The highly-anticipated Demon Slayer game is only a day away from launch! Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles is hitting consoles and PC on October 14 in Japan and in Europe and North America on October 15. The first free update will be adding Rui and Akaza as playable characters with two more free updates coming sometime after launch. The announcement was published in this week’s Weekly Shonen Jump. 

 

It’s unclear exactly when the two characters will be added to Versus Mode, given that the first update doesn’t yet have a release date. 

 

New Playable Characters Included with the First Free Update

 

Lower Rank 5, Rui 

 

Upper Rank 3, Akaza

Are you excited for these bad guys to make their appearance? 

 

©吾峠呼世晴／集英社・アニプレックス・ufotable　©「鬼滅の刃 ヒノカミ血風譚」製作委員会

 

To commemorate the release of the their second movie, ‘Sumikko Gurashi: Aoi Tsukiyo no Mahou no Ko,’ Sumikko Gurashi will be opening the limited-time ‘Night Party with Sumikko’ cafe in Osaka on October 20, Tokyo on October 21, and Aichi on November 11.

 

(Advance Reservation Benefit Only) Original Invitation with Postcard (Five types)

 

 

 

Menu

Tokage’s Night Party Curry: ¥1,430 (Tax Incl.)

 

Shirokuma’s Warming Hot Rice Casserole: ¥1,430 (Tax Incl.)

 

Five’s Recommended Children’s Lunch: ¥1,650 (Tax Incl.)

 

Magician’s Party ~Açai Bowl~: ¥1,430 (Tax Incl)

 

Aoi Tsukiyo’s Fruit Punch: ¥1,100 (Tax Incl.) + ¥220 for one mini ice cream

 

Sumikko’s Pudding Ice Cream: ¥880 each (Tax Incl.)

 

Starry Drink: ¥990 each (Tax Incl)

 

Dolomite Coaster

 

Hot Café Au Lait: ¥880 (Tax Incl.)

 

 

Original Goods

 

Acrylic Keyholder (Random out of five): ¥770 (Tax Incl.)

 

Phosphorescent Sticker (Random out of eight): ¥605 (Tax Incl.)

 

Acrylic Stand (Random out of five): ¥880 (Tax Incl.)

Muddler (Three types): ¥1,100 each (Tax Incl.)

 

Mug Cup: ¥1,980 (Tax Incl)

 

Purse: ¥1,100 (Tax Incl.)

 

Fluorescent Pen Set: ¥1,100 (Tax Incl.)

 

A5 Clear File Duo: ¥605 (Tax Incl.)

 

Bandanna: ¥1,870 (Tax Incl.)

 

The Sumikko Gurashi characters are beloved by both adults and children for their gentle touch and tone. Their first movie, ‘Sumikko Gurashi Tobidasu Ehon to Himitsu no Ko’ was released in November 2019 and received great popularity. The sweet story of the Sumikko’s adventures through a story-book world attracted over 1.2 million viewers across Japan.

 

The heartwarming cafe menu includes “Tokage’s Night Party Curry,” “Shirokuma’s Warming Hot Rice Casserole,” Five’s Recommended Children’s Lunch,””Magician’s Party ~Açai Bowl~,” “Aoi Tsukiyo’s Fruit Punch,” “Starry Drink,” and more. The cute, Instagrammable dishes feature the characters who feature in the movie, which tells a mysterious story that begins under a blue moon in the Sumikko’s hometown. A lineup of limited edition goods and perks will also be available, adding to the movie excitement.

 

 

Enjoy a cute, social-media friendly meal and original merchandise at the exciting Sumikko Gurashi cafe!

 

©2021 Japanese Sumikko Gurashi Association Film Club

BLUE HAMHAM, a character by animator Arimura Taishi, will be featured at the ‘BLUE HAMHAM POP UP SHOP -AUTUMN PLANET-,’ open from October 8 until October 19 at Hanshin Umeda.  

 

Limited Goods

Event Limited T-Shirt (Size: M/L Colors: BLACK/WHITE): ¥4,400

Event Limited Sticker: ¥385

Event Limited Acrylic Stand: ¥1,320

Event Limited Keychain: ¥935

 

Novelties

Customers who spend over ¥6,000 will receive a free special shopping bag.

 

 

The event, which will be held in the newly opened Riakuro EVENT SPACE floor following the Umeda store renewal, will have four one meter-tall 3D BLUE HAM HAM statues greeting customers as they enter the store, each wearing adorable matching mufflers. There will be 15 new Autumn/Winter products overall, including T-shirts and stickers featuring artwork by creator Arimura Taishi. The BLUE HAMHAM muffler will also be available to purchase.

 

Customers who spend over ¥6,000 instore will receive a limited edition shopping bag for free! Not only that, customers who add the Official Hanshin Umeda LINE account will receive a coupon, while the first 200 customers will also receive an additional event-original postcard.

 

Popular animations will be looped on retro-themed TV monitors, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the world of ‘BLUE HAMHAM.’ Be sure to check out this limited shop and the new Autumnal character designs! 

 

 

*Images are samples and may differ in real life.

©CHOCOLATE Inc.

For those looking for a safe getaway for Halloween, Hotel New Otani Osaka is offering a limited-time room plan allowing guests to enjoy a selection of scrumptious and spooky dishes in the privacy of their hotel room. A bottle of very photogenic blue sparkling wine will also be served!

 

The menu includes a pumpkin quiche and mini-burgers, along with mummy-themed sausage pie rolls, black pasta with squid, and plenty of other treats to tantalize your taste buds. 

Enjoy a toast with the lively La Vague Bleue sparkling wine from France, offering a dry and refreshing taste perfect for pairing with food. Room service will be available to serve plenty of other drink items, including wine and cocktails!

Exclusive to the Halloween plan, a slightly terrifying sweets plate is available, featuring pumpkin mont blanc, bat-shaped cookies, eyeball blancmange, and more! If a Halloween getaway isn’t in the cards this year, enjoy this completely private party in a luxurious hotel room instead! 

 

Since opening in March, Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan has caught the world’s attention, leading global game fans to pray even harder for Japan to reopen for tourism. Now, the park is scheduled to level up with a new Donkey Kong-themed area scheduled to open in 2024. 

 

Currently, Super Nintendo World is filled with Mario-inspired attractions, dining options, and shops, recreating some of the most memorable parts of the franchise in a larger-than-life way. The new Donkey Kong area will feature a roller coaster and more interactive experiences, as well as themed merchandise and food options. Guests will be able to walk through lush jungles, where Donkey Kong and his friends live. The creation of the new area will more than double the size of Super Nintendo World. 

Launched as an arcade game by Nintendo in 1981, Donkey Kong quickly took the world by storm, with games continuing to be released on Nintendo systems from the SNES to the Nintendo Switch. As of March 2021, the series has sold over 65 million units worldwide.

 

Comment from Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto

“I am very happy to be able to make the world of Donkey Kong a reality following the world of Mario. I am looking forward to creating a thrilling Donkey Kong experience with the amazing team at Universal. It will take some time until it is completed, but it will be a unique area for not only people who are familiar with Donkey Kong games but for all guests.”

 

WIZARDING WORLD and all related trademarks, characters, names, and indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s21)
Minions and all related elements and indicia TM & © 2021 Universal Studios. All rights reserved. TM & © Universal Studios & Amblin Entertainment. TM & © Universal Studios. All rights reserved.　© Nintendo

Did you know that ‘Cheese Day’ takes place every year on November 11? To commemorate this tasty holiday, the second Tom & Jerry cafe will open for a limited time in Tokyo and Osaka, selling a variety of themed goods and original merchandise. 

Original Postcards (4 varieties), given to guests who purchase advance tickets

 

 

Menu

Jerry Cheese Omurice

BOOM! Macaroni & Cheese Burger

Rolling Meatball Pasta

Jerry and Tuffy Tiramisu

CHASE! Cheese Set　

BE HAPPY Cheesecake Parfait

Tom’s Little Cake Plate

Jerry’s Little Cake Plate

Tom’s Cream Soda　

Jerry’s Cream Soda　

Cheese Cream Tea

Tom and Jerry Cafe Latte　　

 

Original Merchandise

Sticker (6 varieties, random)

Acrylic Charm (6 varieties, random)

Acrylic Magnet (5 varieties, random)

Acrylic Pin (5 varieties, random) / Clear Folder

Memo Pad with Case / Tote Bag 

Handkerchief / Mug

 

The animated Warner Bros. series Tom & Jerry celebrated 80 years in 2020 and became a fast favorite with kids. Tom the Cat and Jerry the Mouse are the perfect slapstick duo, and even after so many decades, the two characters still have plenty of fans. 

 

The first Tom & Jerry cafe was open from March until May 2021 to celebrate the release of the Tom & Jerry film. Due to an overwhelmingly positive response, the cafe is back with an updated menu and new goods!

 

The new menu includes a Macaroni and Cheese Burger inspired by the bulldog Spike, Meatball Pasta inspired by the diaper-wearing Toffee, a gorgeous cheese set, and character-inspired drinks. Popular at the previous cafe, the Omurice and Tiramisu are making a comeback. The space will be decorated with tons of cute and colorful character art, so don’t miss out!

 

TOM AND JERRY and all related characters and elements © & ™ Turner Entertainment Co. (s21)

Starting November 11, Grand Front Osaka, home to over 260 different shops and restaurants, will host the ‘Grand Wish Christmas 2021: Disney Ultimate Princess Celebration ~Sparkling Moments~’ event! This global celebration pays special attention to the Disney Princess’s qualities of courage and kindness, and guests are welcome to take part in the festivities until Christmas Day. 

An 11-meter high Christmas tree will feature motifs of popular Disney Princesses dancing atop a music box, while nearby photo spots will invite families to create some magical memories to last a lifetime. A digital stamp rally will take place throughout the facilities, while a limited-time pop-up shop will sell a variety of Disney goods. 

 

The song Starting Now -A New Me- will act as the theme song for the event, with a daily light show sure to infuse guest’s hearts with joy and inspiration in this holiday season. 

（C）Disney　

（C）Disney/Pixar　

（C）2021 Disney and its related  entities

Everyone’s favorite chipmunk brothers Chip & Dale will be in the spotlight at a new limited-time cafe coming to Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya! The theme of the cafe is ‘always together,’ and fans of Disney duo can look forward to a healthy menu filled with fruits and nuts, along with some original goods!

 

Those who make a reservation in advance will receive one random original lunch mat (4 varieties)

 

Food

Best Friends Hide & Seek Plate

Chip’s Mushroom Gratin Plate

Everyone’s Favorite Acorn Stew

 

Drinks

 

Peanut Milk

Chip’s Chocolate Smoothie (right) / Dale’s Caramel Smoothie (left)

Those who order from the drink menu will receive one random acrylic stand coaster (4 varieties)

 

Original Merchandise

 

Acrylic Keychain (8 varieties, random)

Acrylic Magnet (4 varieties, random)

Mask Case (5 varieties, random) / Sticker (4 varieties, random)

Mug

Reuseable Shopping Bag

Pouch *On sale starting October 22

Mini Towel / Cushion

Masking Tape

 

Though Chip and Dale may disagree sometimes, the two are always together. This cafe invites those who love these two characters to enjoy some healthy dishes, all meeting Disney’s guidelines for nutritional content and low salt and sugar. Be sure to grab some cute goods only available at the cafe!

 

 

©Disney

Artist Masuda Sebastian will be holding the ‘Yes, Kawaii is Art’ exhibition in Osaka and Kyoto. The exhibition will be starting in Kitakagaya, Osaka’s City of Art, held between October 30 and November 30.

 

The exhibition explores the current state of ‘Kawaii,’ a keyword which has influenced the world, along with a selection of Masuda Sebastian’s works.

In 2020, Masuda started conversations with Kawaii communities across the globe to light up the world with vivid colors following the pandemic. What is Kawaii? Why does Kawaii surpass borders, generations, and gender, as the community moves onwards? This exhibition investigates the depths and new possibilities that Kawaii offers, through the works of Masuda Sebastian and his activities as an activist. 

 

 

Special Focus

 

Venue 1: Japan’s First Colorful Room Exhibition

The first venue features a full-room installation titled ‘Colorful Rebellion Seventh Nightmare.’ 

The piece was first released in 2014 and was created as a self-portrait representing the seven deadly sins. Following its first exhibition in Chelsea, New York, it has since been exhibited in Florida’s Young at Art Museum, Milano’s Milano Salone, Amsterdam’s Tropenmuseum, and Antwerp’s Museum aan de Stroon. This will be the first exhibition of this work in Japan.

 

 

Second Venue: An Experience Based on the Artist’s Memories

The second venue features the experience-type exhibit, ‘Fantastic Voyage.’ The piece, which was originally shown for just three days in Tokyo during February 2021, has been reworked and will be exhibited once more. The art reflects the current world, where everything is rapidly changing due to the Covid pandemic. 

A transparent capsule drifts through space, travelling through a world studded with snippets of sound and words. Both the guest experiencing this world and the person within the capsule are experiencing the same time together without exchanging words. It is the concept and prototype of “a device that imagines the future in an isolated world.” The performance lasts for 30 minutes, reaching deep into the viewer’s senses.

 

 

Venue Three: Harajuku’s Famous World Time Clock is Revived in Two New Forms

The third venue features the famous ‘Colorful Rebellion -WORLD TIME CLOCK-,’ a piece which was beloved by the city of Harajuku since its unveiling in 2015, remembered by tourists from all over the world. The original 2015 world clock, which was displayed on the streets of Harajuku, has been reconstructed while retaining the original faded materials. The 2019 version, which was made based on the colors of the original world clock, will also be displayed. 

 

The Tokyo exhibition was expected to open in September 2021 but was postponed due to Covid-19. Details for the new exhibition dates will be announced in the future. 

 

“I want to see the future of Kawaii. That is why I cannot stop creating; that is what drives me.” – Masuda Sebastian. 

A new collaboration is bringing sports and demon-slaying together! For the SPORTS2021 x Demon Slayer event, the popular series is partnering with three sports leagues: the NPB, J-League, and B.League. Goods are now available for the long-awaited collaboration between Niigata’s ALBIREX soccer team and Demon Slayer, so sports and anime fans should snag some merchandise before it’s all gone!

 

Items are available to pre-order online now until 2:00 on September 27, 2021. 

 

 

ALBIREX x Demon Slayer T-Shirt: ¥3,600 (Tax Included)

ALBIREX x Demon Slayer Face Towel: ¥2,100 (Tax Included)

ALBIREX x Demon Slayer Mini Towel: ¥600 (Tax Included)

ALBIREX x Demon Slayer Ribbon Magnet: ¥1,980 (Tax Included) 

ALBIREX x Demon Slayer Mug: ¥1,800 (Tax Included) 

 

 

Don’t miss out on these one-of-a-time items!

Starting September 23, Japanese cell phone company au will be releasing a new collaborative project with the globally popular Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba series! 

 

The new experience will allow users with a smartphone to transform into characters from the show, and reenact popular battle scenes from both the anime series and film. The collaboration is taking place to celebrate the return of the series in 2021 for it’s second season. 

 

 

 

Demon Slayer x au AR Experience

 

Augmented Reality: Become Your Favorite Character!

Using a special Instagram AR filter, users can mix different backgrounds and effects from the Demon Slayer series to make it feel as though you’re a part of the action!

 

 

Famous Quotes from the Series

By pressing a button on the special collaboration site, users can enjoy a collection of 45 random vertical videos featuring their favorite characters saying their famous lines. Take a screenshot of these clips and use one as your wallpaper!

 

 

Online Puzzle Game Escape Mission: Escape from the Mugen Train

In this fun escape game, users become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps sent to the Mugen Train to help rescue passengers. 

 

©吾峠呼世晴／集英社・アニプレックス・ufotable

*「煉獄」の「煉」は「火+東」が正しい表記となります。

New Prints: The Evolutionary Beauty of UKIYO-E, featuring pieces from the Chiba City Museum of Art, will be held at Takashimaya Osaka from September 15-27, 2021. 

 

Ukiyo-e, or woodblock prints, were exceptionally popular as a Japanese art style from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Now, a new exhibition coming to Osaka is highlighting the ‘Shin-hanga’ movement, which took place during the early 20th century and focused largely on the creation of pieces to sell to foreign markets. The man behind this movement was Shozaburo Watanabe, who commissioned artists to design prints blending traditional Japanese techniques with unique elements of Western paintings at the time, such as shadowing and different perspectives. 

 

The exhibition will contain 120 works selected from the Chiba City Museum of Art’s Shin-hanga collection, ranging from early masterpieces such as Goyo Hashiguchi’s ‘Woman at her Bath,’ Ito Shinsui’s ‘Before the Mirror,’ as well as rich depictions of Japanese landscapes by Hasui Kawase and international landscapes by Hiroshi Yoshida. 

 

Selection of Featured Works

 

Twelve Months of Tokyo: Evening Glow at Yanaka – Hasui Kawase. 1921. 

 

The Twelve Months in Tokyo series consists of twelve paintings based on sketches made by Kawase between December 1920 and October 1921. While twelve pieces were planned, only four circular pieces and one square piece were completed. Evening Glow at Yanaka depicts a five-story pagoda glowing faintly in the light of the setting sun. Kawase has stated that as he finished sketching the piece, he heard the sound of a bell, and for some reason, he had the uncanny feeling that he needed to straighten his collar. 

 

 

Sailing Boats in the Morning: Inland Sea – Hiroshi Yoshida. 1926.

 

Yoshida began work on the Sailing Ship trilogy in 1921 under Shozaburo Watanabe, but all of his woodblocks and most of his works were lost in the Great Kanto Earthquake. Five years later, Yoshida decided to tackle the project again, this time deciding on six pieces. In contrast to the originals under Watanabe, these pieces tackled more nuanced periods of time and give a stronger sense of tranquility. Pay attention to the slight variations in color and light. 

 

Before the Mirror. Ito Shinsui. 1916. 

This is the first Shin-hanga work by Ito Shinsui. The piece only uses three colors: red, black, and white, and utilizes serrated carving to give the impression of shadows. Using layers of rare high-quality red paint, this work has been deemed a masterpiece by fans of the movement, conveying Shinsui’s subtlety when depicting the feminine figure. 

 

Fashions of the Modern World: Tipsy – Kiyoshi Kobayakawa. 1930.

This portrait of a modern lady is one of six in the Fashions of the Modern World series by Kobayakawa, and is regarded by many as the best in the bunch. Produced between 1930 and 1931, the artist portrayed the unique personalities of women, rather than sticking to tradition. The woman in this portrait isn’t demure or quiet, but instead shows off her short hair, a cigarette, rings, and a cocktail in her hand, showing a different side to the Japanese women of the period. 

 

Combing the Hair. Goyo Hashiguchi. 1920. 

With her overflowing black hair and elegant appearance, the subject of Combing the Hair makes it clear why this is Hashiguchi’s most representative work. The woman’s name is Tomi Kodaira, and she modeled for many of the artist’s works, being discovered by him as she was modeling at a nearby art school. The pose is said to be inspired by Rossetti’s Lady Lilith, but her expression is unique to Hashiguchi and the typical style of ukiyo-e.