Taiwan-based e-commerce platform Pinkoi, one of Asia’s largest, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a special project! Virtual model imma is the face of the campaign as a character named ‘Pin Tripper,’ and a new web commercial featuring the personality along with a song written by popular artist Daoko is now available! In addition, the newest issue of the web magazine ‘Pinkoi Zine’ is also available on the official Pinkoi website, featuring a tour of unique items from cities around Asia in the style of a travel report. 

For the campaign, the Pantone Color Institute defined Pinkoi’s two corporate brand colors, ‘Pinkoi Navy’ and ‘Pinkoi Salmon Pink.’ Japanese illustrator Noritake then designed the Pinkoi x Noritake Limited Collaboration line of goods using these unique shades. These will only be available for a short time, so be sure to snag some while you can!

Comments

imma

“Pinkoi is fun to use, because it allows you to find trendy items from cities all over Asia. I found lots of items I don’t come across very often, and items that made me feel as though I were travelling around the continent. (laugh) I hope that you’ll enjoy the new web commercial and the special ‘Pin Trip Report’ in the newest Pinkoi Zine issue! And, of course, enjoy shopping at Pinkoi too.

Daoko

For this campaign, I was able to create a new song with trackmaker Yohji Igarahi. The theme was ‘sense of speed.’ I think I was able to express my identity as a rapper, while also maintaining the important image of neon lights shining at night. My impression of Pinkoi is that it has a huge variety of products not available on typical Japanese sites, and as someone who loves online shopping, I was super excited to work with them!

TOKYO 23, a shop promoting basketball culture, is set to reopen as a large-scale shop in Harajuku on September 18, 2021. 

TOKYO 23 x JUN INOUE TEE (Black/White): ¥5,500 each (Tax Included)

Guests will enter the space to find a basketball court at the center, both keeping with the theme of the shop and maintaining a minimalist vibe. The location is bold, using a balance of different upcycled materials and gray-tone colors reminiscent of the Tokyo streets. 

JUN INOUE was in charge of designing the lanterns throughout the store, giving a more traditional Japanese feel to the modern storefront. The store is dotted with artworks by Inoue as well as Reina Koyano, both located in Los Angeles. 

The coffee shop “LATTEST” will also be a permanent fixture in the store, and is the perfect place for visitors to relax and take in the art and feeling of the TOKYO 23 store. To commemorate the opening of this massive space, special collaborative JUN INOUE x TOKYO 23 T-shirts will be on sale for a limited time. 

The all new Matsuyama Tourist Information Centre is set to open in the heart of Matsuyama—the capital city of Ehime Prefecture in Japan— in Okaido on May 27. In celebration of its opening, this new featured series by MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON will explore the wonders of Matsuyama, a city abundant with places to shop, leisurely hot spots, must-visit restaurants, and opportunities to dive deep into its history and culture. You’re sure to discover something new and exciting about Matsuyama in this series.

Machia in Matsuyama Gintengai offers support for the machipay Service

In Episode 2 of All About Matsuyama, we’re looking at ‘machipay,’ a special service exclusive to Matsuyama that opens opportunities for a great value shopping experience.

Matsuyama’s shopping districts serve as the foundation of the lives of those residing in Matsuyama. Even visiting as a tourist for shopping and sightseeing you can enjoy an inherently ‘Matsuyama’ experience. Something that will make that experience even better is using the city’s machipay service which combines points, electronic money, and coupons all in one place. The service was created for both locals living in the city as well as tourists to create a more convenient shopping experience.

The machipay card and app feature three functions: Points, Electronic Money, and Shopping Coupons. It is compatible at countless popular stores around Matsuyama including Okaido, Gintengai, Matsuchika Town, Matsuyama Ropeway Shopping Street, and elsewhere. Every ¥100 of electronic money spent using the service nets you one point, and one point is equivalent to ¥1. Putting money on the card and paying with it means you’ll start collecting lots of points which can be used at these various stores. Coupons offered around the shopping districts and its stores can also be saved onto your machipay app, making it a very handy shopping companion.

But shopping isn’t the only way to earn machipay points. Attending events in the city, getting involved in voluntary work, and other activities that involve living in or like the people of Matsuyama will also garner you points.

The “machica Card” which is used for the service is sold at the machia shop (pictured above) in Matsuyama Gintengai everyday from 10:00-19:00. There’s also an app. As of April 30, 2021, there are 1,200 stores in Matsuyama that are participating in the service.

If you’re planning a trip to Matsuyama, make sure to use machipay.

BAYCREW’S STORE has unveiled its Spring/Summer 2021 Collection which is now available for pre-order.

Line-Up Excerpt

IENA

IENA brings French-like stripes for the forthcoming warm seasons in the form of a cut and sewn. This is layered with short pants and wedge sandals to complete this marine look.

SLOBE IENA

SLOBE IENA is serving beauty and sophistication with a laced patchwork skirt, resulting in some inevitable double-takes as a gaze at the silhouette and textures of the skirt leaves you loving the cuteness of the look from every angle. The tucked-in shirt bring that in-right-now element while the slipper shoes help to elevate the length of the legs.

Spick and Span

This look by Spick and Span centres on this year’s must-have long green coat. The interior blue tones balance the whole outfit out. The coat sleeves are rolled up, allowing the stripes of the shirt to come through stylishly. This colour scheme is definitely a springtime delight.

Tama Plaza Terrace, a shopping centre in Yokohama, opened a limited-time pop-up shop on Tuesday (February 9) called ISE SHOP which is selling goods and products from Japan’s city of Ise.

The shop opened in response to the reduction of sales of foodstuff, traditional handicrafts, and more in Ise due to the pandemic. Ise is known for its bounty of diverse products, and so this is a way to continue supporting it. Free tourist pamphlets are also being handed out detailing information about the city’s wonders.

Some of the must-grab items

The store is a showcase of Ise’s history, traditional, and food culture. Shoppers will find staple souvenir items like Ise udon, sea lettuce, hijiki seaweed, pearls, and more. Other touches of Ise include a popular hand cream made with water drawn from the Isuzu River, a fragrance mist also made from the same water, all-new cosmetic items, cookies inspired by the oshiraishi stones spread over the most holy part of Ise Grand Shrine—the list goes on. 58 Ise-based businesses are stocking around 100 products inside the store, so it’s a must-visit for anyone interested in the ancient city.

Heso Production, the company that manages the glue and cream store Fueki Shop, erected a pop-up shop for one of its mascots on Friday (January 22) at Tokyo Character Street in Tokyo Station.

Fueki Figure

Fueki postcard for customers

The figure was created by Tomohiro Yasui, an artist at Kami Robo which is known for producing lots of figures of popular characters. The popular character, which is in fact a yellow puppy, went viral in Japan when the figure was first unveiled, garnering over 50,000 likes on Twitter.

Those who spend over ¥1,100 (tax included) in a single transaction at the pop-up shop will receive a free Fueki postcard.

©️FUEKINORI KOGYO/EFFORT

Select shop LOVELESS has opened a pop-up store for Los Angeles native pottery maker Victoria Morris at their flagship store LOVELESS Aoyama in cooperation with Harajuku OS1 Gallery. It will run from December 5 to 10.

This is the first pop-up shop themed on flower vases to open at LOVELESS. To promote the shop, customers can pick up a limited-edition T-shirt featuring a photo of one of Victoria Morris works.

Additionally, those who purchase select products at the shop, or order a drink from the HADEN BOOKS cafe on the first floor of LOVELESS Aoyama, will receive an A2 poster featuring Morris’s pottery work. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Laforet Harajuku is always first in line when it comes to the latest brand trends. This week, from December 1 to 7, Japanese zipper bag brand Pake® is running a pop-up shop at the Harajuku-based shopping centre.

Pake® launched its brand in October 2019 and became incredibly popular on Japanese social media for its simple yet stylish designs. The brand has gone on to collaborated with various artists like Yumi Matsutoya as well as cosmetic and fashion brands such as ADDICTION BEAUTY.

The Quantum Tone Dark Cyan | ¥400 (Tax Included)

The Filler Tone Olive Drab | ¥600 (Tax Included)

The zipper bags come in a variety of colours and sizes. They are made with a barrier film that cuts 80% UV which protects the items inside from sunlight. They are also waterproof, dust-proof, and odour-resistant. Making the product as strong and resistant as possible means the zipper bags are reusable, not only for storing at-home bits, but for camping, water sports, and more.

HUMANMADE®︎×Pake®︎ Set 1 | ¥2,500

UNDERCOVER×Pake®︎Set 2 ¥2,200

The pop-up shop will also sell two sets made in collaboration with fashion brand UNDERCOVER (pre-sales) and NIGO® brand HUMAN MADE®.

Get the best and most stylish zipper bags around with Pake®.

IKEA Japan has announced that it will open a new branch in Shibuya, Tokyo, on November 30, 2020.

IKEA Shibuya comes soon after IKEA Harajuku which opened in June of this year. The new branch will boast seven floors: the first six will offer lifestyle products and open on November 30 while the 7th floor will house the restaurant which is set to open in Spring 2021.

A special pre-opening will be available to IKEA Family members on November 27 and 28 who can get their hands on products before anyone else at a special price. Members must book their place by November 10.

Japanese online shop Perfect World Tokyo is now selling a selection of merchandise made in collaboration with Miffy and Chōjū-jinbutsu-giga (Scrolls of Frolicking Animals), a famous set of 12th century picture scrolls which are considered to be the world’s first manga.

Miffy x Chōjū-jinbutsu-giga

The merchandise collection was teased on Twitter before its official release which excited Miffy fans. Chōjū-jinbutsu-giga was created sometime between the Heian Period and early Kamakura Period in Japan.

This is an unprecedented and unique collaboration and for sure a must-grab. They’re even selling eco-bags.

Benelic officially opened Doraemon Future Department Store’s online shop on July 17, 2020 at 14:00 (JST).

What is the Doraemon Future Department Store?

The Doraemon Future Department Store is the world’s first official Doraemon shop. Located on the second floor of DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, the outside of the shop is made up of bricks, while the interior is like that of a European department store. It’s a playground for all fans of Doraemon with a wide range of merchandise, the chance to try out some of Doraemon’s secret gadgets, and more.

At Tokyo Teleport Station, which you arrive at when travelling to DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, there’s a Doraemon clock called “Suntory Doraemon Time Square” which was set up last year. When the clock strikes noon, it plays the Doraemon anime theme song and puts on a fun show for people to watch.

Doraemon Future Department Store Online: The World’s First Official Doraemon Online Shop

Doraemon Future Department Store Online opened on July 17. There, fans can get their hands on a wealth of Doraemon goods, including the 100 Years Doraemon collector’s set of all 45 manga volumes which was released to celebrate Doraemon’s 50th anniversary, other celebratory merchandise, exclusive online goodies, pre-sales, and more.

The shop and website also sell around 250 pieces of original Doraemon Future Department Store merchandise, like Doraemon’s secret gadgets, interior design items, and more. When you order online, items are packaged in an original box.

Pan Pacific Retail Management of Pan Pacific International Holdings Group, the latter of which manages the discount chain store Don Quijote, has announced that it is opening a new branch of Don Quijote called DON DON DONKI Pearl City inside the Pearl City shopping centre in Hong Kong on July 7, 2020.

DON DON DONKI is a chain of Don Quijote stores located in Singapore, Thailand, and Hong Kong which specialises in discount Japanese brand products and products made for the Japanese marketplace. The first Hong Kong branch opened in Tsim Sha Tsui last year in July, followed by another in December of the same year at OP Mall, stocked with high quality Japanese products including food.

Pearl City welcomes the third branch to open in Hong Kong where it will open in Causeway Bay, a retail area home to many high-end stores and bustling with young people.

Customers can get their hands on Japanese seafood products, fruits, and many other foods as well as cosmetics, lifestyle goods, and much more, all at a discounted price. There will also be a gift corner packed with plenty of souvenir ideas and all of which can be packed in gift bags and wrapping.