Be sure to spend the drinking funds for your cherry blossom viewing party on these beautiful cans.
Between April 14 and April 16, 2016, several powerful earthquakes shook Kumamoto and Oita Prefectures, killing at least 50 people and injuring 3,000 others. Merely five years from 2011, it was another stark reminder that Japan lies on an active fault line and that major earthquakes are always possible.
The two prefectures suffered damage to a number of significant cultural properties, including Aso Shrine and Kumamoto Castle. Aso Shrine is one of Japan’s oldest shrines, and Kumamoto Castle can often be found listed among the most popular castles in Japan.
With the anniversary of the earthquake quickly approaching, along with the beginning of cherry blossom season, Sapporo has found a crisp, refreshing way to continue supporting recovery with one of the best parts of sakura viewing: drinking beer.
RELATED ENTRIES
-
From July 15 until November 6, 2022, the ‘teamLab: A Forest Where Gods Live’ exhibition at Mifuneyama Rakuen, an ancient forest at the Takeo Hot Springs in Saga Prefecture. The massive event is held each summer and fall and was named CNN World’s ‘Best Outdoor Art Exhibition to Visit’ in 2021 and one of the Top 10 Art Installations in the world by DesignboomMagazine in 2017. Works on Display Universe of Water Particles on a Sacred Rock, 2017
Drawing on the Water Surface Created by the Dance of Koi and Boats - Mifuneyama Rakuen Pond, 2015 Ever Blossoming Life Rock, 2017 Life is Continuous Light - Azalea Valley, 2017 Rock Wall Spatial Calligraphy, Continuous Life - Five Hundred Arhats, 2017 Split Rock and Enso, 2017 Resonating Forest - Cherry Blossoms and Maple, 2017 Megaliths in the Bath House Ruins, 2019 Graffiti Nature - Living in the Ruins of a Bathhouse, Red List, 2017- Resonating Forest in the Ravine, 2019 Abstract and Concrete - Forest Entrance, 2018 Flowers Bloom in an Infinite Universe inside a Teacup, 2016 Forest and Spiral of Resonating Lamps in the Forest - One Stroke, Summer Forest, 2018 Mifuneyama is said to have risen from the Ariake Sea 3 million years ago. The 500,000 square meter Mifuneyama Rakuen Park was created in 1845, at the end of the Edo period. The park is home to megaliths, caves, and forests that have been slowly shaped over thousands of years. teamLab believes that the shapes and textures of these objects are important, serving as traces of ancient people and natural changes over time. The concept of the project is that non-material digital technology can turn nature into art without harming it. The creative team will be holding a number of other high-profile exhibitions this year, including installations in Paris, Tallinn, Shanghai, and Geneva. Their sauna collaboration with TikTok for teamLab Reconnect in Roppongi made huge waves in 2021--guests would take alternating hot and cold baths to experience intense physical sensations while surrounded by digital art. Information
teamLab: A Forest Where Gods Live
Running: July 15 – November 6, 2022
Location: Mifuneyama Rakuen (4100 Takeo, Takeocho Oaza Takeo, Takeo City, Saga)
Official Site: https://www.teamlab.art/jp/e/mifuneyamarakuen/ -
Starbucks will open the first Starbucks Tea & Cafe location in Kyushu at AMU Plaza Hakata on April 27, 2022. This spin-off shop specializes in colorful, aromatic tea-based beverages, and has locations in Tokyo, Toyama, and Osaka. Starbucks Coffee AMU Plaza Hakata, the first Starbucks Tea & Cafe to open in the Kyushu area, is a new store on the second floor of Amu Plaza Hakata directly connected to JR Hakata Station.
Yuzu & Citrus Lavender Sage Tea / Japanese Chai Tea Latte / Strawberry & Passion Tea Frappucino®
Starbucks Tea & Cafe will offer a lineup of 13 types of tea-based beverages, including tea lattes and tea frappuccinos made with seasonal ingredients. The Japanese Chai Tea Latte is new this season and includes hojicha with spices like yuzu peel, ginger, Japanese pepper, and cinnamon. Come enjoy this cozy space and enjoy a warm cup of tea at this unique Starbucks where tea is the main attraction!Information
Starbucks Coffee AMU Plaza Hakata 2F
Address: JR Hakata City 2F (1-1 Hakataekichuogai, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka)
Hours: 8:00-22:00Opening April 27, 2022
Official Site: https://www.starbucks.co.jp/
-
The pandemic has changed our lives forever. People have spent the last two years missing travel as they spend more and more time at home, and while many are ready to travel again, it can be difficult to know if it's the right time to return to normalcy. To make the situation a little easier, many local tourism associations in Japan are posting images on Instagram to inspire people to give traveling another try. These three Instagram accounts are our personal favorites, and once Japan opens to tourists again, you won’t want to miss visiting these areas! [Official Kumamoto Tourism Association] Motto, motto, Kumamoto!
Discover the charms of Kumamoto on this local Instagram account featuring photos from four unique local photographers. Many will know the area as the home of the character Kumamon. The images capture the daily lives of Kumamoto residents and include local food and gorgeous scenery. The postings also include the location of the photo and comments from the photographers, making things feel more personal. [Official Hokkaido Tourism Association] GoodDay Hokkaido
Hokkaido is an area rich in gourmet seafood and dairy, but its spectacular landscapes are reason enough to visit. GoodDay Hokkaido shows off both the common and uncommon elements of Hokkaido life, often introducing little-known areas. Each photo is vividly colored, and followers can see different seasons at every time of day as they scroll through the feed. See the best images from Japan’s northernmost island each and every day on your smartphone! [Ome / Okutama] Umetama
Umetama is an account that introduces places of interest in Ome and Okutama, two of Tokyo’s most scenic towns. Each can be reached in about an hour by train from Shinjuku Station. Visitors can enjoy a gorgeous day trip from the Tokyo center, with the area featuring plenty of campsites and hiking trails. There are tons of stargazing spots, and visitors are often surprised that such incredible nature is so close to Japan’s hectic capital. Those with kids will find plenty to do here, so start taking notes while you scroll through the Umetama page! More and more young people are finding the appeal of Ome and Okutama, and the area has become the perfect relaxation spot for those seeking refuge from their busy lives. In addition, the craft beer bar Ome Beer, located near Ome Station, sells local alcohol, including Okutama’s popular craft beer ‘Vertere.’ See the lesser-known side of Tokyo on this picturesque account. Remember how wonderful it is to travel? Hopefully, Japan opens for tourism again soon, and you can visit all of these gorgeous locales. -
Creative company NAKED is bringing their popular DANDELION PROJECT to Kumamoto Castle from November 19 until December 5, 2021, just in time to celebrate the Autumn Festival Castle Lighting event!
The DANDELION PROJECT is inspired by the idea of world peace and hopes to help transcend barriers and connect people in an increasingly divided world. This networked initiative wants to bring this change about by planting (or installing) dandelion-inspired art around the world, while it invites people visiting these dandelion exhibits to send their prayers for peace as a digital flower in real-time. To celebrate the recent restoration of Kumamoto Castle’s tower, the DANDELION PROJECT will ask visitors to give their prays for peace and safety as they enjoy the autumn lights. After the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, the castle has slowly recovered, and this is the final step. Currently, DANDELION installations are popping up around Japan and internationally, with locations in Tokyo Tower, Saga Prefectural Exhibition Hall, and plenty of other places. NAKED’s popular attractions--the NAKED Distanced Lanterns and NAKED Flower Cleansing--will also be available to participate in during the event. Each is perfect for social distancing, and each will get a special Kumamoto Castle version. Interactive projection mapping will cause flowers to bloom beneath visitors’ feet as they explore. After the event period, the works will be moved to Josaien, where they can be enjoyed until January 15, 2022. Information
DANDELION @ Kumamoto Castle Autumn Festival Castle Lighting
Address: Kumamoto Castle (1-1 Honmaru, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto)
AR: Kumamoto Castle (Special Walkway)
DANDELION: Ninomaru Plaza
NAKED Distanced Lanterns and NAKED Flower Cleansing: Ninomaru Plaza
Running: November 19, 2021 – December 5, 2021
DANDELION PROJECT/NAKED Distanced Lanterns/NAKED Flower Cleansing
Permanent Installation to Start November 19, 2021
AR ‘KUMAMOTO CASTLE FANTASY OF LIGHTS’
Running: Daily from 17:00-21:00 (Last Entry at 20:30)
Admission to Ninomaru Plaza: Free
Admission to Kumamoto Castle: Adults ¥800, Children ¥300
*Visitors will need to download the NAKED INC PLAY! smartphone app.
-
Offered by BANDAI SPIRITS, Ichiban Kuji is a popular brand of lottery in Japan, in which players are guaranteed to win a piece of merchandise. This no-lose game is often seen in collaboration with popular anime and game series, and a number of dedicated BANDAI SPIRITS Ichiban Kuji stores are starting to pop up around Japan. Now, the fourth of these shops is opening in Fukuoka on September 9, making it the first in Kyushu.
Upcoming Products
Ichiban Kuji - Disney’s Twisted Wonderland, Vol. 4 Release Date: September 10, 2021Ichiban Kuji - Monogatari Series Release Date: September 18, 2021 Ichiban Kuji - Kirby Series KIRBY’S BURGER Release Date: September 24, 2021 Ichiban Kuji - Mobile Suit Gundam Gunpla 2021 Release Date: September 25, 2021 Prior to opening brick-and-mortar stores, Ichiban Kuji took place at convenience stores, bookstores, and game centers across Japan. In December 2020, the first dedicated shop opened in Umeda, Osaka, with the following two opening in Ikebukuro in Tokyo and Yokohama in Kanagawa in March 2021. Popularity is only increasing, as fans continue to enjoy the unique collection of products. The new Fukuoka location is the largest of any Ichiban Kuji shops to date, and also features the Ichiban Coffret, a lineup of high-quality pop culture-inspired cosmetics for purchase. Information
Ichiban Kuji Official Shop – Hakata Bus Terminal
Address: Hakata Bus Terminal 7F (2-1 Hakataekichuogai, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture)
Open Date: September 9, 2021
Hours: 10:00-23:00
*Hours subject to change in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Official Site: https://bandainamco-am.co.jp/chara_shop/ichibankuji-official-shop/
-
In an effort to help support of the restoration efforts in Kumamoto after the 2016 earthquake devastated the prefecture, the Nohara family from the popular manga and anime series Crayon Shin-chan have been appointed official Kumamoto Restoration Supporters. This begins with a PR campaign to help promote tourism in Kumamoto's city of Aso. To celebrate, Shin-chan himself visited the Kumamoto Prefectural Government on July 15. Shin-chan's mother, Misae, was born and raised in Aso, Kumamoto, while himself and his father Hiroshi were both born in Akira Prefecture. Shin-chan considers Aso his second home, and all of this the reason behind the family's appointment as supporters. The manga series has raised money for Kumamoto numerous times in the past, including for the Crayon Shin-chan 25th Anniversary Exhibition which saw money raised for charity products donated towards relief efforts of the earthquake disaster. This year, the series joins hands with the prefecture once more. The 2021 summer campaign is being carried with the slogan "I'm fine! ASO." The Nohara family will serve as PR characters to spread the word about Aso. This will include a digital stamp rally that will have people travelling around the prefecture on their smartphones. The app will be released in August, followed by campaign posters, pamphlets, and other promotional material rolling out.
When Shin-chan visited the local government office for his appointment as a supporter, he played the Nintendo Switch game Crayon Shin-chan: Ora to Hakase no Natsuyasumi - Owaranai Nanokakan no Tabi with officials, which also released on the same day. In the game you can visit lots of spots around Kumamoto such as Kumamoto Station, Kusasenri Observatory, Tsujun Bridge, Aso Station, and more. ©臼井儀人／双葉社・シンエイ・テレビ朝日・ADK ©2010熊本くまモン ⒸNeos Corporation Nintendo Switchのロゴ・Nintendo Switchは任天堂の商標です。 Information
I’m fine! ASO Campaign
Official Website: https://kumamoto.guide/aso2020/