Sebastian Masuda to open SUSHIDELIC, a new sushi restaurant in Soho, New York City. The location will open on June 28, 2023.

“King of Kawaii” Sebastian Masuda, creator of Harajuku’s “KAWAII MONSTER CAFE,” loved by celebrities around the world, has created a new restaurant concept  in New York City

Enjoy an Immersive Kawaii Experience

Featuring a Menu Developed by Japanese Chefs and Supported by AUTEC, Inc.

Opening in SoHo, the Trendiest Neighborhood in New York City

SUSHIDELIC is scheduled to open at 177 Lafayette St. in the heart of the SoHo area, where the latest fashions and trends are born and where many fashion brands have opened their flagship stores.

We will keep you updated with the latest information as it becomes available. Please look forward to the chemistry between “Sushi” and “Kawaii,” two of Japan’s proudest exports.

Sebastian Masuda

A three-day exhibition of XR NFT art created by Japanese artists was recently held at Shibuya PARCO from October 15 until October 17. A hands-on booth was set up on the first floor of Shibuya PARCO’s Nakashibu-dori where visitors could freely view the world on display and take a hands-on tour. The exhibition marked the triumphant return to Japan of the city-linked XR NFT art exhibition originally held by Psychic VR Lab at NFT NYC, the world’s largest NFT event held from June 20 to June 23. Seven Japanese artists decorated New York Times Square during the event, and the recent event in Shibuya featured works by three of these artists. 

On October 15, Psychic VR Lab opened Shibuya Scramble Layer, an XR-ization of the famous Tokyo landmark, using its real metaverse platform STYLY. PARCO provided support for this initiative, which aims to open the metaverse to the city and enhance the experience value of Tokyo itself. Together, the two will work together to create new attractions for visitors to the capital to enjoy.

From September 30 until October 2, 2022, artist Sebastian Masuda will present a hands-on live performance work titled Polychromatic Skin – Minitsukeru, nugisuteru at kagoo in Kitakagaya, Osaka. 

Masuda, who currently resides in New York, is returning to Japan temporarily to prevent this colorful and experimental participatory live performance, inspired by the street style of the 90s. The title of the artwork is pulled from the artist’s intention to break through and liberate people’s unconscious stereotypes that stand in the way of gender freedom. This work is the second in a series following Polychromatic Skin -Gender Tower- and Polychromatic Skin -Gender Wall- to be exhibited at Roppongi Art Night 2022.

The theme of this art piece is ‘wearing something by taking it off.’ Audience members will participate in the live performance by wearing masks, tops, and bottoms based on the idea of androgyny, or the body of a human before it is divided into male or female. 

Upon entering the art space, guests will be surrounded by live music consisting of drums and violins and visuals, while being invited to act accordingly to create their own art. Each session lasts 60 minutes, and participation in the live performance must be reserved in advance. Tickets to view the works without participating in the performance will be sold at the venue on the day of the event.

The performance will take place at kagoo, a former warehouse space in Kitakagaya, an artistic area of Osaka. A free area at the entrance will feature a pop-up store filled with Sebastian Masuda’s art, along with items from 6%DOKIDOKI, a popular Harajuku apparel brand celebrating its 27th anniversary in 2022.

<Comment from Sebastian Masuda>

“In Brooklyn, New York in 2018, I wandered off to go to the restroom at a club. The male and female signs on the restroom doors had been smashed together, and the sign only said ‘non-gender.’ Bewildered by the unexpected instructions, I opened the door with the usual color and found a completely different sight than I was expecting. Shocked to realize that there were stereotypes hiding unconsciously within me, I returned to the club floor to find the space is as fun as ever. Since then, I’ve wondered if there is a way to break the stereotypes I have. I can’t stop thinking about it. 

Is breaking down the walls the only shortcut?
The right answer is inside all of us.
Sometimes, to see the truth, you just need to put something on.
Cast off the self by taking it off.”

Sebastian Masuda, known as the “father of kawaii,” moved to New York City in 2022 to be more active in the Big Apple while continuing his activities in Tokyo.

His first event since moving to the city will be the COLORS FOR PEACE charity art exhibition, which will be held at the Mizuma & Kips gallery on Manhattan’s Lower East Side from July 29 until July 31. A portion of all proceeds from the sale of artwork and donations collected will be donated to the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, a human rights organization supporting those whose lives have been impacted by war.

Masuda wanted people to think about peace, which is the theme for the COLORS FOR PEACE exhibition. The showing will feature artwork in four primary colors–blue, yellow, green, and pink.

Along with original paintings and lithographs, the exhibition will also feature a bed installation where guests can freely relax. Visitors will be able to think about the people whose peaceful daily lives are threatened by the ongoing war, and will be able to support them through art.

An opening reception for the event will be held on the evening of July 29, and reservations are open now. More information will be announced on Masuda’s social media accounts, including when the artist himself will appear.

Comment from Sebastian Masuda

“COLORS FOR PEACE is an event with a very straightforward theme, and that is for guests to think about peace. Close your eyes. Imagine it. Understand it. Understand how wonderful it is that you can sleep in your own bed at home tonight. We all know how comfortable it is to be able to sleep in our own bed, with our own sheets that have our own scent.

Through my activities over the years, I’ve come to realize that the ‘kawaii’ movement is one of the best ways to inspire peace. It helps us to understand each other, and the bright and vibrant colors make people happy, both in Japan and around the world. I hope that the COLORS FOR PEACE venue will be filled with many smiling faces and that it will transcend race, religion, age, gender, and all other borders.”

Touken Ranbu has become a worldwide phenomenon over the past decade. The handsome characters are a hit with female fans, and now, PARCO is teaming up with Sanrio to reimagine everyone’s favorite swords-turned-dudes into chibi, pastel versions of themselves. Fans can enjoy seeing the kawaii form of their favorite characters at a special collaboration cafe coming to Shibuya and Nagoya soon.

Lineup at a Glance

Menu

Kogitsunemaru’s Lunch Plate for Kids

Oodenta Mitsuyo and Sohayanotsurugi’s Mini Burger Plate

Izuminokami Kanesada and Horikawa Kunihiro’s Berry Pancakes

Konnosuke’s Fruit Parfait

Goods

Acrylic Pick A (20 varieties): ¥440 each

Acrylic Pick B (20 varieties): ¥440 each

Acrylic Magnet Round 2, Set A (Random, 20 varieties): ¥550 each

Acrylic Magnet Round 2, Set B (Random, 20 varieties): ¥550 each

The cafe will offer an original menu inspired by the characters from the free-to-play video game and anime series. A shop attached to the collaboration cafe will also be selling original merchandise, so fans won’t want to miss stocking up.

Shibuya PARCO is scheduled to open a new art figure gallery, 1/ONE SLASH, in April 2022. Pop culture content like anime, comics, and games will feature heavily at this new fifth-floor location, with popular characters being recreated in 3D form.

Guests will be able to browse figures in the art gallery portion, and will also be able to purchase figures that they enjoy at the shop. The figures on display will be created by Design Coco, a company with an excellent reputation for producing high-quality figures, including life-size figures. 

Title #1 – Sophie’s Atelier 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream

The first 1/ONE SLASH production will be both life-size and 1/7th scale figures of Sophie from the popular Koei Tecmo game Sophie’s Atelier 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream. The title is one of the best-selling games in the 25-year-old Atelier series. Character designs are being provided by NOCO and Yugen. 

Fans of the recently-released game won’t want to miss this showing!

©2022 コーエーテクモゲームスAllrightsreserved.

Five nostalgic and popular shojo anime series from the 90s and early 2000s are being honored at a limited-time collaboration cafe in Shibuya! Hime-chan’s Ribbon, Akazukin Chacha, Nurse Angel Ririka SOS, Kodomo no Omocha, and Full Moon wo Sagashite are being honored with new character-inspired menu items and exclusive goods until March 21, 2022. The cafe is being held at TOKYO PARADE goods&cafe on the 6th floor of Shibuya PARCO.

Hime-chan’s Ribbon

Hime-chan and Pokota’s Donut Tower / Pokota’s Maple Chicken Donut Sandwich

Goods

Akazukin Chacha

Akazukin Chacha Dessert Plate / Magical Princess Strawberry Milk / Shiine’s Homemade Curry

Goods

Nurse Angel Ririka SOS

Ririka Life Flower Parfait / Nurse Angel Ririka’s Vaccine Soda

Goods

Kodomo no Omocha

Sana and Hayama’s Rice Omurice / Maro-chan’s Chocolate Chestnut Drink

Goods

Full Moon wo Sagashite

Takuto and Meruki’s Green Onion Ramen / Full Full Moon Cheesecake / Takuto’s Apple Vinegar Jelly Drink / Meruko’s Peach Vinegar Jelly Drink

Goods

Bonus: Paper Lunch Mat with Original Design

Bonus: One Randomly Selected Coaster (17 varieties) for Each Drink Ordered

In October 2021, boy band BE:FIRST held their first photo exhibition at Shibuya PARCO. Now, a second version of the exhibition is triumphantly returning to the Tokyo venue!

BE:FIRST is a seven-member dance and vocal group created during THE FIRST boy band audition. Organized by BMSG, a company founded by popular rapper SKY-HI, the group immediately amassed an army of fans from around the world. The photo exhibition held in Tokyo, Nagoya, and online for three months starting in October attracted over 10,000 visitors. 

In response to the large demand, the BE:FIRST Photo Exhibition “We Just Gifted.” recently visited Osaka, before returning to Tokyo. The first showing focused heavily on the member’s journey towards a major debut, but now, more than 80% of the photos have been replaced. Since BE:FIRST’s major debut on November 3, the boys have held their first solo concert and fan meetups. Over 200 photos of the members post-debut will be on display.

The online photo exhibition, which was scheduled to end on January 31, will be extended to coincide with the new exhibition at Shibuya PARCO. Be sure to check it out!

From January 15 until January 30, a pop-up store inspired by the antagonist Akane Shinjo from Studio TRIGGER’s SSSS.GRIDMAN series will open on the 6th floor of Shibuya PARCO at the Tokyo Otaku Mode TOKYO store.

SSSS.GRIDMAN, released in 2018, has become a global hit. This limited-time shop will sell goods related to the character Akane Shinjo, with many featuring newly-drawn illustrations. The shop will double as an exhibition, with original drawings and other pieces from the show’s production available for guests to browse in the space. This was overseen by the team at Studio TRIGGER, the company behind the series. Certain surprises will also appear at the event, and a number of items will also be available for purchase online, so keep an eye out!

Masaru Sakamoto, the character designer and chief animation director for SSSS.GRIDMAN provided the original illustrations for the event. 

Ⓒ円谷プロ Ⓒ2018 TRIGGER・雨宮哲／「GRIDMAN」製作委員会   

On November 19, 2021, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl were released for the Nintendo Switch. Remakes of the original Diamond and Pearl titles, fans have been loving the new graphical and quality-of-life improvements. To commemorate their release, Shibuya PARCO will open a ‘Brilliant Shining Festival’ pop-up shop where children and adults alike can come together to snag some neat new merchandise inspired by both games.

The pop-up shop will be located in the COMINGSOON event space on the first floor of Shibuya PARCO from January 2 until January 12, 2022. The interior will be completely decorated in Pokemon style, and original snacks will also be available for purchase. (Snacks will also be available for purchase from the PARCO Online Store).

Along with buying some cute merch, a special password and sticker campaign will be held during the duration of the event. Just say some special words to the shop’s employees, get a sticker exchange ticket, and use it at the pop-up store. The password is ‘Brilliant Shining Festival!’ 

©Pokémon. ©Nintendo / Creatures Inc. / GAME FREAK inc.
ポケットモンスター・ポケモン・Pokémonは任天堂・クリーチャーズ・ゲームフリークの登録商標です。
Nintendo Switchは任天堂の商標です。

What does the word ‘kawaii’ mean to you? For most people overseas, it’s a purely Japanese aesthetic combining colorful visuals with cutesy characters to make something so adorable it defies imagination. In recent years, however, ‘kawaii’ has become a kind of philosophy that transcends language, national borders, and even consciousness. It’s a driving force behind people’s lives and something that pulls people out of bed in the morning–it’s something capable of instantly putting a smile on people’s faces. For those wishing to study the philosophy behind the ‘kawaii’ movement, the Godfather of Kawaii Sebastian Masuda is currently holding an exhibition at Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo until December 12, 2021. What is it about ‘kawaii’ that is so capable of inspiring so many different people and cultures around the world? 

A correlation chart welcomes guests to the grounds. The ‘Kawaii Archival Research,’ a project on kawaii culture conducted with students from the Kyoto University of Arts, collected data on ‘kawaii’ trends from the post-war period to the present day. Through interactions with the worldwide ‘kawaii’ community, it’s clear how much of an impact the aesthetic has had on people around the globe. 

In the midst of the pandemic in 2020, Masuda announced #KAWAIITRIBE, a way to encourage those coping with depression during the days of COVID-19. His followers were asked to use ‘color’ to bring the world together, and more and more, the ‘kawaii’ movement became a way to express and love oneself. Using #KAWAIITRIBE, more and more fans of the movements became connected–even if those users were countries apart. 

The hashtag #SPEAKUP was also utilized by Masuda to collect data from ‘kawaii’ lovers around the world, asking about hobbies, interests, and opinions on ‘kawaii’ culture. The data collected over the course of 12 days was incredibly meaningful to Masuda and led to plenty of new discoveries about the community as a whole. 

Masuda explains that each country has different types of ‘kawaii,’ and that the aesthetic is expressed in different ways around the world. One country may have people influenced mainly by ‘kawaii’ expressions in anime and manga, while another expresses it through fashion or music. ‘Kawaii’ is diverse, just as people are diverse. 

Sebastian Masuda has also held a Zoom meeting with people in ‘kawaii’ communities around the globe to discover how they became involved with the aesthetic initially, while also asking how it inspired them and gave them strength during these difficult times. Certain people claimed that ‘kawaii’ helped them in their personal growth, while others say it has brought out some of their potential in new and unexpected ways. While Masuda’s artwork may simply seem visual, ‘kawaii’ has become a tool for new communication and personal healing and growth. Some may even call it a kind of therapy: a place where people can surround themselves with color and joy to heal from the difficulties of life. The bold colors of the ‘kawaii’ movement can inspire people to be bold in their daily lives. Individuality should be celebrated and self-confidence should reign supreme–that is yet another message of the ‘kawaii’ movement. 

Many people involved in the Zoom call had never met, and after the initial meeting, the room was left open to give people a place to communicate. Afterward, the ‘kawaii’ circle only became bigger, with a Facebook group bringing together more and more members of the community. 

The research done during the last year of the COVID-19 pandemic has given ‘kawaii’ lovers a reason to think deeply on how to overcome the many struggles born from the ‘new normal,’ and these forums are perfect places to share colorful messages of hope and strength. 

Inspired by Masuda’s own struggles during his time in Manhatten in 2013, Colorful Rebellion -Seventh Nightmare- is on display at Kanda Myojin. The installation has previously appeared in locations around the world including New York City, Milan, and Amsterdam. This time, the exhibit was inspired by ‘muro,’ a basement room in Omotesando where amazake is fermented. The room was used as an air-raid shelter during the war, and walking along the dimly-lit path leading to Masuda’s brightly-colored room, it’s hard not to wish that those evacuees could have been surrounded by these beautiful colors instead of pitch darkness. 

It is no exaggeration to say that this is Masuda’s representative work. Created in the midst of the artist’s own struggles, it has helped establish the philosophy of ‘kawaii’ culture and continues to help those dealing with their own problems.

The Time After Time Capsule Art Project, starting in 2014 and held in 12 cities around the world, is a massive time capsule filled with messages and wishes for the future. Shaped like the beloved Sanrio character Hello Kitty, the capsule is gradually changing color as it becomes heavier and heavier with wishes for peace and happiness from fans around the world. Originally planned to be exhibited at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, this couldn’t come to fruition due to the current pandemic. This is the first time it is being shown in Japan. 

The WORLD TIME CLOCK, a once-famous landmark of Harajuku, has also been recreated and installed within Kanda Myojin. 

‘Yes, Kawaii Is Art’ at Kanda Myojin is a deeply emotional, personal, and inspiring exhibition allowing visitors to experience firsthand how ‘kawaii’ culture is capturing the hearts of people around the world. Sebastian Masuda isn’t slowing down any time soon, and his works will continue to heal people and bring joy for many years to come. 

Sebastian Masuda’s solo exhibition ‘Primal Pop’ will be held at Roppongi Hills A/D Gallery from December 11, 2021, until January 10, 2022.

TEXT：Natalie（MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON）

The Godfather of Kawaii Sebastian Masuda will open his ‘Yes, Kawaii Is Art’ exhibition at the 1,300-year-old Kanda Myojin Shrine on December 4, 2021. A number of Masuda’s representative works will be on display at the historical site, known as one of the most important shrines during the Edo period. 

Colorful Rebellion -Seventh Nightmare-

Kanda Myojin Shrine

Colorful Rebellion -Seventh Nightmare- has been shown in New York, Milan, and Amsterdam over the past few years, and will now make an appearance as part of this exhibition. Given the magnificence of the venue, the work will be presented in a unique way–in the basement of the shrine. In addition, a part of the research on Kawaii culture conducted in collaboration with Kyoto University of Arts Ultra Factory will be on display as well. Guests will be invited to ponder the nature of Kawaii, and what makes it so beloved by audiences worldwide.

Colorful Rebellion -WORLD TIME CLOCK-

Time After Time Capsule Art Project

Kawaii Archival Research

Near the entrance to the shrine, the Colorful Rebellion -WORLD TIME CLOCK will be on display. Clad in the cutest colors imaginable, it has become a symbol of Harajuku around the world. The Hello Kitty-shaped time capsule, which was on display for five months in New York City in 2015, will also be shown on the temple grounds. The participatory art project has made it to 12 cities around the world so far. 

Kawaii culture will blend with traditional Japanese culture during this exhibition, so keep an eye out for more details coming soon!

What is ‘Yes, Kawaii Is Art?’ 

Sebastian Masuda has been at the helm of the global Kawaii movement for decades. 

 In 2020, Masuda asked a number of questions to fans of Japanese pop culture around the world–what is Kawaii? Why does Kawaii cross borders, generations, and gender? This new exhibition tries to find an answer to those questions while bringing some joy and excitement to the local community.