J-pop dance and vocal group THE RAMPAGE from EXILE TRIBE return once again this year to feature as the promoters for the popular Ice Box dessert by Morinaga.

Fans of the band can download the official Ice Box AR app on their smart devices which when used on any Ice Box products has the four members appear on the label and dance to the tune of a song by THE RAMPAGE from EXILE TRIBE as part of the collaboration.

“The theme of our collaboration this year is ‘Having a wall is the best thing,’ the band said in a statement. “When we’re living our lives and chasing our dreams and goals, a wall is sure to appear before us. We as a band had to climb over that wall to become artists. We formed RAMPAGE and used all our strength to get over the top of a wall we were hitting into. We felt a sense of growth after doing so. We’re all still in the midst of achieving our dreams, but we want to give everyone else a bit of power so that they too can overcome that wall in the same way!!”

Shirokane ArtGrace Club and Tokyo Aphrodite are now serving a luxurious Alice in Wonderland themed afternoon tea experience until June.

Fans of Alice will instantly recognise plenty of references garnishing all the plates from the ‘Eat Me’ strawberry parfaits to the White Rabbit’s ears popping out of the raspberry mousse, Cheshire Cat-inspired macarons, Queen of Hearts sandwiches, and more.

Liquor Innovation collaborated with the Netflix Original anime series Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 to release an original label Japanese sake via the online sake store KURAND on Wednesday (March 3).

Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Motoko Kusanagi Ver. | ¥3,500 (Before Tax)

Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Batou Ver. | ¥3,500 (Before Tax)

Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Tachikoma Ver. | ¥3,500 (Before Tax)

The sake is available with three different labels of Motoko Kusanagi, Batou, and Tachikoma. Each was illustrated by Russian illustrator Ilya Kuvshinov who is the character designer for Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045. Those who order from KURAND, where the sake is now available for pre-sale until March 26, will get two original stickers.

Japanese chocolate and baked goods bakery LIFE IS PÂTISSIER is now selling a collection of luxurious treats for White Day, the sequel to Valentine’s Day in Japan, via their online store until March 14.

 LIFE IS PÂTISSIER is a takeout chocolate bakery that specialises in chocolate and baked confections. Some of their signature items include their pound cake and chocolate bonbons. They also serve sable biscuits, madeleines, and much more. They are based in Jiyugaoka, a neighbourhood in Meguro, Tokyo, where they enjoy plenty of customers both local and tourists. Due to the pandemic, they are currently operating entirely online.

LIFE IS PÂTISSIER White Day Gifts 2021

Leaf Caramel | ¥1,800 (Before Tax)

Crunchy chocolate caramel bites drizzled in even more sweet, melty caramel.

Macarons | ¥2,300 (Before Tax)

A rainbow-coloured collection of raspberry, pistachio, caramel, lemon, and chocolate macarons.

Madeleines (Contains 6) | ¥2,800 (Before Tax)

Refreshing madeleines made with a mix of Japanese and Italian lemons. Refrigerating them gives the outer icing a delicious crunchy texture.

Strawberry Milk Crunch | ¥900

Smashed cookies and caramel combined with strawberry chocolate and milk chocolate.

Special Box | ¥4,500 (Before Tax)

A very special collection of raspberry chocolate treats coated in dark chocolate.

Flower Swag | ¥3,200

A fragrant flower swag composed of an assortment of fresh flowers. Perfect for decorating walls and doors and overtime become dried flowers.

White Day Cards

LIFE IS PÂTISSIER is also offering White Day cards which people can couple with their gifts.

To promote the release of 20 new colourful packages of the popular Japanese gummy candy series Puré, Japanese sweets company Kanro released 20 videos on Tuesday (March 2) featuring popular YouTuber Asaginyo.

Asaginyo dresses up for a kaleidoscope of colourful Puré promos

The videos play to the tune of the famous Japanese 80’s track Koi no Jumon wa Suki Tokimeki to Kiss with original lyrics written for Puré. On mic is Asaginyo, a YouTuber and video and music producer. The videos, which were directed by another popular YouTuber by the name of Bunkei, can be watched over on Puré’s brand website.

And if you too want to learn the Tokimeki Puré Dance, head on over to Asaginyo’s TikTok page.

In 2018 and 2019, Japanese snack and confectionery brand Meiji held its own National Elections for its long-selling chocolate brands Kinoko no Yama and Takenoko no Sato. In 2019, Jun Matsumoto and Akihiro Miwa represented each of these chocolate snacks respectively by helming the Kinoko Party and Takenoko Party. People across Japan would listen to each side’s case and vote for which party, and therefore which chocolate, they liked the most.

The 2020 elections however took a different approach, instead spreading a message of love across Japan rather than a heated debate on which snack is better. The votes opened on September 15 last year and ran for four months where data was collected for each of Japan’s 47 prefectures to see where each snack was more popular in each part of the country.

The 2018 and 2019 elections saw an accumulative total of 26,518,982 votes submitted. People passionately made their cases for which snack they liked the most. For 2020, Meiji wanted to bring people together and cheer them up by holding a survey that was catered most towards understanding people’s love for their snacks.

Chiba hails as the place in Japan where Kinoko and Takenoko are most popular

46 of Japan’s prefectures saw more love poured for Takenoko in 2020. The remaining prefecture, Fukuoka, saw more love given to Kinoko.

The 2020 elections saw participation by 300,161 more people than previous years.

Illustrations drawn of Team Kinoko and Team Takenoko supporters

The survey ranked each prefecture by popularity, and special illustrations were drawn for four prefectures each where Kinoko and Takenoko were the most popular.

Survey Database

Meiji published the data breakdown which can be downloaded for free.

It contains a wealth of information related to what people voted for.

Have you tried either of these popular snacks? If you travel to Japan, be sure to pick them up at any convenience store near you.

The fresh juice season is back for spring at Dean & DeLuca cafes in Japan this year where they have a very special selection of drinks and desserts lined up for customers as well as an exclusive tumbler.

Creamy Italian maritozzi

Indulge in a tempting maritozzi this spring season which has a fluffy brioche bun stuffed loaded with fresh cream stuffed with sweet strawberries. This famous Italian delicacy is usually enjoyed in the morning but the addition of milky cream and tangy strawberries makes it a perfect dessert.

Every bite treats the taste buds to a combination of buttery brioche, melt-in-the-mouth cream, and a choice of either fresh cream and strawberries or fromage blanc and sweet and sour apricot jam.

Left: Maritozzi Strawberry ¥410 / Right: Maritozzi Apricot Jam & Fromage Blanc Cream ¥367

Serving: From March 1, 2021 while supplies last

Participating Market Branches: Shinagawa/Yurakucho/Shinjuku/Ebisu/Hiroo/Yaesu/atré Kawasaki/CIAL Tsurumi/Yokohama/Nagoya/Osaka

Participating Cafe Branches: All

A taste of spring with fresh strawberry juice

This year, Dean & DeLuca are serving up the “Strawberry & Fruit Tomato” smoothie which is made with freshly-picked whole strawberries and tomatoes. Tomatoes are generally seen as a summer vegetable, but the most delicious time to enjoy tomatoes grown in Japan is the spring season just like strawberries. The strawberries and tomatoes take on plenty of sugar content during the winter season which brings a rich sweetness best enjoyed right now.

The juice is prepared fresh for every order, with whole fruits put into a mixer and then served.

Left: Strawberry Juice ¥583 / Right: Strawberry & Fruit Tomato ¥605

Serving: From March 1, 2021 while supplies last

Participating Market Branches: Roppongi/Shinagawa/Yurakucho/Shinjuku/Ebisu/Hiroo/Yaesu/atré Kawasaki/CIAL Tsurumi/Yokohama/Nagoya/Osaka/AMU Plaza Hakata

Participating Cafe Branches: All

Spring-exclusive Strawberry Apple Pie

Japanese apple pie chain GRANNY SMITH APPLE PIE & COFFEE is also providing a seasonal strawberry and apple pie filled with in-house custard.

GRANNY SMITH APPLE PIE & COFFEE’s Strawberry Apple | ¥648

Serving: March 2, 2021 – April 30, 2021

Participating Cafe Branches: All (Except Yurakucho LUMINE STREET)

Enjoy spring with a spring-coloured tumbler

Dean & DeLuca’s popular tumblers return in seasonal colours and fitted with an airtight screw cap. They’re available in “Tokyo Pink” and “Charcoal Grey” colours.

Tumblers: ¥3,080 Each

Released: From March 1, 2021

Participating Cafe Branches: All

*Cafe-exclusive, not available for purchase online

Japanese casual brand launched a new collection of merchandise in collaboration with the popular ongoing anime series Jujutsu Kaisen on Friday (March 5) at their stores across Japan and online.

Jujutsu Kaisen is a manga series written and illustrated by Akutami Gege that’s serialised in Weekly Shonen Jump. It has over 10 million copies in circulation. A 24-episode anime adaptation began airing in October 2020.

The merchandise line-up features artwork and anime stills of the series characters.

The Line-Up

Coach Jacket | ¥8,250 (Tax Included)

Designs: 4

Sizes: Medium/Large

Long Sleeve T-Shirt | ¥4,400 (Tax Included)

Designs: 11

Sizes: Small/Medium/Large

iPhone Case | ¥2,200 (Tax Included)

Designs: 7 (iPhone 11 / XR compatibility)

Acrylic Stands | ¥1,650 (Tax Included)

Designs: 5

Mugs | ¥2,200 (Tax Included)

Designs: 5

Face Towel | ¥2,750 (Tax Included)

Design: 1

©芥見下々／集英社・呪術廻戦製作委員会

To celebrate the 85th anniversary of Japanese bag and accessory manufacturer Yoshida & Company, Yohji Yamamoto and PORTER collaborated to release a special bag collection on Friday (March 5) in limited quantities.

2WAY HELMET BAG (Large) – ¥98,000 (Bef0re Tax) / 2WAY HELMET BAG (Small) – ¥72,000 (Before Tax) / 2WAY SHORT HELMET BAG  ¥83,000 (Before Tax) / 2WAY VANITY POUCH ¥69,000 (Before Tax)

The line-up features stylish bags equipped with unique fasteners that cater both function and design. The bags have a ‘thick’ and ‘heavy’ look to them, something that’s distinctively Yohji Yamamoto.

Black is used as the main colour, one that is symbolic of both brands. A deep matte texture is fitted in three layers, while the handles are also a matte black made from steer hide. The removable chain fasteners are a handy addition to let you freely choose their length. Plus, they look super flashy.

Each of the three bags have a removable inside pocket which can be used by itself as a pouch. They are all embroidered with Yohji Yamamoto’s signature logo and branded with PORTER’s brand tag.

The Japanese online escape game “Hunter x Hunter: Escape From the Trick Dungeon” released a new collection of merchandise on Monday which fans won’t want to miss out on.

The Line-Up

The new merchandise collection includes a folder and stickers featuring the escape game’s promotional video as well as a pin, and key ring with the characters in chibi form.

Game Kit

This marks the online escape’s game third collaboration with the popular anime series. Players can also buy a special game kit which they can take with them anywhere they go to play offline. The game’s story stars the main cast of characters including Gon, Killua, Leorio, Kurapika, and Hisoka, and is centred on an original story that takes place during the anime’s Hunter Exam arc.

A new Evangelion cosmetic collection is set to launch from March 13 in collaboration with the lottery draw cosmetic series Coffret to celebrate the release of the upcoming anime film Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time.

EVANGELION coffret collection

The makeup palette features designs and colours inspired by the Evangelion pilots Asuka Langley Soryu, Rei Ayanami, and Mari Illustrious Makinami. The collection also includes loose powder based on the A.T. Field, lip gloss inspired by the characters, and a collection of two-coloured face blushes centred on Japan’s Evangelion Store mascot Yurushito.

As part of the lottery draw, those lucky enough to win the “Last One” prize can win a stand mirror with special illustrations of Asuka, Rei and Mari. There is also a chance of winning 3 sets of makeup palettes by joining the “Doubles Chance” campaign that is being held – links below. An original shopper bag will also be gifted for the first 13 people who purchase 5 lottery draws at once.

Enjoy your daily make up with the Evangelion Coffret collection.

(C)カラー

Japanese company JO, which operates seven restaurants serving Japanese-style food in Japan, launched its new anko red bean paste dessert brand Ankoto on February 28. The brand’s first product to be released is the “Anko Cheesecake.” All products will be released via their online store.

The launch of Ankoto

Ankoto launched after seeing many people in Japan calling for their desire to eat the same kinds of high quality anko sweet red bean paste desserts that they can in restaurants at home. The brand aims to bring many different sweet treats to its menu in collaboration with various other brands and satisfy customers’ sweet-toothed needs.

Ankoto also hopes to create all-new desserts using anko, an ingredient loved by the Japanese for years.

High-quality anko used in all desserts

The bean paste is made by hand every day over a period of two hours by Ankoto’s bakers. They use specially-selected beans grown in Tokachi, Hokkaido. No bad stuff is put in Ankoto’s desserts, the naturally sweetness comes from the sugar beet used in the cooking process.

The First Release: Anko Cheesecake

Ankoto’s first dessert to be released is the Anko Cheesecake, a popular mix of sweet red bean paste and cheese. This dessert was perfected after much trial and error over the course of half a year where over 100 iterations were tested. It’s made using creamy, full-bodied Brie de Meaux, a cheese that’s been called the king of cheeses. This cheesecake is gluten-free, using absolutely no wheat, and has a fresh sweetness brought about by the sugar beet. It’s an addictive amalgamation of sweet and salty and contains no nasty additives.