma – ¥1,500 (Before Tax)

Each Amabie daruma doll is handcrafted individually using traditional Japanese methods. It comes in a pastel pink colour and is a great way to brighten up the mood during this dark time. The dolls were created with the prayer in mind for the pandemic to come to an end.

BABYMETAL have been announced as part of the line-up for YouTube Japan’s upcoming “Music Week Stay Home #WithMe” program which is set to run from April 29, 2020 to May 6, 2020, dates which run through Japan’s Golden Week.

The program is being held in collaboration with record labels and popular music artists in Japan. 49 acts are confirmed for the line-up, each of which will stream past live performances at scheduled times using YouTube Premiere on their official YouTube channels.

BABYMETAL are set to post the second night of their “BABYMETAL – LIVE AT TOKYO DOME – BLACK NIGHT” concert held at Tokyo Dome on September 20, 2016. It will be posted on May 1, 2020 at 20:30 (JST).

BABYMETAL – LIVE AT TOKYO DOME – BLACK NIGHT
Premiering: May 1, 2020 at 20:30 (JST)

YouTube Music Week Stay Home #WithMe
*The timetable will be posted on YouTube Japan’s official Twitter page.

Use this time to listen to music from your favourite acts in Japanーor perhaps to discover new artists!

Here at MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON, we post news and information about Japan in six languages. Our aim is to deliver a variety of content related to Japan for those who love and enjoy Japanese culture.

Right now, people across the globe are in self-isolation as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The same goes for Japan too, so we’ve taken this opportunity to create a new series on the website to show how we’re spending time at home here in Japan. The future is yet uncertain, and we hope for normality to return for all of us soon. We created a new articles series called Stay Home with which we hope to take your mind off the situation, even for just a little bit, to help you feel calmer. It might give you some tips on what you can do while spending time at home.

In this edition of Stay Home, we’re taking a look at five simple and kawaii drinks that were featured with the trending Japanese hashtag #おうちカフェ (“Cafe at Home”). Try making one of these drinks yourself to bring the cafe experience into your home.

Related Article: Stay Home: 5 Simple and Delicious Drinks to Try Making During the Lockdown

1: Dalgona Strawberry @i.c.h.i.g.o.q.159

This is a strawberry version of the dalgona coffee which is hugely popular right now. It’s a super simple recipe that you can make in just 3 minutes, so give it a go yourself.

Ingredients
・3 packs of Milmake powder (strawberry flavoured)　・4-5 tbsp fresh cream　・Milk

*If you can’t get your hands on Milmake, use another strawberry flavoured powder as a substitute 

Method
1: Add the Milkmake and fresh cream to a bottle.
2: Shake the bottle until the mix becomes thick.
3: Pour the mix over milk, top with a strawberry, and enjoy!

2: Colourful Cream Soda @miki__718

Miki’s made a serving of several colour and cute cream soda drinks. This is another easy recipe where she added coloured syrup to soda poured into cute glasses.

Ingredients

・Soda　・MONIN syrup　・Ice cream　・1 strawberry

Method

1: I recommend using MONIN syrup to make your colourful soda.

2: Mix together the soda and MONIN syrup, then add a dollop of ice cream and finish with a strawberry!

3: Strawberry Cream Cider @onew_tc72

Chihiro’s beverage is a cream soda with fresh fruit inside. If you’re looking for a fruity drink then this one’s for you.

Ingredients

・Strawberries　・Vanilla Ice Cream　・Soda　・Thyme (for decorating)

Method

1: Slice the strawberries into small pieces.

2: Add the cut strawberries into the soda and spoon in a large dollop of ice cream.

3: Adorn with the thyme and a whole strawberry and enjoy!

4: Mango Soda @lemmokit

chii’s mango soda is made using a homemade jam. The orange drink looks super stylish with the giant ice cube inside. A cool and refreshing pick for those hot days.

Ingredients
・100g mango　・15 sugar　・A squirt of lemon juice　・1 tsp rum

Method
1: Boil all of the ingredients together.
2: Mix in soda and jam.
3: Top with rosemary and drink up.

5: Mikan Latte @hit0m._.mi

HITOMI’s choice is the popular mikan latte! You can use sliced orange for the topping too if you can’t get your hands on mikan.

Ingredients
・200ml milk　・Sugar to taste ・Yoghurt ti taste　・1 mikan　・Sliced mikan (for topping)

Method
1: Blend all of the ingredients together in a blender.
2. Once smooth, add to a cup a finish with a slice of mikan or orange.