The 13th iteration of the BT21 Cafe will open at six venues in five cities around Japan. Fans in Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, and Sapporo will want to visit this exclusive event titled ~MAGICAL TIME~. The first cafe opens in Shibuya on November 3. In celebration of BT21’s 5th anniversary, this special cafe is filled with joy and excitement and aims to give fans the best possible experience.

Cafe Menu

Magical Tea Time Set

Food Plate

Food Plate (7 varieties)

Dessert Plate

Dessert Plate (7 varieties)

Drinks

Magical Milk Tea

Black Tea

Iced Coffee / Hot Coffee

Original Goods

Acrylic Keychain (7 varieties, Random)

Acrylic Clip (7 varieties, Random)

Satin Sticker (7 varieties)

Clear Folder (2 varieties)

Handkerchief (7 varieties)

Tote Bag

Mug

Masking Tape / Balloon on a Stick

Dolomite Coaster (2 varieties) / Mirror (2 varieties)

[Online Store Exclusive] Acrylic Keychain (7 varieties, Random)

The cafe’s new menu includes afternoon tea, perfect for warming the body and soul during the cold winter months. The colorful food items and desserts are sure to be a hit on social media, and fans will enjoy the Magical Milk Tea and other dishes inspired by the popular BT21 characters.

In addition to new merchandise and bonuses featuring newly-drawn art, a photo spot will welcome guests to the cafe and invite them to celebrate this five-year milestone. 

Why not take a break from everyday life to enjoy a magical time with these cute characters?

©BT21

The Grand Front Osaka mall has announced an incredible Christmas celebration in collaboration with the magical world of Harry Potter! Fans will want to visit the massive shopping center between November 10 and December 25 to take part in the festivities.

Standard Decorations

Showtime Decorations

Harry Potter-Inspired Decorations

The highlight of the event is the 13-meter-tall Christmas Tree, which will be set up on the first floor of the mall’s North Building. The tree will be decorated with Harry Potter-inspired ornaments like moving staircases and window frames, which will look as though they are floating in the air. At night, a light show will take place around the tree, complete with projections inspired by the four houses of Hogwarts. 

Decorated Ted E. Bear

Stamp Rally Card

House Flag Decorations

Tully’s Coffee and Harry Potter Collaboration Goods and Menu

Special Harry Potter-themed decorations will be attached to many trees in the area around the nearby Umekita Plaza, and fans can also find a Harry Potter panel exhibition. An Instagram photo campaign will be held in which visitors can enter to win collab merch, so don’t miss out!

Come make some magical memories at this Harry Potter event in Osaka this winter.

Today, luxury brand Montblanc launched a new collaboration collection with the popular anime and manga series Naruto. Items from the collection are available to purchase worldwide.

Since its release 20 years ago, Naruto has captured the hearts of fans around the world with its inspiring story and beloved characters. The designs featured in the new collection feature illustrations of the character printed in dynamic poses. The collection features everything from leather goods to writing instruments. 

The new items highlight Naruto’s relationship with his mentor Jiraiya, stressing the importance of mentors and knowledge. The brushstroke-like curves on each piece emphasize the anime style, and all bags come in a refined black color with orange accents.

To celebrate the launch of this collaboration, a special short anime was created to highlight the power of writing and communication. The brief animation shows Jiraiya reflecting on Naruto’s journey and the ample advice he passed down while focusing on what’s important in life. Meanwhile, Naruto uses a fountain pen to write down what it really means to be a ninja.

The collection also features a new edition of Montblanc’s iconic Meisterstück. The special-edition fountain pen features a Hidden Leaf Village motif in gold with a matching nib and a ruthenium-coated embellishment.

A special pop-up store is open on the first floor of Hankyu Men’s Osaka until October 18. By snapping a photo of the collaboration products and posting it on social media with the hashtag #MontblancXNaruto, fans can snag an original Montblanc x Naruto memory card game. Additionally, those making a purchase will get an original furoshiki!

Whether you’re a fan of Naruto or a fan of Montblanc’s goods, this collaboration might be impossible to pass up.

The #KuromifyTheWorld campaign is already one year old! Created to share the adorable Sanrio character Kuromi with the world, fans will be invited to celebrate this milestone from October 20 until October 31 with special events in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya. 

Kuromi’s Drink Stand will be open for a limited time in Tokyo and Osaka. Customers will be invited to choose the color of their drink according to their mood, and will also be able to customize it with tags, acrylic stands, and stickers! An original photo spot will also be set up beside each drink stand, and those wanting to attend can enter the lottery to win tickets now. 

Sanrio’s first and largest Kuromi ad truck will also be driving through the streets of Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka during the event week. 

Kuromi will also be teaming up with (G)I-DLE, a popular five-member global idol group from South Korea. Campaigns are planned to appear in Hangzhou, Suzhou, Taiwan, Korea, North America, and Europe.

Kuromi ranked in the top three in this year’s Sanrio Character Awards, and her popularity is steadily growing with Gen-Z. Keep an eye out for more Kuromi-inspired events in the future!

To promote the 2025 Osaka Expo, hundreds of drones and thousands of fireworks lit up the sky at the planned site for the event. SKYMAGIC LIVE PTE. LTD., known for creating original shows using drones, put on the show on Yumeshima, a man-made island in Osaka’s Konohana Ward on September 25, 2022. The event was the first large-scale outdoor drone show in the Kansai region, with 800 LED-equipped drones flying through the night sky. 

Nearly 15,000 visitors were in attendance at this spectacular event. The event aims to promote a hopeful future in which Japan thrives after the impact of the pandemic, and also aims to promote the upcoming Expo to people around the world. 45,000 fireworks were set off, marking one of the largest fireworks displays in Japan. Launched to rid the area of bad luck, guests will likely never forget the unique display of futuristic technology and traditional fireworks. 

As the fireworks show began, countless drones took off one after another into the sky. As many would expect, Myak Myak, the official character of the Osaka/Kansai Expo, appeared above the crowd, standing 135 meters tall and 80 meters wide. A countdown to the Expo appeared after, with the Let’s Go Expo 2025 logo shining in the sky, made entirely by synchronized drones.

Archived live footage of the event is also available. 

Ryota Shirahama, chairman of the event’s organizing committee, made a comment regarding the impressive event. “Japan’s resurgence is about to begin,” he said. “The world has been looking down, and we want it to look up. We want people to look towards the future–that’s the goal of this project. Yes, there was a pandemic. But like the phoenix seen during the drone show, we can start over. I hope that those who saw the show will be inspired to take a new step forward.” 

NAKED and Ryotaro Muramatsu’s interactive art installation, the DANDELION PROJECT, is coming to Umeda, Osaka. The project aims to connect people around the world, stressing the importance of world peace. Those wanting to participate may do so from October 7 until October 9 at Umekita Sotoniwa Square. 

In July 2020, Umekita Sotoniwa SQUARE opened under a unique premise–it would be open for 1,000 days only. The outdoor area was inspired by cities of the future, featuring plenty of green space. The DANDELION PROJECT fits in perfectly with this concept, using modern technology and networking to create art that also serves as a universal prayer for peace. This is the second time the work has been exhibited in Osaka–it was shown in Nakanoshima during the Osaka Hikari no Renaissance 2021 event last December.

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. So far, it has appeared in 25 locations–19 in Japan and six abroad. In Japan, it has popped up at Tokyo Tower, Nijo Castle, and other historical sites. Abroad, it has been shown in Paris, Singapore, San Francisco, and Shanghai. The piece aims to bring about change 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. 

The exhibition will also be a satellite venue for NAKED GARDEN ONE KYOTO, a next-gen art project allowing guests to experience Kyoto virtually from September 15 until December 25, 2022.

Street Fighter II will collaborate with a commercial facility for the first time in history! The beloved fighting game will take over Abeno Q’s Mall in Osaka from October 1 until October 31, 2022. Popular characters from the game will appear all over the premises, and visitors will be able to take part in unique games to win exclusive prizes. 

There are also a number of interesting challenges that will pop up around Abeno Q’s Mall. At the entrance, visitors will be greeted by Ryu and Ken, the main characters from Street Fighter II, as they unleash their Hadouken. Guests will be able to take pictures with Ryu with a special AR Photo Spot, and characters and stages from the title will appear around the mall. A participatory game event, Street Fighter Challenge, will be available for customers spending ¥3,000 or more (including tax). These customers will actually be able to test their Street Fighter skills, with winners winning a ¥500 yen mall gift card if they are victorious. Fans of the fighting game won’t want to miss this unique event!

A special exhibition commemorating the 90th birthday of Rune Naito will be held at the Hanshin department store in Osaka from October 19 until October 31. Titled ‘Roots of Kawaii,’ the event will look back at the life of the esteemed artist, illustrator, writer, and designer. Known for his illustrations of large-headed baby-faced girls, he first became interested in art after discovering the works of Jun’ichi Nakahara, joining Nakahara’s company after graduating high school. In 1959, Naito got his big break, designing the cover of the girls’ magazine Junior Soleil. Following this, Naito would become active as an illustrator for a number of magazines, and from the 1960s on, he began other activities, even producing a line of commercial goods from glassware to stickers. 

The exhibition’s theme is ‘Life’s fantastic dreams,’ and over 300 items will be on display, including rare original drawings, goods, personal sketches, and more. The event will be held in celebration of Rune Naito’s birthday on November 20, and will also feature a special shop. Admission is ¥1,000 for adults, ¥700 for high school and college students, and free for junior high school students and younger. Discounts are available by preordering tickets. For details and tickets, check out the official website.

From September 30 until October 2, 2022, artist Sebastian Masuda will present a hands-on live performance work titled Polychromatic Skin – Minitsukeru, nugisuteru at kagoo in Kitakagaya, Osaka. 

Masuda, who currently resides in New York, is returning to Japan temporarily to prevent this colorful and experimental participatory live performance, inspired by the street style of the 90s. The title of the artwork is pulled from the artist’s intention to break through and liberate people’s unconscious stereotypes that stand in the way of gender freedom. This work is the second in a series following Polychromatic Skin -Gender Tower- and Polychromatic Skin -Gender Wall- to be exhibited at Roppongi Art Night 2022.

The theme of this art piece is ‘wearing something by taking it off.’ Audience members will participate in the live performance by wearing masks, tops, and bottoms based on the idea of androgyny, or the body of a human before it is divided into male or female. 

Upon entering the art space, guests will be surrounded by live music consisting of drums and violins and visuals, while being invited to act accordingly to create their own art. Each session lasts 60 minutes, and participation in the live performance must be reserved in advance. Tickets to view the works without participating in the performance will be sold at the venue on the day of the event.

The performance will take place at kagoo, a former warehouse space in Kitakagaya, an artistic area of Osaka. A free area at the entrance will feature a pop-up store filled with Sebastian Masuda’s art, along with items from 6%DOKIDOKI, a popular Harajuku apparel brand celebrating its 27th anniversary in 2022.

<Comment from Sebastian Masuda>

“In Brooklyn, New York in 2018, I wandered off to go to the restroom at a club. The male and female signs on the restroom doors had been smashed together, and the sign only said ‘non-gender.’ Bewildered by the unexpected instructions, I opened the door with the usual color and found a completely different sight than I was expecting. Shocked to realize that there were stereotypes hiding unconsciously within me, I returned to the club floor to find the space is as fun as ever. Since then, I’ve wondered if there is a way to break the stereotypes I have. I can’t stop thinking about it. 

Is breaking down the walls the only shortcut?
The right answer is inside all of us.
Sometimes, to see the truth, you just need to put something on.
Cast off the self by taking it off.”

From September 22 until October 3, fans of Miffy will want to head to Hankyu Osaka-Umeda Station! Some tasty collaboration sweets will be available at the station, including some scrumptious cheesecake.

As part of the ongoing collaboration between Miffy and the Hankyu Railway, a new Cheesecake Bar will be available at the Dick Bruna TABLE POP-UP SHOP at Osaka-Umeda Station, which will be open for a limited time. This is a dream collaboration between the very popular Miffy Cheesecake Bar at Dick Bruna TABLE Kobe, a wine bar and cafe where fans can enjoy wine and food along with Dick Bruna’s world-famous illustrations, and the maroon color of the Hankyu Railway. Rich cheesecake and blackcurrant will be sold in sets of two, and sweets lovers won’t want to miss it.

How could you not want to try these tasty Miffy goods?

Last year, Chiikawa Land, the first official Chiikawa shop, opened at the Harajuku and Osaka Umeda branches of KIDDYLAND. Both locations will celebrate the 1st anniversary of the shop’s opening with a special fair on August 5, 2022.

Chiikawa is a popular character first revealed by Japanese illustrator Nagano on Twitter. In December 2020, the official online store Chiikawa Market opened, and Nagano released a book compiling the manga panels they drew and posted on Twitter. The characters have become massively popular, with the artist’s social media accounts racking up over 1.1 million followers. From collaboration cafes and exhibitions to a recent anime series, the sky’s the limit for these adorable characters!

Purchase Bonus

「Holographic Sticker (Not for Sale) *Designs will differ between the Harajuku and Osaka Umeda locations.

Holographic Pin (Not for Sale) / For guests spending ¥3,300 or more (including tax)

Picnic Blanket (Not for Sale) / For guests spending ¥5,500 or more (including tax)

Mug (Not for Sale) / For guests spending ¥8,800 or more (including tax)

Limited Edition Chiikawa Land Harajuku x Marion Crepes Collab

Limited Edition Chiikawa Land Harajuku x Marion Crepes Goods

Chiikawa Land Osaka Umeda Limited Edition Goods

Both the Harajuku and Osaka Chiikawa Land locations are visited by fans each day, and each store has developed unique products to celebrate the first anniversary.

The Chiikawa Land Harajuku location will offer products in collaboration with Marion Crepes, while the Osaka Umeda location will sell limited edition products featuring the characters in cute traditional costumes. Special bonuses will also be handed out to guests spending particular amounts, so why not come out and grab some new goods?

©nagano / chiikawa committee

Art collective teamLab will open a permanent nighttime exhibition at the Nagai Botanical Garden in Osaka starting July 29, 2022. On-site video footage shows off several new works, such as Sculptures of Dissipative Birds in the Wind, a digital work impacted by the environment. Birds flying around the work and the wind’s strength impact how the art moves.

Life is Flickering Light Floating in Darkness – Sunflowers

In summer, 20,000 sunflowers bloom in the Life Garden, where seasonal flowers are transformed into an interactive space filled with illumination. This was opened to the public for a limited time to celebrate the exhibition’s opening and will be open until August 5.

The Nagai Botanical Garden covers 240,000 square meters and is home to roughly 1,200 species of plants. teamLab has transformed the space, with the digital art pieces changing according to the behavior of guests. 

In the future, teamLab plans to introduce seasonal works, making use of plants that bloom in spring, summer, fall, and winter.

Resonating Microcosms in the Common Camellia Garden – Liquified Light Color, Sunrise and Sunset

Floating Resonating Lamps on Oike Lake

teamLab’s art project Digitized Nature explores how nature can become art. The concept of the project is that non-material digital technology can turn nature into art without harming it.

Field of Light Color – Muhlenbergia Capillaris

teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka is a botanical garden by day and an art space by night. The art space transforms interactively, influenced by wind and rain, as well as by the behavior of the people and birds in it. People become a part of the artworks along with nature, and a part of the long continuity of time. The artworks, people, and nature; the self and others; the past, present, and future; all form a continuity without boundaries.

Come soothe your soul in the heart of Osaka.

©チームラボ