Japanese fashion brand Melody BasKet has teamed up with the visual novel video game developer nitro+ to release a new clothing collection inspired by the popular game Touken Ranbu. The collaborative line-up dropped via the brand’s online shop and select shops in Japan on Friday (January 22).

The line-up is based on the Touken Ranbu characters Higekiri, Hizamaru, and Tsurumaru Kuninaga.

The Line-Up

Touken Ranbu Higekiri One Piece

Price: ¥27,800 (Before Tax)

Colour: Ivory

Sizes: 105 / 120 / 135 / M / L

Description: A sailor-style one piece inspired by Higekiri. Comes with a detachable embroidered brooch. Made in Japan using Japanese materials.

Touken Ranbu Hizamaru One Piece

Price: ¥27,800 (Before Tax)

Colour: Black

Sizes: 105 / 120 / 135 / M / L

Description: A sailor-style one piece inspired by Hizamaru. Comes with a detachable embroidered brooch. Made in Japan using Japanese materials.

Touken Ranbu Tsurumaru Kuninaga One Piece

Price: ¥24,800 (Before Tax)

Colour: White

Sizes: 105 / 120 / 135 / M / L

Description: A sailor-style one piece inspired by Tsurumaru Kuninaga. Comes with a detachable embroidered brooch. Made in Japan using Japanese materials.

©2015 EXNOA LLC/Nitroplus

K Confect released a batch of its new ‘SNOW SAND’ chocolate sandwich cookies for the winter season on Wednesday (January 20) made with ingredients from Hokkaido and within just 30-minutes the online stock sold out. The company has now been launching a new limited batch every day since January 21st. All orders come with an original polar bear postcard.

Front and back of polar bear postcard

The SNOW SAND sandwich cookie brings some warm and cosy love this cold winter season with its delicious combination of butter made in Hokkaido, wheat flour, and sugar. The cookie packaging comes in two designs based on two works of art by Japanese painter Otani Kazuyoshi.

Japan declared a state of emergency on January 5, 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and so those unable to make it to the company’s pop-up shops at Daimaru Sapporo and Daimaru Tokyo, which will open on January 27, can order the cookies online too.

If you’re looking to look as cute as Hello Kitty, then you’ll want to pick up the new D-UP Eyelash Fixer EX, a product by D-UP released in collaboration with Sanrio on Friday (January 22) at Don Quijote stores in Japan. The product will also begin rolling out at variety shops and drug stores from March 5.

D-UP Eyelash Fixer EX is a super strong glue for false eyelashes. First released in 2000, it has gone to enjoy huge popularity in Japan where it has sold over 27 million units. It is also popular outside of Japan too.

With face masks now a norm for everyone worldwide, makeup trends are now tending towards the eyes, and so D-UP is launching its 5th collaboration with Hello Kitty, a partnership which first began in 2021.

D-UP Eyelash Fixer EX552 Hello Kitty S | ¥5,990 (Tax Included)

The packaging and product design features a retro style coloured in pastel colours and Hello Kitty.

Japanese 3-member pop rock band Ikimonogakari is set to release a clothing collection in collaboration with apparel brand SPINNS. The collection features a hoodie and sweater and will drop at the SPINNS Harajuku store and SPINNS official website on January 23.

Black Ikki Cafe! Sweater: ¥4,500 (Before Tax/One Size Fits All) | Grey Cute Space Ikki! Hoodie: ¥5,000 (Before Tax/One Size Fits All)

Both oversized items feature Ikimonogakari’s own original character Ikki Monkey and were drawn by popular illustrator Shirokuma Nanamin who added their signature colourful pop style to the garments.

The “Sonny Angel Artist Collection -Angel In The Bird Garden-” is set to release in Japan on January 22, 2021 which will see a collaboration with ANNA SUI ACTIVE, a luxury brand hugely popular in China. It combines the brand’s iconic and unique vision with the cute character Sonny Angel, the little angel boy who enjoys nothing more than wearing different kinds of headgear.

This marks Sonny Angel Artist Collection’s first collaboration with a brand and it takes on ANNA SUI ACTIVE’s “Bird Garden” theme, wrapping Sonny Angel up in floral designs.

The result is a cute and gorgeous new collection of Sonny Angel figurines. ANNA SUI ACTIVE’s logo is also printed on Sonny’s leg.

Creative and sustainable concept store Firsthand released a collection of items in collaboration on Wednesday (January 20) with the TV anime series Kingdom, which is set to begin airing its third season this April, and Japanese artist Kosuke Kawamura. The items are available to buy both online in Japan and at a pop-up store at OPEN STUDIO inside FREAK’S STORE Shibuya.

Firsthand is a Japanese brand centred on upcycling and sustainable production. Fans of the ongoing anime series can get their hands on a range of clothing items, phone cases, and more. If they head to OPEN STUDIO they’ll also find an illustration exhibit, a photo spot, and more. The gallery is also selling posters signed by Kosuke Kawamura.

Will you be watching Season 3 of Kingdom this spring?

Uniqlo U, the brand created by Artistic Director Christophe Lemaire and his team in Paris, is giving us the warm welcome of its Spring/Summer 2021 collection which is set to drop first in Japan on January 22, 2021 and globally on January 28, 2021. The line-up features a fitting silhouette comfortable for the warmer seasons and focuses on simple and comfy threads perfect for today’s modern lifestyle. The items come in earth tones that serve us season-changing vibes. This 10th season of Uniqlo U also welcomes a kids line-up to the collection.

The women’s collection features light and airy items made from viscose and cotton-polyester blends as well as 3D knits to give that refreshing summery feel. The sheer shirt comes in men’s stripes while the regular fit jeans have been updated with a straight silhouette. The shiny rayon tunic and dress present fluidity and soft colors while the twill skirt will come in an A-line silhouette. Coats have been cut shorter for those who are active.

The new kid’s collection added to Uniqlo U features all the classic one pieces, T-shirts, and short pants made into children’s sizes so that they too can enjoy the thrills of dressing well in comfortable, sophisticated styles.

Don’t miss the Uniqlo U Spring/Summer 2021 Collection.

UNIQLO’s T-shirt brand UT is set to collaborate with American artist Jason Polan with a special collection featuring his art that will drop on January 29, 2021.

Polan was a New York-based artist who passed away in January 2020 at the age of 37. He become a partner of UNIQLO in 2016 and has since collaborated with UNIQLO on three separate occasions with his collections being made available worldwide.

Honouring Polan’s favourite iconic drawings

In 2008, Jason Polan gave himself a challenge to draw every person in New York. Each drawing in this project featured a description of what Polan saw when drawing people along with the date of when he saw them, giving people an insight into his world as he saw it. He is also known for his love of giraffes, hamburgers, and tigers, which make up some of his most iconic art pieces. He even did some drawings while in Tokyo.

Join in continuing his legacy with artists around the world.

Jason Polan’s passion for bringing people together to create their own art gave birth to the World’s Biggest Drawing Club. This has inspired people from across the globe to share their own sketches of everyday life. UNIQLO will commemorate Polan’s death anniversary with a special online drawing event on their Instagram page on January 27, 2021.

The World’s Biggest Drawing Club – Online Event

Help continue Jason Polan’s mission and join the The World’s Biggest Drawing Club. For more information, visit UNIQLO’s website here.

Running: January 8, 2021 – February 21, 2021
How to Join: https://www.uniqlo.com/jp/en/contents/feature/jason-polan/campaign/
#worldsbiggestdrawingclub (Global hashtag)
#ドローイングクラブ (Japan hashtag)

Every Person in “UNIQLO TOKYO”

On January 27, the first anniversary of Polan’s death this year, UT will host a special one-night drawing workshop hosted by prominent artists. UNIQLO TOKYO will also welcome pre-sales of the T-shirt collection on the same day.

Date: January 27, 2021

Time: 19:00 (JST)

Where: UNIQLO’s official Instagram page.

Special Items

Novelty

Those who buy two or more items from the collection at select UNIQLO stores and UNIQLO’s online shop will receive the uni-ball Vision Elite, a pen loved by Polan, with the artist’s name inscribed on it. Limited quantities available.

Original Box

Those who order from the collection online will have their items shipped in an original box. Limited quantities available.

Leaflet Book

All UNIQLO branches in Japan are now handing out a special Jason Polan leaflet book have also have dedicated drawing spaces to encourage people to make art.

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.

Lagunasia, a theme park managed by Laguna Ten Bosch, has announced an event in collaboration with the TV anime series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba which will run from March 6 to June 5.

©Koyoharu Gotouge / Shueisha・Aniplex・ufotable

©Koyoharu Gotouge / Shueisha・Aniplex・ufotable

The event will feature an immersive attraction called “Trial of Recollection: Tanjiro’s Journey” as well as a rally event to hunt down all the stickers around the theme park, a Demon Slayer themed menu line-up, exclusive merchandise, and more.

Further details will be announced in the coming months.

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.

discord Yohji Yamamoto, a luxury accessory brand spearheaded by Yohji Yamamoto, has launched a collaboration with German pet brand HUNTER to release a collection of dog collars, leads, and other accessories like bags and wallets.

HUNTER was established in 1980 and has gone on to mark its territory across the world as a provider of high quality pet goods, praised for for the design, functionality, and safety of its products.

Black Dog Collar & Lead

The dog collars are fitted with studs as part of the collaboration. Both the collar and lead feature the same colouring as discord Yohji Yamamoto’s products, arriving in the brand’s signature black as well as beige, the latter of which is often used for its bags and small leather products. They are also clipped with a signature charm which has a design symbolising the collaboration.

Beige Dog Collar & Lead

The accessories are made from elk leather which is soft and made extra durable with double layering. Having the collar and lead the same colours also adds a sophistication to the design when fitted on a dog.

The collection will be released at discord Yohji Yamamoto stores in GINZA SIX, Shibuya PARCO, and Isetain Shinjuku, as well online. More details can be found on the official website here.

discord Yohji Yamamoto Black / Beige Selection

Y BACKPACK Nylon Studs | ¥148,000

ORIGAMI Tote | ¥98,000

Triple Clutch | ¥58,000

Diagonal Bag | ¥45,000

Y SERIES Studs

Y BODYBAG Studs | ¥138,000

Y BACKPACK Studs | ¥158,000

Small Leather Goods

Card Mini Wallet | ¥17,000

Key Wallet | ¥20,000