Are you aware of Sanrio’s “Enjoy Idol Series”? For idol fans, it’s an essential part of your concert trip for the ultimate experience.

Uchiwa Fan Case (10 Varieties): ¥880 (After Tax)

A cute case to protect your precious uchiwa fan from damage. You can even stick it on your wall!

Concert Confetti Storage Keyring (10 Varieties): ¥550 Each (After Tax)

Want to keep living the memory of confetti bursting out from the sky at that concert? Store one in this keyring!

Idol uchiwa fans. If you’re in Japan, you’ll have definitely seen these around – a round fan bearing a large picture of an artist or idol in the centre. From cute Sanrio-themed items to decorate your idol concert merchandise to even a keyring that preserves concert confetti, Sanrio’s Enjoy Idol Series is full of must-have items for concert-going idol fans. However, there seems to be no other secondary use of these items that cater to the non-concert-goer. What a niche market.

Fan Memory Notebook: ¥550 Each (After Tax)

This is an easy way to keep your notes on activities you do to support your idols.

Just how much do idol fans love these items? After conducting research among friends with over 10-years of experience as an obsessive idol fan, it seems that these are more popular than one may think. A quick visit to Sanrio’s official website revealed that the series is so popular that many items sell out quickly.

Despite trying to reach out to what might seem a small, niche market, these items seem to be in high demand among idol fans. Just what kind of person came up with such an idea? Curious to find out, we met up with the Enjoy Idol Series project planners for an interview.

Q1: It’s a pleasure to have this interview. We at MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON love Sanrio so much that it’s not often we go long without releasing some kind of news about you. One of the most fascinating Sanrio merchandise series has to be the Enjoy Idol Series for its high demand in such a niche area. Our first question is: From what idea or initial thought was this series born?

Project Planner: The Enjoy Idol Series is managed by me and one other person. Both of us are avid idol fans. We noticed not only lots of fans at concerts using Sanrio merchandise, but also many idol fans on social media using Sanrio characters as profile pictures and as stickers on their photos online. For quite a few years now there’s been a connection forming between idol fans and Sanrio characters in several ways.

We also noticed that although merchandise aimed at idol fans is steadily increasing, there still wasn’t anything cute for them out there. That’s why we started designing this series. The other project leader and I often go to concerts and watch DVDs together. That’s when the ideas started flowing. Eventually, we were packing our project full of ideas and it was really fun. We thought of how we could combine Sanrio characters and idol fans to create something incredibly cute

Q2: It’s wonderful to hear that you are both idol fans yourselves. When you first had these initial ideas running through your head, were you confident that your series would become popular among other idol fans?

Planner: We were very excited to have created this cute Enjoy Idol series and we were certain that other fans would feel the same. And the reaction to it exceeded my expectations. Even people who don’t usually go to Sanrio shops buy something from the series because of their love of Sanrio which made us really happy to see.

Q3: Having seen all the sold out products on your website, it’s clear that many people appreciate what you’ve done. How does it feel to see idol fans using merchandise that you designed?

Project Planner: We’re just so grateful to see people using items from the Enjoy Idol Series to make the most of their concert experience. A lot of people buying products from the series buy specific items based on strongly associating their idol with a certain Sanrio character. We’ve now learned the reasons behind the choices fans make when purchasing from the series which has been a real eye-opener.

Silver Decoration Case (7 Varieties): ¥660 (After Tax)

A box to save your concert confetti

Q4: After some research among a number of friends who are idol fans, it seems that your series is a big hit. Many are excited to see what you are going to knock up next. Do you have any new ideas you’re warming up to?

Project Planner: I cannot reveal any specific details just yet. We are still in the process of creating our next items. You can expect them to maintain Sanrio’s cute style. As an idol fan myself, I am committed to making sure these items are of high functionality for our users.

Q5: I’m sure that many people will be over the moon to hear that you are developing yet more cute items. Do you have any final words you would like to say to idol fans and Sanrio fans?

Project Planner: I would like to thank you all for your continuous support for the Enjoy Idol Series. We are delighted to improve your lifestyle and we hope that these items help you make the most of your experience as an idol fan.

When you have something to adore, you lead a fulfilling life. I’ve heard the stories of friends who are idol fans and can feel their excitement towards the release of our new products. I’m so happy to think that these products are improving the quality of life for many idol fans.

Diary Stickers (7 Varieties): ¥275 (After Tax)

 These stickers are full of words perfect for idol fans but of no use to those who are not idol fans!

Just seeing some of the specific words and phrases written on the idol stickers shows just how much the project planners understand and feel close to other idol fans. It is enough to warm your heart.

The two project planners put their love of idol fans at the centre of their design proposal, creating a merchandise series just for them. Each item connects idol fans through their mutual love. This eye-opening interview showed the true strength of shared passion when catering to a niche market.

Despite not being an idol fan themselves, our interviewer could feel the love poured into each item in the series. What item will be released next? We’ll be just as excited as the idol fans are, waiting eagerly for its release.

ⓒ’76, ’88, ’89, ’96, ’01, ’05, ’19 SANRIO. 著作（株）サンリオ

If you love delicious Japanese desserts and are keen to discover more, you’ve visited the right website. Today with the help of Instagrammer Yukko, we’ll be looking at matcha desserts you can purchase from Japanese convenience stores. 

Matcha Purin Cake Sandwich: ¥324/ Family Mart

Matcha Purin Cake Sandwich: ¥324

This is a fluffy sandwich with a hearty filling of sweet matcha purin, matcha cream, whipped cream and red bean paste. The fluffy cake and light cream create a wonderful balance of textures and enjoy a moderate sweetness. This dessert is sure to leave your stomach fully satisfied.

Dorayaki Pancakes Stuffed with Matcha Cream: ¥300/ 7-Eleven

Dorayaki Pancakes Stuffed with Matcha Cream: ¥300

The delicious aroma of the matcha will entice you before you have even tried it. The refined, rich matcha flavour will spread throughout your mouth and melt beautifully. 

Uji Matcha and Shiratama White Dumpling Parfait:¥300/ 7-Eleven

Uji Matcha and Shiratama White Dumpling Parfait:¥300

This is a luxurious parfait containing Shiratama dango, warabi mochi, matcha whipped cream, dorayaki pancake pieces, plain whipped cream, matcha mousse and matcha starch cakes. Enjoy a variety of textures – perfect for the matchaholic!

Matcha & Sweet Red Beans & Whipped Cream Doyayaki: ¥140/ 7-Eleven

Matcha & Sweet Red Beans & Whipped Cream Doyayaki: ¥140

Sweet red bean paste, matcha sauce, whipped cream and chewy warabi mochi are stuffed between two matcha dorayaki. The matcha sauce is rich and plentiful, creating the perfect matcha-tastic treat.

 If you’re on a matcha hunt, how about starting at the convenience store? There are just so many matcha desserts to discover. Mogu Mogu Yukko’s Instagram is full of delicious desserts that you can buy from Japanese convenience stores and supermarkets. If you’re looking for a sweet treat, make sure to check it out.

 Original Article Contents and Photos By: Mogu Mogu Yukko

*Convenience stores are always updating their products and therefore the desserts mentioned in this article may stop selling at any time. Please check the convenience store’s social media or official website for the most up-to-date information. 

Online travel booking website Rakuten Travel has released this year’s list for the most popular hotels and accommodations you can stay at with pets in Japan. The list is based off travellers’ reviews taken from the website. This list has been updated and published every year since 2014, making this its 6th run.

Placing number one on the list for the first time is Yutsura, a ryokan Japanese-style inn which opened in Shizuoka in April 2018 and can be rented by one person or group for one night. Up to six people in a single group can stay there along with up to 5 small dogs weighing 5kg or less. It’s highly favoured amongst travellers who want to take their dogs on the road due to the extent the inn caters for pets. Guests can enjoy having the dogs in their rooms as well as feed their pets there, all without being a bother to other guests.

Nipponia Sawara Merchant Town Hotel in Chiba Prefecture came in second place. You can feel the history of this hotel accommodation which is renovated from a traditional storehouse and townhouse. It allows up to three pets in a room which collectively weigh 25kg. There are three types of rooms to choose from, including one with a dog park. It also offers various services, including a free night for one dog, snacks and amenities for dogs, and more.

In third place is Dog Pension R65 in Shizuoka Prefecture which allows not only big and small dogs, but cats and other pets too. It offers large footbaths for dogs to use, dog parks, and many other services that cater to pets. The hotel also offers cottage-type accommodation rooms separate from the main building too if you’re looking to spend some peaceful time away with your beloved companion.

If you’re looking to travel around Japan with your pet, be sure to check if a hotel allows animals. Check the link below for the full Top 10 list.

With the Tokyo 2020 Games just over the horizon, tourism is expected to rise in Japan. There is a lot of news out there about Japanese food, traditions and lifestyle that never fails to rake the tourists in. Today, we’ll be looking at something the average tourist doesn’t go poking their nose in – sex culture. 

TENGA is a Japanese company that develops, manufactures and sells of items for sexual pleasure for men. TENGA is a globally popular brand and sells products in over 60 countries worldwide.

TENGA products, news and monthly newsletter Gekkan TENGA, which releases findings related to sex culture, are just some of the ways that the company conducts research into Japan’s sexual culture. Gekkan TENGA‘s latest report aims to discover how the world views sexual culture in Japan and sexual culture around the world. The report includes surveys conducted in nine countries including Japan and a discussion with foreign residents living in Japan. For those of you who don’t know a lot about Japan’s sex culture, we’re here to enlighten you!

Global Report on Masturbation

Following their global study in 2019, TENGA produced the TENGA 2019 Self-Pleasure Report that explores the difference in attitudes towards sex in different countries. Afterwards, the results were shown to a group of foreigners who reside in Japan for an open discussion.

In the last year, how satisfied have you been with your partner’s sexual performance?

In the US, China and various countries in Europe, approximately 70% of participants in the survey expressed moderate or high levels of satisfaction. On the other hand, Taiwan, Korea and Japan showed lower satisfaction levels with Japan lingering behind at a mere 40%.

Chinese Male: Mr. L

Perhaps the Japanese are experiencing lower levels of sexual satisfaction with their partners due to the large amount of stimulating media, manga and such which gives rise to unrealistic expectations.

Spanish Female: Ms G

Maybe the satisfaction levels in Spain are much higher because more people talk openly to their partners about what they want their partners to do for them.

The study suggests that many Japanese people are not entirely satisfied with their and their partner’s sexual relationship. Japan being loaded with a vast variety of stimulating materials does seem to be a likely a reason for this. Seeing such a low satisfaction rate result makes one question whether the Japanese feel lonely. 

Would you say that Masturbation is healthy?

The US and European countries mostly answered “yes” to this but to varying degrees. The “yes” percentage for Japan, however, was on the low side. Majority of Japanese participants answered “neither healthy or unhealthy”, making it seem that masturbation is not widely considered as a major contributor towards health in Japan.

Discussion: How does the world view sexual culture in Japan? 

After showing the results of the survey to a group of foreigners of different nationalities residing in Japan, a discussion took place. All participants seemed to agree that one of the biggest surprises they discovered in Japan was the large number of love hotels.

Ms. G from Spain: I was surprised to see so many love hotels in Japan.

Ms. T from Canada: Same here! It’s quite rare to see establishments solely built for sex in other countries.

Mr. C from America: In America, some people go to motels for sex but they weren’t built for that purpose.

Ms. G from Spain: In the west, most people have sex in their own homes. If couples choose to stay at a hotel, it’s usually to treat themselves, for example, a romantic getaway at a resort for their anniversary.

Ms. L from China: The walls of Japanese residences are quite thin so considering family, love hotels do seem essential.

Ms. T from Canada: I think it’s amazing that Japan has these hotels which are easy to identify and are catered towards people who want to have sex.

Is there anything about Japan’s sexual culture that surprises you? Each country has its own attitudes towards sex, however, Japan’s sexual culture is very unique. The newsletter Gekkan TENGA publishes back issues on its official website. Check out the link in the information section below for more information. 

Fans of Japanese mangaka Momoko Sakura won’t be able to resist the new MARUKO & COJICOJI CAFE which is set to open at Sunday Brunch in Tokyo on January 31, 2020 for six months. It’s collaboration between the manga series Chibi Maruko-chan and Coji-Coji, both by Momoko Sakura.

The cafe is opening to promote the release of the Chibi-Maruko-chan and Coji-Coji picture book. Customers can look forward to joining the two characters on their adventures as they are vividly recreated on their plates, with food and drink inspired by the beautiful scenes seen throughout the four seasons, cherry blossoms, Mount Fuji, and more. The menu line-up is an homage to Momoko Sakura’s iconic work.

Today, we finally get to take a peek at what’s on the menu at the cafe. Keep in mind this is just a small selection of what will be served.

*Menu item names are translated from Japanese

Homage Menu: Coji-Coji Came To Visit- ¥1,850 (Before Tax)

Both Marko-chan and Coji-Coji are made from cookies and are flying through the air together. Below them is Mount Fuji, made from rice and adorned with cherry blossoms. It’s sat in a lake of cod roe cream sauce littered with tea leaves.

Summer Menu: King of Sun Kingdom – ¥2,000 (Before Tax)

Enjoy this healthy keema curry packed full of nutritious vegetables as well as a piece of French toast made from fresh eggs and milk. The individual suns are made from pumpkin flavoured mashed potato, while the two pals have written a letter that says “To the King.”

Winter Menu: Three’s Company – ¥1,880 (Before Tax)

Delicious butterfly pea and spinach purees sit atop a bed of shrimp tomato cream and pumpkin soup, creating an eye-popping mixture of colours.

Sweets: Coji-Coji Came to Visit Baked Cheese Cake – 1 Slice w/Drink ¥1,380 (Before Tax)

This baked cheese cake celebrates the two’s meeting. You get one slice which will contain Mount Fuji and either Maruko-chan or Coji-Coji. Which will you be given?

Sweets: A Chat in the Cold Morning Chocolate Cake – 1 Slice w/Drink ¥1,380 (Before Tax)

Layered with sumptuous mango custard cream, this cute gateaux chocolate cake is moist and delicious.

Parfait Drink: Onigiri People & Star Festival – ¥1,700 (Before Tax)

Inspired by the Milky Way in the Tanabata festival, this parfait drink includes jelly under which hides an assortment of fruits, cream, and vanilla ice cream. The juice itself has a squirt of cheese cream in it too.

Special Drink: What’s The Rainbow Invitation? – ¥980 (Before Tax)

A glass of lemonade that comes with a cafe-exclusive charm. There’s jelly inside the glass which dances and sparkles as you stir.

The cafe itself will also be decorated in picture book art in the form of tapestries and other things. There will also be a display of Momoko Sakura’s work, as well as Maruko-chan and Coji-Coji merchandise up for sale.

©️Momoko Sakura　©️Sakura Production

My Melody’s birthday was yesterday (January 18), and in the run up to it, Sanrio released a new smartphone app on Friday named “Itsudemo Issho ni My Melody” (Together Always With My Melody). Described as a “healing app,” the app is My Melody’s way of cheering on those who are working hard every day; it continues her support of healing people on Twitter and radio with her personality.

This app was developed together with fans, with 300 of them participating in a questionnaire for it. It has three major functions including “Text Chat,” “Schedule,” and “Alarm,” all of which incorporate everybody’s favourite bunny.

Receive texts from My Melody with Talk Chat

The Talk Chat function enables you to chat with My Melody via text messages. Replies are given 24 hours a day, so you can send her a text at any time, whether it’s idle chit-chat or telling her a secret you can’t tell anyone else. Whatever it is you want to talk to her about, her words are sure to leave you feeling warm and fluffy.

The messaging service has 12 special stamps which can only be used on the app. If you send a certain stamp, you’ll even receive a call from My Melody. You can also customise the chat backgrounds as you please.

My Melody keeps your days organised with the Schedule

Using the app’s cute calendar, you can enter your schedule for each month.

My Melody will even send you reminders of upcoming plans in the chat too, even if the app is closed, so you won’t miss a thing.

There are 10 “Schedule Seals” you can use depending on what kind of reminder you are setting. Depending on which seal you use, My Melody will send you a different message. Setting a schedule has never been so much fun!

Look forward to waking up to My Melody’s voice with the Alarm

The Alarm function makes use of My Melody’s voice, which is sure to support you during your busy days. There are six voice functions you can set, from waking up in the morning to break time and more.

Additional convenient functions to be released in the future

More functions are set to be released in the future, including the Weather function in March which will have My Melody informing you what the weather will be like outside. If you ask her about the weather in the chat room, she’ll tell you the weather type, temperature, and more to help you prep for each day.

Download the My Melody app and make your days even more fun♡

©’76,’20 SANRIO

Milet will release her new EP Prover/Tell Me on February 19, 2020. In the run up to its release, the singer just dropped the track Prover today digitally ahead of the CD. The song is being used as the second ending theme for the ongoing TV anime series Fate/Grand Order – Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia.

milet is a Japanese singer-songwriter whose debut track inside you took home the Tokyo Drama Award last year. It also dominated the Recochoku Yearly Charts foro 2019, placing number one in the Download and Streaming categories for New Artist. milet made her industry-shaking debut in March last year, and continues to march forward with unstoppable force.

Together with the early release of Prover, the song’s official music video was also posted on the singer’s official YouTube channel.

The video was shot in a single take, and sees milet alone aboard a tiny boat with the vast night sky above her. A great storm surges, but we see her pull through, with a flock of birds flying overhead towards the end.

milet – “Prover” MUSIC VIDEO

milet is set to embark on her “Green Lights” tour from March 6, 2020. The tour will take her to 7 locations for 8 shows including two performances at Akasaka BLITZ in Tokyo.

ⒸTYPE-MOON / FGO7 ANIME PROJECT

Fans of Minnie Mouse won’t want to miss her special “Very Very Minnie!” event that she is hosting at Tokyo Disneyland right now until March 19. Expect to see plenty of cute decorations, experience eating cute food, and getting your hands on some cute merchandise♡

Hand washing area

You’re sure to have never experienced hand washing like this before. Keep your hands clean at the park with this special soap which when dispensed is shaped like Minnie Mouse wearing her iconic ribbon. This is available for the duration of the event only, so head to Tomorrowland or Critter Country to try it out.

Exclusive Minnie merchandise

Around 80 pieces of limited edition Very Very Minnie! merchandise are being sold for the event.

Parkers – Medium ¥4,900, Large ¥5,200 / Cap – ¥3,000 / Scarf Towel – ¥1,500

Dress up like Minnie Mouse with one of the two parkers, one featuring white and black polka dots of different sizes, and the other with red and white ones. There’s also a cute cap, and scarf towel, so you can enjoy the event even more.

Cushion – ¥2,300

Hand Cream Set – ¥1,600

Wall Pocket – ¥2,900 (*Items in pockets sold separately)

There’s also  a cushion which you can put your hands in to keep warm this winter, a set of hand creams, a useful wall pocket which you can store various items inーand many more items, up to 80 of them!

Themed menu

When looking for something to eat, make sure you try out one of the many Minnie-themed food and drink items.

Cranberry Vanilla Mouse Cake with Souvenir Plate – ¥800 / Yoghurt & Raspberry Mouse with Souvenir Cup – ¥800 / Served at: Sweetheart Cafe

At the Sweetheart Cafe, you can get your hands on one of two of these desserts which come with their own free souvenirs which you can take to use at home. You won’t be able to resist the addictive sweet and sour flavour of the berries.

Special Set – ¥1,980 / Served at: The Plaza Inn

The Plaza Inn has a very special set prepared: a hearty meal featuring two hamburgers, ice cream for dessert with a white chocolate mousse adorned with Minnie’s ribbon, and more.

Popcorn with Buckets – ¥2,300

You’ll find this bucket sold at the popcorn wagon next to The Gazebo. It features a design of Minnie looking good in various outfits. If you’re wanting popcorn at Very Very Minnie! then look no further.

Minnie Mouse’s influence can be felt all over Tokyo Disneyland right now, so make sure you see everything when visiting for Very Very Minnie!

©️Disney

The CD cover for the digital release of Naotaro Moriyama’s song Arigatou wa Kocchi no Kotoba (TV Version) has been unveiled. The song is used as the opening theme for the onoing TV anime series Somali and the Forest Spirit which began airing on January 9.

The anime edit version of the track is set for digital release on January 24.

The cover design is the same as the teaser visual release for the anime series, featuring the Somali and Golem  meeting each other for the first time. The song is the first by Naotaro Moriyama’s to be written for an anime series.

The song received a flood of love on Japanese social media when it first hit the air, with fans commenting how it brought them to tears for how beautiful it is.

Arigatou wa Kocchi no Kotoba will be made available across all major download and streaming platforms on January 24 including iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, LINE MUSIC, Recochoku, and so on.

SAKURA FES NIHONBASHI/OFF TO MEET is set to take place in the Nihonbashi, Yaesu and Kyobashi areas of Tokyo from March 15 to April 5 this year.

This marks the 7th run of the event. Naoki Ono, the chief editor of Kohkoku magazine, was invited on board as creative director for this year’s event, which promises plenty of cherry blossom-themed activities and content which you won’t experience anywhere else.

Running alongside the festival will be the Kengai・NIHONBASHI event which will take place on March 28 and 29. This two-day event encourages people to turn off their smartphones and spend some quality time in the real world away from the digital world. There will be a food market run by local famous restaurants of Nihonbashi, which is known for its incredible food, who are preparing some special bites to eat. There will also be live performances, a book market, and much more.

SAKURA FES NIHONBASHI/OFF TO MEET Schedule

The Tree Of Light –Akari Sakura-

This cherry blossom art display will see around 100,000 LED lights bloom their beautiful radiance.

Running: March 16, 2020 – March 31, 2020

Location: COREDO Muromachi Terrace Main Roof

Nihonbashi Art Street -Kotobana Mik–

Inspired by the weeping cherry trees that blossom in Nihonbashi during springtime, this art installation will react to people’s voices as they walk and talk around it, causing the trees to bloom.

Running: March 16, 2020 – March 31, 2020

Location: Naka-dori Street

Sakura Menu Walk

Around 120 participating restaurants and eateries will serve up special cherry blossom-inspired menus for the season. When you order any  of these menu items, you’ll receive a special novelty gift exclusive to the SAKURA FES NIHONBASHI/OFF TO MEET event.

Running: March 15, 2020 – April 5, 2020

Location: Restaurants in the Nihonbashi area

Sakura Light Up

The town’s major facilities and establishments will be adorned and lit up beautifully with cherry blossom pink, as well the rows of cherry trees along Edozakura-dori Street.

Running: March 15, 2020 – April 5, 2020

Location: Edozakura-dori Street / Facilities along Chuo-dori Street

Kengai・NIHONBASHI Schedule

Kengai・SACOCHE

10,000 bags will be given away for free for locking your smartphone inside. This will enable attendees to enjoy the here and now of the event without being distracted by technology

Location: Handed out around Fukutoku Shrine

Kengai・BOOK MARKET

The book market is offering a new way to encounter books. The stock will include those featured at the Eslite Spectrum Nihonbashi pop-up shop from September 2019, as well as a selection of books from around Japan.

This is just a small look at what to look forward to at this year’s event, there is lots more planned. More details are to be announced in the coming months, so stay tuned.

Have you ever wondered what the thrill of bungee jumping would be like, but are too afraid of heights to even consider putting it on your bucket list? Have no fear, because Kyoto Tower is bringing a new VR bungee jumping experience to the top of the building which will be available to experience from February 1 for a limited time.

This VR experience was first brought to the tower in the fall of 2018, and this year it is making its grand return. After the event originally ended, there was huge demand for it to be held again.

Those brave enough to have a go at this VR bungee jump (or bungy, depending where you are from), will go above and beyond the 100 meter observation deck to the highest accessible point of Kyoto Towerーup 120.9 metersーwhich is normally closed off to the public, to the special VR deck which has been prepared.

The experience will offer you not only the thrill of jumping from Kyoto’s tallest structure, but the chance to gaze upon a panoramic view of the beautiful city too.

Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll and Pompompurin are the latest to be picked up by character-inspired Japanese confectionery series Tabemas. These wagashi sweets will go on sale at Lawson convenience stores across Japan (excluding Lawson Store 100 branches) on January 21, 2020.

The character line-up is based on the top three winners of the 2019 Sanrio Character Awards which we covered last summer. Hello Kitty came first place at the awards, and so she has gotten a special limited edition design for the sweets series. Cinnamoroll was second on the award list, and this is his first time joining Tabemas. Third place was Pompompurin who appears once again with Tabemas due to his popularity.

The ‘Tabemas’ brand name is an abbreviation of the Japanese words taberareru masukotto, meaning ‘mascots that you can eat.’ It is a Japanese confectionery series that combines well-known characters and Japanese sweets made from ingredients like red bean paste, sugar and rice flour. The sweets are also made with a dough called “nerikiri” which is used in making traditional Japanese wagashi sweets.

In line with the Year of the Rat in the Chinese zodiac, Hello Kitty is donning a kawaii rat outfit. Cinnamoroll’s charm point is his big ears and pink cheeks.

Each confection is filled with a different flavour bean paste: Hello Kitty is cheese, Cinamoroll is milk, and Pompompurin is of course Japanese custard pudding, or ‘purin,’ flavoured. They maintain that delicate flavour of traditional Japanese wagashi while having cute contemporary designs. You’ll be happy to know that all of the colouring is natural tooーno synthetic colours were added.

Perfect as a delicious treat, but don’t forget to snap a photo for Instagram first! Each of them is also limited in stock, so don’t miss your chance to grab one at the nearest Lawson store to you while in Japan.

© ’76,’96,’01,’20 SANRIO APPR.NO.S604062