The Daimaru location in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, will soon begin selling limited edition Rilakkuma and Sumikko Gurashi goods! About 1,400 rare goods previously only available at 10 locations around Japan will be available in Shimonoseki from May 25 until May 30. Inspired by locales around the country, these adorable items will inspire you to travel when you can!

Limited Edition Sumikko Gurashi Goods

Ise Shop Exclusive

Dangling Stuffed Animal

Dangling Stuffed Animal

Jisho-ji Shop Exclusive

Dangling Stuffed Animal

Kyoto Kiyomizu-Zaka Shop Exclusive

Dangling Stuffed Animal

Shrine and Temple Stamp Book

Castella Manju

Dazaifu Shop Exclusive

Dangling Stuffed Animal

Rilakkuma’s Teahouse & Rilakkuma’s Bath Exclusive Goods

Arashiyama Shop Exclusive

Honey Castella Manju

Miyajima Shop Exclusive

Stuffed Animal

Roasted Mochi Pieces, Soy Sauce Flavor (with Can)

Kurokawa Shop Exclusive

Japanese Pattern Towels

Dogomachi Shop Exclusive

Stuffed Animals

Kusatsu Shop Exclusive

Stuffed Animal

With over 700 Sumikko Gurashi goods available, each symbolizing a specific locale with a cherry blossom theme, it won’t be easy to choose which items you’ll want to take home. Photo spots will also be set up at the venue, so come snap some pics for social media! Also, look forward to the Summer Bread and Sweets Festival 2022 in the adjacent venue!

The ‘Sumikko Gurashi ~Let’s Go to the Magic Island!~ event is being held on the VARK application until September 30, 2022! By passing through a magical door in the Metaverse by using VARK, users can teleport to the world of Sumikko Gurashi and friends. 

Interior of Paid Area

Your Usual Sumikko

Sumikko Tea House

Stage

Camp

The VARK app can be downloaded for free on iOS and Android devices. Even those without a VR headset can enjoy this event! Admission to specific areas may require a fee, but the main island can be experienced for free. 

Come and meet Sumikko and friends, no matter where you are!

Popular Rilakkuma and Sumikko Gurashi characters will be taking over Tokorozawa Sakura Town in Saitama from April 16 until May 22 during the Rilakkuma & Sumikko Gurashi Festival! Guests will be greeted by the characters themselves, and will be able to participate in tons of fun activities, photo spots, and more!

The festival will have a full lineup of exclusive merchandise only available at Tokorozawa Sakura Town, from cute and useful items like clear folders to fans to use during the summer heat.

A limited collaboration menu with Kadokawa Shokudou will also be available during the event. The ‘Rilakkuma & Sumikko Gurashi Festival Picnic Plate’ is full of fun finger foods that are easy for both adults and children to eat and includes a special lunch mat. Guests can also participate in a commemorative photo session with the characters dressed in new costumes!

©2022 San-X Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

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?

Curious George is getting his first themed restaurant for a limited time! The Curious George Kitchen is scheduled to open at Tokyo Solamachi on March 17 and will feature an entirely original menu of George-themed dishes. Unique merchandise will also be available!

Food Menu (Selected Items)

‘Good Night?’ Curry Hamburger Steak & Omelette

‘Balance, Balance!’ Meat Sauce Pasta

‘Hundley!?’ Hot Dog

‘The Manager’s Recommendation!’ Burger & Pasta Plate

Dessert Menu (Selected Items)

‘The Wobbly Tower!’ 7 Plain & Chocolate Pancakes

‘Jiggle Wiggle!’ Caramel Almond Pudding Gnocchi

‘Let’s Paint!’ Sweet Crepe Plate

Take-out Menu

‘I love the Man in the Yellow Hat!’ Cannoli

‘Colorful!’ Fruit Panna Cotta

Drinks (Selected Items)

Art Collection Au Lait

Original Merchandise at a Glance

Visitor Bonus: Commemorative Coaster (Not for Sale)

The pancake tower is not only delicious but perfect for posting to social media! Those wanting to social distance can also order from the take-out menu to enjoy some tasty treats at home.

Curious George merchandise exclusive to the restaurant will be available, including kitchen goods. Some can actually be used while enjoying your meal at Tokyo Solamachi, so be sure to stop by!

McDonald’s Japan will start selling the new Sakura Mochi Pie starting March 23, 2022 for a limited time only.

The new pie is inspired by sakura mochi, a traditional wagashi sweet popular during spring. 

Sakura mochi is typically made from mochi rice cakes filled with a sweet red bean paste and wrapped in a pickled cherry blossom leaf. The McDonald’s pie is filled with azuki red bean paste and a chewy, sakura-flavored mochi that features bits of pickled sakura leaves.

The packaging will also feature spring designs and each pie costs just ¥150. They will be available until mid-April. 

Internet-based hanko shop Hankoz has added nine new Sumikko Gurashi designs to its collection! These stamps are used as official signatures in Japan, so why not liven yours up with one of these cute characters?

All 29 Designs

All 3 Fonts

The Sumikko Gurashi collection includes 29 unique designs to choose from. Popular characters like Shirokuma, Penguin?,Tonkatsu, Neko, Tokage, Ebifurai no Shippo, Tabi, Yama, Mogura, Fukurou, Kinoko, and Furoshiki are available to decorate your name stamp! In addition to first names and surnames, customers can also add old-fashioned characters, pen names, or messages like ‘OK’ or ‘Thank you!’

The Sumikko Gurashi Hanko Collection comes in two types: a self-inking type perfect for signing for packages, and a wood-carved type that can be registered with most financial institutions in Japan. Each stamp comes with a case that is also decorated with these popular characters!

Ⓒ2022 San-X Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Starting March 4, McDonald’s locations in Japan are selling two new Happy Meals inspired by Pokemon and Tabekko Dobutsu!

Each Pokemon set includes a Pokemon Mezastar tag, allowing kids to battle and catch Pokemon using tags. Five original tags featuring popular characters like Pikachu and Piplup will be available, as well as Legendary Pokemon like Palkia and Arceus! In addition to tags, kids will also be able to play games using Pokemon names on a special Shiritori sheet included with each meal. 

Tabekko Doubutsu is a classic Japanese snack, much like animal crackers in the west. This is the first time these characters are appearing at McDonald’s. The lineup includes five varieties of McDonald’s original coloring pages and stickers featuring familiar characters such as Lion, Bunny, and Elephant. Each sticker also includes the name of each animal in Japanese and English!

©2022 Pokémon. ©1995-2022 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.
Developed by T-ARTS and MARV

©ギンビス

Starting January 8, Tokyu Hands stores in Tokyo are holding a special Valentine’s Day event called Chocolino Chocoliya featuring a variety of sweets! These aren’t just for giving to your sweetheart, but are perfect for friends and family too.

Products at a Glance

Tokyo Zoological Gardens Association / Ueno Zoo
Panda Set with Petit Gaufre & Chocolate Crunch: ¥1,188 (Tax Included) / Panda Baked Cookies: ¥997 (Tax Included)

Urusei Yatsura
Tote Bag: ¥1,760 (Tax Included) / Mug: ¥1,760 (Tax Included) / Star Chocolate: ¥486 (Tax Included)
Chocolate Assortment (5 pieces): ¥756 (Tax Included) / Chocolate Assortment (15 pieces): ¥1,620 (Tax Included)

Merry Chocolate Company
Merry Candy Chocolate Box: ¥378 each (Tax Included) / Assortment: ¥1,944 (Tax Included) 

 Mint Style

30-piece Handmade Kit Series: ¥1,620 each (Tax Included)

Mint Style

Make-at-Home Kit Series: ¥697 (Tax Included) 

Sumikko Gurashi

Silicon Mold Series: ¥935 (Tax Included)

This year’s project includes confections that can only be purchased at the Ueno Zoo, where twin baby pandas were recently born. Chocolates with retro-style packaging and those with motifs from popular anime series will also be available, so be sure to swing by and have a look!

Sumikko Gurashi the Movie: The Magical Children of the Blue Moonlit Night was released on November 5, 2021, and continues to draw huge crowds across Japan. Now, a new interview with the film’s cast is shedding light on what it took to create such a massive hit. 

The previous film in the series came out two years ago. This time around, what was most important to the staff, and how did they manage to pull in such a huge audience? 

The previous film in the series came out two years ago. This time around, what was most important to the staff, and how did they manage to pull in such a huge audience? In this 3-part interview, readers will get the behind-the-scenes details on what happened after the previous film, as well as the many challenges facing the film’s staff during the production of the new movie. 

Sumikko Gurashi the Movie: The Magical Children of the Blue Moonlit Night Special Interview
Part 1: https://www.asmik-ace.co.jp/special/7267
Part 2: https://www.asmik-ace.co.jp/special/7274
Part 3: https://www.asmik-ace.co.jp/special/7278

Be sure to check out these special staff interviews to get a glimpse at how this magical movie was created. 

Story

The Sumikkos go camping and meet Wan, Tsuu, Surii, Foh, and Faibu: five legendary wizard brothers who are said to arrive on the nights of the blue full moon. However, the youngest brother, Faibu, is not very good at using magic. What new adventures await the Sumikkos and their new friends?

©2021 日本すみっコぐらし協会映画部

McDonald’s Japan locations with McCafe by Barista installations will begin selling the Cookies & Cream Frappe for a limited time starting December 8, 2021. The McCafe by Barista corner employs full-time baristas serving ‘authentic cafe coffee.’ 

McCafe by Barista invites guests to enjoy high-quality frappuccinos and smoothies and these locations are offering three unique Frappes this winter. Following the Strawberry Creme Brulee Frappe and normal Creme Brulee Frappe released in late November, the Cookies & Cream Frappe will release soon, filled with rich vanilla sweetness!

Cookies & Cream Frappe Medium: ¥470 / Large: ¥540 (Tax Included) 

The drink is a rich blend of creamy vanilla made from Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans, blended with crunchy Oreo cookie bits and topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. What’s not to love?

Each winter, McDonald’s Japan releases the wildly popular Gratin Croquet Burger, or Gurakoro for short. Starting December 1, this year’s iteration of the popular sandwich will be available at shops nationwide. This time, it’s the Angus Beef Bolognese Gurakoro, blending a creamy croquette with ripe tomatoes and stewed coarse-ground Angus beef Bolognese. 

The Gurakoro burger is made with a creamy white sauce blended with shrimp and macaroni, combined with cabbage and a special spicy croquette sauce. Basically, it tastes a lot like macaroni and cheese on a bun! Crispy on the outside and velvety on the inside, it’s a dish that’s perfect to warm you up after a long day in the winter cold. The new TV commercial for the Gurakoro features actress Mikako Tabe, and the theme is ‘let’s warm up the year.’ 

How would you like to give one of these a try?