The Gurakoro Burger is a seasonal item added to McDonald’s Japan’s winter menu every year. This year, they are releasing a new rich beef stew flavour on December 2 for a limited period.

“Gurakoro” is a portmanteau of the Japanese words for “gratin” and “korokke,” the latter being the Japanese version of a French croquette. The Gurakoro burgers are crunchy on the outside and melty on the inside. They first appeared at McDonald’s Japan in 1993 and have returned every winter since, popular for its combination of the Gurakoro patty which is filled with creamy ebi, cabbage, a special korokke sauce, and an egg sauce, all squished between a toasted bun.

Gurakoro Burger | ¥340

The burger was created with a new recipe in 2019 that makes the flavour richer. The number of egg yolks used for the egg sauce was also increased, as was the spiciness of the korokke sauce.

Beef Stew Gurakoro | ¥390

This year, McDonald’s Japan is adding a beef stew sauce made with a combination of red wine and demiglace sauce. Added to this is mustard, creating a delicious flavour that goes hand in hand with the creamy gratin korokke.

INNOSENT in FORMAL are set to release their first major mini album INNOSENT 2～How to spend the night～ on December 16 which will mark the band’s first step into a major label. Before that, however, we can all enjoy the new music video released for after song on Wednesday (November 25) which serves as the ending theme for the ongoing TV anime series Ikebukuro West Gate Park. The song was also released across music streaming platforms.

The music video features the mystery cartoon band appear as themselves.

INNOSENT in FORMAL – “after song” (Ikebukuro West Gate Park ED Theme)

after song serves as one of two ending themes for the anime series alongside the already-released Omou Mama which also has its own music video.

Ikebukuro West Gate Park has been well-received by anime fans outside of Japan, so here’s to INNOSENT in FORMAL’s popularity spreading overseas.

INNOSENT in FORMAL’s upcoming mini album is now available to pre-order in Japan on iTunes.

Christmas has sleighed into Roppongi Hills again this year, beginning with the Keyakizaka-dori Illuminations on November 13. The Christmas Market is also set to return to Oyane Plaza on November 28.

2020 marks the 14th run of the Roppongi Hills Christmas market which is inspired by the the famous Stuttgart Christmas Market in Germany. Visitors can sift through around 1,500 miscellaneous Christmas goods, enjoy German mulled wine and sausages, and more.

At the West Walk, visitors will also find an enormous 6.5m tall Christmas tree to complement the warm, cosy, festive atmosphere of the holiday season event.

Seiko is teaming up with Pokémon to release four limited-edition watches on December 11, 2020. Each model will be available to buy from Seiko in Japan.

Pikachu Icon Design Model SCXP175 | ¥30,800 (Tax Included)

The Pikachu Icon Design Model SCXP175 features a modern design with a yellow dial and black Pikachu silhouette. Pikachu’s tail is used as the watch hands, underneath which is a nod to Pikachu’s effectiveness as a lighting-type Pokémon against water-types. The watch has a leather strap with Pikachu’s paw prints running down it.

Pikachu Green Model SCXP177 | ¥30,800 (Tax Included)

The Pikachu Green Model SCXP177 features a green dial inspired by Pikachu running through Viridian Forest. The second hand also has Pikachu’s tail and the leather strap has Pikachu’s paw prints.

Eevee Model SCXP179 | ¥30,800 (Tax Included)

The cute Eevee Model SCXP179 has coloured dots for the hours which represent Eevee’s nine different evolutions. The leather strap has Eevee’s paw prints.

Mewtwo Model SCXP181 | ¥30,800 (Tax Included)

The Mewtwo Model SCXP181 is purple to represent the Psychic-type Legendary Pokémon Mewtwo. The leather strap reads “Pokémon” on it.

There are three different underside designs featuring a closed Poké Ball, an open Poké Ball, and a closed Great Ball.

Each watch comes in a special box and with an additional nylon strap, which you can swap out with the leather one, as well as a Poké Ball design cloth.

©Nintendo･Creatures･GAME FREAK･TV Tokyo･ShoPro･JR Kikaku　©Pokémon

Major real estate developer Mitsui Fudosan and Mitsui Fudosan Hotel Management will open “sequence SUIDOBASHI,” the third branch of their “sequence” hotel chain, in Chiyoda, Tokyo, on November 25, 2020.

A convenient stay in Tokyo

sequence SUIDOBASHI is just a 1-minute walk from Suidōbashi Station’s JR Line and a 6-minute walk from its Toei Subway-Mita Line. Its convenient location puts it near the Tokyo Dome City entertainment complex where you can enjoy sports events, concerts, an amusement park, and more. It also means easy access to other places like Akihabara, Kagurazaka, and Otemachi.

Suidobashi is home to many office buildings, and so to blend in with its environment, sequence SUIDOBASHI features monotone colouring with chic and sophisticated design.

An easy check-in with facial recognition technology

At the hotel entrance is the facial recognition check-in counter. Guests use an app to register in advance and can use facial recognition or a QR code to self check-in easily. The hotel lobby also has a counter table and DJ booth as well as a cafe counter.

One checked-in, guests can enter the hotel to find their rooms or other facilities throughout the building. sequence SUIDOBASHI is the second branch to incorporate facial recognition, which lets the hotel do everything for you from checking-in to entering your room, following sequence KYOTO GOJO. The hotel chain is also the first in Tokyo to incorporate it.

The concept of “MOMENT”

The hotel is built around the concept of a moment, offering a range of spaces for guests to enjoy different moments like the theatre and the lounge, all of which can be experienced with proper COVID-19 precautionary measures in place.

Bar and dining at KANPAI TERRACE

The hotel’s bar and dining restaurant KANPAI TERRACE has a spacious open terrace where guests can enjoy a selection of sandwiches, French toast, mains and sides for breakfast and lunch. During bar time, pick from a range of alcohols and pair them with various Japanese, Western, and Chinese foods.

SHUNKAN LOUNGE

Up on the 2nd floor is the guest-only “SHUNKAN LOUNGE,” a 40m² mini theatres with an enormous 120-inch screen where guests can enjoy sports, entertainment, and more. They can also take food and drink they bought from KANPAI TERRACE in there.

SHUNKAN LOUNGE also has its own art gallery showcasing art themed on the concept of “MOMENT” from young, up-and-coming artists.

Guest Rooms

There are eight types of rooms to choose from, all of which can accommodate 2+ people. Rooms are compact and functional whether it be for guests’ morning routines or for desk work. The hotel has selected black as the base colour for the backstage area while the bed area uses white which softly illuminates with the light to create a chic contrast in the room design. There are also speckles of orange throughout the room which is the brand’s colour and adds accent to the overall design.

Floors 3-6 and 12 feature bunk bed rooms perfect for friends and families travelling together. The rooms are compact with everything guests need in there including the washrooms with showers and toilets. There’s also a concept room called “Bunk Bed 4 LIVE” which features a projector and BOSE speakers for guests looking for more of a party room.

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Tokyo, why not check out the “next-generation” lifestyle hotel sequence SUIDOBASHI?

To celebrate the 5th anniversary of Hatsune Miku Symphony, three concerts are being held in Japan. The first took place at Suntory Hall for the first time on September 21, the second in Yokohama on October 17, and the third is scheduled to take place tomorrow (November 27) at Festival Hall in Osaka.

Fans unable to attend the final show will be pleased to know that part of the set list from Hatsune Miku Symphony 2019 is also being released tomorrow on Amazon Music HD in Dolby Atmos® format.

Dolby Atmos is a surround sound format that breaks the wall on the limits of mono and stereo sound and allows sounds to be interpreted in 3D, creating an entirely new immersive experience. This will make listening to a show like Hatsune Miku Symphony a true delight to Vocaloid lovers.

Those attending the Osaka concert will be able to listen to Miku Symphony in one of the Amazon Echo Studio booths that will be available at the venue. These booths will also be equipped with Dolby Atmos through Amazon Music HD.

The Yokohama performance that took place on October 17, 2020 is scheduled to be released on Blu-ray on February 3, 2021. It will be available to pre-order at the Osaka show.

Embroidery Art – ¥16,500 (Tax Included) | Acrylic Key Rings (7 Designs) – ¥800 (Tax Included)

A selection of merchandise will be available to buy at the Osaka show including an all-new piece of embroidery art, acrylic key rings, and more. These items will also be available to pick up at Magical Mirai 2020 in OSAKA taking place this weekend (November 28 and 29).

© Crypton Future Media, INC. www.piapro.net

A second promotional video and key visual have been released for the upcoming TV anime series Cells at Work! Code Black. The new series will adapt the Code Black spin-off story of the popular manga series Cells at Work! Kodansha Comics describes the story: “In this new spinoff of the hit manga Cells at Work!, a newbie Red Blood Cell is one of 37 trillion working to keep this body running. But something’s wrong! Stress hormones keep yelling at him to go faster. The blood vessels are crusted over with cholesterol. Ulcers, fatty liver, trouble (ahem) downstairs … It’s hard for a cell to keep working when every day is a CODE BLACK!”

The anime adaptation of Cells at Work! Code Black was first announced back in April in Morning magazine. The new promotional video was revealed on a special program on ABEMA entitled Issho ni “Hataraku Saibou” Station.

2nd key visual

Check out the new promotional video below.

Opening and Ending Theme

Japanese rock band POLYSICS are performing the opening and ending themes for Cells at Work! Code Black. The opening theme has Seiya Yamasaki of Kyuso Nekokami on guest vocals while the ending theme has Junya Enoki and Yōko Hikasa, the latter two of whom voice Red Blood Cell and White Blood Cell respectively in the anime series.

Hiroyuki Hayashi (POLYSICS) | Comment (Excerpt)

“I read the manga several times to write something that captures the black environment of the working cells. We’ve written opening and ending themes for numerous anime series int he past, but this was the first time we really had to be conscious about capturing the story, so it was quite tough . We’re in the coronavirus pandemic right now, so when it came time for us to be able to begin writing again, I really wanted to get our music our there to fans around the country [Japan] again, just like how Red Blood Cell carries oxygen. And we have a guest vocalist, Seiya Yamasaki from Kyuso Nekokami, and I’m thankful to him! Kyuso Nekokami are another band that continue to dash on foward without stopping. They’ve performed with POLYSICS on numerous occasions. We love them. I’m really happy I got to record twin vocals together with Seiya!”

Seiya Yamasaki (Kyuso Nekokami) | Comment (Excerpt)

“I got to work on the opening theme and now the ending theme too. The opening theme was an encouraging kind of track, like let’s work hard with all we’ve got, but the ending theme is more of a, ‘Well, it’s been tough, but let’s press on,’ like dropping an idle grumble at a bar. We also have the Red Blood Cell and White Blood Cell voice actors on board, Junya Enoki and Yōko Hikasa. I hope for everyone who watches this, after they’ve finished a tiring day at work, and they hear the song, it gives them the strength to keep on keeping on. The opening is more “Run!” and the ending is more “Look up and keep going.”

©Shigemitsu Harada・Hatsuyoshiya Issei・Akane Shimizu / Kodansha・CODE BLACK PROJECT

To celebrate one year since opening, the Shibuya PARCO branch of Gucci in Tokyo is collaborating with the Nakameguro-based cassette tape shop waltz from November 20 to December 6.

waltz is a vintage-style boutique with shelves lined with old music and VHS tapes, cassette players, books, vinyl records, fashion and design magazines, stereo equipment, and more. Self-described as the “ultimate destination for retro multi media,” the shop is a real nostalgia trip nostalgia, and is one of 13 Gucci Places alongside places like Chatsworth House in the UK and LACMA in Los Angeles.

Gucci Shibuya PARCO features its own booth where people can listen to old cassette tapes from waltz’s Secret Room. The song selection includes tracks from the 1970’s, which Gucci’s Epilogue collection is inspired by, a playlist created by Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele, and more.

Gucci Shibuya PARCO incorporates Shibuya’s creative and innovative spirit while lacing it with Gucci’s contemporary and eclectic perspective.

Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keiryu Hotel has announced the limited-time opening of its new Hyobaku open-air icefall bath which guests can enjoy this winter from December 18, 2020 to March 22, 2021. The bath overlooks a gorgeous mountain stream, offering an exclusive wintertime view.

Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keiryu Hotel

Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keiryu Hotel stands alone near the the picturesque Oirase Keiryu mountain stream which lets guests immerse themselves in the undisturbed serenity of nature. The hotel lobby features a grand fireplace created by Japanese artist Taro Okamoto.

The Icefall Bath

Icefalls are created when glaciers flow over a steep drop. The 14km Oirase Keiryu mountain stream is made up of 14 waterfalls which give rise to icecalls of various shapes and sizes. When light shines through them they turn a striking ice blue, something only visible during winter. The hotel has been offering the icefall bath service since 2017 to allow guests to see the icefall themselves, in the comfort of a warm bath, when the waterfalls freeze.

The Icefall Created Over Time

The waterfalls begin to freeze in early December which gradually gives rise to the icefall. The harsh cold allows the water to freeze and layer bit by bit overtime which. By mid January, the frozen waterfalls stand 3.5m high and 16cm accross. The icefall is ever-changing as its shape changes depending on the temperature, wind, and light shining through.

Experience an outdoor hot spring experience like never before in Japan during winter at Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keiryu Hotel.

SK8 the Infinity is an upcoming original anime series produced and animated by Bones (My Hero Academia; Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood) and directed by Hiroko Utsumi (Free!; Banana Fish). It will air on January 9, 2021 on ABC TV and TV Asashi.

A commercial was released for the series which includes the opening theme Paradise by Rude-α who is known for having performed the Dr. STONE anime ending theme LIFE. Check it out below.

Paradise will be released digitally on January 10, 2021, the day after the anime broadcasts. It will subsequently be released on CD on February 10 with a Limited Pressing Edition featuring exclusive anime cover art. The full track will also be played early on Japanese radio starting today (November 26).

SK8 the Infinity’s official website has also now posted the character description page in Japanese..

©Bones・Hiroko Utsumi／Project SK∞

gelato pique cafe in Japan is celebrating the holiday season with a series of ‘WHITE CHRISTMAS’ themed crepes and soft serve ice creams until December 27.

The cafe is a branch of the loungewear brand gelato pique. It aims to create desserts for adults. This Christmas, it is serving up some holiday special crepes and ice creams.

Strawberry Shortcake Crepe | ¥880 (Before Tax)

A fat crepe stuffed with strawberries and adorned in a way that’s just like a shortcake. It contains not only strawberries, but raspberries, and cream. The whole wheat biscuit adds texture to the crepe so it’s delicious to the last bite.

Pique Bear Crepe | ¥1,180 (Before Tax) *Limited quantity served each day

A snowy, all-white crepe made with sweet strawberries, milk gelato, and whole wheat biscuit. It’s topped with a cute white chocolate bear.

Holiday Special Soft Creams – From Left: Strawberry Custard, Rich Milk, Mix | ¥450 Each (Before Tax)

The strawberry custard ice cream is made with smooth, sweet, and rich custard cream and strawberry for a melt-in-the-mouth combination. The rich milk ice cream is a mix of refreshing milk and rich vanilla. The mix option combines both of these flavours which results in a real mouth-watering treat.

If you’re in Japan this holiday season, don’t miss out on these delightful desserts.

BAND-MAID have announced that their fourth studio album Unseen World will release on January 20, 2021. It will be released in three versions: the Limited Pressing Edition, First Press Limited Edition, and Regular Edition.

Each edition of the new record will include 14 songs, but two will feature exclusive tracks. Their new song Youth will feature on Limited Pressing Edition copies only, while the instrumental track without holding back, which is one played at their live shows, will be on Regular Edition copies only. Additionally, the Limited Pressing Edition comes with two discs with different themes: one being ‘going back to the roots’ and the other ‘evolving here and now.’

Unseen World cover art

The band members also made a collage of their fingers for the album’s cover art to create a truly ‘unseen world.’

Fans in Japan who buy the album can get their hands on a selection of seven different pieces merchandise depending on where they pick it up from, including items with an Unseen World logo created by band member SAIKI. These are all available on a first-come, first-served basis.

BAND-MAID will perform their third online Serving (concert) to fans around the world on December 13, 2020. They are set to perform Different for the first time, a new single being released on December 2. They will also stream their concert at the Nippon Budokan live in 2021. Until then, you can enjoy the archive of their performance from back on July 23, 2020.