As a part of the brand’s 9BOX series, New Balance has released a new graphic T-shirt collection in collaboration with Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045. The items went on sale November 12, and to commemorate the release, a Tachikoma from the series has arrived at New Balance Harajuku! For those who may not have seen the series, a Tachikoma is an AI tank prominently featured in the Ghost in the Shell universe.

T-Shirt

Long Sleeve T-Shirt

Collaboration Sticker

Picture Frame

Motoko Kusanagi, the main character of the series, perfectly exemplifies the New Balance brand, which promotes ‘fearless independence.’ Five new t-shirt designs are now available, all drawn by Ilya Kuvshinov, the character designer for Ghost in the Shell SAC-2045. The collection is available at official New Balance stores nationwide, as well as the online store and participating ABC Marts. Those who purchase items from the collection will receive a collaboration sticker, and a special picture frame will be available on the New Balance official store app NB Shop. 

New Balance’s flagship store in Harajuku is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year and was the backdrop for the cover of Rolling Stone Japan to promote the collaboration. Fans of the anime series shouldn’t miss out on these stylish threads!

For visitors to Tokyo who love Japanese pop culture, the KAWAII MONSTER CAFE was a rite of passage. Opened in Harajuku in 2015 and produced by the Godfather of Kawaii himself Sebastian Masuda, the restaurant was a love letter to all things cute. Starting in February 2021, ASOBISYSTEM has taken over the operation of this beloved property. 

Regrettably, due to the state of the world, KAWAII MONSTER CAFE HARAJUKU closed at the end of January 2021. However, the spirit of this colorful place isn’t dead, and a new concept and menu are now coming to fruition in Osaka!

Contents

Monster Cake and Choppy

Monster Burger

Colorful Tonkatsu Monster Burger (Red): ¥1,380 (Tax Included, Drink Included) 

This bright red monster burger will make a great subject for an Instagram photo and is filled with pork cutlet and bacon dipped in a special tomato sauce. 

Colorful Shrimp Fritter Monster Burger (Blue): ¥1,380 (Tax Included, Drink Included) 

This tasty shrimp fritter sandwich is best enjoyed with plenty of tartar sauce!

Colorful Blue and Red Mini Burgers: ¥1,280 (Tax Included) 

Can’t decide which burger you’d like to try? How about both! Guests can also design their own monster burgers with a special topping kit.

Monster Cooking

Cooking Class Fee: ¥700 (Tax Included) 

Cooking Class Fee with Cutlery: ¥1,000 (Tax Included) 

Length: 30 minutes

Ages 9+

Quiz Rally Card

Traverse the four floors of the Hug Museum for a special quiz rally! There will be one question on each floor, marked by Choppy! Those who answer all the questions correctly will receive an original mask case!

Monster Merchandise

The Hug Museum, sponsored by Osaka Gas, offers plenty of hands-on exhibitions related to food. The grand opening of the KAWAII MONSTER KITCHEN was held on November 2, and inspired children and adults alike to have fun with their food and embrace all th ings kawaii. A photo spot featuring a massive monster cake has also been installed, supervised by Sebastian Masuda. Come experience the spirit of kawaii culture in Osaka!

From October 23 until October 29, art project production group WATOWA GALLERY will host a solo exhibition by SNEAKERWOLF at elephant STUDIO in Shibuya. The artist has become popular both in Japan and abroad for his works inspired by calligraphy found in the Edo period of Japanese history. 

SNEAKERWOLF has garnered worldwide attention for his graffiti-style artwork depicting Edo-inspired kanji characters. In the past, he has collaborated with ASICS Tiger Japan and other popular brands. The artist will show around 15 new abstract works during this exhibition, many inspired by SD–or ‘super deformed’–versions of characters. The #FR2 x SNEAKERWOLF collaborative exhibition will be happening simultaneously in Harajuku, bringing the artist together with fashion brand #FR2. The brand and artist were brought together during an exhibition sponsored by WATOWA GALLERY in January 2021. During this period, three new pieces made specifically for #FR2 will be on display, and limited-edition clothing will be available for purchase!

Sebastian Masuda is a powerhouse of all things cute. From starting the popular Harajuku-based brand 6%DOKIDOKI in 1995 to creating the now-legendary music video for Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s PONPONPON, Masuda is now celebrating 30 years in the industry. An exhibition of the artist’s works will be shown in an upcoming exhibition in both Tokyo and Osaka from Fall 2021 until 2022. Prior to that, a Sebastian Masuda pop-up shop is coming to Roppongi Hills and Shibuya PARCO starting this month!

From September 23 until October 17, the art goods brand Sebastian Masuda ART will hold a pop-up shop within the Mori Art Museum Shop on the third floor of Roppongi Hills West Walk. In addition to the latest art goods, including the brand-new ‘Inner Voyage’ series, a number of Masuda’s colorful art pieces will be on display, with some being for sale. 

When visiting Roppongi Hills, don’t forget to head up to the 52nd floor for the 60th Anniversary Sanrio Exhibition: The Beginning of Kawaii, running from September 17 until January 10, 2022. Sebastian Masuda’s work ‘Unforgettable Tower’ will be on display when entering the event, while the Tokyo City View store will be selling some of the artist’s products! Basically, both the 3rd and 52nd floors will be nothing but kawaii. 

Mori Art Museum Shop

Stickers: ¥550 – ¥2,860 (Tax Included)

 Inner Voyage T-Shirt: ¥7,480 (Tax Included)

Microcosmos -Tattoo Pink & Me-   

Sebastian Masuda & 6%DOKIDOKI 1995→2021

Mesh Top:  ¥10,450 (Tax Included)

Long Sleeve T-Shirt: ¥8,250 (Tax Included)

DOKI DOKI Earrings: ¥4,290 (Tax Included) / Logo Plate Necklace: ¥7,590 (Tax Included) / 6% Logo Pochette: ¥6,050 (Tax Included)

Charm Pouch – Kawaii Company: ¥2,860 (Tax Included) / Sebastian Masuda STUDIO COLOR PALETTE: ¥4,400 – ¥2,860 (Tax Included) Felissimo

The Sebastian Masuda & 6%DOKIDOKI 1995→2021 event will be held from September 17 to October 3 at Hobonichi CultureN, located inside Shibuya PARCO. Guests will be able to look back at the 26-year history of the 6%DOKIDOKI brand. 

2021, much like 2020, has lost a lot of it’s brightness due to the ongoing pandemic. Why not surround yourself with some kawaii goods to raise your spirits? 

TOKYO 23, a shop promoting basketball culture, is set to reopen as a large-scale shop in Harajuku on September 18, 2021. 

TOKYO 23 x JUN INOUE TEE (Black/White): ¥5,500 each (Tax Included)

Guests will enter the space to find a basketball court at the center, both keeping with the theme of the shop and maintaining a minimalist vibe. The location is bold, using a balance of different upcycled materials and gray-tone colors reminiscent of the Tokyo streets. 

JUN INOUE was in charge of designing the lanterns throughout the store, giving a more traditional Japanese feel to the modern storefront. The store is dotted with artworks by Inoue as well as Reina Koyano, both located in Los Angeles. 

The coffee shop “LATTEST” will also be a permanent fixture in the store, and is the perfect place for visitors to relax and take in the art and feeling of the TOKYO 23 store. To commemorate the opening of this massive space, special collaborative JUN INOUE x TOKYO 23 T-shirts will be on sale for a limited time. 

Zoomers are used to life with their smartphones and computers. While life certainly is more convenient being able to connect instantly with your friends, have you ever felt a certain emptiness despite this? According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, young people in their 20s spend approximately four to five hours looking at screens per day. However, sometimes, it can be nice to put down your phone and enjoy a cup of tea with your friends in front of you. With those thoughts, the HANARIDA Harajuku cafe open on August 8 2021. The hidden cafe is filled with flowers and greenery, aimed at adults. Here you can enjoy a quiet time away from the bustle of the city, relaxing with a cup of dry fruit-infused herbal tea.

Every sunday is a digital detox day, meaning that smartphones and laptops are banned in the cafe. You can leave your phone with the staff to receive a free drink. With the comfy interior and a selection of board games, conversations will flow naturally to create a home-like space, even without technology

The flowers and trees in the cafe, which was decorated by a professional flower artist, are all real. The atmosphere changed based on the time of day – the sunshine lights up the cafe while the warm lights make for a relaxing evening. You won’t get tired of this cozy space! 

Experience relaxation away from the busy city while watching the flowers bloom throughout the day, as you puff on a dried fruit Hanakemuri hookah. The hookah used by HANADIRA is both nicotine and tar free, meaning they can be enjoyed by non-smokers. 

Their drink selection for Valentine’s day 2021 was a huge hit on social media, particularly the Sakicha dry fruit tea. The tea is now available on the menu, so make sure to try it for yourself!

Tokyo fashion icons and twin unit AMIAYA have collaborated with street-snap magazine STREET on a new photobook! ‘AMIAYA x STREET TOKYO FASHION 2021ss’ will go on sale August 23 at select bookstores and online.

AMIAYA began their fashion journey in street fashion when they were teenagers, and are currently attracting worldwide attention as icons representing Tokyo style. STREET magazine has been highlighting unique international streetwear since its first issue in 1985, and both parties are using this collaboration to help the fashion industry, which has been adversely affected by the pandemic.

The magazine features snapshots of AMIAYA wearing the hottest Tokyo fashions on the streets of Harajuku and other popular areas around Japan’s capital. The photos were taken by Shoichi Aoki, photographer and editor-in-chief of STREET.

Each photo has the power to open up your mind to a new world of fashion, so why not give it a look?

Comment from AMIAYA

“The Coronavirus pandemic has given us a new perspective on fashion, and how we can share it from Tokyo to the rest of the world. STREET magazine has so many readers overseas, and it’s truly made an effort to boost the Japanese fashion scene. We believe in the potential of fashion to connect Japan to the rest of the world, and we hope that through this collaboration, we share some positive energy through our style.”

Comment from the Editor-in-chief of STREET, Shoichi Aoki

“The pandemic has caused unprecedented damage to the entire fashion industry, and it has become more difficult to share Japanese fashion with the rest of the world. Fashion is not something unnecessary–it’s something important for Japan, and for humanity as a whole. AMIAYA are Japanese fashion icons that are recognized around the globe. They are somewhere between reality and the virtual world. By having them model on the streets of Tokyo, I wanted to create something to convey the current state of Japanese street fashion with international audiences. It took a year and a half of shooting while adjusting AMIAYA’s schedule, but it’s finally being published. Even if it seems like a small project, even the smallest activity can have a massive impact.”

Casual footwear brand Crocs Japan and sneaker select shop atmos pink are set to host a summer pop-up event titled ‘Atokuro Natsumatsuri’ at atmos pink’s flagship store in Harajuku as well as online from July 31 to August 9.

atmos is one of the leading sneaker brands in Japan, while Crocs is a staple of summertime footwear. Together, the two brands are set to deliver an array of summer season content with classic Japanese summer stalls, creating your own custom Crocs Jibbitz™, and more. Additionally, everyone who attends the event and buys something will enter for a chance to win some limited-edition merhandise.

Starting on August 2, a line-up of Japanese artists will perform live on YouTube for the event, with names such as FAKY, Yurufuwa Gang, ELLE TERESA, CHAMELEON LIME WHOOPIEPIE, Atarashii Gakko no Leaders, and more.

KIDDYLAND has announced the opening of the first official shops themed on the popular character Chiikawa. Named Chiikawa Land, the two stores will open at the Harajuku and Osaka Umeda branches of KIDDYLAND on August 7.

Chiikawa is a popular character first revealed by Japanese illustrator Nagano on Twitter. In December 2020, the official online store Chiikawa Market opened, and Nagano released a book compiling the manga panels they drew and posted on Twitter. With over 550,000 follows on Twitter, Chiikawa has become extremely popular, with even themed cafes and an exhibition, Chiikawa’s Forest, having taken place.

Now Chiikawa get its own official shops at KIDDYLAND with merchandise featuring new and exclusive artwork drawn by Nagano and more.

Get your paws on exclusive merch at Chiikawa Land

Smartphone Stickers | 3 Designs | ¥385 Each (Tax Included)

Acrylic Stands | 3 Designs | ¥770 Each (Tax Included)

Pins | 3 Designs | ¥330 Each (Tax Included)

Acrylic Keyrings | 3 Designs | ¥660 Each (Tax Included)

Large Hand Towels | 2 Designs | ¥770 Each (Tax Included)

Mug | ¥1,650 (Tax Included)

T-Shirts | 3 Designs | ¥3,080 Each (Tax Included)

Positively adorable frames for pre-order

Chiikawa Art Frame – Clouds | ¥16,500 (Tax Included)

Chiikawa Art Frame – Faces | ¥16,500 (Tax Included)

Chiikawa Art Frame – Ramen | ¥16,500 (Tax Included)

Buyer bonuses

For every ¥1,100 spent in a single transaction, receive one of three possible Umaibo corn sticks.

For every ¥3,300-¥5,499 spent in a single transaction, receive an exclusive hologram pin.

Spend over ¥5,500 to receive a random special gift: one of four possible lunch boxes or one of five plush pins.

Chiikawa Land shopping bag

Snap a photo at one of the photo spots

Get a stamp at both KIDDYLAND branches

©nagano

Rokuyon, which manages unique accommodations mainly in Shibuya, has opened the fourth room of “MOSHI MOSHI ROOMS”, the home-sharing facility, named “HARAJUKU” produced by ASOBISYSTEM, which introduces HARAJUKU culture to the world.

“MOSHI MOSHI ROOMS offers accommodation services in concept rooms full of originality not found in existing hotels or home-sharing facilities. The concept of the fourth room is “HARAJUKU”. The room is filled with “KAWAII”, one of the representative cultures of Japan. Once you step into the room through the archway, you will feel as if you have wandered into the world of a picture book. The room is inspired by Harajuku, a place where you can enjoy the extraordinary feeling of being lost in a different dimension.

With the opening of the room HARAJUKU, an entire building has been transformed into MOSHI MOSHI ROOMS, with four rooms available for booking via Airbnb. The rooms can be used for a variety of purposes, such as accommodation for domestic and foreign tourists, staycations (casual holiday at home or nearby), girls’ parties, and birthday parties with your friends. In order to ensure the safety of the guests, they carry out temperature checks, use alcohol sanitisers and disinfect the rooms with alcohol when cleaning.

The archway at the entrance is a gateway to a world of wonder. From the moment you step into the house, the excitement is bound to build.

The living room is decorated with colourful objects and animals reminiscent of a museum. Why not find your favourite objects and animals, and enjoy taking photos with them?

The bedroom has a queen-size bed, together with a sofa bed and an air bed in the living room, which can accommodate up to four people.

The shower room is equipped with amenities such as shampoo, conditioner, and body soap. The separated washbasins and Toto Washlet toilets have been installed.

The kitchen is fully equipped with a microwave, fridge, and other daily necessities. Colourful KAWAII tablewares are lined up so that you can enjoy the world of the room more.

MOSHI MOSHI ROOMS

The first room  ‘SAKURA’

The room has received high praise from both domestic and international travelers.

A monument of cherry blossoms, the symbol of Japan, fills the ceiling of the bedroom, creating a gorgeous and unique space.

The second room ‘ORIGAMI’

This room is themed on origami, one of the symbols of Japanese culture.

The living room is furnished with benches and stools inspired by a teahouse. Looking up at the ceiling, a number of Japanese umbrellas decorate the space.

The third room ‘DOSUKOI’

The room combined the traditional Japanese culture of sento, a Japanese public bathhouse and sumo, Japanese wrestling.

The sumo wrestler’s hands and the large bath inspired by a sento attract the viewer’s attention. The painted pictures on the walls are the work of Kiyoto Maruyama, one of only three sento painters in Japan.

The rooftop

The rooftop offers an expansive space with a panoramic view of Harajuku. It can also be used for events such as tent saunas and BBQs. Only the rooftop can be rented out as a rental space.

Why don’t you create your own story at MOSHI MOSHI ROOMS, a place full of unique concepts that you can only experience here?

Japanese sneaker select shop atmos pink has teamed up with model and artist Ibuki Sakai to release two t-shirts at atmos pink stores and their official website.

atmos pink x sakai ibuki collaboration raglan tee | ¥4,500 (Before Tax)

atmos pink × sakai ibuki collaboration safari long sleeve tee | ¥4,900 (Before Tax)

The two tees take on a 90’s design with sticker collage motifs, something which Ibuki is known for. In promotion of the release, a special installation has been set up at atmos pink’s flagship store in Harajuku where it will be displayed until July 25.

The installation is a collection of handmade original accessories, stickers, and other items selected by Ibuki. Additionally, those who purchase her artbook at TSUTAYA will receive a paper doll poster, available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sebastian Masuda founded Harajuku’s famous fashion brand 6%DOKIDOKI back in 1995. Last year marked the brand’s 25th anniversary, and in continuation of the celebration, 6%DOKIDOKI is collaborating with the popular doll brand Pullip on an exclusive model.

The dolls are made to order, and the order window will open at Pullip and 6%DOKIDOKI’s online shop on July 1 before going on sale in mid September. Those outside Japan will be pleased to know that 6%DOKIDOKI ships overseas. The brand has many fans outside Japan, especially those with an interest in Harajuku. COVID-19 has rendered travel Japan difficult, so this collaboration is a way of 6%DOKIDOKI also serves as a way of giving Harajuku, ‘kawaii’ culture, and J-fashion enthusiasts their kick.

Pullip/DOKI DOKI

The exclusive doll model in full

The upper body, hair, and makeup up close

Pullip dolls are known for their large heads and for having lots of movable parts. The eyes can move left and right as well as wink, allowing owners to pose their dolls with a variety of expressions. The concept of the Pullip/DOKI DOKI collaboration focuses on how despite language barriers between countries, colour is universal. It gives us power, especially when dressing up.

6%DOKIDOKI has and continues to make people happy with their colourful line-up. Their doll is another step towards that goal.

©Cheonsang cheonha.All Rights Reserved. Ⓒ6%DOKIDOKI