The characters of Sumikko Gurashi are celebrating an incredible decade! A 10th-anniversary cafe will open in Tokyo on July 1 and in Osaka on July 22 for a limited time.

Sumikko Gurashi characters have become popular with children and adults alike. Anyone who enjoys cute goods has likely been aware of these little critters as they’ve continued to become a global phenomenon. In November 2021, the second Sumikko Gurashi film premiered to celebrate the franchise’s 10th anniversary, pulling in over a million viewers. 

Bonus for Guests Reserving a Spot in Advance / Purchase Bonus for Cafe Visitors

Menu at a Glance

10th Anniversary Celebration♪ Hamburger Plate

French Fry Bowl

Chilly☆Sumikko Shaved Ice

Sumikko Bouquet Parfait

Sumikko Milk Drink

Tapioca Orange Soda

Hot Cafe Latte

Takeout Menu

Sumi-cone Ice Cream (Limited Time Only)

Drink in Original Bottle

Original Goods

The cafe menu includes three unique items inspired by the popular characters Shirokuma, Penguin?, Tonkatsu, Neko, or Tokage. These treats range from parfait and ice cream to bowls of french fries and fluffy pancakes. Snap some photos of your favorite dishes for social media while you’re there, and pick up some exclusive 10th-anniversary merchandise!

© 2022 San-X Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Universal Studios Japan has announced that it will be opening a selection of Jujutsu Kaisen attractions for a limited time starting September 16, 2022. The anime series has been a global smash hit since it premiered. 

The original Jujutsu Kaisen manga series has sold over 65 million copies worldwide, and the recent Jujutsu Kaisen 0 film grossed over ¥13.7 billion at the domestic box office.

Attractions will focus on the theme of “curses,” though there are no details as of yet as to what they will be or involve. Jujutsu Kaisen follows the story of Yuji Itadori, who becomes the host of a powerful curse named Ryomen Sukuna in order to protect his friends. Yuji then joins the Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School to train and become a sorcerer so that he can avoid an execution, as well as to help others fight against Cursed Spirits. Guests will be able to immerse themselves in the series’ world, and we’re excited to find out more details about what attractions will be coming to USJ this fall. 

WIZARDING WORLD and all related trademarks, characters, names, and indicia are © & ™ WBEI. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s22)
Minions and all related elements and indicia TM & © 2022 Universal Studios. All rights reserved.TM & © Universal Studios & Amblin Entertainment
Universal Studios Japan TM & © Universal Studios. All rights reserved.
© Nintendo
©芥見下々／集英社・呪術廻戦製作委員会

To commemorate the upcoming film Minions: The Rise of Gru, a new apparel collection has been unveiled! The new items were made by VERDY, the artist behind popular projects like Girls Don’t Cry and Wasted Youth, both of which have been noticed by celebrities overseas. Prior to the collection’s launch online on July 1, fans can buy items from the limited-edition collection at Universal Studios in Los Angeles starting June 17 and at Universal Studios Japan starting June 24. 

VERDY is an incredibly popular artist who has garnered attention around the world, and his products are often seen with celebrities and big names in Japan and abroad. He has collaborated with a number of top brands in the past.

Collection

The first collaboration between the two, Minions x Vick, was released in 2020 to huge popularity, selling out within one minute of release. This second collaboration was created to satisfy huge fan demand, offering up tons of items featuring Otto, a Minion who will appear in the new film, and VERDY’s signature character Vick. Fans can purchase T-shirts, hoodies, long sleeve shirts, hats, keychains, skateboards, and more. 

This is the only time you’ll be able to snag these unique items, so don’t miss out!

WIZARDING WORLD and all related trademarks, characters, names, and indicia are © & ™ WBEI. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s22)
Minions and all related elements and indicia TM & © 2022 Universal Studios. All rights reserved.TM & © Universal Studios & Amblin Entertainment
Universal Studios Japan TM & © Universal Studios. All rights reserved.
© Nintendo

Mizu to Takumi, a company associated with the Toyama West Tourism Promotion Association, has teamed up with SKYTREK to offer guests a once-in-a-lifetime chance to visit the area via private jet. Reservations for the incredible experience began on June 17, 2022.

Offering an entirely new tourism experience in Toyama Prefecture, visitors can see the area’s natural wonders from miles above the Earth. The program also aims to share local culture and more about traditional craftsmanship and cuisine.

Toyama Prefecture boasts dramatic topography, from the massive peaks of the Northern Alps and the Tateyama Mountains to the deep waters of Toyama Bay. To better allow visitors to see the sights, these private jet tours will be chartered on special courses different from standard airlines.

After the flights, guests will be welcomed to explore Takaoka’s deep history and culture. Kane no Sanzun, a restored and preserved inn, will welcome visitors, offering a relaxing and rejuvenating time.

Visitors can also book optional excursions to further explore the area, such as a Zen meditation experience at a famous temple in Takaoka, a traditional crafting workshop, and a tour and tasting of the only whiskey distillery in the Hokuriku region.

Come enjoy a trip to Toyama with a whole new perspective!

From July 1 until October 2, 2022, fans of the long-running series One Piece won’t want to miss taking a trip to Universal Studios Japan! This year’s event promises to be extra special as fans celebrate the 25th anniversary of the manga series and the 15th anniversary of the One Piece Premier Show, the annual event at USJ. A special menu featuring tasty treats inspired by the series will be available alongside unique merchandise only available on-site. 

This summer’s limited menu and goods lineup are each inspired by a music festival. The event itself will draw inspiration from the film One Piece Film Red, scheduled to release on August 6, 2022.

The Discovery Restaurant in the Jurassic Park-themed area of Universal Studios Japan will be transformed into the One Piece Summer Banquet Restaurant during the event period, featuring a selection of tasty dishes inspired by each main character. This year, menu items inspired by Robin and Jinbe will be available for the first time.

Plenty of original merchandise will be on sale, with one specific item serving as a highlight of the new collection: the 15th-anniversary book. This tome includes details and images from each of the past One Piece Premier Shows and is a must-have for any fan. It also includes a message from the original series author Eiichiro Oda. 

One ‘music festival’ themed item is the Festival Towel. Playing a major role in the 2022 version of the One Piece Premier Show, the item is decorated with a limited edition 15th-anniversary design. Guests can also grab a collectible bracelet and salted candy in a unique soda can-inspired package. Of course, it wouldn’t be a One Piece event without some straw hats for sale!

This year’s menu includes everything from Nami’s Orange Frappe to Frankie’s Super American Hot Dog. Each of these tasty dishes will be perfect for posting on social media! Next to the Lost World Restaurant, guests can enjoy some additional goodies from the One Piece Food Cart including Sanji’s Pork Ribs and Sanji’s Peach and Lemon Frozen Smoothie, perfect for beating the heat.

Everyone, young and old, is invited to immerse themselves in the world of One Piece during this special celebration.

© 尾田栄一郎／集英社・フジテレビ・東映アニメーション

Airbnb boasts one of the largest travel communities in the world, filled with users offering up lodging and those eager to visit somewhere new. The Japanese subsidiary of the company has revealed the top spots added to Japanese users ‘Favorites (Wish Lists)’ from May 1 to May 17, 2022. Where will travelers in the country be headed this summer?

Golden Week is long gone and users are starting to think about where to visit during the hottest part of the year. This national ‘Wish List’ might make it easier to pick a spot, with many locations highlighting lesser-known areas!

Gujo Hachiman Villa, Limited to 1 Couple Per Day (Gifu)

This completely private rental villa was made for sauna enthusiasts. One lucky pair per day can book this suite along the Yoshida River flowing through Gujo Hachiman, known as the “City of Water and Dance.” Currently booked through the end of August, reservations for September and beyond will be available in early June. Book a stay to enjoy the gorgeous autumn foliage!

A House Surrounded by Lush Greenery in the Countryside (Tottori)

Hosted by a family of musicians and architects, this guesthouse invites guests to enjoy gorgeous Nordic-inspired interiors and the serene quiet of the countryside. For those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, this is the perfect spot.

Hoshina Satomachi, Limited to 1 Couple Per Day (Nagano)

There’s nothing like spending the summer in a traditional Japanese home. Enjoy a barbeque on the terrace and relax on the massive lawn. This is the perfect spot for families with children or pets!

Coastal Cabin (Chiba)

You can’t have summer without a pool. This luxurious coastal retreat boasts a 15-meter pool, outdoor Jacuzzi, bonfire space, and a barbeque. Relax by the pool while listening to your favorite songs or soak in the outdoor bath as you watch the waves crash along the shore.

An Elegant and Peaceful Log Cabin (Nagano)

Located at 1,300 meters above sea level on the Iizuna plateau, this log cabin is situated in the midst of a dense forest. A perfect space for couples, families, or small groups of friends, guests are welcome to enjoy hiking through this gorgeous landscape in the center of Japan!

EKIHAKO, located within Eki Marché Shin-Osaka inside Shin-Osaka Station, is now holding a Sylvanian Families Pop-Up Park event until June 13, 2022!

The world of Sylvanian Families is loved by people of all ages, and fans of the adorable creatures won’t want to miss this event. A photo spot has been set up where guests can take pictures with oversized versions of the characters!

Sylvanian Lottery – 1 Spin: ¥600 (Tax Included)

Fans can also take part in the Sylvanian lottery. Don’t worry about losing your money–every spin results in a prize!

Ⓒ EPOCH

In conjunction with Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s current 10th anniversary nationwide tour, the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project was launched to energize Japan through the appeal of regional towns and cities. At each stop, Kyary collaborates with a local company or landmark to help bring more attention to smaller regions and businesses. The details of the artist’s collaboration project in Osaka have been revealed ahead of the artist’s performance there on June 4. 

Kyary will be collaborating with the Tsutenkaku Tower, a symbol of Osaka that has stood tall in the Shinsekai district of Naniwa-ku since 1956. The special collaboration logo was inspired by Kyary’s 2021 dance track Dodonpa, which was recently performed during the artist’s incredibly successful set at Coachella 2022.

Tsutenkaku has been appearing in the news often during 2022 following the installation of the Tower Slider, a see-through slide taking guests from 60 meters up to ground level as they marvel at the city views.

The collaboration product is a special Tsutenkaku and LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project ticket featuring the new logo. The back of each ticket is printed with the phrase “From Osaka, let’s energize Japan!’ written in Kyary’s own handwriting. Collaboration tickets will be available for purchase from June 4 until June 19 at the Tsutenkaku Ticket Counter and Tsutenkaku Online Shop. Limited quantities will also be available at Fenice Sacay, the venue of Kyary’s Osaka concert on June 4. 

A collaborative T-shirt is also on sale featuring the new Tsutenkaku logo and the singer’s 10th-anniversary logo. It will be available on the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project online store from June 4 until July 17. 

Come transmit energy to all of Japan while enjoying a trip to Tsutenkaku Tower in Osaka as part of Kyary’s incredible initiative!

JR Tokai Tours has released a new travel plan for fans of Laid-Back Camp Season 2, which aired from January to March 2021. The tour will take place in the Izu area, which was heavily featured in episodes 10, 11, and 12. Guests can enjoy a travel plan with single lodging and original goods starting May 23 until June 29, 2022.

Original Stickers

The slice-of-life series Laid-Back Camp is currently serialized in COMIC FUZ.

Set in Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures, Laid-Back Camp is a relaxing series following a group of high school girls going camping and enjoying their daily lives. The series is based on the author Afro’s personal experiences and interviews, and since serialization in 2015, the series has attracted fans from around the world. The original comic has sold over 7 million copies. In 2018, the first anime series premiered, inspiring a spin-off Room Camp in 2020 and a second season in 2021.

Four years after it was announced in 2018, a Laid-Back Camp animated film will arrive in theaters this summer.

Art collective teamLab will open a permanent nighttime exhibition, ‘teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka,’ at Nagai Botanical Garden in Osaka in the summer of 2022.

The Nagai Botanical Garden, which originally opened in 1974, reopened on April 1, 2022, after tree thinning, tree rearrangement and replanting to accommodate new root growth, and soil improvement to create an environment where plants can thrive and grow in the far future. The garden covers over 240,000 square meters and is home to 1,200 species of plants, flowers, and trees.

This summer, teamLab will transform the garden into an art space where the past, present, and future intersect, blending with nature’s changing seasons and the presence of guests.

TeamLab’s environmentally friendly art project, ‘Digitized Nature,’ aims to show “nature itself becoming art in its natural state” by using only digital technology. Nothing in the gardens needs to be destroyed to create art.

At teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka, the daytime botanical garden will become an art space at night. The space will be transformed by actual wind and rain, as well as by the behavior of the birds and the actions of visitors to the site. 

Come enjoy an illuminated garden filled with art on a warm night this summer!

©チームラボ

Popular on LINE and other texting apps and illustrated by Jyuuno, mofusand is a curious collection of cute and slightly surreal cats. As with most things that go viral in Japan, these adorable characters will be featured in a themed cafe for a limited time! The Tokyo location will open on May 19 and the Osaka location will welcome visitors starting May 26, 2022.

Cafe Visitor Bonus: Sticker (6 varieties)

Drink Order Bonus: Coaster (6 varieties)

Menu

Fried Shrimp Sandwich Plate

Grilled Vegetable Curry

Nyanko Burger

Salmon Mentaiko Cream Pasta

Taiyaki

Nyanko Parfait

Black Cat Pancake

Nyan Lime Nata de Coco

Green Nyanko Float / Yello Nyanko Float / Blue Nyanko Float

Nyanko Cafe Latte / Nyanko Milk Tea

Merchandise

Sticker

Clear Folder

All menu items draw inspiration from the many mofusand characters and are perfect for posting on social media! Special bonuses will be given to those visiting the cafe and making select purchases, and a merchandise corner will be selling limited-edition goods featuring new artwork!

©mofusand

Folk Kitchen, a restaurant on the second floor of Hilton Osaka, will hold the Sanrio Characters Sweets Buffet ~Joyful Summer Festival~ from May 20 until September 11, 2022. The event is being held to celebrate Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin, and Pochakko coming in first, second, and third in the Sanrio Character Awards. A lineup of 25 different sweets will be available, including those filled with summer fruits like mango, peach, and watermelon! In addition, a “Zero Leftovers Campaign” will be implemented–so be sure to clear your plate!

Happy Festival Heart Mousse

Joyful Pink Cake / Lime & Raspberry

Fluffy and Crunchy Mango Pavlova

Decorated with chocolate and adorable character designs, the Happy Festival Heart Mousse is a scrumptious dish blending the flavor of banana, caramel, and rum. The Joyful Pink Cake will be a smash-hit with Sanrio lovers, featuring the soft taste of white mousse and raspberry compote with a fresh lime flavor. Tons of other original sweets will be available, including everything from gingerbread to orange tarts.

Visitors can also find plenty of vegan sweets. Summer Blue Sky Jello features contrasting colors of pineapple pulp and soymilk cream that look like clouds floating against a summer sky. Be sure to try the Almond & Watermelon Jello and Grapefruit and Lychee Jello too!