From July 15 until November 6, 2022, the ‘teamLab: A Forest Where Gods Live’ exhibition at Mifuneyama Rakuen, an ancient forest at the Takeo Hot Springs in Saga Prefecture. The massive event is held each summer and fall and was named CNN World’s ‘Best Outdoor Art Exhibition to Visit’ in 2021 and one of the Top 10 Art Installations in the world by DesignboomMagazine in 2017.

Works on Display

Universe of Water Particles on a Sacred Rock, 2017

Drawing on the Water Surface Created by the Dance of Koi and Boats – Mifuneyama Rakuen Pond, 2015

Ever Blossoming Life Rock, 2017

 Life is Continuous Light – Azalea Valley, 2017

Rock Wall Spatial Calligraphy, Continuous Life – Five Hundred Arhats, 2017

Split Rock and Enso, 2017

Resonating Forest – Cherry Blossoms and Maple, 2017

Megaliths in the Bath House Ruins, 2019

Graffiti Nature – Living in the Ruins of a Bathhouse, Red List, 2017-

Resonating Forest in the Ravine, 2019

Abstract and Concrete – Forest Entrance, 2018

Flowers Bloom in an Infinite Universe inside a Teacup, 2016

Forest and Spiral of Resonating Lamps in the Forest – One Stroke, Summer Forest, 2018

Mifuneyama is said to have risen from the Ariake Sea 3 million years ago. The 500,000 square meter Mifuneyama Rakuen Park was created in 1845, at the end of the Edo period. The park is home to megaliths, caves, and forests that have been slowly shaped over thousands of years. teamLab believes that the shapes and textures of these objects are important, serving as traces of ancient people and natural changes over time.  The concept of the project is that non-material digital technology can turn nature into art without harming it.

The creative team will be holding a number of other high-profile exhibitions this year, including installations in Paris, Tallinn, Shanghai, and Geneva. Their sauna collaboration with TikTok for teamLab Reconnect in Roppongi made huge waves in 2021–guests would take alternating hot and cold baths to experience intense physical sensations while surrounded by digital art.

The second pop-up store to commemorate the 20th anniversary of The Prince of Tennis anime series will open at both Hakata Marui and Shinjuku Marui Annex!

Acrylic Figure (8 varieties): ¥1,650 (Tax Included)

Pin (Random, Holographic): ¥440 (Tax Included)

SNS-style Acrylic Keychain (8 varieties, random): ¥660 (Tax Included)

Nameplate Keychain (Rudolf & Ginka / Yamabuki): ¥660 (Tax Included)

Star Pin (Rudolf & Ginka / Yamabuki): ¥550 (Tax Included)

Acrylic Stand (Rudolf & Ginka / Yamabuki): ¥660 (Tax Included)

Fans of the series will be able to find merchandise featuring new illustrations of popular characters at both event spaces and online at the Marui Anime Online store.

© 許斐 剛／集英社・NAS・新テニスの王子様プロジェクト

Starting December 26, 2021, participating Starbucks locations in Japan began selling the ‘Hojicha meets Caramel Cream Frappuccino,’ the ‘Hojicha meets Caramel Cream Tea Latte,’ and the ‘Oolong meets Citrus Tea Latte.’ Each beverage is available in hot or cold versions. 

The Hojicha meets Caramel Cream Frappuccino combines roasted green tea (hojicha) with a sweet caramel sauce.

Hojicha meets Caramel Cream Frappuccino / Hojicha meets Caramel Cream Tea Latte

The Frappupccino contains a base made with hojicha and black tea, mixed with a hojicha-infused caramel sauce that contains roasted hojicha powder. The flavor is deep and rich, without too much sweetness. 

The Hojicha meets Caramel Cream Tea Latte mixes in fresh cream and white mocha syrup to bring out the flavor of the tea. Perfect for a dreary winter day, the drink is topped with whipped cream and caramel sauce. 

Oolong meets Citrus Tea Latte ／ Hojicha meets Caramel Cream Tea Latte ／Caramel Apple Redbush Tea

The Oolong meets Citrus Tea Latte combines TEAVANA Zen Clouds Oolong tea, with its refreshing scent and flavor, with steamed milk. Topped with a freeze-dried blend of Satsuma mandarin and yuzu peels, it tastes just like the winter season. Oolong tea pairs well with slightly tart fruits, with the milk and whipped cream cutting the acidity of the citrus. The Caramel Apple Redbush Tea combines classic South African Redbush tea with apple cinnamon pulp, topped with fresh whipped cream and caramel sauce.

These limited-edition drinks will be on the menu until January 18, 2022. 

Starbucks Coffee Japan has launched the second product in its “double the love” collection, the first collaboration with fashion brand Ron Herman, at Starbucks Reserve® Roastery Tokyo.

Castanets (white and navy) ￥2,200 each / Guiro ￥3,960/ Bell ￥4,400

The theme of “double the love” expresses the moment when you and your loved one can feel the love by choosing and giving a gift while thinking of the joy on the face of the recipient. For the second edition, under the theme of “sharing together,” a variety of musical instruments made of wood, such as castanets, guiro, and bells, as well as wooden ornaments are available to make your time with family and loved ones more enjoyable.

Ornament heart/star (red, navy, white) ￥1,320 each

Wooden ornaments in the shapes of stars and hearts can be hung on the tree or used as decorations to accentuate your room, adding to the Christmas spirit! As you reflect on this year, spend a happy time with your family and loved ones, thinking of each other and overflowing with love.

With the desire to deliver a heartwarming moment of sharing and caring for each other, the greeting card workshop “Make your gift double of your love” is scheduled to be held online from 10am on December 18 and at RHC Ron Herman Kawasaki on December 19. While drinking coffee, think of the face of the person you are sending a gift to, and spend a moment making a greeting card to express your feelings.

Earlier in the fall season, Starbucks Japan unveiled their popular Sweet Potato Frappuccino to herald in the cool weather. Now, the drink has been transformed for the mischievous Halloween season, with the Treat with Trick Frappuccino now available at participating stores nationwide. 

Treat with Trick Frappuccino Tall, Takeout: ¥678 / Dine-In: ¥690

What’s different about this drink? While it may contain the same base ingredients, the color has been changed with the addition is chocolate powder and purple potato-flavored sauce. Customers can also add the “Popping Topping” for an extra charge, basically adding Pop Rocks to the drink. Each is made of white chocolate. 

Popping Topping, Takeout: ¥108 / Dine-In: ¥110

Be sure to stop in for these limited-time treats before they’re gone!

The Kirby Cafe, with locations in Tokyo and Hakata, began offering some brand-new menu items on September 21, including the new Waddle Dee Soy Burger & Meat Pasta with Warm Veggies. This marks a collection of new healthier options, along with some cute new dishes perfect for the fall season. 

Menu

Waddle Dee Soy Burger & Meat Pasta with Warm Veggies: ¥2,838 (Tax Included)

Souvenir Plate TOKYO

Souvenir Plate HAKATA

Waddle Dee Salmon Avocado Bowl: ¥2,178 (Tax Included)

Waddle Doo Beam Salad: ¥1,298 (Tax Included)

Kirby’s Inhaling Star Drink, Seasonal Apple Flavor (with squishy mascot): ¥980 (Tax Included)

Some adorable new dishes at the Kirby Cafe feature Waddle Dees, one of the most common characters in the video game series! The new Waddle Dee Burger is topped with avocado and made from soy, while still having the taste and texture of real meat. The spooky enemy Waddle Doo also makes his appearance in the new Waddle Doo Beam Salad! For those looking to eat healthier while enjoying time with some classic gaming characters, these new menu items are sure to satisfy. Don’t miss out on the apple-flavored drink, also available for takeout. 

In addition to these tasty new items, brand-new goods will also be popping up at each location! Keep an eye out for some unique Kirby merch coming soon. 

Fall is in the air, which means seasonal treats are back at Starbucks! The Sweet Potato Frappuccino will be available at participating Starbucks locations beginning September 22, which also happens to be the first day of autumn. 

The 4th annual Artful Autumn @ Starbucks promotion is back for 2021! This year’s concept is ‘Made by Earth,’ and the lineup of new products features fall ingredients that highlight the bounty of the planet. 

Tall Sweet Potato Frappuccino To-Go: ¥638 / In-store: ¥650

The new drink is filled with the flavor of baked sweet potato, honey, and molasses. Each beverage is made with roasted sweet potatoes that have been cut into pieces, keeping some of their unique texture. Sweet potato flakes sprinkled on top add a bit of crunch!

If you’re in Japan, be sure to grab one before they’re gone!

Offered by BANDAI SPIRITS, Ichiban Kuji is a popular brand of lottery in Japan, in which players are guaranteed to win a piece of merchandise. This no-lose game is often seen in collaboration with popular anime and game series, and a number of dedicated BANDAI SPIRITS Ichiban Kuji stores are starting to pop up around Japan. Now, the fourth of these shops is opening in Fukuoka on September 9, making it the first in Kyushu.

Upcoming Products

Ichiban Kuji – Disney’s Twisted Wonderland, Vol. 4

Release Date: September 10, 2021

Ichiban Kuji – Monogatari Series

Release Date: September 18, 2021

Ichiban Kuji – Kirby Series KIRBY’S BURGER

Release Date: September 24, 2021

Ichiban Kuji – Mobile Suit Gundam Gunpla 2021

Release Date:  September 25, 2021

Prior to opening brick-and-mortar stores, Ichiban Kuji took place at convenience stores, bookstores, and game centers across Japan. In December 2020, the first dedicated shop opened in Umeda, Osaka, with the following two opening in Ikebukuro in Tokyo and Yokohama in Kanagawa in March 2021. Popularity is only increasing, as fans continue to enjoy the unique collection of products.

The new Fukuoka location is the largest of any Ichiban Kuji shops to date, and also features the Ichiban Coffret, a lineup of high-quality pop culture-inspired cosmetics for purchase.

Starbucks Coffee Japan is releasing its new summery GO Pineapple Frappuccino® and GO Peach Frappuccino® at all branches on August 4.

Starbucks Japan’s first pineapple beverage, plump and sweet

Left: GO Pineapple Frappuccino® | Right: GO Peach Frappuccino® | Tall ¥680 (Takeaway), Tall ¥693 (Have-In)

The two fruity drinks arrive in time for the height of Japanese summer this August. This also marks the first time Starbucks Japan is serving up a pineapple Frappuccino®. The GO Pineapple Frappuccino® is loaded with ripe and fresh pineapple pieces along with a pineapple puree and pineapple sauce. When you’ve sipped about half the cup, mix in the whipped cream to transform the drink into smooth and milky heaven.

The GO Peach Frappuccino® is also loaded with its titular fruit, making it so refreshing it’s like eating a whole juicy peach. Enjoy a combination of fresh peach pieces, puree, and sauce, one which maintains the rich original flavour of this summer-classic fruit.

Reusable Coffee Cup With Changeable Coloured Lids (437ml) | ¥385 (Tax Included)

August 2nd will mark 25 years since Starbucks arrived in Japan, bringing to the country a culture of walking around with your coffee in hand. This summer, the coffee chain is also releasing a new collection of seasonal tumblers, as well a new reusable coffee cup which you can swap out with different coloured lids. While the new beverages are on sale, if you buy one of them together with a reusable cup, you can get a free size upgrade on your Frappuccino®.

Apparel brand CLOUDY opened a pop-up event at the Media Stage on the first floor of Hakata Hankyu on July 28 which will run until August 3.

Hakata Hankyu exclusive tee design

CLOUDY was established with the goal of creating education and employment opportunities in Africa. Part of its proceeds are donated to the NPO Doooooooo.

At the event, CLOUDY will be selling a collection of apparel made using traditional weaving techniques from Ghana, such as handmade baskets which take two weeks to make, quilted bags with African prints, hand-woven canvas tote bags made from eco-friendly fabrics, tees made out of recycled materials, and more, all colourful for the spring and summer seasons. A limited-edition Hakata Hankyu tee will also be available to purchase.

In promotion of the anime adaptation of Gaku Kuze’s manga series Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan, a merchandise collection was released in collaboration with Nippon Animation’s series Rascal the Raccoon on July 9 at Shinjuku Marui Annex. The items will also be released at Nanba Marui and Hakata Marui on July 24 and August 7 respectively.

A little look at some of the items

Name Badges | 5 Designs | ¥660 Each (Tax Included)

Pins | 8 Designs | ¥440 (Tax Included)

Keyrings | 8 Designs | ¥770 (Tax Included)

Keyrings | 6 Designs | ¥1,100 Each (Tax Included)

Keyrings | 8 Designs | ¥880 (Tax Included)

Acrylic Stands | 8 Designs | ¥880 (Tax Included)

Wooden Reversible Keyrings | ¥660 (Tax Included)

Hand Towel | ¥1,100 (Tax Included)

Onigiri Case | ¥1,320 (Tax Included)

Pass Case | ¥2,970 (Tax Included)

Tote Bag | ¥1,650 (Tax Included)

T-Shirts | Sizes: M, L, XL | ¥3,850 Each (Tax Included)

Exclusive artwork was illustrated for the collection featuring the characters Uramichi Omota, Tobikichi Usahara, Iketeru Daga, Utano Tadano, Kotori-san, and Rascal. The designs are featured on the merchandise sold at the pop-up shops.

©久世岳・一迅社／「うらみちお兄さん」製作委員会 © NIPPON ANIMATION CO., LTD.

Starbucks Japan added three new teas to its drinks menu on June 16: the ‘Pink Frozen Lemonade & Passionfruit Tea,’ ‘Yuzu ‘Citrus & Tea,’ and ‘Houjicha & Classic Tea Latte.’ The beverages combine classic Japanese flavours like yuzu, matcha, and houjicha. Refreshing and relaxing are key components of this line-up.

Pink Frozen Lemonade & Passionfruit Tea

Takeout: Tall ¥529 / Have-In: Tall ¥539

The ‘Pink Frozen Lemonade & Passionfruit Tea’ uses a tea blend of hibiscus, orange peel, cinnamon, and liquorice, coupled with fruity pink grapefruit for a refreshing kick.

Yuzu Citrus & Tea

Takeout: Short ¥453／Tall ¥496／Grande ¥540／Venti®︎ ¥583

Have-In: Short ¥462 ／Tall ¥506 ／Grande ¥550／Venti®︎ ¥594

This is an update of Starbucks Japan’s iconic Yuzu Citrus & Tea. The use of fresh citrus fruits adds a refreshing layer to the drink, such as pink grapefruit, and combines deliciously with yuzu peel.

Houjicha & Classic Tea Latte

Takeout: Tall ¥496 / Have-In: ¥506

A blend of houjicha and black tea mixed with rich cream and sweet white mocha syrup.