Japanese character goods and toy chain KIDDYLAND is collaborating with San-X, the creators of the iconic Rilakkuma and its friends, to open the Chairoikogumarché, a market themed on Chairoikoguma, at KIDDYLAND Osaka Umeda. It will be open for a limited time this spring from March 11 to 25.

Chairoikoguma is a popular honey-loving bear character created by San-X who lives in the Honey Forest. This year marks the 5th anniversary since its debut.

In 2018 and 2019, San-X opened the limited-time Korilakkuma Meets Chairoikoguma Store which was hugely popular amongst Rilakkuma fans, with repeat buyers returning multiple times. Chairoikogumarché was originally scheduled to open at KIDDYLAND Osaka Umeda in April 2020, but it was postponed and will now open next month. Once they book their attendance, fans can look forward to laying their eyes on original Chairoikoguma artwork coupled with phrases spoken in the Kansai dialect. There will be exclusive items to purchase, merch pre-sales, bonus goodies, and more.

Merchandise Line-Up Excerpt

Charm Set | ¥1,320 (Tax Included)

Mask Case | ¥660 (Tax Included)

Pre-Sale Merchandise

Pre-Sale Release: March 11, 2021

*This product will be released for general sale at Rilakkuma Stores in Japan, excluding the Osaka Umeda branch, on March 13.

Chairoikogumarché & Nakayoshi Plush Toy (Sakuranokorisu) | ¥3,080 (Tax Included)

*Not available at Rilakkuma Store Umeda Osaka. Pre-sale exclusive to Chairoikogumarché.

*Will also be released on San-X’s online shop.

Pre-Sale Release: March 11, 2021

*This product will be released for general sale at all Rilakkuma Stores in Japan on April 3, 2021.

Long Plush Pillow | ¥6,600 (Tax Included)

Mini Shoulder Bag | ¥5,500 (Tax Included)

*Will also be released on San-X’s online shop.

Bonus Items

1. Customers who spend over ¥3,000 (tax included) at Chairoikogumarché will receive a random free zipper case from a possible two designs. First-come, first-served.

*One per person, per transaction. Design chosen randomly.

*Available while supplies last.

*Will be released at all Rilakkuma Stores except the Osaka Umeda branch on March 13.

2. Customers who spend over ¥5,000 (tax included) at Chairoikogumarché will receive a free tote bag. First-come, first-served.

*One per person, per transaction. Design chosen randomly.

*Available while supplies last.

©2021 SAN-X CO., LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Japanese snack company Keishindo recently launched a new series of shrimp senbei rice crackers called “Ajiwau Wa” (The Taste of Japan). The snacks are deep in flavour, arriving in almond, cheese, and chocolate.

The Line-Up

Kongari Ebi Cheese (Contains 6) | ¥648 (Tax Included)

The shrimp crackers are topped with cheese and baked. The charred cheese brings out the flavour of the shrimp even more.

Ebi Almond (Contains 6) | ¥648 (Tax Included)

A rich and crunchy rice cracker made with in-house roasted almonds. With every bite comes more and more umami goodness.

Kutsurogi Yaki Chocolate (Contains 6) | ¥756 (Tax Included)

A harmony of sourness and sweetness delightfully adorns this chocolatey treat. The contrasting flavours results in a complex taste that could be called a completely new flavour.

Seasonal Kutsurogi Yaki Chocolate Strawberry | ¥756 (Tax Included)

Similar to the regular chocolate version but combined with sweet strawberry which gives the crackers a pink appearance.甘

Ajiwau Aji Assortment (Contains 9) | ¥1,080

Spring is arriving early at Tokyo Solamachi where shops and restaurants will be serving up their own cherry blossom themed desserts and dishes from March 1.

The Line-Up: A Delectable Excerpt

Vibrant Cherry Blossom Desserts Welcome Spring

Hanami Soft | ¥800

Where: Gion Tsujiri (East Yard Floor 6F)

Serving: March 1, 2021 – April 30, 2021

Feel the warm breeze of Japanese hanami with a parfait serving of cherry blossom bavarian cream and jelly, Uji match soft serve ice cream, cherry blossom chocolate, white flour dango dumplings, high quality red bean paste, wafer, and other little assorted treats.

Sakura Mochi Flavoured Spring Pancakes | ¥935

Where: Coconoha (West Yard Floor 4F)

Serving: March 1, 2021 – April 11, 2021

Coconoha’s popular fluffy pancakes topped livingly with cherry blossom ice cream, chewy white flour dumplings, and sweet red bean paste.

Takeout Cherry Blossom Food

Sakura Sushi | Takeout ¥2,138, Eat-In ¥2,178

Where: Kirby Cafe Tokyo (East Yard 4F)

Serving: From March 19, 2021

A picnic serving of six springtime sushi rolls decorated with Kirby references which comes in a cute lunchbox.

Cherry Blossom Lassi | ¥520

Where: AMARI DELI (West Yard Floor 2F)

Serving: March 1, 2021 – April 11, 2021

A cherry blossom lassi in full bloom with fluffy whipped cream and finished with sprinkles of pink-coloured chocolate.

Cute Spring Cherry Blossom Snacks

Financier Sandwich Box – Sakura & Matcha | ¥1,500 (Contains 4)

Where: Afternoon Tea Room (East Yard Floor 3F)

Serving: February 25, 2021 – April 21, 2021

An assortment of two financier cakes: the Sakura Financier Sandwich which is cherry blossom flavoured and filled with white chocolate, roasted walnuts, and strawberry flakes, and the Matcha Financier Sandwich which is filled with milk chocolate, roasted walnuts, and pistachio. Available while supplies last.

Restaurant Menus Beckon Hanami

Spring Roast Beef Nigiri & Cherry Blossom Dashi Kishimen Noodles | ¥1,380

Where: Sugimoto (East Yard Floor 6F)

Serving: March 1, 2021 – April 11, 2021

Roast beef sushi rolls made with Nagoya Owari beef and served with slightly-salted flat kishimen noodles served in a cherry blossom flavoured broth. Limited to 10 servings per day.

This is just a sampled look at what’s to come at Tokyo Solamachi this spring – if you’re in Tokyo for the cherry blossom season, be sure to visit!

Starting this month, Laforet Harajuku is readying itself for Spring 2021 with the rollout of items by high-end brands and shops, all with an audience in mind who simply love culture regardless of their age or gender. This spring will see the opening of Lois CRAYON, a brand that emphasises individuality and will be celebrating its 50th anniversary next year, as well as “circle in circle,” a new spot that will serve as a gathering place for a variety of clothing brands like l’atelier du savon, CHILD WOMAN, and more.

Laforest will also welcome LOVE PIECE CLUB to Tokyo for the first time, a shop which opened as Japan’s first centring on Femtech. It offers a variety of items to help support women’s health through technology.

AIR will offer a diverse wardrobe of unisex items from popular street brands such as REVENGE STORM, STARWALK, THEATER8, and more. CHOA ONNI is exhibiting South Korean culture like wearing K-pop idol clothes to take photos, and ovgo B.A.K.E.R is serving up vegan food and gluten-free cookies.

Public toilets will display photos by photography unit Toki to Yamikaya and Alexander Julian.


March 6 | New Store Opening
《Floor 1F》Lois CRAYON

4.23| New Store Opening
《Floor 3.5F》circle in circle

March 26 | New Store Opening
《Floor B0.5F》LOVE PIECE CLUB

February 11 | New Store Opening

《Floor 3F》『　　　　』AIR

February 25 | New Store Opening
《Floor B0.5F》ME’VE the store
　

March 12 | New Store Opening
《Floor B0.5F》

February 25 | New Store Opening
《Floor 5F》SpRay/Libby&Rose

February 25 | New Store Opening
《Floor B1F》CHOA ONNI

March 6 – April 4 | New Store Opening
《Floor 2F》ovgo B.A.K.E.R

《Floor B1F》Women’s & Men’s Gallery Toilets

 Toki with Alexander Julian

Alexander Julian
Yamikaya / FLOWER PUSHER

■Laforet Harajuku 2021 SS Promo Visual

Laforet Harajuku’s Spring/Summer 2021 promo visual was created by Japanese art director Uenishi Yuri. Following the Autumn/Winter 2020 theme, Uenishi has conceived a new concept: ‘CHARGE.’ This theme focuses on the roots of plants that spread underground, with the yellow colour used in the visual reminiscent of electricity or lightning flashes.

Sugar Butter Tree, a shop by Grapestone that specialises in cereal sweets, released its new Strawberry Chocolate Sandwich at all branches of Sugar Butter Tree on February 15.

A Limited-Time Treat Made With Seasonal Japanese Strawberries

This strawberry-loaded biscuit is sold by Sugar Butter Tree every year. It’s made with only the best picked springtime strawberries to create a delicious chocolatey snack. If you love strawberries, then this is a treat for you.

Sugar Butter Tree Strawberry Chocolate Sandwich: Pack of 5 – ¥648 / Pack of 8 – ¥1,080 / Pack of 12 – ¥1,620 (Tax Included)

Milky, melt-in-the-mouth strawberry goodness

The chocolate ‘sandwich’ contains crunchy milk cream with a delicious sugar butter scent. This is wrapped in a strawberry chocolate coating, making for a mix of sweet and tangy.

Looks cute on the table served with tea

The design theme for the biscuit is “strawberry teatime.” Its pastel colour makes for a cute serving snack served with a cup of tea.

Japan’s egg tart chain Andrew’s Eggtart is baking up some special handmade strawberry tarts this spring made with fresh strawberries farmed in Japan.

Spring Strawberry | ¥380 (Before Tax)

The tarts are triple-layered with a strawberry compote, strawberry cream, and an in-house original custard cream. Each tart is finished with fresh cuts of succulent strawberry to finish, adding a fruity flavour to the sweet treat.

Minnie’s Day is set to fall in Japan on March 2, so to celebrate, Walt Disney Japan is getting in on the festivities nice and early by announcing the release of a new Minnie Mouse merchandise collection, called the “Disney ARTIST COLLECTION by Kelly Park,” which will be officially released at Disney stores in Japan on February 23. Pre-sales will also roll out at select stores and Disney Japan’s online store shopDisney from February 19.

©Disney

©Disney

Plushie ¥3,300 / Makeup Brush Set ¥2,640 / Tote Bag ¥2,090 / Room Fragrance ¥4,180 / iPhone Case (iPhone 11) ¥3,520 / Mirror ¥2,420 / Ballpoint Pen & Notebook Set ¥1,980 – (Prices Include Tax)

©Disney

nuiMOs Plushie ¥2,750 (Tax Included)

Kelly Park is an artist that is enjoying immense popularity in South Korea right now. Their new “Disney ARTIST COLLECTION by Kelly Park” is an exclusive release in collaboration with Disney Store.

The line-up is a celebration of all things Minnie Mouse for her big day, aptly named “Minnie’s Day,” on March 2. Vibrant blue is the main colour for the collection which Kelly Park has created to support fellow dreamers out there – those who have big hopes and aspirations in their everyday lives. The designs are bright, beautiful, and full of positivity, making them a perfect pick for the coming spring season. Minnie fans can feel fresh this spring season with fahsion items, accessories, stationery, a variety of lifestyle goods, and more.

Disney’s popular nuiMOs plushie range will welcome an exclusive new Minnie Mouse plushie on February 26 which features the date “March 2, 2021” on it for Minnie’s Day. It also comes with a pin. These plushies are limited-edition and only 320 will be sold – a number that of course aligns with March 2.

Celebrate the day of the original Disney Princess with the new Disney ARTIST COLLECTION by Kelly Park.

Japanese goods brand amie, which is managed by the same company that runs the popular online anime and hobby site Amiami, is set to host a collaboration between the popular mobile game HELIOS Rising Heroes and Harajuku’s quintessential crepe shop Marion Crêpes in Tokyo and Osaka from April 24 to May 9.

HELIOS Rising Heroes x Marion Crêpes 

The collaboration will see crepes inspired by the characters from HELIOS Rising Heroes. There’s also some free novelties prepared for those who purchase any of the crepes.

A special illustration of Marion Blythe as well as Faith Beams, whose birthday fell on February 14, has also been drawn specially for this collaboration. 16 of the heroes from the mobile game have also been illustrated in Marion Crêpes staff uniforms which can be seen in-store. Fans can also get their hands on a variety of collab merch, and an in-game event is currently taking place.

Don’t miss this special collaboration between HELIOS Rising Heroes and Marion Crêpes.

©2019 Happy Elements K.K

Japanese cake website Cake.jp is celebrating Japan’s annual Hinamatsuri festival this year by stocking a range of themed cakes and sweets by famous confectionery stores in the country.

Hinamatsuri, also known as Doll’s Day, is an annual Japanese festival to pray for the health and wellbeing of female children. Cake.jp has a very special line-up of around 100 sweet treats ready for enjoyment with cute motifs like unicorns and traditional Hinamatsuri dolls.

Hinamatsuri 2021: Hinamatsuri Unicorn

Hinamatsuri 2021: Hinamatsuri-Exclusive Chiffon Cakes

Hinamatsuri 2021: Yogurt Cake

Hinamatsuri 2021: Hinamatsuri-Exclusive Flower Cupcakes

This is just a select look at some of the delicious cakes on offer – visit Cake.jp to see the full line-up!

It’s time to strip down and relax as Japanese company NAKED announces that its ‘NAKED NIGHT SAUNA’ event, which is being held as part of its ‘NAKED SAUNA & SPA’ project, will take place atop Tokyo Tower from March 12 to 14. Visitors will also receive a relaxation drink called ‘CHILL OUT’ in collaboration with Endian.

NAKED SAUNA & SPA is a sauna project launched by NAKED in November 2020 to promote equilibrium of the senses. The first event was held in the village of Achi in Nagano Prefecture which is known for being Japan’s best location for enjoying the starry night sky. The second event was themed around the concept ‘Art of Meditation.’ It was held in Ariake and had visitors becoming one with nature as they sat under the expanse of Tokyo’s night sky to enjoy every gleaming speck that twinkled above them. It was an opportunity for busy city workers to reset and recalibrate.

Now, the project is set to host its third event in collaboration with Tokyo Tower. Visitors can enjoy towering above the capital’s city streets as they enjoy a sauna experience inside exclusive tents. It will be a fusion of analogue and technology as people enjoy sitting by the fire, smoking shisha, and gazing at mist that will be pumped and illuminations that will be lit to create atmosphere. Of course, this entire event will be held in accordance with government guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Social distancing will be enforced which will include a drive-through system so you don’t come into contact with people, and all visitors will have their own tents (groups of 4 max), and all tent saunas will be separated with partitions.

The tent saunas that will be used are MORZH SKY, a type of tent with a transparent roof made by the Russian tent company MORZH. They are provided by Sauna Camp.Inc. The tents are fitted with a stove and chimney so visitors can adjust the temperature to their liking.

To attend the event, you must register to the Facebook online community NAKED SAUNA CLUB and fill out the form that will be made available there on March 1 and 2. A select number of visitors will be chosen at random on March 3 and winners will be contacted directly on March 4 with further instructions.

If you’re in Tokyo this March, then don’t miss out on a chance to kick back and unwind up Tokyo Tower with a sauna treat.

Kobe-Sanda Premium Outlets, an outdoor shopping centre in Hyogo, is having a strawberry-loaded time with a selection of desserts made with strawberries harvested in Sanda as well as a market themed on strawberries. The event is taking place from February 12 to March 21.

The line-up doesn’t shy away from strawberries in anyway, with the sweet and succulent red gems being used for crepes, pancakes, pizzas, drinks, and more.

The Sandai Ichigo Marche arrives for the first time at Kobe-Sanda Premium Outlets where visitors can buy whole bunches of strawberries of different types directly from the harvesters. It is being held on February 13 and 14 and March 13 and 14. And you can’t have a strawberry festival in Japan without enjoying a strawberry daifuku either, kindly provided by the old-time Sanda-based confectionery store Matsuedo.

Sanda Strawberry Menu (Prices Include Tax)

The menu features a line-up of desserts made with numerous strawberry varieties gathered in Sanda, such as the akihime and benihoppe. Each is made by different participating shops.

Tana Forno

Sanda Benihoppe Chocolate S’mores Pizza – ¥748 / Strawberry Squash – Single ¥550, Set ¥495

The dessert pizza is a perfect combination of benihoppe strawberry and chocolate.

Delifrance

Kobe-Sanda Strawberry Anpan – ¥300

Moist sweet bread with low-sugar coarse sweet bean paste, whipped cream, and strawberries.

Canvas

Sanda Strawberry Mixed Berry Crepe – ¥649

A triple whammy of strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries decorate this crepe.

Kua’aina

Strawberry Pancake Brûlée – ¥930

A pancake brûlée loaded with strawberries.

Crazy Crepes

Sanda Strawberry Crazy Ichigo – ¥750

Enjoy the natural flavours of the strawberries as they are without any additions like chocolate.

Sandai Ichigo Marche

At the Sandai Ichigo Marche, visitors can buy strawberries, vegetables, strawberry daifuku, and more. It’s a celebration of all things Sanda.

Running: February 13, 2021 / February 14, 2021 / March 13, 2021 / March 14, 2021
Time: 11:00-15:00 (While supplies last)
Location: Garden Court (Will move under the galleria in front of the food gallery if it rains)

Enjoy the delicious taste of seasonal strawberries grown in the lush environment of the Rokkō Mountains.

Six branches of the hugely-popular PEANUTS Cafe in Japan are welcoming a collection of tasty new seasonal menu items this Saturday which are set to be served until March 14.

The Limited-Time Line-Up

Brownie Charles’s Brownie Chocolat | ¥950 (Before Tax)

Strawberry Whipped Hot Chocolate | Eat In ¥750 – Takeout ¥700 (Before Tax)

The collection includes a chocolate brownie inspired by the scene when Charlie Brown meets Peggy Jean for the first time. He is very nervous and mistakenly introduces himself as “Brownie Charlies.” There’s also a sweet strawberry hot chocolate topped with a squirt of whipped cream and drizzle of strawberry sauce.

(C) 2021 Peanuts Worldwide LLC