Japanese company Banc, which specialises in setting up hotels and other sites, held the grand opening of the new Architecture Cafe Sumika, a new museum/cafe in Shinjuku, Tokyo, on April 28.

A peek inside

A recreation of Fallingwater, a house designed by the architect Frank Lloyd Wright 

Painting by chalk artist Misuzu Wakai

Architectural designs recreated at the new museum cafe

Villa Savoye (Le Corbusier)
Fallingwater (Frank Lloyd Wright)
Casa Ligornetto (Mario Botta)
Sky House (Kiyonori Kikutake)
Maison a Bordeaux (Rem Koolhaas)
Malin Residence “chemosphere” (John Lautner)
Eames House (Charles and Ray Eames)
Silver Hat (Toyo Ito)
Fisher House (Louis Kahn)
Mailam House (Paul Rudolph)
The Glass House (Lina Bo Bardi)
Steel House (Kengo Kuma)

A little look at the menu

<Miho Chef Chocolatier> Premium Gateau Chocolate: ¥1,200 / Raw Marble Chocolate: ¥1,000 / Raw Dami Chocolate ¥450

<Ten no Ya> Egg Sandwich: ¥750

Architecture Cafe Sumika aim sto be a cosy space for architecture lovers who can enjoy thinking about their ideal home, talking about their favourite architect, and thinking about how architecture changes with the times. The cafe has recreated 12 architectural marvels from 12 different renowned architects, each at which sits at a different table.

The cafe, which is located in Shinjuku Sanchome, employs a spacious cafe area with high ceilings that can be enjoyed by both lovers of architects and cafe enthusiasts where they can relax with a cup of tea, coffee, a soft drink, or even alcohol, the latter of which is served at bar hours from 18:00, completely changing the atmosphere into a night museum. There’s also a tasty food menu to tuck into.

If you’re looking to speak to someone about architecture and real estate, Architecture Cafe Sumika also houses its own resident experts. Customers can also enjoy a range of other works by architects and interior designers.

In celebration of the cafe’s opening, a competition is being held to create a jungle gym for children where entrees can win cash prizes, the top being ¥300,000. More details below.

As part of Red Bull and King Gnu’s “Go Louder” project, the Japanese pop-rock band are set to hold an exclusive live concert at a secret location as part of the Red Bull Secret Gig experience, which has taken place at over 10 locations in six countries worldwide. The show is scheduled for early June this year, and applications for tickets opened on April 27.

Tickets to the Red Bull Secret Gig shows are free, but the venue is kept a secret until the last minute, and concertgoers must solve puzzles and riddles. There are two ways to attend the King Gnu concert: in-person and online, each of which will be determined on fans’ success in the endeavour.

The Sesame Street and BAPE® collaboration continues with pre-sales for the children’s line-up having launched at BAPE KIDS® Harajuku on April 29 and the men’s collection dropping at all A BATHING APE® stores and webstore on May 2.

This collaboration features familiar faces from the Sesame Street series including Elmo, the Cookie Monster, and Big Bird together with BAPE’s own BABY MILO®. It’s a fun and colourful collection of stripes tees, tees with big graphics on them, and more for the family to coordinate.

There are also special illustrations in line with Children’s Day in Japan which falls on May 5.

Fashion, beauty, and creative company MASH Holdings has announced a collaboration with the Peanuts comic strip titled “TAKE CARE WITH PEANUTS” which sees the arrival of an eco bag collection in collaboration with 11 different fashion brands. The bags were released at USAGI ONLINE, as well as other online stores and shops in Japan on April 28.

The Line-Up

SNIDEL | ¥1,980 (Tax Included)

gelato pique | ¥2,420 (Tax Included)

FRAY I.D | ¥2,200 (Tax Included)

Lily Brown | ¥2,970 (Tax Included)

Mila Owen | ¥3,300 (Tax Included)

CELFORD | ¥2,530 (Tax Included)

Emmi | ¥4,950 (Tax Included)

SNIDEL HOME | ¥3,850 (Tax Included)

Styling | ¥1,980 (Tax Included)

FURFUR | ¥4,950 (Tax Included)

UNDERSON UNDERSON | ¥3,960 (Tax Included)

The eco bags see Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang making an effort to promote sustainable alternatives to plastic bags. Fans of the comic can help the gang take care of the planet with this stylish reusable line-up.

Royal Park Hotel is collaborating with the Japanese condiment brand Mizkan, which is known for its vinegars, mustards, salad dressings and more, to serve non-alcoholic cocktails made with vinegar. The Non Alco-Vinegar Cocktail Fair will be held from May 1 to June 30.

Royal Park Hotel x Mizkan

Tropical Princess/FLORAL BEAUTY Vinegar Cashew/Frozen Fruity Su/Blueberry Black Vinegar Soy Milk Shake/Vinegar Fruit Yogurt/Ponzu & Tomato Ginger

The non-alcoholic vinegar cocktails were created for both drinkers and non-drinkers of alcohol as a way to enjoy the food scene more. The alcoholic drinks used in cocktails gives them a kick, and so does vinegar when used in food. These beverages combine vinegar with a range of fruits, teas, carbonated water, and other ingredients.

The line-up was conceived by the Vinegar Club who have also posted recipes for various cocktails on their website – links below.

The Hokka Hokka Tei x Sumikko Gurashi campaign is returning again this year as part of a celebration to commemorate the 45th anniversary of Hokka Hokka’s first store opening in Soka, Saitama.

Every month, 100 lucky people who are members of the Hokka app have the chance to win a set of five palm-sized Sumikko Gurashi plushies for every Sumikko Gurashi bento they purchase at Hokka Hokka Tei stores in Japan. Each purchase comes with a QR code that can be scanned which will reveal whether they’ve won or not.

Fans of Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Magica Record won’t want to miss out on these new themed backpacks and wristwatches released by KADOKAWA at the apparel brand EMooooN. Available to order until May 23, the merch designs take inspiration from the 2011 film Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Movie and the anime adaptation of the mobile RPG Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story.

The anime studio SHAFT, who animated both of these series, created special illustrations of Madoka, Homura, Iroha, and Yachiyo for this merch drop.

Madoka Kaname Backpack | ¥14,700 (Tax Included)

Inspired by the one and only Madoka, this backpack’s outer design features her full name embroidered in the bottom right, while inside fans will discover an original design with magical circles and limitless space. There is plenty of room to store your bits and bobs with both open pockets and a zip pocket. The bag itself has a simple body design which makes it perfect for being nerdy while in a business setting as well as looking stylish when out and about.

Homura Akemi Backpack | ¥14,700 (Tax Included)

Embroidered with Homura’s name, this black backpack’s inner design features flowers and the starry night sky.

Madoka Kaname Wristwatch | ¥18,480 (Tax Included)

The face of this wristwatch features magical circles and its colours based on Madoka’s clothes. Its stylish design also makes it wearable in any situation.

Homura Akemi Wristwatch | ¥18,480 (Tax Included)

Homura’s clock face has cogs on it as well as darker colours to match her character design.

Iroha Tamaki Backpack | ¥14,700 (Tax Included)

The interior design of Iroha’s bag was created by Doroinu of Gekidan Inu Curry.

Yachiyo Nanami Backpack | ¥14,700 (Tax Included)

Dorainu also designed the inside of Yachiyo’s bag.

Iroha Tamaki Wristwatch | ¥18,480 (Tax Included)

Yachiyo Nanami Wristwatch | ¥18,480 (Tax Included)

Special sets featuring illustrations by SHAFT

Backpack & Acrylic Key Ring Sets

Backpack EMooooN Sets: Madoka, Homura, Iroha, Yachiyo | ¥15,200 Each

Wristwatch & Acrylic Stand Figure Sets

Backpack EMooooN Sets: Madoka, Homura, Iroha, Yachiyo | ¥19,500 Each

©Magica Quartet／Aniplex・Madoka Movie Project Rebellion

©Magica Quartet/Aniplex・Magia Record Anime Partners

Italian luxury goods company Furla has collaborated with the messenger app LINE to release a capsule collection featuring the LINE FRIENDS characters. The collection was released on April 23 at FURLA Shinjuku Scramble Square, FURLA Lumine Omiya, and FURLA Kinshicho PARCO.

FURLA LINE FRIENDS Capsule Collection

The line-up, which is officially titled FURLA LINE FRIENDS, welcomes the popular LINE FRIENDS original characters BROWN, CONY, and SALLY on seven different items such as micro bags, card cases, and more.

The micro bags, which are in this season, make up the entirety of the characters’ faces and come with adorable leather. They are perfect for coupling with kawaii outfits, adding a sense of accessory to a look. The slim leather ‘envelope’ zip case is multipurpose and serves as a bag-in-bag as it can easily slot away in any handbag. There’s also card cases with zip pockets so your favourite LINE FRIENDS character can keep your cards safe while you’re out and about day and night.

Furla and LINE FRIENDS have also created an original phone wallpaper which can be downloaded.

MICRO BAG | ¥29,700 (Tax Included)

MICRO BAG | ¥29,700 (Tax Included)

MICRO BAG | ¥29,700 (Tax Included)

S ENVELOPE | ¥22,000 (Tax Included)

S ENVELOPE | ¥22,000 (Tax Included)

M CARD CASE | ¥17,600 (Tax Included)

M CARD CASE | ¥17,600 (Tax Included)

Japanese high-end street brand LIBERE has teamed up with the Naruto anime series to release a capsule collection. Pre-orders opened on April 22 at the fashion brand’s official online store and branches.

LIBERE FOR NARUTO

“LIBERE FOR NARUTO” is the theme of the collection which sees Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Kakashi, Shikamaru, and Itachi all serving a street-ninja style by wearing the items in the line-up. Each also incorporates family crests and colours that represent the cast. It includes tees, long-sleeved shirts, hoodies, bags, caps, and more, all of which have details like straps, pockets, and zippers, and all of which come with special tags, plastic bags, and dust bags that were specially made for this collection.

Pierrot, the animation studio who animated Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden, also created a look-book for the release which combines the anime with real life. A special poster will be included in all purchases.

(C)岸本斉史 スコット／集英社・テレビ東京・ぴえろ＆LIBERE(R)

This cafe will keep your dry while you enjoy your coffee as it brings together the Japanese rainwear brand Wpc. and community space Tsubakimori Komuna with the limited-time cafe Wrapping komuna ~blooming~ which is now running until the end of May.

Tsubakimori Komuna first opened five years ago and recently received huge renovation work, reopening in January of this year. Wrapping komuna ~blooming~ sees the return of the colourful umbrella installation which was featured as part of its reopning.

The theme of the installation is “blooming” and features six different colours of umbrella representing different drinks such as strawberry milk, ramune, and soda. The umbrellas twinkle as the light filters through the trees at different angles, creating a gorgeous atmosphere at the cafe which itself is built like a treehouse.

Style editorial brand “niko and …” opened pre-orders for a new collection with Kumamoto resident oil painter Takeshi Matsunaga at its new AMU PLAZA KUMAMOTO branch on April 23. The line-up is set to be subsequently released via the online webstore “st.” as well as five branches of niko and … on April 29, including their Tokyo store.

MATSUNAGA TAKESHI MEETS niko and … KUMAMOTO

The line-up is a collection of everyday items from tote bags and mugs to key rings, pencil cases, iPhone cases, t-shirts, caps, and more. Each item features a design inspired by Rakunou Gyunyu, a brand of milk that’s hugely popular in Kumamoto. Matsunaga adds his delicate touch to the oil-painted series. Part of the proceeds generated from the sales of these items will be donated to the city of Kumamoto in support of restoration efforts from the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes.

niko and’s new Kumamoto store also has a cafe attached to it, “niko and … COFFEE,” where a milk smoothie will be sold for a limited time until September 30. Each will come with a milk-flavoured wafer featuring Matsunaga Takeshi’s art on it.

The Kawasaki-based Fujiko F. Fujio Museum, which is dedicated to the Japanese manga writing duo who created Doraemon, is now serving up its new Doraemon Korosuke Chiffon Sandwich which was added to the menu on Wednesday.

Doraemon Korosuke Chiffon Sandwich | ¥1,280 (Tax Included)

The new arrival sees Doraemon and Korosuke turned into chiffon sandwiches with the beloved blue robot cat made from chocolate and filled with banana cream and his friend filled with mango cream.

Check out some of the other items available on the menu at the museum too.

Doraemon Arrabbiata | ¥1,230 (Tax Included)

French Toast de Anki Bread | ¥980 (Tax Included)

Fork into the Doraemon Arrabbiata with tomato sauce and a Doraemon face made from egg sheets, or a French toast inspired by Doraemon’s Copying Tost, one of his many Secret Gadgets.

ⒸFujiko-Pro