Tokyo National Museum has announced its 7th run of its Journey Through Asia exhibition, and this time, the museum will feature China. The event will take place from September 8 to October 11.

The theme this year is “Legends.” This word is rooted in the legends of history, but in modern times has been attached to those in the sports and art world. It’s a word that has diversified over time, and this year’s Journey Through Asia will further build on its meaning through the lens of Asia in three perspectives: “What Legends Showed,” “What Legends Made,” and “What Legends Collected.”

The museum is currently limiting the number of people allowed in the museum at once as a measure against COVID-19. Several annual events and tours have also been postponed.

Last week, McDonald’s Japan revealed Part One of its Doraemon collaboration in celebration of the series’s 50th anniversary which included a collection of Happy Meal toys. They have now revealed Part Two of the McDonald’s Doraemon Festival which will see the arrival of yogurt flavoured McShakes® on August 19 at most McDonald’s restaurants in Japan.

The Doraemon McShake® in Japanese is named “Yogurudo,” a portmanteau of “yogurt” and “Doraemon.” Its refreshing yogurt flavour is perfect for summertime. Small size cups feature original illustrations of characters from the series, such as Doraemon himself and Nobita. These cups are already being served for vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate flavoured McShakes®.

Don’t forget about the science-themed Happy Meal sets either which come with one of nine toys. That includes a secret toy which you have to get in your Happy Meal to find out what it is.

McDonald’s Japan is also holding a Twitter campaign for 100 random people to win a ¥2,000 McCard. All you need to do is be in Japan, follow their official Twitter account, and retweet this Tweet with the hashtag #ヨーグル_ドでドひんやり and comment how you want to cool down this summer. The campaign is running until August 18 at 23:59 (JST).

©Fujiko Pro・Shogakukan・TV Asahi・Shinei・ADK

Pola Museum of Art in Hakone, Kanagawa is currently holding an exhibition centred on Monet and Matisse titled Monet and Matisse: Visions of the Ideal. Eight more Monet works and six more Matisse pieces were added to the exhibition on Saturday.

The exhibition opened on June 1, but due to the situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum was not able to obtain the full line-up of artwork from abroad that was originally scheduled to be exhibited. The entire range is now on display, including Monet’s Wisteria borrowed from Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris as well as Matisse’s tapestry The Lute from Mobilier National, also in Paris.

Claude Monet, Wisteria, 1919-1920
Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris ©Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris, France / Bridgeman Images 原画：アンリ・マティス 

Henri Matisse, The Lute, 1947-1949, Pola Museum of Art
Mobilier national, Paris © Mobilier national / Isabelle Bideau

No.35 Claude Monet, Water Lilies, 1907
Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain de Saint-Étienne Métro-Pole
Yves Bresson / Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain de Saint-Étienne Métropole

No.80 Henri Matisse《光の縞模様のある室内》1942年　油彩／カンヴァスマティス美術館、ル・カトー＝カンブレジ
Musée départemental Matisse, Le Cateau-Cambrésis
Photo Musée départemental Matisse, Philip Bernard

The exhibition is running until November 3, 2020, and is a chance for people in Japan to enjoy the original works from two of France’s most famous painters.

McDonald’s Japan will begin serving Happy Meals with science-themed Doraemon toys in them starting from August 14 for “Part 1” their McDonald’s Doraemon Festival which is being held to celebrate Doraemon’s 50th anniversary.

There are nine toys in the science series, and that includes a secret toy which you have to get in your Happy Meal to find out what it is.

The toy line-up includes Doraemon with his Take-copter which spins when you press a button, a mysterious torch which shines shapes when you turn it on, an artist tool that lets you draw Doraemon’s face, and many more fun items.

All toys come with a leaflet that explains how to use them. And on August 15 and 16, those who order a Doraemon Happy Meal can sign up to win a special Doraemon DVD.

In “Part 2” of McDonald’s Japan’s Doraemon collaboration, they will serve up some Doraemon-inspired desserts.

To promote the upcoming 3D CG anime film Stand By Me Doraemon 2, USJ is opening its second-ever Doraemon themed XR ride on August 4 which will run until January 6, 2021.

Doraemon fans will be able to get their hands on a whole range of exclusive merchandise as well as tuck into themed food.

STAND BY ME Doraemon 2 XR Ride

The Stand By Me Doraemon 2 XR Ride will be a high-speed sensory explosion that makes use of VR technology to send riders on a VR coaster time travel experience through the past, present, and future. The ride will feature a completely original story that ties into the upcoming movie. Park guests will board the Time Coaster to travel through time and chase after Nobita-kun.

Doraemon Plate Set | ¥2,100 (Tax Included)

A special food menu inspired by the new movie will be served from August 4 for a limited time. The “Doraemon Plate Set” will have you salivating for the roast chicken topped with a demi-glace sauce and mushroom sauce and surrounded with a bed of vegetables and potato wedges. The plate is also appropriately topped with characters from the movie.

Doraemon Kid’s Set | ¥1,200 (Tax Included)

Doraemon’s Pass Loop Cake | ¥800 (Tax Included)

The Doraemon Kid’s Set features nods to the robot cat’s secret gadgets, like the Take-copter and Time Cloth, while the adorable Pass Loop Cake is inspired by Doraemon’s Pass Loop.

Popcorn Bucket | ¥3,800 (Tax Included)

The Popcorn Bucket is fun to look at and even better to eat from, featuring a special Anywhere Door mechanic. Dorayaki is Doraemon’s favourite food, and guests can enjoy dorayaki flavoured popcorn.

Doraemon Dango | ¥650 (Tax Included)

Doraemon Frozen | ¥900 (Tax Included)

Guests can also get their hands on a range of drinks and desserts too.

T-Shirts (Navy/White) | Folder Set | Mug
Sold At: Space Fantasy Station

A range of Doraemon merchandise will also roll out from August 28, including ticket holders, key rings, plush toys, and more. Pre-orders are available at Space Fantasy Station from August 4 to 27.

Follow Doraemon on an exciting journey on the STAND BY ME Doraemon 2 XR Ride!

©Fujiko Pro/2020 STAND BY ME Doraemon 2 Film Partners

Japanese company Benelic has revealed that it will begin taking limited pre-sales of the new “BE@RBRICK Doraemon 1000%” Doraemon bear made in collaboration with MediCom Toy’s “BE@RBRICK” series. Sales will take place at Doraemon Future Department Store on July 31, 2020.

BE@RBRICK is a collectable toy line created by MediCom Toy. Its minimal design has allowed for a wide variety of collaborations with artists from around the world, anime series, films, and more.

BE@RBRICK  Doraemon 1000%: ¥58,000 (Before Tax)

The Doraemon toy stands at a 1000% towering 70cm tall. The limited pre-sales are being allocated to random people who sign up over on MEDICOM TOY OFFICIAL BLOG. Lucky winners can pick their toy up at Doraemon Future Department Store from July 31, 2020. A perfect addition to any anime merch collection or as interior decoration.

Benelic officially opened Doraemon Future Department Store’s online shop on July 17, 2020 at 14:00 (JST).

What is the Doraemon Future Department Store?

The Doraemon Future Department Store is the world’s first official Doraemon shop. Located on the second floor of DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, the outside of the shop is made up of bricks, while the interior is like that of a European department store. It’s a playground for all fans of Doraemon with a wide range of merchandise, the chance to try out some of Doraemon’s secret gadgets, and more.

At Tokyo Teleport Station, which you arrive at when travelling to DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, there’s a Doraemon clock called “Suntory Doraemon Time Square” which was set up last year. When the clock strikes noon, it plays the Doraemon anime theme song and puts on a fun show for people to watch.

Doraemon Future Department Store Online: The World’s First Official Doraemon Online Shop

Doraemon Future Department Store Online opened on July 17. There, fans can get their hands on a wealth of Doraemon goods, including the 100 Years Doraemon collector’s set of all 45 manga volumes which was released to celebrate Doraemon’s 50th anniversary, other celebratory merchandise, exclusive online goodies, pre-sales, and more.

The shop and website also sell around 250 pieces of original Doraemon Future Department Store merchandise, like Doraemon’s secret gadgets, interior design items, and more. When you order online, items are packaged in an original box.

To promote the 50th anniversary anime film Doraemon: Nobita’s New Dinosaur, which is set for release in Japan on August 14, 2020, Doraemon himself is making appearances right now at Jurassic Park in Universal Studios Japan until July 22, 2020. Additionally, in promotion of the upcoming 3D CG anime film Stand By Me Doraemon 2, USJ is opening its second-ever Doraemon themed XR ride on August 4 which will run until January 6, 2021.

It will be a fast-paced Stand By Me Doraemon 2 themed XR ride and sensory explosion that makes use of VR technology to send riders on a VR coaster time travel experience through the past, present, and future.

Stand By Me Doraemon was released in 2014 as the first 3D CG animated Doraemon film and was a huge hit for the quality of its animation and moving story. The staff have returned to work on its sequel, Stand By Me Doraemon 2, including writers and directors Takashi Yamazaki and Ryuichi Yagi. The XR ride will feature an original story that is connected to the sequel film which itself will be based on the Doraemon short film Doraemon: A Grandmother’s Recollections.

©Fujiko Pro/2020 STAND BY ME Doraemon 2 Film Partners

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.