Natsumi Sato’s “peloringirl series,” featuring girls sticking out their tongues in vivid pop colors with a 90s feel, has become increasingly popular. On June 2, the artist opened a new solo exhibition at A.F GALLERY in Harajuku.

In addition to many of her past creations, visitors will also be able to see newly drawn works created especially for the exhibition, as well as works from the recently released NFT project City Pop TOKYO, for which Natsumi Sato acted as the character designer.

Sato is planning on holding exhibitions in Fukuoka and Osaka in the future.

From March 14 until April 23, 2023, Tokyo Midtown Hibiya will hold Hisashi Eguchi’s Tokyo Girlfriend illustration exhibition, set to show off the artist’s unique perspectives on people and cityscapes. The exhibition will feature new illustrations of the titular girlfriend standing in the streets of Hibiya drawn especially for this exhibition, as well as various other girlfriends both large and small.

GING NANG BOYZ Kimi to Boku no Dai 3ji Taisen-teki Renai Kakumei CD Jacket (2005)

A LONG VACATION – Eiichi Ohtaki 40th Tribute Illustration (2021) ©2023 Eguchi Hisashi

Hisashi Eguchi, a manga artist and illustrator, continues to convey the charm of the city and its people by vividly depicting Tokyo and the many unique happenings within. As Tokyo Midtown Hibiya celebrates its 5th anniversary along with many other nearby businesses, the Tokyo Girlfriend exhibition of illustrations by Hisashi Eguchi is being held to celebrate.

The exhibition will feature a new painting of the mysterious girlfriend standing in the streets of Hibiya, newly created for the Tokyo Midtown Hibiya exhibition. A number of original pieces using Pantone overlay, Eguchi’s favorite painting medium in the 80s and 90s, will also be on display for the first time.

During the exhibition period, guests can enjoy autograph sessions, live sketches in which Eguchi himself will draw a portrait of selected subject on the spot, and workshops where he will teach tips on how to be a better illustrator.

Don’t miss your chance to meet one of the greatest illustrators of the modern era!

©2023 Eguchi Hisashi

BAPE KIDS®︎ is celebrating its 16th anniversary with a wholesome new collaboration with illustrator Chocomoo! The artist has become popular around the world for his pop style, and this new collection is sure to have kids heading to school in style.

The new items are available for kids of all ages and include everything from T-shirts and sweatshirts to skirts and rompers.

The design also incorporates the classic APE HEAD from A BATHING APE®︎, the popular BABY MILO®︎ character, and Chocomoo’s heart character.

Chocomoo will participate in the special lookbook for this collaboration.

A triple collaboration with the popular zipper bag brand Pake®︎ is also underway. Some of the products will have special Pake®︎ packaging for a limited time.

The Chocomoo collaboration items will be available at authorized BAPE KIDS®︎ stores and the BAPE.COM web store starting December 17, 2022. 

Customers can create an original pair of shoes by choosing from a selection of four different illustrations, which can be placed on the outside of the shoe and the tongue.

These sneakers will be available online and at White atelier BY CONVERSE locations.

Headquartered in Los Angeles and Tokyo, 1SEC operates the web3 creative studio 1BLOCK. For a limited time, the shoe brand atmos and the wildly popular manga series Space Brothers, which has sold over 28 million copies, will collaborate with the 3D NFT project MetaSamurai and the AIR SMOKE ZERO (NFT) virtual sneakers.

MetaSamurai will incorporate the sensibility and style of atmos sneakers with the beloved characters from Space Brothers. The collaborative AIR SMOKE ZERO sneakers show off the iconic elephant pattern from atmos along with the moon, the main setting for the Space Brothers story.

Don’t miss out on this unique and one-of-a-kind NFT!

©小山宙哉／講談社

VISIONS 2023 ILLUSTRATORS BOOK, the newest edition of the popular art book edited by pixiv, was released on October 4, 2022. Art fans know the pixiv website as a place to share artwork, manga, and more. 

The VISIONS book series began publication in 2020, and the total number of copies sold worldwide has surpassed 150,000. The latest 2023 issue features works by 170 creators, allowing readers a glimpse into the current state of illustration today.

The cover art was drawn by Mika Pikazo, a character designer for many popular titles including Fire Emblem Engage, the latest in Nintendo’s Fire Emblem series. Mika Pikazo has long been pursuing new forms of expression in digital art, including incorporating cubism. Digital art is often treated as something vastly different from traditional art such as paintings and sculptures, but the cover art of this book challenges this belief by blending digital and traditional art. Pikazo’s vivid colors and exquisite brushwork are a must-see.

In addition to providing the cover art, a 7,000-word special interview with Mika Pikazo delving into his thoughts and vision can be found in the new book, providing a detailed view of what the digital art scene will look like in 2023.

The web3 creative studio 1BLOCK, based in Los Angeles and Tokyo, released a 3D NFT collection on August 12 to massive fan response. The Lupin the Third x MetaSamurai NFT set sold out instantly. The AIR SMOKE ZERO, Japan’s first virtual sneakers, feature a younger Lupin and friends. 

The NFTs sold out immediately after going on sale, and the collection was temporarily ranked 7th in the world based on transaction volume on OpenSea, the largest global NFT marketplace. The price of a single item has also quadrupled since it was first sold.

The collection is based on Takeshi Koike’s long-running Lupin the Third series. Each item is one-of-a-kind. 

To celebrate the release of the collaboration collection, a commemorative NFT will be airdropped to those holding MetaSamurai NFTs on August 19. Check out the 1BLOCK Discord for more details.

Takeshi Koike’s Lupin the Third series has inspired something truly unique. web3 creative studio 1BLOCK, inspired by a younger Lupin and friends, will be offering up some virtual sneakers in summer 2022. These sneakers are part of MetaSamurai, a 3D avatar project. Each of these NFTs will be the only one of their kind in the world.

MetaSamurai was inspired by Lupin III, Daisuke Jigen, and Goemon Ishikawa from the Lupin the Third series. The virtual sneakers were created with designs based on the three series: Lupin the Third: The Gravestone of Daisuke Jigen, Lupin the Third: The Blood Spray of Goemon Ishikawa, and Lupin the Third: Fujiko Mine’s Lie.

Watch out for the world’s first Lupin the Third 3DNFT project!

原作：モンキー・パンチ ©︎TMS

The Y’s SEEULATER X GSG9–the newest collaboration sneaker between Y’s and Adidas–will go on sale on June 3, with preorders starting on May 28. 

Designed with military elements in mind, the Y’s SEEULATER X GSG9 was based on the more rugged SEEULATER model. The new sneakers incorporate the GSG9 sole, and pairs will be available in black on black or white on black. Featuring detailed finishes and an urban feel, these high-performance kicks can be paired with any and all outfits. 

The SEEULATER, a hiking shoe from the ADVENTURE series, was originally launched in 1995. Not originally released in Japan, many now regard it as a legendary masterpiece in footwear. The sturdy shoe’s name comes from the phrase “see you later,” usually said when passing a fellow runner on the trail. Originally made for the German tactical police, the GSG9 features shock-absorbing soles that help to maintain a stable, strong grip on any terrain. 

The sneaker’s body features a combination of smooth cowhide leather and breathable mesh. This perfect blend of function and design showcase the best parts of both Y’s and Adidas. Will you be grabbing a pair of these classic and contemporary kicks?

Nike’s newest sneakers, the ‘W AIR MAX 90 FUTURA,’ will be available at atmos pink locations nationwide starting May 28, 2022.

The W AIR MAX 90 FUTURA is an easy-to-wear sneaker combining classic Nike style and an updated patchwork design in a number of colors. Heavily inspired by Tokyo streetwear, the newest visual for the sneakers feature the up-and-coming artist group bala. The visual has been directed by OWNCEAN from the duo UNA+MATCHA, who is also active as a DJ and model. The five female members of bala. are known for their modern style and freedom of expression. For those interested, a new interview with bala. is available only on the official atmos pink Instagram page.

bala.

In 2022, the new project bala. was launched to gather artists and creators presenting cutting-edge music, fashion, and art from Japan to the rest of the world. bala. will link with the global music scene and present fans with an honest vision of Tokyo culture. The project aims to be a collective of artists that connects both underground and overground cultures, pop and alternative genres, and Japan and Asia with the world. The collective is led by MANON, an iconic presence in the Japanese rap scene; ASA Wu, a trilingual singer from Taiwan; SUNNY ONLY1, a Gen-Z alternative pop singer and model; and a creative crew called  ‘KissGelz’ (MANON, Dan, Kayno). They will create a new cultural hub under the bala. umbrella. 

Sneaker brand atmos, beloved New York brand ANNA SUI, and Clarks Originals will launch a triple collaboration on May 25, 2022.

Based on the Wallabee, the iconic Clarks Originals shoe, this limited edition release incorporates the essence of both the femininity of ANNA SUI and the rock and subculture style of atmos.

The collection features ANNA SUI’s iconic butterflies laser-engraved in beige, pink, and blue. The atmos logo has been engraved on the leather tag on each pair of shoes, and an acrylic butterfly keychain comes attached to each pair of Wallabees. The apparel lineup includes overalls perfect for any season, track jackets, pants, beanies, and T-shirts in numerous designs.

The collection features an exclusive logo made just for the collaboration, and the street-style designs and silhouettes are unisex.

‘Rooms,’ Umishima Senbon’s first solo exhibition, is currently underway at the pixiv WAEN GALLERY by TWIN PLANET x pixiv until May 5, 2022!

Goods at a Glance

After working as a chief animation director and character designer, Umishima Senbon is now an illustrator and manga artist. This exhibition features approximately 70 illustrations on canvas to specifically highlight the artist’s characteristic use of soft colors and delicate brush strokes. Some of the works will be swapped out during the second half of the exhibition, allowing visitors to see even more images–110 in total! Certain pieces will be available for purchase exclusively at the venue on a first-come, first-served basis.