Fukumitsuya Sake Brewery has collaborated with the Kanazawa-based art museum KAMU kanazawa, and prominent Japanese photographer Daidō Moriyama to release a new sake called “Lip <Junmai>” which dropped on Fukumitsuya’s online shop and three of their branches on February 22.

100 Bottles Signed by Daidō Moriyama

KAMU kanazawa is a modern art museum which centres on art expressing the culture of Kanazawa. On December 15 last year, the museum opened a new space called the “LIP BAR” which features prints of a close-up photo taken by Moriyama plastered on the walls, ceiling, and surfaces. Lip <Junmai> can be tasted at the LIP BAR from Monday to Saturday at 20:00-Midnight amongst a flurry of other cocktails.

The sake can also be bought online or in-store at Fukumitsuya, with a limited number of just 100 bottles signed by Moriyama himself.

The Sake at a Glance
The sake is an homage to Moriyama; a deep-flavoured junmaishu made with Yamada Nishiki and Kinmon-Nishiki rices.

The Design
The sleek and stylish bottle features a silver label layered with Moriyama’s famous lip shot. The regular edition bottles have English on the front and Japanese on the back. The signed edition bottles are signed by Moriyama on the front and have a unique serial number on the back. All the bottles are frosted and bear Fukimitsya’s logo. The box design was created by Kanazawa-based art director Katsura Matsuzawa.

Lip <Junmai>

©Daido Moriyama Photo Foundation Courtesy of Akio Nagasawa Gallery

A new chocolate brand by the name of Chocola Meets has been cooked up in Japan that prioritises bean to bar chocolate made from fairtrade cocoa beans. The brand’s USP however lies in its collaboration with artists who pen work for the chocolate’s packaging.

16 art pieces created by 4 artists for the craft chocolate packaging

Chocola Meets will begin selling its tasty chocolate collection from mid-March, but for those who can’t wait, the brand launched a crowdfunding campaign on February 15 via CAMPFIRE which offers pre-sales.

Chocola Meets prides itself on its collaborative business model which provides support to participating artists by giving them a cut of sales. This includes the money made for the crowfunder as well as the proceeds made from chocolate sales.

Sasabe (Chocola Meets, Operations Officer) | Comment

“The concept for Chocola Meets is, ‘Meet My Like: Experience What it Feels Like to Find Your Likes.’ This is something we value and is the reason why Chocola Meets exists. The reason behind our collaborative business model of Art x Craft Chocolate, something which hasn’t been done before, is to continuously offer that very concept – one which holds irreplaceable value. And in order to do that, we needed something that allows the artists to continue living comfortably. So we’re giving proceeds from the chocolate to the artists which gives them an incentive to create.”

The CAMPFIRE crowdfunder offers pre-sales of the chocolates at a discounted price. There are other benefits too, like framed art by the artists, coupons, and more.

Chocola Meets successfully met their Crowdfunding goal, having raised ¥430,700 of the pledged ¥300,000 (as of February 16, 2021).

The “JAPAN 47ARTISTS x CASA FLINE PROJECT,” a project by the ethical select shop CASA FLINE, launched its second collaboration on January 28, 2021 which sees the project come together with Nagano-based dyeing artist Katsuyuki Sado.

JAPAN 47ARTISTS x CASA FLINE PROJECT x Katsuyuki Sado Hand Towels | ¥2,800 Each (Before Tax)

The “JAPAN 47ARTISTS x CASA FLINE PROJECT” was set up by CASA FLINE to promote the traditions and artisanal work passed down in Japan for generations from a modern perspective. They do this through the release of products, interviews with craftsmen, releasing rare videos of artisans at work, and more, all to capture the beauty of the craft across Japan.

The project’s second collaboration is taking place with the Nagano-based dye artist Katsuyuki Sado who has created a collection of hand towels. He describes the changing of colour in the dye process as similar to the way that sounds, light, wind, water, the seasons, and people change. The hand towels represent Japanese craftsmanship at its finest and make for worthy products for ownership.

OIL by Bijutsu Techo has announced a series of collaborations with artists and the interior brand PACIFICA COLLECTIVES. The first wave of artists include Ai☆Madonna, Keeenue, Komuro Takahiro, and BIEN, whose works will feature at the OIL by Bijutsu Techo Gallery exhibition on the second floor of Shibuya PARCO from January 29 to February 15.

Rug design by Ai☆Madonna

Rug design by Komuro Takahiro

A collection of rugs will be exhibited at the event all of which are handmade in Japan. Available to purchase online through a lottery system, these high quality, Made-in-Japan rugs are sure to add colour to any room in the house.

The Kirby Café in Tokyo, which is based entirely around the popular Kirby video game series, will release a new limited-time menu on January 15 called ‘Chocolate de PUPUPU’ which will be served until February 28. The fruit and chocolate-packed line-up features three items. Item names are translated from Japanese by MMN.

The ‘Chocolate de PUPUPU’ Menu

Kirby Café’s Stovetop Dessert Pizza ~Looking Out the Chocolate Train Window~ | ¥1,380 (Before Tax)

Waddle Dee Also Loves Chef’s Chocolate Pan Stew! | ¥1,480 (Before Tax)

Old Odyssey | ¥780 (Before Tax)

Which of these delightfully cute treats do you want to inhale?

Japanese women’s fashion variety store ITS’DEMO is collaborating with Kirby to release a new merchandise collection on January 19, 2021.

Kirby’s Dream Land x ITS’DEMO star flower Items (Excerpt)

Kirby’s Dream Land x ITS’DEMO pupupu gift Items (Excerpt)

Inspired by the video game Kirby’s Dream Land, the merch collection features two different designs: the springtime floral ‘star flower’ and the gift-perfect ‘pupupu gift.’ The former captures the feeling of the spring season while the latter is littered with love hearts. The collection will also included stationery, towels, snacks, and more. Even more items will be added to the line-up on February 9, 2021.

©Nintendo/HAL Laboratory, Inc.　KB21-P2687

The Kirby Cafe in Tokyo has announced a seasonal dish for the new year as part of the cafe’s “Sweet NEW YEAR 2021” celebration which it will begin serving from January 1, 2021.

Kirby Burger & New Year Dessert | ¥1,980 (Before Tax)

The dish comes with a miniature version of Kirby Cafe’s popular burger on a teeny-tiny plate measured at just 10cm in circumference.

The mini dish looks super cute lined up next to the cafe’s plush toys.

The plate that the food is served on comes as a free souvenir which you can take home with you after eating. These will be limited in stock so will be available while supplies last for the New Year.

Art collective teamLab opened a shop at their Shanghai-based art museum teamLab Borderless Shanghai on Saturday (December 5). teamLab Borderless Shanghai opened its doors in Huangpu, Shanghai, in November 2019, displaying around 50 pieces of artwork by teamLab. The company’s Borderless project is a ‘world of artworks without boundaries, a museum without a map.’

The museum’s new shop sellings a variety of items, from stickers to postcards to the official teamLab Folding Rice Bag. More items are scheduled to be added to the stock in the future.

teamLab Folding Rice Bag

The eco bag can be folded up and stored when not in use. It’s a 30kg rice bag that was acquired directly from the farmer, originally used for storing rice before milling and would normally be discarded after use. It’s traditionally used to store and sell rice. Still present in the Japanese countryside today, these bags are made of strong, durable materials that protect the rice inside from moisture and damage. The bag is made of paper, and it can be folded up and stored in your pocket for use at any time.

A Kirby pop-up shop opened up inside the EKI MARCHÉ OSAKA shopping mall in Osaka on Friday (November 6) where it is set to stay until December 10.

Kirby fans can expect to get their hands on a whole range of merchandise from stationery and plush toys to key rings and more.

Original Postcard

Customers who spend over ¥2,200 at the pop-up shop will receive an original postcard too. These are limited in stock.

If you’re in Japan this autumn and winter then be sure to grab some of these wintery Kirby goods.

The chilly winter season is on the horizon, but Kirby Café Tokyo and Kirby Café Hakata will keep customers warm with their new winter menu which will be served from November 11, 2020 to February 28, 2021.

Kirby Café Winter Menu

Food

Winter Kirby Burger & Clam Chowder Pasta | ¥2,680 (Before Tax) *Comes with souvenir plate

Mogu Mogu Kirby’s Poka Poka Pie Stew | ¥2,680 (Before Tax) *Comes with souvenir cup

Kirby is staying warm and cosy with his scarf on the burger and clam chowder pasta dish. For the stew, Kirby’s entire face is made from pie.

Kirby’s Hot Crumble Bowl | ¥1,980 (Before Tax)

This hot crumble is served in a cute Kirby bento box which you can take away with you.ス

Desserts & Drinks

Ice Dragon☆Pastel Cream Anmitsu | ¥880 (Before Tax)

Kirby Café’s Authentic Oven Baked Pizza ~Berries and White Chocolate~ | ¥1,480 (Before Tax)

The Ice Dragon☆Pastel Cream Anmitsu is a Japanese-style dessert while the pizza is a dessert pizza perfect for wintertime.

Kirby Fighters 2 Menu

Wrestler Kirby Burger | ¥1,580 (Before Tax)

King Dedede & Meta Knight’s Tag Dessert | ¥1,480 (Before Tax)

The cafe is also serving up a meal and dessert in collaboration with the new Nintendo Switch title Kirby Fighters 2.

Kirby Café Original Merchandise

Postcards | ¥150 Each (Before Tax)

Winter Blanket | ¥2,700 (Before Tax)

A selection of exclusive and seasonal Kirby Café merchandise.

Premium Bandai, the official online shop for Bandai products, opened pre-orders for its new called ‘Kirby &amp; Warp Star Shiny Powder’ highlight powder from its own cosmetic brand CreerBeaute on October 22.’

Kirby &amp; Warp Star Shiny Powder | ¥5,060 (Tax Included)

This compact highlight powder design takes inspiration from the popular Kirby video game series with the titular character riding on a shiny Warp Star.

The Warp Star is coloured golden to give it a high quality feel and has small stars decorated around it, as does the mirror inside to add a bit of fun when putting on makeup. Kirby himself is also grabbing on adorably to the Warp Star.

The powder comes in two colours which are formed to create an image of Kirby to greet you upon opening the lid: Kirby pink and milky blue. Use to highlight your cheekbones and tip of your nose.

The colours can be used separately or combined, and both powders contain malic acid and hyaluronic acid for beautifying and moisturising.

The powder is now available for pre-order on Premium Bandai, so don’t miss out.

ⓒNintendo / HAL Laboratory, Inc.　KB20-P2515

Warehouse TERRADA opened up the new art cafe ‘WHAT CAFE’ in Tennozu, Tokyo, on October 15, 2020.

Left: Overlap of paint (dot3) by Soichi Yamaguchi | Right: Ichijiteki ni Inu, Ichijiteki ni Hito, Ichijiteki ni E by Dan Isomura

WHAT CAFE will serve as a hub to support artists in Japan’s art industry by functioning as both a gallery and cafe in a 800㎡ space. The gallery will change out the artwork from time to time to allow for more artists to showcase their works to visitors throughout the year. There will be hundreds of pieces shown in an entire year.

Left: Peel off the paint “No.125” by Haruna Shinagawa | void #35 by KIKUCHI Ryo

Tokyo’s Tennozu area is looking to become a major stop for art in Japan and is currently home to various art facilities like the pigment lab PIGMENT TOKYO and Japan’s biggest gallery complex TERRADA ART COMPLEX.

If you’re interested in contemporary art in Japan, and are visiting Tokyo, then you won’t want to miss a stop to Tennozu. Be sure to stop by WHAT CAFE.