SHIBUYA109 Entertainment is set to release The Walt Disney Company’s Pride Collection at SHIBUYA109 and MAGNET by SHIBUYA109 as part of Shibuya Pride Month. The collection will be available from June 18 to July 1.

The Walt Disney Company’s Pride Collection

The Walt Disney Company’s Pride Collection/SHIBUYA109

Free multipurpose case for buyers

SHIBUYA109’s ethos is about making today’s dreamers shine. Their collaboration with Shibuya Pride Month is to spread the positive message of creating a society where people can live however they want to live.

The Walt Disney Company’s Pride Collection is a unisex line-up of original items by five popular brands at SHIBUYA109 and MAGNET by SHIBUYA109 with Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars logos and character designs featuring rainbow colours.

A digital catalogue by creative director Wataru LINDA Igarashi was released showcasing each item in the collection. Special online events by SHIBUYA109 will also take place as part of the Pride celebration. Igarashi also created a collection of bucket hats, hoodies, sweaters, bandanas, stickers, and more as part of The Walt Disney Company’s Pride Collection.

Sanrio announced the final results and winners of the 36th Sanrio Character Ranking, an annual event where fans vote for their favourite Sanrio character to see who is the most popular. A total of 21,346,750 votes were submitted for 2021.

2021 Sanrio Character Ranking: General Ranking

Comments from the Winners

1st Place: Cinnamoroll
“I’m going to treasure this feeling forever! Thank you all for your support!♪”

2nd Place: Pompompurin
“Thanks so much for cheering me on!♡ I’m so grateful for all the love!”

3rd Place: Pochacco
“I can’t believe I got 3rd again this year! It’s thanks to all your support! I’m going to try hard next year too!”

2021 Sanrio Character Ranking: Collaboration Category

This year sees Cinnamoroll take the top spot for the second year in a row. In the first round-up of announcements, Cinnamoroll was already at number one, but in the second round-up he dipped to 2nd place. That didn’t stop him however as after gaining over 2.3 million votes, he grabbed that shiny crown once again. Pompompurin, who is celebrating his 25th anniversary this year, came in 2nd again, and Pochacco in 3rd again. Hello Kitty, who ranked 5th last year, came in 6th place this year – a place she kept since the second round-up. SHOW BY ROCK!! who will commemorate her 10th anniversary next year came in 8th once again. Kuromi, who received much love from overseas fans this year, climbed from last year’s 7th to 5th this year, making it the first time she has clocked in the Top 5 spot in 11 years. Cogimyun came in 10th after coming in 13th last year, making it her first time in the Top 10.

The Collaboration Category, which began in 2013, saw 27 entrees from different businesses and creators. Popular creators Azuki and Hapidanbui took 1st place this year.

The The Quintessential Quintuplets ∬ anime series teamed up with THE CHARA SHOP for a special event inside Ikebukuro Marui in Tokyo which is set to run until June 17.

Merch Line-Up

Pins | 6 Designs (Chosen Randomly) | ¥440 Each (Tax Included)

Micro Fibre Clothes | 5 Designs | ¥660 Each (Tax Included)

Key Rings | 5 Designs | ¥880 Each (Tax Included)

Mug | ¥1,650 (Tax Included)

Large Acrylic Stand | 5 Designs | ¥1,980 Each (Tax Included)

Mini Acrylic Art | 5 Designs | ¥2,200 Each (Tax Included)

B2 Tapestry | 5 Designs | ¥3,300 (Tax Included)

Fans of the anime series can get their hands on presales of a collection of ‘school rock’ themed merchandise. And for every ¥3,000 spent on items, you can enter for the chance to win extra free he Quintessential Quintuplets ∬  goodies too.

Marc Jacobs’ iconic The Snapshot Bag has released in two exclusive colours at Shibuya PARCO in Tokyo as well as their Japanese online store, serving early summertime vibes.

The Snapshot | Shibuya PARCO & Marc Jacobs Japan Online Exclusive

Left Photo: Exclusive Models – Both ¥47,300 | Right Photo: 3D Painted Flowers – ¥71,500, Crystals – ¥62,700 (Tax Included)

Arriving first on the 2016 Spring/Summer runway, the Marc Jacobs Snapshot is a collection of cute and compact bag purses made to wear across the body. Each model is kitted out with audacious colours with oversized double-J hardware. All come with a detachable strap.

The new and exclusive duo of blue coloured bags come with webbed straps showcasing the detail that goes into the brand’s craftsmanship. Both models add a sense of freshness to a look. Additionally, the Marc Jacobs Shibuya PARCO store branch also offering their Customization Capsule collection, allowing customers to freely customise their bags.

Mizkan launched a social media campaign last Tuesday in collaboration with Sanrio’s popular character Gudetama. As part of the campaign, the lazy egg character is featuring on the packaging for Mizkan’s ‘Tamago Shoyu Tare,’ an egg soy sauce topping for rice. There are eight designs in total, and all limited in stock.

The campaign invites foodies to make their best version of N-TKG, that’s an abbreviation of natto tamago kake gohan, or natto egg on rice. 30 lucky people have the chance to win an original Quo card featuring a Gudetama design. All they need to do is follow Mizkan on Twitter and post their creation along with the Japanese hashtag ＃マイベストNTKG (“My Best NTKG”) while quoting the campaign tweet.

N-TKG Recipe Maker

Mizkan have created a special N-TKG maker where you can make your own digital natto egg on rice. You enter six alphabetical letters which will give you a variety of toppings to creating your own dish. You can then use this as reference for actually making it in real life.

How to Make
1. Enter 6 letters into the recipe maker
2. Make your own original N-TKG using the toppings chosen by the letters you pick
3. Try making the dish yourself!

Ueno Information Center is celebrating the 4th birthday of Xiang Xiang, the giant panda who was born at Ueno Zoo back in 2017, with the release of a merchandise collection. The line-up arrived on Wednesday and is available both at the information center and via their online store.

Although strict measures are in place at the center to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading, celebrations for Xiang Xiang aren’t completely cancelled, as fans of the adorable panda, who has become something of an idol in Ueno, can get their hands on some fun goodies.

Ueno Panda Family Memorial Pins 2021 | ¥2,530 (Tax Included)

Ueno Panda Family Clear Pouch YE | ¥2,200 (Tax Included)

Ueno Panda Family Cooling Lunch Tote Bag | ¥1,650 (Tax Included)

The collection features motifs of Xiang Xiang, her mother Shin Shin, and her father Ri Ri. The pin collection, which comes in a gold leaf-laced box, includes Shin Shin in a tree peony, Xiang Xiang amongst the cherry blossoms, and Ri Ri with lotus flowers.

The pouch sees Xiang Xiang happy and energetic with her parents. It comes in a summery yellow and is made from semi-transparent matted vinyl. Perfect for storing away makeup, stationery, and any other bits and bobs.

The cooling bag is made from aluminium on the inside for keeping your food fresh. It’s big enough for fitting a bento and 500ml bottle, making it handy for taking your lunch out with you.

Happy 4th Birthday, Xiang Xiang!

Narita Anime Deck opened its Gintama pop-up event last Tuesday which is set to run until July 15.

The Narita Anime Deck opened inside Narita International Airport Terminal 2 in November 2019. It’s an entertainment facility where travellers from around the world can experience and enjoy Japanese anime culture in various forms such as with character merchandise, food, events, and a variety of photo spots.

The event sees anime series characters Gintoki Sakata, Toshiro Hijikata, and Okita Sougo dressed as pilots and Shinsuke Takasugi as a traveller. These designs are featured on a range of merchandise, decorations, and the food menu.

One must-grab item is the face mask case which arrives in four designs – one for each character.

The food line-up includes the Uji Gintoki Don & Katsudon Hijikata Special Set. This meal and dessert comes with an Uji matcha syrup-covered anko bowl which is based off the food that Gintoki gives to a cat. You can also order a latte featuring latte art of your favourite character. For every item ordered on the menu, you get a free coaster. These come in two design collections: one is available now and will be replaced by the other on June 19.

And if you spend over ¥3,000 on Gintama merchandise at the event, you’ll receive a free card. Fans can also get a free lunch mat if they spend over ¥4,000 and the shop or eat-in restaurant and show their receipts.

nel craft chocolate tokyo, a craft chocolate shop located in Nihonbashihamacho, Tokyo, released two chocolate shaved ice desserts last Wednesday for the hot summer season. The desserts are also being sold at Saryo Tsukikage, a restaurant inside the hot spring ryokan Yuen Bettei Daita in Setagaya.

Left: Cacao Kintoki | Right: White Cacao Kintoki

Cacao kintoki is a type of shaved ice made with specially-selected cacao beans from Vietnam. It uses a ‘bean to bar’ method where the shaved ice is made from scratch, roasting the beans fresh to create the dessert.

The two new treats at nel use a chocolate base and add cacao pulp to the mix, adding a natural fruity flavour derived from the bean. Each is also served with a special cacao sauce for extra flavour. The white cacao version is made by combining with in-house white chocolate. It also comes with an Okinawan passion fruit and cacao pulp sauce, resulting in a sour kick and refreshing taste.

Saryo Tsukikage

The open-air baths at Yuen Bettei Daita

A special matcha version of this shaved ice can also be enjoyed while bathing in the open-air baths at Yuen Bettei Daita. It’s made with nel’s homemade white chocolate as well as dark chocolate, cacao pulp, and specially-selected yame matcha from Shimokita Chaen Ōyama, a cafe in Setagaya.

June 21 will mark three years since MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM: EPSON teamLab Borderless first opened. Located in Odaiba, Tokyo, the digital art museum is commemorating its anniversary with two new installations: Sketch Aquarium: Connected World and Sharing Rock Mass, Transcending Space. Experience digital art, which blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, change in real time as people come into contact with it.

MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM: EPSON teamLab

Sketch Aquarium: Connected World

teamLab describes this exhibit:

The fish drawn by everyone swim around in this aquarium.

Color in a fish on the paper provided. See the picture you have drawn come to life in the massive aquarium in front of you, swimming together with the fish drawn by other people. If you touch the swimming fish, they will swim away. If you touch the food bags, you can also feed the fish.

The tuna you draw will transcend the boundaries of the artwork and swim out into the Sketch Aquariums and Sketch Oceans of exhibitions around the world. And the tuna drawn in other parts of the world may appear and swim in the Sketch Aquarium right in front of you.

Sharing Rock Mass, Transcending Space

teamLab describes this exhibit:

A rock mass floats in the world of the teamLab Borderless museum in Shanghai. The rock mass floats through the hallway of teamLab Borderless Shanghai and sinks into the wall. The rock mass transcends the physical space of the museum itself, the part that sinks into the wall appears in the world of the teamLab Borderless museum in Tokyo.

When people touch the part of the rock mass emerging in Tokyo, it shines with blue light. This light flows to the rock mass sunken into the wall in Shanghai. When people touch the part of the rock mass sunken into the wall in Shanghai, it shines with a red light which flows to the rock mass here in Tokyo. When red light flows into the rock mass, it indicates that someone in Shanghai is touching the rock mass.

teamLab is represented by Pace Gallery, Martin Browne Contemporary and Ikkan Art International.

ICHIBIKO is a new strawberry dessert-themed cafe that opened at Tokyu Food Show in Shibuya, Tokyo, on June 1. The shop’s concept is centred on letting people enjoy strawberries all year round served in a variety of sweet and succulent ways.

Migaki-Ichigo Pudding | 3 Flavours

The Migaki-Ichigo Pudding is a Japanese-style custard pudding made with a layer of custard and strawberry jam. The jam, which contains fresh juicy pieces of strawberry left over, is made from a type of high quality strawberry called Migaki-Ichigo. These puddings are available in three flavours.

Migaki-Ichigo Pudding – Strawberry Custard | ¥432 (Tax Included)

Made with fresh cream and vanilla custard and combined with strawberry jam. Rich and full of fruity flavour.

Migaki-Ichigo Pudding – Condensed Strawberry Milk | ¥486 (Tax Included)

Layered with condensed milk instead of custard, lending a refreshing milky flavour to the sweet strawberry and giving a velvety texture.

Migaki-Ichigo Pudding – Strawberry Milk Yogurt | ¥432 (Tax Included)

Made with strawberry sauce-infused yogurt and Migaki-Ichigo jam giving a cool, refreshing flavour.

The new ICHIBIKO store also sells the brand’s most popular beverage, ICHIBIKO Milk, as well as baked confections, and fresh Migaki-Ichigo strawberries sourced directly from farmers.

Disney SWEETS COLLECTION by Tokyo Banana, a joint confectionery shop between GRAPESTONE and Tokyo Banana, released its new Mickey & Friends collection on Thursday.

Tokyo Banana Mickey & Friends Collection | ¥1,300 (Tax Included)

Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto join hands in a heart-warming new collection of Tokyo Banana, a cream-filled sponge cake and the official souvenir sweet of Tokyo’s official souvenir sweet: Tokyo Banana.

Mickey & Friends arrive in all the colours of the rainbow

The colourful packaging features the Disney group of best friends including Mickey, who loves his friends, his girlfriend Minnie, the anger-prone Donald, stylish Daisy, silly Goofy, and trusty Pluto.

Six cute patterns decorate the sponge cakes

There are six super cute Mickey & Friends designs you could get in your Tokyo Banana, and each one is random. They are filled with chocolate banana-flavoured custard cream.

Collect all the postcards

All boxes of these treats come with two of eight possible postcard designs which you can use for sending to someone or even as room decoration.

 © Disney

Sanrio has announced that the announcement ceremony for the winner of the 2021 Sanrio Character Ranking will take place in collaboration with Tokyo Girls Collection (TGC), a semi-annual fashion festival in Tokyo, on June 8. The event will be streamed live on Hello Kitty and TCG’s respective LINE accounts, as well as Sanrio’s official YouTube account, so that more people can tune in to this year’s announcement and see which of Sanrio’s characters will take the crown.

80 characters are participating in this year’s Sanrio Character Ranking which will be announced in order from 80 to 1. This year also sees the return of the sub-award categories including Collaboration. Hosting the event as MC is tarento and actress Nao Asahi and the Japanese comedy duo Wagyu ga Tsutome.

But the winner announcement is not the only event scheduled for 2021’s ranking. Since this time is a collaboration with TGC, there will be a fashion runway where popular models will show off their looks, a live performance with JO1 and the Sanrio characters, a rap battle, and more.

Fashion Runway: Famous models display the Sanrio character aesthetic

On the fashion stage, a line-up of well-known Japanese models will serve fashion inspired by Sanrio’s most famous characters including My Melody, Kuromi, Little Twin Stars, and Pompompurin.

Marie Iitoyo and Maika Yamamoto will use a real-time composite photography system as they dress up as the adorable My Melody and her rival Kuromi. Serving the dreamy star-filled world of Kiki and Lala are Kaane and Sakura Saiga, Yoshiaki & Michi, and Rikariko. For the Pompompurin section, which is themed on the golden retriever’s daily life, we have Nana Kato, Ami Komuro, Natsuki Deguchi, Sachi Fujii, and Roy. But that’s not all as Sakachin, Yuki Higashihara, and Reina, who won the LINE LIVE auditions to appear on this year’s fashion runway, will also appear.

A heated rap battle between the Sanrio characters

In the rap battle, KIRIMI-chan, Kuromi, Kogimyun, and Pompompurin will go head to head against special guests Tsukasa Saito of comedy duo Trendy Angel and Yuriyan Retriever. 

The Sanrio cast join music artists for a concert

The adorable Cinnamoroll, who is also expanding his work as an idol, will perform alongside JO1, while Hello Kitty will sing with singer-songwriter Sonoko Inoue.

A new virtual experience using the latest technology

Japanese digital advertising company CyberAgent, who produced virtual events and 3DCG content, will be using the latest in 3DCG and XR tech to blur the lines between reality and the virtual space with an interactive experience, such as people’s comments on social media and the video displaying in real time, and more.