On August 5, McDonald’s Japan will begin selling some summer-only sweets! The McShake Doraemon Ramune and Doraemon Choco Banana Pie items are based on a summer festival, and the packaging will feature adorable Doraemon imagery. 

These treats will bring back memories of summer festivals, with popular flavors like chocolate banana and ramune. Each sweet will be available in a total of six newly-designed packages, so you might need to buy a few until you get your favorite character!

McShake Doraemon Ramune

The McShake Doraemon Ramune features the nostalgic flavor of ramune and a creamy texture. Two types of ramune flavors were used to create a taste that will keep you coming back for more, and citrus flavors were added to create a refreshing flavor perfect for summer. This tasty treat is available in three versions–Doraemon, Nobita, and Gian.

Doraemon Chocolate Banana Pie

The Doraemon Chocolate Banana Pie consists of a crispy pie crust packed with banana filling and a rich chocolate sauce. Fans of Doraemon can grab this pie in three different sleeves–Dorami, Shizuka, and Suneo.

※Product images for illustration purposes only. Actual products may vary.

Happy Meal

Round 1: August 5 – August 11

Round 2: August 12 – August 18

In addition, Doraemon-related items will be packed with every Happy Meal starting August 5.

Kirby Cafe TOKYO and Kirby Cafe HAKATA will begin selling special summer-themed food and drink items on July 7. The Kirby Cafe Summer 2022 event will introduce seven peach-themed goodies to the menu through September 11. 

Menu

Transform! Carby Cake ~WELCOME TO THE NEW WORLD!~

Kirby’s Peach♡Peach Parfait

Summer Souvenir Parfait Glass

Awoofy’s Footsteps in the Desert Pizza

Waddle Dee’s Friendly Rice Croquettes

King Dedede’s Full Tummy! Massive Beast King Plate

Rolling ♪ Peach Soda

(Includes Summer Souvenir Parfait Glass)

Rolling ♪ Summer-Colored Pineapple Soda

Summer Souvenir Acrylic Muddler (3 varieties)

Visitors to the two cafe locations can enjoy peach-flavored treats like Kirby’s Peach Parfait and an adorable cake based on the pink puffball’s Carby form seen in the new game Kirby and the Forgotten Land. Those wanting something more savory can enjoy Waddle Dee’s Friendly Rice Croquettes and the absolutely huge King Dedede’s Full Tummy! Massive Beast King Plate. 

Come enjoy the warmer months with Kirby and friends!

Story

Summer is returning to the Kirby Cafe. Thinking of the warmer months, Chef Kawasaki has created a special menu! As a Waddle Dee, filled with great excitement, wandered through the forest…it saw tons of lush, ripe peaches. 

“Huh? That pink, round peach reminds me of something…” 

Then came Kirby, who was looking forward to the summer menu more than anyone else. 

“Ah, that’s right! The peach looks just like Kirby!”

Happy to have solved the riddle, Kirby smiled brightly at Waddle Dee. Gazing at this glorious summer scene with tons of juicy peaches ready to be eaten, he couldn’t help but imagine tons of tasty treats! Peach parfait, sparkling soda, blue jelly sparkling like the ocean…not wanting to forget these ideas, Kirby and Waddle Dee gathered the peaches and began cooking.

Please come and enjoy this summer with Kirby and his friends under the dazzling sunshine!

©Nintendo / HAL Laboratory, Inc.

NAMJATOWN, a theme park located in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, will be holding a special BT21 event from May 14 until June 12, 2022! The ‘BT21 MerryLand ~Welcome to our Dreamy World!~’ event celebrates the popular LINE FRIENDS characters, and guests can enjoy lots of games and treats!

The event recreates MerryLand, an amusement park in the BT21 member’s dreams. Guests can participate in three unique mini-games inspired by amusement park attractions, along with a stamp rally and riddle-solving game! Original merchandise and menu items will also be available.

Original Mini-Games

BT21 MerryLand Spinning Ferris Wheel / BT21’s  Whirling Teacups ♪ / The Full Stomach Yum-yum Wagon

Mini-Game Prizes

A Prize: Relaxing Cushion (7 varieties)

B Prize: Bandana (7 varieties)

C Prize: Mini Acrylic Stand (7 varieties, random)

D Prize: Character Pin (7 varieties, random)

*The design for A Prize and B Prize will differ depending on the mini-game.
(Guests can choose the design for each game.)
*For C Prize and D Prize, the design is the same for all mini-games.

Venue Exclusive Project! Rally Game

Rally Game Prizes

Participation Prize: Mascot Rubber Charm (7 varieties, random)
*Prizes are the same for each Rally Game.

Original Merchandise

Original Food & Drinks

Soft Drink with Acrylic Coaster / Fortune Latte (14 varieties) / Icing Cookie (7 varieties)

Those unable to attend the event can head to the Namco Parks Online Store to play some web-based mini-games offering the same prizes! Certain pieces of merchandise will also be available for purchase online.

Following Tokyo, the event will head to HEP FIVE in Osaka from July 2 until July 24 and Canal City Hakata in Fukuoka from August 5 until August 28.

©Bandai Namco Amusement Inc.

Starbucks will open the first Starbucks Tea & Cafe location in Kyushu at AMU Plaza Hakata on April 27, 2022. This spin-off shop specializes in colorful, aromatic tea-based beverages, and has locations in Tokyo, Toyama, and Osaka. 

Starbucks Coffee AMU Plaza Hakata, the first Starbucks Tea & Cafe to open in the Kyushu area, is a new store on the second floor of Amu Plaza Hakata directly connected to JR Hakata Station.

Yuzu & Citrus Lavender Sage Tea / Japanese Chai Tea Latte / Strawberry & Passion Tea Frappucino®

Starbucks Tea & Cafe will offer a lineup of 13 types of tea-based beverages, including tea lattes and tea frappuccinos made with seasonal ingredients. The Japanese Chai Tea Latte is new this season and includes hojicha with spices like yuzu peel, ginger, Japanese pepper, and cinnamon. 

Come enjoy this cozy space and enjoy a warm cup of tea at this unique Starbucks where tea is the main attraction!

Doraemon Tokyo Banana Half-Moon Sandwiches are coming on April 1, 2022! These tasty snacks come in a pack of eight and are sure to make the perfect gift.

This release of Doraemon Tokyo Banana is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Tokyo Banana brand and the 50th anniversary of Doraemon. Why not enjoy your daily snack time with these cute treats?

Each sandwich is filled with chocolate-banana cream with the dough baked into a crispy, savory crust with a winking Doraemon on both sides.

©Fujiko-Pro,Shogakukan,TV-Asahi,Shin-ei,and ADK　※画像はイメージです

Fans of Doraemon and traditional Japanese artwork won’t want to miss this special collaboration! On March 30, preorders will open for ukiyo-e prints inspired by the film ‘Doraemon: Nobita’s Little Star Wars 2021.’ These limited-edition pieces were created by Iwano Ichibei, a Living National Treasure.

The prints show Doraemon and friends along with the alien Papi and the special gadget the “Small Light.” The tool is giving off light depicted in a traditional Edo pattern believed to bring good luck, and the characters are shown inside its silhouette. 

Ukiyo-e Woodblock Print Production

Engraving by Craftsman

Printing by Craftsman

First, a sketch is made, and a monochrome version of the print is carved. After carving a number of woodblocks for each color and using them to rub the painting tirelessly to bring it to life, one single woodblock print is completed. 

The extremely delicate and advanced techniques these craftsmen utilize have been passed down from the Edo period. Imagine having one of these beautiful pieces hanging in your home!

INN THE PARK Fukuoka is the first place in Kyushu where you can spend the night overnight in a public park! No, you won’t be sleeping on a bench or on the ground–this is way fancier. This is the second such location, with the first opening in Shizuoka in 2017. 

Spherical Tent

Glamping

Cabin

Suite

Restaurant

The new facility will be located in Uminonakamichi Seaside Park in Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City. The park is about 6km from east to west and includes a zoo, outdoor swimming pool, aquarium, outdoor theater, and more. Guests can overlook Hakata Bay while enjoying these many fun outdoor activities and delightful accommodations! 

How about staying here on your next trip to Japan?

The Tabemas brand transforms popular characters into traditional Japanese sweets. A new chilled Doraemon dessert is now available at Lawsons locations nationwide, but it might be too cute to eat.

Everyone’s favorite robot cat is showing off two distinct impressions in this 2022 release. Do you like the winking Doraemon or the playful one with his tongue sticking out?

Be sure to try one of these intricate sweets! You don’t need to visit a traditional sweets shop to get an authentic taste of Japan.

(C)Fujiko-Pro,Shogakukan,TV-Asahi,Shin-ei,and ADK

Mitsukoshi Fukuoka has opened a new exhibition dedicated to the many lovable dogs and cats found in Disney films! The event is taking place at the Mitsukoshi Gallery on the 9th floor until March 27, 2022.

The Disney film Bambi aimed to take on the difficult task of portraying animals realistically. Animals were kept in the studio and artists studied their movements and expressions while creating the film. Audiences were stunned, and since that point, more and more beloved animals have appeared in Disney films. The Disney Cats & Dogs exhibition will also show the evolution and innovation of Disney’s animal animation and the history of the trial and error process in bringing them to life. 

Pluto

Lady and the Tramp

101 Dalmatians

Cheshire Cat

Mochi

Marie

Photo Spot

The lineup will include Mickey’s sidekick Pluto, Lady and the Tramp, 101 Dalmatians, The Arisocats, and more. Figaro from Pinocchio, Lucifer from Cinderella, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland, and Mochi from Big Hero 6 will also be appearing!

The exhibition will feature over 300 digitized works of rare art along with dioramas and more materials related to the creation of Disney films. Fans shouldn’t miss this opportunity to see these behind-the-scenes items!

©Disney

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of her major label debut, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is having a busy year. The artist will perform at this year’s Coachella, one of the largest music festivals in the United States, and released her first full-length album in three years ‘Candy Racer’ in October 2021.  On January 16, Kyary embarked on the largest tour of her career, ‘Kyary Pamyu Pamyu 10th ANNIVERSARY JAPAN TOUR 2022 CANDY WAVE,’ which will see the singer performing 30 shows across Japan.

In conjunction with the nationwide tour, the “LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project” was launched to energize Japan through the appeal of regional towns and cities.  The 30 stops on the new tour include many that Kyary has not visited before, and were chosen based on the singer’s desire to perform for fans who may not typically be able to attend one of her shows. On March 5, Kyary will perform in Fukuoka, and will also be collaborating with Fukuya, the oldest mentaiko producer in Japan. Fukuya has been selling the pollock roe product since 1949.

The company’s logo has been reimagined, paying homage to the artwork associated with Kyary’s 2016 song Sai & Co.

Fukuya’s most popular product, pickled cod roe in oil, will be sold in an original collaborative package with new Kyary-inspired branding. Mentaiko and dried mentaiko will be packed in two unique packages that can be stacked to form one image. A message from Kyary is also included. These will be available at select Fukuya locations and online for a limited time, as well as at the March 5 concert in limited quantities.

A T-shirt with a collaboration logo and design has also been unveiled featuring the new color scheme and Kyary’s 10th-anniversary logo. This shirt will only be available on the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project website for two weeks and at certain Fukuya stores starting March 8.

The permanent museum teamLab Forest Fukuoka is bringing cherry blossoms to the virtual exhibition for a limited time only beginning March 1, 2022. A number of animals made of spring flowers will be roaming through the three-dimensional space, and you won’t want to miss this memorable experience!

A Whole Year per Year / Shifting Valley, Living Creatures of Flowers, Symbiotic Lives – A Whole Year per Year

A Whole Year per Year / Animals of Flowers, Symbiotic Lives II – A Whole Year per Year

A Whole Year per Year / Soft Terrain and Granular Topography – A Whole Year per Year

A Whole Year per Year / Flutter of Butterflies, Ephemeral Life – A Whole Year per Year

TeamLab’s works are created in real-time by procedural generation, meaning that they are always changing and evolving. The works also change with each season. Both Shifting Valley, Living Creatures of Flowers, Symbiotic Lives – A Whole Year per Year and Animals of Flowers, Symbiotic Lives II – A Whole Year per Year are only available to see during the spring. Enjoy wandering through colorful landscapes as you’re surrounded by butterflies and sakura blossoms while you can!

A Street Fighter exhibition honoring the series’ 35th anniversary is currently being held in Tokyo! The event will also open in Kitakyushu on June 18, 2022.

‘Can You Shoot a Hadouken?’ Experience

Life-size Statues of Chun-Li and Vega

※All photos are from the Fukuoka venue.

Original Merchandise at a Glance

The Street Fighter series debuted in arcades in 1987 and is celebrating its 35th anniversary throughout 2022.

This exhibition was initially held in Fukuoka City in 2020, and will now travel to the Tokyo Anime Center and the Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art.

Street Fighter quickly became a social phenomenon upon release and is still beloved around the world. The release of Street Fighter II in 1991 established the fighting game genre, and the newest title Street Fighter V continues to be a fan favorite.

This exhibition traces the history of Street Fighter, displaying original drawings from the original title’s production, arcade machines, and more. With the help of Capcom, guests can enjoy hands-on digital content using the latest technology.