Since the launch of the manga back in 1970, Doraemon has brought smiles on people’s faces in the form of books, anime, live-action films, collaborations with artists, and more, for the past 50 years.

To celebrate the franchise’s 50th anniversary, TSUTAYA Ginza has opened an online fair on its website. TSUTAYA Ginza is a place where people of all ages and nationalities come from around the world, and the number one book the store can recommend as part of Japan’s culture continues to be the first volume of Doraemon. For the entirety of 2019—that’s January to December—the first volume of Doraemon was the number one best selling book at TSUTAYA Ginza.

Doraemon 50th Anniversary Fair

Doraemon Volume 1 (Tentoumushi Comics)

Doraemon has come to be a symbol of Japan and has been passed down generations, but there probably a lot of people who don’t know how the story started. To find out, pick up a copy of volume one at TSUTAYA Ginza.

Doraemon Volume 0 (Tentoumushi Comics)

As part of the anniversary celebrations, a special volume 0 has been published. This full-colour book features 6 versions of the first Doraemon story as well as comments  by the author and more.

Doraemon Mizuhiki Accessories (Pins, Earrings, Piercings)

Mizuhiki are decorative Japanese cords which are used for important ceremonial occasions such as weddings, births, and funerals. These special Doraemon mizuhiki have been turned into beautiful accessories featuring Doraemon and Dorami’s iconic blue and yellow colours respectively. They can be used for decorating clothes with and more.

This is just a peek at some of the celebratory merchandise on offer for the online fair. For the full list, check out the website below.

Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art opened its new museum shop ART LAB KYOTO on May 26 where it is set to promote the centre of Japanese culture—Kyoto, a place which reveals in tradition and history while constantly evolving and innovating.

The museum shop opens in line with the recent revamp the museum underwent, with design work co-created by Japanese architects Jun Aoki and Tezzo Nishizawa.

ART LAB KYOTO is a spacious shop were guests can get their hands on goods related to exhibitions held at the museum as well as books and items on everything from traditional Kyoto culture to the city’s contemporary art, items made in collaboration with artists, exclusive sweets, and more.

Let’s take a select look at just some of the items you can pick up at ART LAB KYOTO.

Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art x BEAMS

Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art has teamed up with BEAMS to release a line of original merchandise bearing the museum’s logo—a new logo which represents both the design of the revamped museum carried conceived by the museum’s newly-appointed museum director Jun Aoki, and contemporary art. The merchandise’s design is minimal, combining white and grey.

The line-up aims to function not just as souvenirs, but as items that can be used in everyday life, from bags to notebooks and more.

Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art Collection x Miyawaki Baisen-an

Miyawaki Baisen-an is a preserver of traditional Japanese folding fans which has been around since 1923. The company has joined hands with Kyocera to release an exclusive line of fans that represents the art museum.

Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art Collection x Juko Confections

“Juko” is a confectionery from Kyoto which changes flavours with the season. Twice a month, they will be sold in limited quantities at the shop.

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.

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.

Akatsuki Live Entertainment and KAYAC are bringing Japan’s famous Unko (Poop) Museum into your home this Golden Week with Unko Museum Online. The website is set to launch on May 1, 2020.

Experience the Unko Museum at home during the lockdown

Unteractive Area

The Unko Museum’s hugely popular poop game “Unko Shutter” has been turned into a mobile game. It can also be played on PC. The game has players snapping the perfect pictures of poop that’s flying at different speeds.

Unstagenic Area

Change your backgrounds on video calls to have different coloured poop designs on the screen. Make your call even more fun by creating your own poop world.

Untelligence Area

Normally, the illustrations displayed at the museum drawn by famous people can only be seen in person at the Unko Museum, but now you’ll be able to check them out online. Also, on Twitter, the museum has a poop template that invites everyone to design their own poop. Create yours and post it on social media!

Unberto at Home

Unberto is the god that protects the Unko Museum. He’ll be doing Instagram live streams from time to time starting from May 1, 2020. He’s there to answer everyone’s worries. Follow the museum’s official page below.

Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unko_museum/
Streaming: From May 1, 2020 and onward on random days

Unko Food for a special price

Unko Museum Tokyo is currently closed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Because of this, the best before dates on their food snack items are approaching their end, and so the museum is selling items at heavily discounted prices, such as a set of 6 Unko Gummies for just ¥2,000 (that’s 45% off) or a box of four for ¥7,500 (47% off).

Running: April 24, 2020 – May 1, 2020
Official Website: https://unkomuseum.shop/

Doraemon Channelーthe official website for Doraemonーhas opened a new download service where you can download free wallpapers from the Doraemon anime series.

Designs are taken from familiar scenes in the anime such as inside the time machine, Nobita-kun’s bedroom, the iconic Open Lot with the pipes, and more.

You can use them as desktop wallpapers or as video call backgrounds. The wallpapers were created in response to the lockdown measures and restrictions on going outside to bring a little light into people’s lives.

Download your favourite one now from the link below.

As part of the ongoing promotions to commemorate 50 years since the Doraemon manga was first published in January 1970, pre-orders for the new “100 Years Doraemon” collector’s edition full manga set Tentōmushi Comics by are now open. And there’s some other exciting collector’s merchandise pieces to go along with it.

What’s “100 Years Doraemon”?

Specially-Selected Coloured ‘Surreal’ Picture Collection

Doraemon was born in the 22nd century, and so this collector’s edition aims to have the famous manga series make it all the way there. To ensure that happens, Fujiko Fujio’s full 45-volume collection will have expertly-crafted and carefully-considered book binding and printing.

Beautiful designs to lead Doraemon across the next 100 years into the 22nd Century

Manga cloth front covers with gold leaf on silk screen prints

All the volumes will have hardback covers, which will feature the series’s first ever cloth front covers. The silk screen printing incorporates gold leaf. The books are also thread-bound to make for more fun page turning. Pages are made from high-quality “Opera Clear Max” paper which ensures the pages do not deteriorate over time. The manga itself features completely remastered prints using the latest technology which are printed with 150 line output as opposed to the common 133 output. All volumes use Tentōmushi Comics’s Doraemon cover illustrations made by book and graphic designer Naoko Nakui.

5 Bonus Items

①Specially-Selected Coloured ‘Surreal’ Picture Collection

An assortment of cuts and illustrations from the Doraemon manga series using original colours from back when the volumes were announced. Also includes previously unreleased illustrations by Fujio F. Fujiko.

②Complete Index

A complete index that allows you to look up what volumes characters and Secret Gadgets appear in.

③Volume 0

A special Volume 0 will be included featuring 6 variations of the first Doraemon story.

Doraemon & Nobita-kun Figure

This figure captures the scene from Volume 40 of the manga series. The figure was created by MEDICOM TOY.

Giant Time Furoshiki Cloth

This giant 110cm x 110cm furoshiki cloth can wrap the entire three boxes which house the manga set.

100 Years Doraemon Anywhere Door Bookshelf

Store your books on this limited-edition bookshelf which is exclusive to those who purchase the 100 Years Doraemon set. Each shelf stacks 15 volumes to fit the entire collection. It’s inspired by the Anywhere Door, one of Doraemon’s many Secret Gadgets. It was co-developed with furniture maker Karimoku, MEDICOM TOY, and Shogakukan. Sign-ups for this bookshelf will be announced at a later date.

©Fujiko Pro・Shogakukan

Felissimo launched online pre-orders for its new line of 12 Doraemon themed items on February 20, 2020. Doraemon is a symbol of Japanーa national treasure that continues to be be adored by kids and adults alike around the country.

The collection is centred around everyday practical items that can even be enjoyed nonchalantly by grown-ups.

Doraemon Laundry Net Set – ¥1,400 (Before Tax)

There are four in this collection of laundry nets, big and small. Designs include “Mini Doraemon,” “Memory Bread,” “Anywhere Door,” and “Dress-Up Camera.”

Doraemon & Nobita-kun Slippers – ¥2,100 (Before Tax)

 Doraemon and Nobita-kun features on this collection of slippers. There are four designs, with the tops being made from corduroy, and all with beautiful colours.

Doraemon Pull Pass Case – ¥2,300 (Before Tax)

These three pass cases all have Doraemon designs and come with a pullable elastic string. Each has its own classy one tone colour. Perfect for storing small items and heading out.

Doraemon Smartphone Cases – ¥2,900 (Before Tax)

The three cute smartphone cases come in chic colours and designs, with an additional colour inside for the four card pockets.

Doraemon Plastic Bottle Towels – ¥950 (Before Tax)

Decorate your drinking bottle with one of these four cute Doraemon bottle towels, all with a cute tail. They can be used for other things like deodorant too.

Doraemon Zipper Bag Set – ¥800 (Before Tax)

Keep your food stored and safe in an adorable Doraemon zipper bag, whether it be snacks or ingredients. They’re perfect for giving gifts in too.

Doraemon Nail Seals <Basic> – ¥1,450 (Before Tax)

Glam up with some cute Doraemon nail seals, ranging from natural colours to gold leaf and more, which can cater to a variety of different situations.

Doraemon Embroidered Pouches – ¥3,000 (Before Tax)

These kits embroidery equipment to make your own Doraemon-design pouch. Make the pouch, attach the fastener, and you’ve got yourself a place to store your items.

A photo exhibition will be held at the HMV Museum in Shibuya from March 6, 2020 for a limited time in promotion of the release of Studio Ghibli Museum’s first official photo book, Ghibli Bijutsukan Monogatari (“The Story of the Ghibli Museum”).

“Ghibli Bijutsukan Monogatari” Photo Book – ¥3,800 (Exhibition Pre-Sale: March 6, 2020 / General Release: March 20, 2020)

Photography is strictly forbidden at the Studio Ghibli Museum, but this exhibition gives a rare look inside without having to go inside. There will be panels of photos of both inside and outside the museum, a display of miniature figures of characters like the Robot from Laputa: Castle in the Sky, writings from Studio Ghibli film producer Toshio Suzuki, and more. The museum’s popular photo spots will also make an appearance at the exhibition for taking a photo next to.

Exclusive Desk Calendar (*Limited to 500 people per day, first-come first-served)

Desk calendars will also be available, featuring the photos used at the exhibition.

Exclusive Exhibition Merchandise

Tote Bag – ¥2,000 / T-Shirt – ¥2,800 / Hanging Scroll – ¥30,000 / Photos (3 Designs) – ¥8,000 Each

Visitors will be able to get their hands on the photo book early at the exhibition, and those who buy it at HMV&BOOKS SHIBUYA will be invited to a signing and talk session on March 7, 2020 on a first-come, first-served basis. The signing will be attended by Kanyada and Toshio Suzuki, who will also be present at the talk event in addition to film director Ryutaro Nakagawa.

Exclusive merchandise will be sold at the exhibition. The exhibition itself encourages people to feel like a lost child, and its layout will reflect that without any set paths or routes.

Dive into the wonderful world of Studio Ghibli at the Ghibli Bijutsukan Monogatari Photo Exhibition.

*Please note that the number of people allowed to enter the exhibition will be restricted due to the ongoing situation surrounding the new coronavirus. This will widen the space between visitors and allow them to enjoy the exhibition in an uncrowded space. More details can be found on the official HMV Museum website.

Character-inspired Japanese confectionery series Tabemas is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Doraemon manga series with two adorable new confections which will release at Lawson convenience stores around Japan on March 3, 2020.

Tabemas Doraemon 2020 Chocolate Flavour – ¥285 (Tax Included)

Tabemas have produced Doraemon confections before to huge popularity amongst fans, and this time around he’s got a new facial expression. There’s also a special “Ganso Doraemon” version.

Tabemas Doraemon 2020 (Ganso Doraemon Ver.) Custard Flavour – ¥285 (Tax Included)

Ganso Doraemon, who was born in the future, is a bright yellow colour with cute ears. Both confections sit plump and adorable, and each have little Doraemon details like the bell, whiskers, and a tail.

The sweets are also made with a dough called “nerikiri” which is used in making traditional Japanese wagashi sweets. Doraemon is chocolate flavoured while Ganso Doraemon is custard flavoured. Perfect for snacks and would look great on an Instagram feed!

Sanrio is set to turn 60-years-old in August 2020. To commemorate, the company has announced that it will open a museum called “Sanrio Character Museum” in summer 2020 where it will tour around Japan until 2025. The full dates and locations have yet to be announced, but its first stop will be the Tokyo City View Sky Gallery located on the 52nd floor of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower in Tokyo. Details for this first stop will be revealed sometime next month.

ⓒ ’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, ’79, ’80, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’98, ’99, ’01, ’04, ’05, ’20 SANRIO CO., LTD.

Since its establishment, Sanrio has sought to spread kawaii culture to the world, as well as the message of everybody getting along and being friends. But how have gotten to this point with each passing generation? The museum exhibition will answer that very question, exploring its line-up of over 450 characters Sanrio has created over the years, including the most prominent ones like Hello Kitty, My Melody and Little Twin Stars who have been around for more than 40 years. It will also showcase characters that will be nostalgic to longtime Sanrio fans.

The exhibition will peruse the history of Sanrio from before it created its characters, and delve into the origin of the company’s kawaii world. Fans can expect to see valuable prints, products, materials, and more. The exhibition will also include works made in collaboration with some of Japan’s up-and-coming and prominent artists. Expect plenty of kawaii, and plenty of what is sure to be invaluable information for Sanrio fans.

Hotel Gajoen Tokyo, a historical museum and hotel in Japan, has announced that it will host the Hyakudan Hinamatsuri 2020 doll festival from January 24 to March 15 next year. It will take place at the hotel’s Hyakudan Kaidan, or ‘100 Steps Staircase’―which was registered by Tokyo Prefecture as a Tangible Cultural Property in 2009 for its exceptional architecture and artistic beauty.

Hinamatsuri is an annual festival in Japan celebrated on March 3 every year where ornamental dolls are displayed. Hotel Gajoen Tokyo boasts the biggest Hinamatsuri festival in Tokyo, with over 600,000 visitors having attended across the 10 years it has been held.

A First For The Festival: Photography Permitted

Up to now, photography at the hotel’s Hinamatsuri has been restricted to protect the displays. However, for the first time ever, next year’s event will allow photography in all of the rooms, which will house dolls symbolising each period of Japanese period: Edo, Meiji, Taisho, Showa, Heisei, and the current Reiwa, not to mention the 500+ zashikibina dolls. There will also be hanging decorations with rabbit designs in the elevator hall created by Nippon Tsurushibina Kyoukai, a non-profit organisation. Also for the first time this year, visitors will be able to dress up in a beautiful uchikake wedding coat and take a photo at the designated photo spot. This is so they can further fill a part of the hina doll world.

Tottori, Shimane & Yamaguchi Get Involved For The First Time

Visitors will be able to enjoy dolls in a variety of ways from different places across  Japan, including a giant 2-meter long wall decoration and old hina dolls handed down from families past from the city of Yonago in Tottori, tiny tsuchi dolls from Hokuei in Tottori which can fit in the pal of your hand, renbei dolls, and more. The spectacular collection will have visitors feeling like they are inside a hina doll palace.

The Hina Doll of the Ishitani Residence (Chizu, Tottori)

The town of Chizu is located in the southeast portion of Tottori Prefecture and is surrounded by mountains. It flourished during the Edo period as a post town and place of rest for the Tottori Domain as part of sankin-kōtai, a policy which had feudal lords alternate living for a year in their domain, as it headed towards Edo. The Ishitani Residence, which is built facing the Inaba Kaidō―a type of route built during the Edo period for transportation―has almost 40 rooms and spans 4,000 square meters. It is listed as an Important Cultural Property of Japan for its modern Japanese-style architecture. The enormous mansion, which is home to a doma dirt floor supported by great beams as well as a Japanese-style garden which can be seen from all the tatami rooms, is decorated with ancient handed-down hina dolls when early spring settles in. This includes dolls from the Meiji periodo with vibrantly embroidered outfits, gorgeous decorations for the hina doll steps, special hina bowls used when celebrating Hinamatsuri at the Ishitani Residence, and more.

Hyakudan Hinamatsuri Memorial: Display Of Over 500 Zashikibina Hina Dolls (Iizuka, Fukuoka)

Iizuka in Fukuoka formerly thrived for its coal mines and bustled as a business dealing in coal. The Former Den’emon Ito Residence spans 2,300 square meters and speaks volumes of the cultural significance of the city’s ties to coal as it belonged to Den’emon Ito who was known as the “King of Coal Mining.” Every year during the Hinamatsuri season, the Itsuzuka Hina no Matsuri festival is held at the residence where hina dolls from 16 areas throughout the town are displayed. The Former Den’emon Ito Residence is the main venue for Itsuzuka Hina no Matsuri, which sees a huge number of zashikibina hina dolls put out. The Residence has been involved with Hyakudan Hinamatsuri twice in the past, and this time, their overwhelming showcasing of 500+ dolls, which has garnered popularity every time, will be put on as a special display. The display will keep with the festival’s theme of tales of Izumo as well as the myth of the Hare of Inaba.

Hina no Shitsurai: Table Laying

Another special display will also be put on for the festival with the theme “Hina no Shitsurai,” meaning “setting up a hina living space.” There will be gorgeous table laying by Tomiko Ishibashi, who is an interior decorator working internationally, as well as displays of hina decorations in home living rooms and genkan. Select parts of this exhibition will be available to purchase in the museum shop, so people can take away a memory and try setting up their own hina decorations. And for the first time ever, the festival is opening the Hina Cafe for a limited time between January 24 to February 14 where visitors can sip on Japanese tea and eat Japanese snacks. Hina decorations will serve as the theme for the cafe.

Discover the beauty of the Hinamatsuri, a festival unique to Japan, at the 11th Hyakudan Hinamatsuri.