Tokyu Hands is opened a new lifestyle shop called Hands Be inside Amu Plaza Kumamoto in front of JR Kumamoto Station April 23. The shop will sell a range of everyday products from beauty to stationery, seasonal, and more, that showcase Kumamoto’s culture and craftsmanship. Whether it be for yourself or a gift for someone else, there’s something for everybody.
Kumamoto culture
Kurikawa Uchiwa Shoten
Kurikawa Shoten is a specialist in Japanese uchiwa fans that first opened in 1889. Kumamoto is the third biggest producer of uchiwa fans together with Kyoto and Marugame and is the only place passing down the traditional kutani craft of fans. Their fans are durable and long-lasting, enjoyed as gifts at children’s birthday parties, weddings, as well as at company commemorations and elsewhere. To celebrate Hands Be’s opening, the Kurikawa Shoten is providing fans with original colours exclusive to the new store.
Coffee Arrow
Coffee Arrow is a coffee shop that opened in Hanabatacho in the central ward of Kumamoto back in 1964. Customers can get their hands on a range of original coffee beans, merchandise, and more.
Coming together during these times
BLUE SEED BAG
“HOLD hands be Happy” is the message written on the recyclable, eco-friendly BLUE SEED BAG which is made using washed blue sheets that were actually used as part of the restoration efforts after the Kumamoto Earthquake struck in 2016. The bags are a reminder that even though many of us can’t hold hands with us during the pandemic, we are still connected by our hearts.
Wesign
Javasparrow is a manufacturer and service focused on creating products around “familiarity” and “connection.” The Wesign is a set of two lights that connect to Wi-Fi. These unique lights can be used by lovers or family members who live apart or long-distance, so that you know when the other is on or offline, helping everyone feel connected.
Original bandana available for the grand opening
Hands Be is also offering a free bandana for the opening to anyone who spend over ¥3,000 (tax included).
Information
Hands Be Amu Plaza Kumamoto
Opening Date: April 23, 2021
Where: Amu Plaza Kumamoto Floor 3F, Kasuga, Nishi-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto
Official Website: https://hands.net/
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The pandemic has changed our lives forever. People have spent the last two years missing travel as they spend more and more time at home, and while many are ready to travel again, it can be difficult to know if it's the right time to return to normalcy. To make the situation a little easier, many local tourism associations in Japan are posting images on Instagram to inspire people to give traveling another try. These three Instagram accounts are our personal favorites, and once Japan opens to tourists again, you won’t want to miss visiting these areas! [Official Kumamoto Tourism Association] Motto, motto, Kumamoto!
Discover the charms of Kumamoto on this local Instagram account featuring photos from four unique local photographers. Many will know the area as the home of the character Kumamon. The images capture the daily lives of Kumamoto residents and include local food and gorgeous scenery. The postings also include the location of the photo and comments from the photographers, making things feel more personal. [Official Hokkaido Tourism Association] GoodDay Hokkaido
Hokkaido is an area rich in gourmet seafood and dairy, but its spectacular landscapes are reason enough to visit. GoodDay Hokkaido shows off both the common and uncommon elements of Hokkaido life, often introducing little-known areas. Each photo is vividly colored, and followers can see different seasons at every time of day as they scroll through the feed. See the best images from Japan’s northernmost island each and every day on your smartphone! [Ome / Okutama] Umetama
Umetama is an account that introduces places of interest in Ome and Okutama, two of Tokyo’s most scenic towns. Each can be reached in about an hour by train from Shinjuku Station. Visitors can enjoy a gorgeous day trip from the Tokyo center, with the area featuring plenty of campsites and hiking trails. There are tons of stargazing spots, and visitors are often surprised that such incredible nature is so close to Japan’s hectic capital. Those with kids will find plenty to do here, so start taking notes while you scroll through the Umetama page! More and more young people are finding the appeal of Ome and Okutama, and the area has become the perfect relaxation spot for those seeking refuge from their busy lives. In addition, the craft beer bar Ome Beer, located near Ome Station, sells local alcohol, including Okutama’s popular craft beer ‘Vertere.’ See the lesser-known side of Tokyo on this picturesque account. Remember how wonderful it is to travel? Hopefully, Japan opens for tourism again soon, and you can visit all of these gorgeous locales. -
Creative company NAKED is bringing their popular DANDELION PROJECT to Kumamoto Castle from November 19 until December 5, 2021, just in time to celebrate the Autumn Festival Castle Lighting event!
The DANDELION PROJECT is inspired by the idea of world peace and hopes to help transcend barriers and connect people in an increasingly divided world. This networked initiative wants to bring this change about by planting (or installing) dandelion-inspired art around the world, while it invites people visiting these dandelion exhibits to send their prayers for peace as a digital flower in real-time. To celebrate the recent restoration of Kumamoto Castle’s tower, the DANDELION PROJECT will ask visitors to give their prays for peace and safety as they enjoy the autumn lights. After the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, the castle has slowly recovered, and this is the final step. Currently, DANDELION installations are popping up around Japan and internationally, with locations in Tokyo Tower, Saga Prefectural Exhibition Hall, and plenty of other places. NAKED’s popular attractions--the NAKED Distanced Lanterns and NAKED Flower Cleansing--will also be available to participate in during the event. Each is perfect for social distancing, and each will get a special Kumamoto Castle version. Interactive projection mapping will cause flowers to bloom beneath visitors’ feet as they explore. After the event period, the works will be moved to Josaien, where they can be enjoyed until January 15, 2022. Information
DANDELION @ Kumamoto Castle Autumn Festival Castle Lighting
Address: Kumamoto Castle (1-1 Honmaru, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto)
AR: Kumamoto Castle (Special Walkway)
DANDELION: Ninomaru Plaza
NAKED Distanced Lanterns and NAKED Flower Cleansing: Ninomaru Plaza
Running: November 19, 2021 – December 5, 2021
DANDELION PROJECT/NAKED Distanced Lanterns/NAKED Flower Cleansing
Permanent Installation to Start November 19, 2021
AR ‘KUMAMOTO CASTLE FANTASY OF LIGHTS’
Running: Daily from 17:00-21:00 (Last Entry at 20:30)
Admission to Ninomaru Plaza: Free
Admission to Kumamoto Castle: Adults ¥800, Children ¥300
*Visitors will need to download the NAKED INC PLAY! smartphone app.
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Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night, the third film in the series, is hitting theaters in Japan on October 30, 2021. To commemorate its release, 13 Tokyu Hands stores throughout the country will open a Sword Art Online fair, selling special limited-edition goods! The fair will run from October 29 until November 30, 2021. Mechanic Costume Series
Acrylic Stand (7 varieties): ¥1,650 each (Tax Included)
Pin (7 varieties): ¥385 each (Tax Included)
*Pins are random.
B2 Tapestry: ¥3,300 (Tax Included)
Canvas Tote Bag: ¥2,200 (Tax Included)
Clear Folder (7 varieties): ¥385 each (Tax Included)
T-shirt: ¥3,850 (Tax Included)
Mug: ¥1,650 (Tax Included)
Acrylic Keychain (7 varieties): ¥715 each
*Keychains are random.
Acrylic Diorama Stand: ¥2,750 (Tax Included)
Clear Folder: ¥385 (Tax Included)
Sticker (7 varieties): ¥495 each (Tax Included)
Mug: ¥1,650 (Tax Included)
Tokyu Hands Limited Purchase Bonus
Tokyu Hands Limited Film Bonus
The Sword Art Online anime series has been an international hit, spanning four seasons and 97 episodes since 2012. A number of video games inspired by the series have also been released. This event features the characters drawn in mechanic gear, both in normal and chibi versions. If you’re able to make it to one of the participating 13 stores, don’t miss out on these rare items!(C)2020 川原 礫/KADOKAWA/SAO-P ProjectInformation
Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night Fair
Running: October 29, 2021 – November 30, 2021
13 Participating Tokyu Hands Locations: Sapporo, Sendai, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Yokohama, Shizuoka, Nagoya, Umeda, Himeji, Okayama, Hiroshima, Hakata, Kagoshima
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In an effort to help support of the restoration efforts in Kumamoto after the 2016 earthquake devastated the prefecture, the Nohara family from the popular manga and anime series Crayon Shin-chan have been appointed official Kumamoto Restoration Supporters. This begins with a PR campaign to help promote tourism in Kumamoto's city of Aso. To celebrate, Shin-chan himself visited the Kumamoto Prefectural Government on July 15. Shin-chan's mother, Misae, was born and raised in Aso, Kumamoto, while himself and his father Hiroshi were both born in Akira Prefecture. Shin-chan considers Aso his second home, and all of this the reason behind the family's appointment as supporters. The manga series has raised money for Kumamoto numerous times in the past, including for the Crayon Shin-chan 25th Anniversary Exhibition which saw money raised for charity products donated towards relief efforts of the earthquake disaster. This year, the series joins hands with the prefecture once more. The 2021 summer campaign is being carried with the slogan "I'm fine! ASO." The Nohara family will serve as PR characters to spread the word about Aso. This will include a digital stamp rally that will have people travelling around the prefecture on their smartphones. The app will be released in August, followed by campaign posters, pamphlets, and other promotional material rolling out.
When Shin-chan visited the local government office for his appointment as a supporter, he played the Nintendo Switch game Crayon Shin-chan: Ora to Hakase no Natsuyasumi - Owaranai Nanokakan no Tabi with officials, which also released on the same day. In the game you can visit lots of spots around Kumamoto such as Kumamoto Station, Kusasenri Observatory, Tsujun Bridge, Aso Station, and more. ©臼井儀人／双葉社・シンエイ・テレビ朝日・ADK ©2010熊本くまモン ⒸNeos Corporation Nintendo Switchのロゴ・Nintendo Switchは任天堂の商標です。 Information
I’m fine! ASO Campaign
Official Website: https://kumamoto.guide/aso2020/ -
The Pasco Kumamoto Prefecture Project is a collaboration between the Japanese pastry company Pasco and Kumamoto Prefecture which has appointed Kumamon, the mascot of Kumamoto, as its head to promote local foods. The project was started as a reconstruction and restoration effort to help support Kumamoto after the devastating earthquake that struck in 2016 and the 2018 Japan floods. For every select product sold, 0.5 yen is donated to the relief effort to aid victims of the disasters.
The Pasco Kumamoto Prefecture Project is set to run until end end of September this year. It released two items on April 1 as part of the project. It is now releasing two new products: the "Strawberry Jam & Milk Whipped Cream" pastry and "Pancake Omelette Custard & Milk Whipped Cream." The milk, strawberries, and eggs used for these confections are all sourced from Kumamoto The pastry recipe creates whipped cream from milk and layers it with a strawberry jam made from yuubeni, a popular brand of strawberry grown in Kumamoto, before baking. The pancake omelette is a combination of Jersey milk, eggs, and custard cream to create a fluffy dessert. Pasco carefully selects ingredients as part of Kumamon's promotional products
The ingredients used in the recipes for these food products are all carefully selected to go deliciously well with Pasco's bread. This includes milk, eggs, and yuubeni strawberries. Pasco plans to used Kumamoto-grown rice for a new product in August.Scan the code on the packaging and meet Kumamon!
A special Kumamon AR service has also been created as part of the project. If you scan the code on the packaging of these products using a smart device, you can take a photo together with Kumamon as pictured above. He has the same design as on the packets. Information
Pasco Kumamoto Prefecture Project – 2nd Release
Running: June 1, 2021 – July 31, 2021
Available: Supermarkets and shops in Japan
Pasco Official Website: https://www.pasconet.co.jp/
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Kirin Beverage launched the Gogo Tea Happiness Project on June 1, 2021. The project will donate the proceeds made from select products to locations in Japan that require support in restoration efforts. The first product to launch is the 'Gogo no Kocha for HAPPINESS Kumamoto Strawberry Tea' which released in limited quantities in Japan on Tuesday.
Kirin Group launched a similar project in 2011 called the 'Kirin Bond Project.' in 2016, they began efforts to support the people of Kumamoto after the earthquake that struck there that year - to 'bind' them to the future. From then until 2018, they also shot commercials for their Gogo no Kocha milk tea brand at Miharashidai Station, Shirakawa River, and other places around Kumamoto, as well as promoted the village of Minamiaso to showcase its beautiful natural environment. The Gogo Tea Happiness Project takes Kirin back to Kumamoto to continue helping to support restoration efforts, something the company has been doing since July 2011 after the Great East Japan Earthquake struck. For every bottle of Gogo no Kocha for HAPPINESS Kumamoto Strawberry Tea sold, not only does 3.9 yen of the proceeds go towards supporting Kumamoto, it also gives people around Japan the chance to try a type of strawberry grown in Kumamoto called yuubeni. The project also ties in with the 35th anniversary of Kirin's Gogo no Kocha tea. Information
Gogo no Kocha for HAPPINESS Kumamoto Strawberry Tea
Japanese Product Name: キリン 午後の紅茶 for HAPPINESS 熊本県産いちごティー
Released: June 1, 2021Available: Japan
Price: ¥140 (Before Tax)
Official Website: https://www.kirin.co.jp/