Sanrio Puroland is teaming up with Gekidan No Meets to host a 5-day Valentine’s day themed event titled ‘VIVA LA VALENTINE’ on February 6, 7, 11, 13, and 14. The event comes in response to COVID-19 so people can enjoy the park from the comfort of their own homes.

Join fan favourites Hello Kitty, Dear Daniel, Pompompurin, Cinnamoroll, and Kuromi who will live stream from Puroland after the park closes for a special song and dance show. Music will be performed by a multi-genre line-up consisting of Sayonara Ponytail, Zo Zhit (Dos Monos), Kroi, and Tomggg.

VIVA LA VALENTINE

The event will have its own story that follows Hello Kitty pouring her heart and soul into a new show ‘VIVA LA VALENTINE’ with Dear Daniel as the first on the list. Everyone is in high spirits as they prepare for the big day. However, the show’s sponsor Bias Seika, makes an abrupt and ruthless change to the show just three days before it’s scheduled to be performed. What will they do, and what will become of Valentine’s Day?

See the Sanrio characters preparing the show

Sanrio Puroland’s official Twitter account has been posting live streams of the Sanrio characters working hard in preparation for the show since December 22 with the hashtag #ビバラバ. The first clip was viewed over 50,000 times with supportive comments flying in from fans.

More clips and photos will continue to roll out starting on January 14, 2021 too, so be sure to give them a follow.
Sanrio Puroland Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/purolandjp

Puroland set to come to life on February 6, 2021 after turning the lights out on December 22

Dear Daniel and the gang in a merry circle at Furry Tale Theater on December 28

Dear Daniel exchanging business cards on January 6

Hello Kitty putting up posters on January 12

Catch all the fun at Sanrio Puroland live with a special 50-minute show online.

©1976, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2020 SANRIO CO., LTD.

Asakusa-based ‘aromatic raw chocolate’ brand MAISON CACAO created a new gin-flavoured white chocolate for Dean & DeLuca which was released in Japan on January 15, 2021.

The “Aroma Raw Chocolate (Gin)” keeps the original flavour of the white chocolate and infuses with a craft gin known as “COMMON” by Toranomon Joryusho.

Aroma Raw Chocolate GIN FOR DEAN & DELUCA | ¥2,592 (Tax Included)

​One bite into a piece of this artisanal chocolate fills the mouth with a tang of subtly fruity chocolate. Then comes the refreshing taste of the gin which complements the sweetness and adds sophistication to the chocolate in an exquisite balance of flavours.

 COMMON gin is fruity and clear

COMMON craft gin has a ‘botanical’ flavour. Its base is a shochu made on the islands of Hachijō-jima and Nii-jima. It also contains soft water taken from Okutama Sawai.

“It has a faint fruity taste that combines with the flavour of the cacao, and he used really delicious white chocolate,” explains Shingo Ishihara of MAISON CACAO who helped in the chocolate’s development. “I hope people indulge in its enjoyable melt-in-the-mouth texture.”

Bandai’s character-inspired Japanese confectionery series Tabemas is releasing two new traditional Japanese wagashi confections inspired by the Peanuts comic series. Snoopy and Charlie Brown will arrive at Lawson convenience stores across Japan on January 19, 2021.

Tabemas Snoopy | ¥264 Each (Before Tax)

The cute confections capture the little details of the iconic characters, from Snoopy’s doggo features and collar to Charlie Brown’s hair and shirt. The Snoopy confection is filled with chocolate bean paste—a nod to his favourite chocolate chip cookies—while Charlie Brown is filled with custard bean paste as a nod to his trademark shirt. The packaging features exclusive art drawn for the Peanuts comic’s 70th anniversary with Snoopy atop his dog house.

© 2021 Peanuts Worldwide LLC

Eggs ‘n Things is set to serve up a special limited-time Valentine’s menu in Japan from January 16 to February 28 including the Torokeru Fondant Chocolate Pancakes and Strawberry & Banana Chocolate French Toast.

Valentine’s Menu

Torokeru Fondant Chocolate Pancakes | Eat In ¥1,480 (Before Tax)

Torokeru Fondant Chocolate Pancakes | Takeout ¥1,080 (Before Tax)

Strawberry & Banana Chocolate French Toast | Eat In ¥1,380 (Before Tax)

Strawberry & Banana Chocolate French Toast | Takeout ¥980 (Before Tax)

Valentine’s Drinks

Strawberry White Mocha | Hot or Iced ¥680 (Before Tax)

Hawaiian Cafe Mocha | Hot or Iced ¥580 (Before Tax)

This lovingly-prepared chocolate and fruit-loaded line-up is sure to get the butterflies stirring hungrily for this year Valentine’s.

Sanrio Puroland opened a special new event last Friday (January 8) called “Sweets Puro” which is themed on strawberry picking.

Characters greet guests in their strawberry-designed outfits

Guests participate in an augmented reality strawberry stamp rally

New character videos play at the illuminations

A strawberry-packed dessert menu

Limited-edition merch

Tables in the food court receive makeovers

Guests can look forward to seeing sparkly new pink-coloured illuminations, snapping sweet photos at the entrance photo spot, getting involved in the AR strawberry picking stamp rally using their smartphones, and more. They can also pay to spend one minute with the park characters who will be dressed in their strawberry outfits, and if they arrive 30 minutes before the first floor character food court opens, they can get the limited-offer morning breakfast “Strawberry Morning Bread Set.” The park will even be serving up seasonal alcoholic drinks like the Sweets Puro Strawberry Peach Sour.

The first day of the event saw the characters come out to greet guests in their adorable strawberry and dessert themed costumes. This was followed by a new illumination show, Puro Sweets Party, which took place at Puro Village, and My Melody sang and danced to the music against the bright and beautiful lights. Guests enjoyed a selection of limited-time food like the Pompompurin’s Croissant Doughnut Strawberry Sandwich and Hello Kitty’s Sweet Strawberry Milk.

©1976, 2009 SANRIO CO., LTD.　©1975, 1976, 1990, 1996, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2017, 2021 SANRIO CO., LTD.

The popular wine bar Dick Bruna TABLE, where customers can enjoy a glass of wine with a meal together with illustrations by Dick Bruna, the creator of Miffy, is now selling a batch of Miffy cookies created by the popular confectionery Theo Blom located in Utrecht, Netherlands.

Miffy Cookies & Chocolate | ¥4,000 (Before Tax)

Miffy Cookies | ¥4,000 (Before Tax)

Utrecht is the birthplace of Miffy author and creator Dick Bruna, and Theo Blom is a place that Bruna himself actually often visited. The confectionery is known for its tins which can be reused after the contents are eaten. The cute Miffy tins are definitely keepers.

Takara Tomy is set to release its second batch of toy cars in collaboration with Sanrio as part of its Tomica mini car series on January 16, 2021. The collection will be released at toy stores, department stores, Tomica branches, Takara Tomy’s online site, select Sanrio stores, Sanrio’s official website, and elsewhere in Japan.

Dream Tomica Sanrio Characters Collection 2 (6 Designs) | ¥770 Each (Before Tax)

Hello Kitty

Cinnamoroll

Pochacco

Pompompurin

Badtz-Maru

Pekkle

The first collection was released last year as a collaboration between Tomica, which has turned 50 years old, and Sanrio Characters, which has been on shelves since the 1980’s. There are six cars in the collection which can be bought individually or as a set for ¥4,200 (before tax).

Get your hands on these cute cars inspired by the Sanrio characters.

© ’76, ’89, ’90, ’93, ’96, ’01, ’21 SANRIO CO., LTD.

© ＴＯＭＹ

McDonald’s Japan is bringing back its popular Belgian Chocolate Pie from last year and is also introducing a new Crème Brûlée Pie, both of which will hit the menu at all McDonald’s branches from January 13 for a limited time.

Crème Brûlée Pie | ¥150 (Before Tax)

Belgian Chocolate Pie | ¥150 (Before Tax)

The hot pies are filled with deliciously sweet cream and are a perfect, cosy treat during the cold weather.

Nana’s Green Tea is serving up a brand-new dessert in collaboration with Häagen-Dazs for Valentine’s Day at 77 branches in Japan. The dessert was released on January 6 and will be available up to February 14.

Matcha Chocolate Glass with Häagen-Dazs | ¥880 (Before Tax)

The dessert is a tempting sight to behold – not only is it delicious but visually appealing to the eye too, and layered with various textures so that every bite is a surprise.

The dessert is made with Häagen-Dazs’ “Sweet Chocolate” ice cream coupled with Nana’s Green Tea’s own original matcha ice cream, soft and crunchy meringue sticks, crumbled cookies, white chocolate whipped cream, and matcha chiffon cake. Sat at the bottom waiting to be discovered is a sweet strawberry sauce for a tangy kick.

Mister Donuts has teamed up with Belgian chocolate brand Pierre Marcolini to release the “misdo meets PIERRE MARCOLINI Collection” of doughnuts which hit Japanese branches on Friday (January 8).

Fondant Chocolate Doughnut – Chocolate | ¥200 (Before Tax)

Fondant Chocolate Doughnut – Caramel | ¥200 (Before Tax)

Fondant Chocolate Doughnut – Raspberry | ¥200 (Before Tax)

Fondant Chocolate Doughnut – Hazelnut | ¥200 (Before Tax)

Danish Chocolate – Raspberry | ¥230 (Before Tax)

Danish Chocolate – Hazelnut | ¥230 (Before Tax)

The doughnuts are part of Mister Donuts “misdo meets” series which first began in 2017 to combine the highest quality ingredients and techniques to in order to bake up the best possible doughnuts. This time, it has joined sticky bakers fingers with the popular Begian chocolate brand Pierre Marcolini to create a new kind of fondant chocolate doughnut and danish. The line-up is made with high quality authentic chocolate and has a bitter kick to it – perfect for those who aren’t into sweeter treats. The heart-shaped danishes are also spot on for the Valentine’s season in Japan.

Floresta Nature Doughnuts, a doughnut cafe that hand-makes doughnuts using organic ingredients, is baking up two new Gudetama doughnuts with New Year’s messages on them. They will be served from January 9 to 24.

Florest Gudetama Collab Doughnuts | ¥450 (Before Tax)

The doughnuts capture the lazy and lethargic energy of Gudetama. The crowning Gudetama is made from Japanese pumpkin and is sat on a bed of sweet white chocolate. Both doughnuts are also available as a set coming with an extra of any of Floresta’s signature doughnuts.

Relax and take in the new year together with Gudetama.

Isetan Shinjuku has announced a special one-week event titled “7 Days of Loving Strawberries” which is centred around cute and delicious strawberry desserts and will run this month from January 13-19. Ten cafes and restaurants are participating with a sweet and succulent line-up including strawberry daifuku, strawberry shortcake, special parfaits and crepes, and more.

Strawberry Candle Pavlova @ mihopan popcake | Two for ¥972 (Tax Included) *Limited quantities

MIGAKI-ICHIGO Strawberry Parfait @ Ichibiko | ¥1,980 (Tax Included)

Strawberry Shake @ Ichigo-ya Sunsunen | ¥721 (Tax Included)

Crispy Strawberry Mille-Feuille Crepe @ Sorairo Crepe | ¥935 (Tax Included) *Limited quantities

Strawberry Shortcake Parfait @ Shiseido Parlour | ¥1,045 (Tax Included)

Strawberry Daifuku @ Berry UP! | ¥432 (Tax Included)

Ripe Strawberry Milk Pudding @ Kanjyuku Ichigo Kashi Kekyusho | ¥486

Whole Strawberry Sandwich @ Sajisakon | From ¥864 (Tax Included)

MIGAKI-ICHIGO Strawberry Daifuku @ Seigetsudo Hoten | ¥432 (Tax Included)