The Tokyo-based bathhouse Oedo Onsen Monogatari is set to collaborate with the anime series Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club with a special event titled ‘Tokimeki Onsen Monogatari’ from July 30 to September 5. This will mark the site’s final collaboration with an anime series as the bathhouse is closing on September 5.

For the collaboration, panels and decorations featuring original artwork of the Nijigaku members is featured around the bathhouse. There’s also a special photospot featuring a backdrop of a scene taken the anime’s second episode.

A lottery draw will take place where you can pay ¥550 for a chance to win a cushion, illustrated print, or bromide. There are also 10 collab drinks as well as three pasta dishes to pick from. Fans can also get their hands on exclusive merch such as keyrings, tees, tapestries, and more.

HMV Record Shop Shibuya is celebrating its 7th anniversary by releasing 14 special edition vinyl records. The Tokyo-based record shop opened in August 2014.

<7 Inch> Makafushigi Adventure! / Romantic Ageru yo: ¥2,200 | <7 Inch> TV Manga Dragon Ball Hits Collection LP: ¥4,400 | <7 Inch> Dragon Ball Z CHA-LA HEADCHA-LA / Detekoi Tobikiri Zenkai Power!: ¥2,200

Hubert Laws, Eloise Laws “Family” ¥2,090 | HIROSHI FUJIWARA& K.U.D.O. PRESENTS “Michael Jackson/Jackson 5 Remixes” LP ¥3,850 | Manami Kakudo – “oar” LP ¥3,850 | Takumi Moriya Trio “Waiting in Vain feat. Ernest Ranglin/Burnin and Lootin” ¥2,420 | TOSHIO MATSUURA GROUP – “PINA” ¥2,530

MAYER HAWTHORNE “Rare Change/Only You” ¥1,980 | DJ KAWASAKI “ONE WORLD” LP ¥4,180 | FROMM “Aliens (with Kim Feel) / Hold Me Like It’s Forever (with Car, the garden) ¥1,980 | CHEEZE – “LOSER/Today’s Mood” ¥1,980 | Choi Jungyoon “Dance With Me Baby/Delete You” ¥1,980

LEARNERS “TEENAGE KICKS” (2nd Press/Different Cover) | 400 Copies | ¥1,650

TONDABAYASHI RAN Design LUCKY7 GIRL T-Shirt (White/Grey) | ¥3,080 Each

TONDABAYASHI RAN Design LUCKY7 GIRL Slip Mat | ¥2,200

HMV Record Shop Shibuya is located in Udagawacho, an area of Shibuya that was known as the holy ground of vinyl records in the 90’s. Since opening on August 2, 2014, the store has enjoy many customers for its collection of second-hand records, special editions, vinyl-related merchandise, and more.

In celebration of seven years since its grand opening, HMV Record Shop Shibuya has released 14 titles such as three records commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Dragon Ball anime series, limited-edition exclusives, and more. The records will also roll out at other HMV Record Shop branches as well as HMV&BOOKS Online from July 28.

A collection of merchandise has also been released for the celebration with designs by Tokyo-based artist TONDABAYASHI RAN such as tees and a slip mat. A sale for second-hand vinyls also began at the Shibuya branch on July 22.

The lifestyle hotel chain ESTINATE HOTEL’s Okinawa Naha branch will turn 6-years-old on August 7, and to celebrate, it will hold a special event in collaboration with the character designer Ryu Ambe from August 6-15. This will be Ambe’s first-ever exhibition where his work will be sold in-person.

Pottery in Shujiro Castle Park

“Shima Map” design by Ryu Ambe to be used on posters and t-shirts

ESTINATE HOTEL has welcomed people from all regions of Japan over the years. It has held many events including one two years ago with the theme “Meet Local” and another last year themed on “Feel Global.” This year, the catchphrase is “Hello New World” which hopes to encourage people to discover new things by meeting the locals of Okinawa through the medium of art.

Ryu Ambe has a unique designer reminiscent of American comics. For this event, he has created the “Shima Map” which will be used on a variety of merchandise such as 30 limited-edition silk screen posters. There are also pottery pieces inspired by the sea life found in Okinawa’s oceans, amongst other art works.

Japanese digital art collective teamLab has announced their plans to set up a public art exhibition at Chiba Art Festival 2021 which will take place at Chiba Port Park from July 31 to September 5.

Autonomous Resonating Life and Resonating Trees, teamLab, 2017.

team lab will be showcasing their interactive ovoid digital art exhibit Autonomous Resonating Life and Resonating Trees. The art group describes the work: ” The resisting and resonating ovoids placed amongst the trees shine. The light of the ovoids and the light of the trees are autonomous: they shine brightly and then fade slowly, as though they are breathing. When an ovoid is pushed, the colour of the light it emits changes and the tone unique to that color echos. The light that originated from that ovoid resonates out to other ovoids and trees nearby. The tone resonates out continuously in the same way as the light, spreading throughout the ovoids and trees.”

Chiba Art Festival is one of several cultural programs hosted by Chiba Prefecture. The Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics are not solely for enjoying sports; they’re also an opportunity to enjoy the culture of Japan, and so the country is running many different cultural events across and around the capital. The theme of the festival is to showcase artwork that the city wishes to pass on to the next generation. Many pieces are being displayed around Chiba, including at the Chiba Prefectural Museum of Art, such as illustrations, photos, and more.

Matsuya Ginza opened its POKÉMON COLORS exhibition on July 22 which is set to run until August 11. The event is a kaleidoscope of bright colours and shapes of Pokémon and Pokémon motifs, with four activities and one installation to enjoy, as well as 160 original pieces of merchandise for fans to buy.

Logo mark

Art Deli Key Visual | ¥4,400

Pikachu Design Pouches – Assorted Pokémon Design Pouches | Small: ¥1,650 Each, Large ¥3,300 Each

Get your hands on a range of vivid and stylish Pokémon items, take photos at the many different photo spots dotted around the event, and learn the latest news about the Pokémon franchise.

Indigo dye art piece

Dangling from the first floor atrium is a 20-meter Pokémon art piece made by the dye group BUAISOU who used the traditional Japanese art of indigo dyeing to create it.

©2021 Pokémon. ©1995-2021 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。

From Hello Kitty to Pompompurin, Cinnamoroll, My Melody, and more – Sanrio’s internationally adored cast of characters can be universally agreed to be representatives of Japan culture of ‘kawaii.’ In celebration of Sanrio’s 60th anniversary, the company have announced an exhibition centred on the beginning of kawaii culture. The event will take place at TOKYO CITY VIEW from September 17, 2021 to January 10, 2022.

60th Anniversary Sanrio Exhibition: The Beginning of Kawaii recently finished up at the Matsuzakaya Art Gallery in Nagoya on June 12 and is set to move to Ōita Prefectural Art Museum where it will run from July 10 to September 5 before heading to TOKYO CITY VIEW. This exhibition will not only look back over Sanrio’s 60-year history, but will also dive into how Japan’s culture of ‘kawaii’ came about. Fans of Sanrio and Japan’s kawaii can expect product and design showcases, in-depth explanations, and more.

Sebastian Masuda’s iconic artwork is the centrepiece of the exhibition

Entrance exhibit in the daytime

At the entrance of the venue is the Unforgettable Tower, a symbolic art piece by Sebastian Masuda created exclusively for this exhibition which towers 6 meters tall. It’s made up of countless plushies of Sanrio characters such as Hello Kitty.

Entrance exhibit in the evening

The kawaii installation stands gorgeously against the cityscape of Tokyo which makes for an Instagrammable photo in the evenings when the city is lit up. The piece, as its name suggests, hopes to create unforgettable memories. The exhibition is set to run through Halloween, Christmas, and New Year, so visitors are sure to make some memorable ones.

© 2021 SANRIO CO., LTD. APPROVAL NO. SP610376

Shouta Aoi’s voice as the tour guide

Having lent his voice to other Sanrio events, including at Sanrio Puroland and in collaboration with the Little Twin Stars, the Japanese singer, actor, and voice actor Shouta Aoi has recorded announcements for the exhibition which will be played to guide people around the event.

A themed menu created for the Tokyo exhibition

From Left: Anniversary Afternoon Tea / Hello Kitty Daisuki Fried Apple Mille-Feuille / Cinnamoroll’s Balloon Trip

© 2021 SANRIO CO., LTD. APPROVAL NO. SP610376

THE SUN & THE MOON, a cafe and restaurant fusion on the same floor of the exhibition, will serve up food, desserts, and non-alcoholic cocktails inspired by the Sanrio characters. Special seasonal afternoon tea sets will also be sold on Halloween, Christmas, and more too.

Dates
Restaurant: September 17, 2021 – January 10, 2022

Cafe: December 15, 2021 – January 10, 2021

*Closed December 21-26

The main exhibition

The exhibition will be split into six zones with 10 different themes. Over 800 products, documents, and materials related to Sanrio will be presented, many of which will shine a spotlight on some of their most famous characters out of their roster of 400, such as Hello Kitty and My Melody, and other characters that might not be known to those outside Japan such as best friends Patty & Jimmy. It’s a chance to walk through the history of Sanrio and Japan’s culture of kawaii.

© 2021 SANRIO CO., LTD. APPROVAL NO. SP610376

© 2021 SANRIO CO., LTD. APPROVAL NO. SP610376

© 2021 SANRIO CO., LTD. APPROVAL NO. SP610376

One of the six zones will look into secrets of Sanrio through the globally-beloved kawaii icon Hello Kitty. Another will display outfits such as the Hello Kitty dress worn by Lady Gaga.

Original merchandise

A small peek at just some of the items available

© 2021 SANRIO CO., LTD. APPROVAL NO. SP610376

Sanrio fans can also get their hands on a collection of merchandise with designs ranging from the exhibition’s main visual to classic designs. There will be over 100 items to sift through.

Tickets for the exhibition will be available from August 1. A limited number of special tickets that include free merch will also be released.

© 2021 SANRIO CO., LTD. APPROVAL NO. SP610376

AWESOME STORE & CAFE IKEBUKURO is now serving up two new summer-exclusive dessert drinks inspired by the Japanese Showa era. The ‘Imitation Gold’ and ‘Blue Light Awesome’ are both available now until September 26.

Imitation Gold: ¥467 (Tax Included) / Blue Light Awesome: ¥467 (Tax Included)　*both served in plastic cups (see below)

The Imitation Gold’s flavour is reminiscent of an energy drink. It’s topped with vanilla ice cream and colourful gummies. The Blue Light Awesome is a Blue Hawaiian syrup-infused pineapple juice topped with vanilla ice cream and a cherry. Both of these cute dessert drinks are the perfect refreshments for the summer.

Those who buy both drinks will also receive an original black straw to make the drinks even more Instagrammable. These are available while supplies last.

Some other popular must-tries

Other classics on the menu to try include soft and chewy bagels, coffees, and more.

Chocolate High | ¥396 (Tax Included)

Ebi Avocado | ¥396 (Tax Included)

Fuwa Toro Bacon Omelette | ¥396 (Tax Included)

AWESOME Organic Coffee (Hot/Iced) | From ¥217 (Tax Included)

Juice has opened a pop-up shop centred on the popular character Chiikawa at EKIHAKO inside EKI MARCHÉ SHIN-OSAKA where it is set to stay until August 26.

Get your paws on some exclusive items

New merch for July 2021

Cushion | ¥4,180 (Tax Included)

Hand Puppets | ¥1,980 (Tax Included)

Free acrylic key ring for buyers

Chiikawa fans can get their hands on a variety of items from pouches to plush toys, apparel, kitchenware, and more. The items are exclusive to the pop-up store and Chiikawa online shop. And if you spend over ¥3,300 at the pop-up sto9re, you’ll get a free glittery acrylic key ring.

©️nagano

Jambuka Abeno Q’s Mall is the only place in Osaka where locals can enjoy the incredible pancakes created by the fresh cream desserts specialist shop MILK. This summer, they are now serving a new seasonal treat: the ‘Sweet Summer Mikan & Lemon Pancakes.’

Sweet Summer Mikan & Lemon Pancakes | ¥1,089 (Tax Included)

Fresh Cream Milk Pancakes | ¥858 (Tax Included)

Fresh Cream Strawberry Milk Pancakes | ¥1,089 (Tax Included)

Fresh Cream Chocolate Banana Milk Pancakes | ¥979 (Tax Included)

All pancakes are made-to-order and are covered in a rich, creamy sauce made from fresh cream from Hokkaido. Enjoy them plain or topped with fresh fruit.

In promotion of SCRAP’s new Detective Conan themed escape game Escape From the Scarlet Investigation (Blood Task Force), five of the company’s past escape games made in collaboration with the anime series are being revived for a temporary period.

Escape From the Orient Express

Escape From the Magical Castle

Escape From the Black Assassin

Escape From the Final Public Examination

Escape From the Navy Blue Art Museum

Here’s what it’s like to play..

SCRAP’s escape games are made in collaboration with many different series and see players become a character in the story where they must solve puzzles and riddles to find a way out. They have collaborated with Detective Conan since 2013 during which over 1.3 million people have played. The newest entry to the series is Escape From the Scarlet Investigation (Blood Task Force).

Five previous escape games make a return this year including Escape From the Orient Express (2014), Escape From the Magical Castle (2015), Escape From the Black Assassin (2016), Escape From the Final Public Examination (2018), and Escape From the Navy Blue Art Museum (2019). Each features a completely original story set in the world of Detective Conan.

©青山剛昌／小学館・読売テレビ・TMS 1996
©青山剛昌／小学館

renacnatta has teamed up with Shiki Theatre Company to release a collection of banshu-ori skirts and neckties, all of which will arrive on August 3.

renacnatta is a brand which weaves clothes using deadstock fabric from Japan and Italy and by using traditional Japanese weaving techniques.

Skirts

Banshu Mermaid Wrap Skirt – Matinee｜Collaboration with Shiki Theatre Company | ¥35,200 (Tax Included)

Banshu Mermaid Wrap Skirt – Soiree｜Collaboration with Shiki Theatre Company | ¥35,200 (Tax Included)

Neckties

Banshu Tie – Matinee｜Collaboration with Shiki Theatre Company | ¥9,350 (Tax Included)

Banshu Tie – Soiree｜Collaboration with Shiki Theatre Company | ¥9,350 (Tax Included)

Shows at the Shiki Theatre Company have been cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19. The collaboration comes to reignite the fire and excitement towards the theatre in these restrictive times. This August, the theatre is release a new and original musical which will see actors wearing clothing made using banshu-ori weave. This collection uses the same weaving technique.

Banshuori is a yarn-dyed textile made using a special production method which sees yarn dyed in advance and patterns woven by the dyed yarn. The items in the collection come in two colours: Matinee and Soiree, named after afternoon and evening theatre performances respectively. The Matinee line-up is beige and yellow while the Soiree picks are a mix of navy and black.

The one-size-fits-all skirts feature a comfy mermaid style with a fashionable silhouette perfect for going to the theatre with. They are made in such a way that they do not wrinkle when sitting down for long periods of time. The neckties too are made using banshu-ori weave for a smooth, sleek look.

Virtual YouTuber talent agency Hololive Production is set to release a new exclusive collection at Atre Akihabara in Tokyo on August 1.

The Line-Up

Acrylic Panel / B2 Tapestries / Acrylic Chibi Figures

Big Silhouette T-Shirts / Holostars T-Shirt / Key Visual Graphic T-Shirt

Key Visual Acrylic Panel

Chibi Character Illustration Acrylic Figures

B2 Tapestries

hololy Photo Contest

Hololive fans can get their hands on merchandise of all their favourite VTubers with this collection that will be sold exclusively at Atre Akihabara. To promote the collection, giant poster will be plastered up outside and around Atre Akihabara, with a giant one at the north entrance 3D illustrations at the south entrance. And for every ¥500 spent in a single transaction on the items, fans will receive a free character card.