To commemorate the upcoming film Minions: The Rise of Gru, a new apparel collection has been unveiled! The new items were made by VERDY, the artist behind popular projects like Girls Don’t Cry and Wasted Youth, both of which have been noticed by celebrities overseas. Prior to the collection’s launch online on July 1, fans can buy items from the limited-edition collection at Universal Studios in Los Angeles starting June 17 and at Universal Studios Japan starting June 24. 

VERDY is an incredibly popular artist who has garnered attention around the world, and his products are often seen with celebrities and big names in Japan and abroad. He has collaborated with a number of top brands in the past.

Collection

The first collaboration between the two, Minions x Vick, was released in 2020 to huge popularity, selling out within one minute of release. This second collaboration was created to satisfy huge fan demand, offering up tons of items featuring Otto, a Minion who will appear in the new film, and VERDY’s signature character Vick. Fans can purchase T-shirts, hoodies, long sleeve shirts, hats, keychains, skateboards, and more. 

This is the only time you’ll be able to snag these unique items, so don’t miss out!

WIZARDING WORLD and all related trademarks, characters, names, and indicia are © & ™ WBEI. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s22)
Minions and all related elements and indicia TM & © 2022 Universal Studios. All rights reserved.TM & © Universal Studios & Amblin Entertainment
Universal Studios Japan TM & © Universal Studios. All rights reserved.
© Nintendo

Pocky is one of the most popular Japanese snacks around the world, and a new way to enjoy it is here. Since the 1970s, Pocky on the Rocks has been a popular way to enjoy the tasty treats during the summer. A modern version has just been unveiled, and six special boxes with exclusive designs will be released on June 14 along with a new campaign, recipe submission contest, and a collaboration with select cafes around Japan. 

Pocky on the Rocks was first introduced in an ad campaign in 1976. People began putting Pocky sticks in a cool glass filled with ice or using the sticks as muddlers for alcoholic drinks. This stylish summer snack has been reimagined for 2022, and customers are inspired to pair the sticks with their favorite drink, stick them into ice cream, or add them to a cup of seasonal fruit!

Pocky on the Rocks in the 1970s

Pocky on the Rocks Today

Collaboration with 5 Cafes in Tokyo and Kansai

Cafe Roman – Takadanobaba, Tokyo

Cream Soda

Cafe Negura – Shimokitazawa, Tokyo
Dark Cherry Soda

DORSIA – Sannomiya, Kobe
Heart Strawberry Milk

Sunshine Cafe – Higashi-Umeda, Osaka
Almond Mixed Juice

Poem Cafe – Motomachi, Kobe
Lemon Squash

Pocky’s limited edition packaging, coming June 14, will feature a recipe for the 2022 Pocky on the Rocks. A recipe submission contest will also be held on Instagram, and anyone can participate. On the campaign website, fans can find collaboration recipes made in conjunction with five different cafes around Tokyo and the Kansai region. Of course, you can also grab these treats at each shop!

Fans can win retro goods in another ongoing campaign simply by snapping a picture of a Pocky receipt.

You’ve probably tried Pocky before, but have you ever tried Pocky on the Rocks? 

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu made waves with music lovers around the world last month when she performed at Coachella, one of the largest and most famous music festivals on Earth. On May 28, Kyary will perform in Ehime, and the artist has released details about another collaboration as part of the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project, launched to energize Japan through the appeal of regional towns and cities.

In Ehime Prefecture, Kyary is teaming up with Poeme, a famous sweets shop in Setouchi close to the Seto Inland Sea. The shop itself opened in 1950 with a different name and quickly became popular for its Butter Manju. The buns, baked in a buttery biscuit dough with red bean paste, were an extravagant confectionary at the time. In the late 1950s, a friend of the founder Okada Kazutarou tasted the Butter Manju and said “This is a poem,” hence the current name of the location. After 76 years, the name of the shop still reflects Poeme’s mission that has been present since the company’s founding just after WWII. 

The collaboration logo for the project was inspired by Kyary’s 2018 album Japamyu, which was released after four successful overseas tours. The album cemented the artist as one of Japan’s top talents, and the logo combines Poeme with Japamyu to make Poemyu.

A collaborative T-shirt is also on sale featuring the new logo and the singer’s 10th-anniversary logo. The shirt is only available until June 8 on the official LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project website.

Otabe, one of the most popular sweets souvenir shops in Kyoto, Otabe, is known for its delicious matcha and mini-desserts. Starting May 12, the company has released nine uniquely packaged sweets inspired by Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. The limited-edition packaging will feature popular characters from the series. Previously, the company released matcha cakes for the crossover–this time, fans can enjoy choco-an flavor!

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Choco-an

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Matcha

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Otabe (with Original Sticker)

Original Sticker: 15 varieties, 1 given at random

Focusing on the hashira from the series, fans will want to be on the lookout for their favorite character. These sweets can be bought at select stations in the Kyoto and Osaka area, major Kyoto tourist attractions, and online. In addition, matcha flavored treats will also be on sale featuring Tanjiro Kamado, Nezuko Kamado, Zenitsu Agatsuma, Hashibira Inosuke, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, and Muzan Kibutsuji.

©吾峠呼世晴／集英社・アニプレックス・ufotable

Those passing through Gotanda Station in Tokyo might want to keep an eye out for some tasty treats on sale for a limited time. Patisserie Giraud has opened a limited-time pop-up location inside the aptly-named shop Have You Eaten This Before? The pop-up will be open until May 31, 2022.

Have You Eaten This Before? features a rotating selection of products perfect as gifts, souvenirs, or as a treat for yourself. Along with six cakes made to look just like fruits, a selection of other baked goods will also be available.

Lineup

Strawberry

Orange

Lemon

Red Apple

Green Apple

Melon

While it might be difficult to eat these beautiful cakes, you’ll never forget the way the juice-filled mousse and crispy pastry fill your mouth. Which one would you like to bring home?

Folk Kitchen, a restaurant on the second floor of Hilton Osaka, will hold the Sanrio Characters Sweets Buffet ~Joyful Summer Festival~ from May 20 until September 11, 2022. The event is being held to celebrate Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin, and Pochakko coming in first, second, and third in the Sanrio Character Awards. A lineup of 25 different sweets will be available, including those filled with summer fruits like mango, peach, and watermelon! In addition, a “Zero Leftovers Campaign” will be implemented–so be sure to clear your plate!

Happy Festival Heart Mousse

Joyful Pink Cake / Lime & Raspberry

Fluffy and Crunchy Mango Pavlova

Decorated with chocolate and adorable character designs, the Happy Festival Heart Mousse is a scrumptious dish blending the flavor of banana, caramel, and rum. The Joyful Pink Cake will be a smash-hit with Sanrio lovers, featuring the soft taste of white mousse and raspberry compote with a fresh lime flavor. Tons of other original sweets will be available, including everything from gingerbread to orange tarts.

Visitors can also find plenty of vegan sweets. Summer Blue Sky Jello features contrasting colors of pineapple pulp and soymilk cream that look like clouds floating against a summer sky. Be sure to try the Almond & Watermelon Jello and Grapefruit and Lychee Jello too!

It’s hard to believe that Kirby is turning 30 today, bursting onto the video game scene back in 1992. To commemorate this special occasion, Bandai’s Candy brand Tabemas (meaning ‘Edible Mascot’) is selling some adorable sweets inspired by the character at Lawson stores nationwide starting April 26, 2022. The items will be available in the chilled dessert section, and these items won’t be available at LAWSON STORE100. 

Edible Mascot Kirby 30th: ¥353 each (Tax Included)

The Kirby sweets are made of mochi, the perfect food to express the character’s round and squishy form, and the Warp Star is made of nerikiri. Nerikiri is a traditional Japanese sweet made from mochi flour and white bean paste, and it’s especially easy to mold and carve into detailed shapes.

Kirby (Strawberry Flavored) Warp Star (Chocolate Flavored)

*Image for reference only. 

Kirby is filled with strawberry-flavored filling, while the Warp Star is stuffed with chocolate. Fans can find eight different expressions on Kirby’s face, including a big smile and a sleeping expression. The Warp Star features a 30th-anniversary logo, perfect for photos.  Which one is the most adorable?

What’s your favorite Kirby game?

© Nintendo / HAL Laboratory, Inc. KB22-P3638

Pearl Lady, a tapioca and crepe specialty shop, will begin selling a special crepe inspired by the Sanrio character Cogimyun starting April 8, 2022! These gorgeous treats will be available at participating Pearl Lady locations while supplies last.

Cogimyun’s Sparkling Strawberry Crepe

Cogimyun’s Sparkling Strawberry Crepe, topped with a Cogimyun cookie, includes sweet and sour strawberry cream. 

The dough, made with tapioca flour, offers a slightly chewy texture with a rich milk and butter flavor. Customers will also receive a special sticker as a purchase bonus. Be sure to enjoy the new Cinnamoroll drink available at Pearl Lady’s sister shop CHABAR!

CHABAR x Cinnamoroll Collaboration Drink

Bandai’s Japanese confectionary project Tabemas has been transforming popular characters into tasty treats for years. Starting April 5, over 16,600 FamilyMart stores nationwide will offer sweets inspired by illustrator nagano’s popular characters Chiikawa and Usagi!

This is the first time these characters have been featured in the Tabemas series. Fans can grab Chiikawa with sparking eyes or smiling with red cheeks, a sparkly-eyed Usagi, and the adorable cat Hachiware. It will be difficult to eat something so painfully cute, but each is sure to taste delicious! The Chiikawa sweets are milk and custard flavored, Usagi is sweetened with caramel, and Hachiware offers the taste of strawberry milk. 

(C)nagano / chiikawa committee

Hibiya Hayashiya Shinbei in Tokyo Midtown Hibiya is now offering a scrumptious Strawberry Matcha Parfait until April 24, 2022! If that’s not up your alley, four Kyo Hayashiya locations in Shinjuku, Omiya, Yokohama, and Ikebukuro will begin offering a Matcha and Berry Mascarpone Parfait from April 1 until May 8, 2022. 

Strawberry Matcha Parfait

The Strawberry Matcha Parfait is an eye-catching mix of green and pink, reminiscent of cherry blossoms and bright green grass. Green tea blends with rose jelly and lychee sorbet, offering a refreshing taste with a hint of bitterness. The sweet accent of crunchy chocolate feuillantine gives each bite a little kick.

Matcha and Berry Mascarpone Parfait

The Matcha and Berry Mascarpone Parfait mixes the deep, bitter taste of Uji matcha, the sweet and sour taste of berries, and the gentle sweetness of mascarpone cream. The berry sauce is blended with crunchy chocolate feuillantine, a layer of whipped cream, green tea jelly, green tea ice cream, and milk panna cotta. To finish, it’s garnished with refreshing raspberry sorbet, bittersweet matcha ice cream, and fresh strawberries.

McDonald’s Japan locations with ‘McCafe by Barista’ areas will begin selling special spring treats for a limited time starting April 6, 2022. Customers will be able to grab the ‘Strawberry Uji Matcha Frappe’ and the ‘Uji Matcha Mont Blanc Tart.’

McCafe by Barista invites guests to enjoy high-quality frappes and smoothies. The Uji Matcha Frappe was added to the regular product lineup in June 2021, and features a mellow matcha flavor. The Strawberry variant is coming back for the first time in three years. The Mont Blanc Tart is a new addition, and is a perfect treat to enjoy with this popular frappe! 

Strawberry Uji Matcha Frappe: ¥490

The Strawberry Matcha Frappe mixes together the full-bodied flavor of matcha together with sweet and sour strawberries. It includes both a strawberry paste made from whole strawberries and a strawberry whipped cream at the bottom. The drink is topped with more strawberry whipped cream and a sprinkling of matcha powder. The refreshing taste of the strawberry sauce coupled with the whipped cream serves to elevate the great flavor of the Uji Matcha even more.

Uji Matcha Mont Blanc Tart: ¥390

The Uji Matcha Mont Blanc Tart is made with Uji Matcha batter, Uji Matcha whipped cream, white bean paste, and green tea cream. The refined sweetness is complemented by the mellow aroma and slight bitterness of Uji Matcha.

How would you like to enjoy these treats beneath the cherry trees?

Fujiya is celebrating 111 years with a special collaboration with Hoshino Resort! The sweets company is well-known for ‘Milky,’ one of the most popular candies in Japan, and now, fans of these sweets can surround themselves completely with retro vibes. To inspire younger generations to travel again, a Milky-inspired room plan is now available to book. 

Four Unique Features of the Milky Sweet Accommodation Plan

１. A Milky Sweet Room with a Retro Feel!

This sweet room is completely covered with retro Milky style! The candy’s mascot Peko-chan takes center stage in Taisho clothing, and guests can enjoy a Milky snack set and Milky bath salts to complete this one-of-a-kind experience.

2. Become Peko-chan with Adorable Costumes!

Dress up as Peko-chan with your best friend and take some hilarious pictures! These tops and overalls are included with the room, but feel free to wear them out and about.

3.  Milky-flavored Popcorn Available in Collaboration with TAMARIBA!

Popcorn sweetened with Milky powder is now available at TAMARIBA. Enjoy this tasty treat as you explore the grounds, and enjoy the special bag featuring Peko-chan. 

Location: TAMARIBA / Available: 15:00-19:00 / Price: Free
*Available while supplies last

4.  Enjoy Special Experiences at BEB5 Karuizawa and BEB5 Tsuchiura

BEB5 Karuizawa

Find Retro Peko-chan in Karuizawa Hoshino!

All-you-can-eat French Toast with Milky Sauce

BEB5 Tsuchiura

Make a Milky Smoothy on a Bike!

Peko-chan Retro Photo Cycling Tour in Tsuchiura!