Natsumi Sato’s “peloringirl series,” featuring girls sticking out their tongues in vivid pop colors with a 90s feel, has become increasingly popular. On June 2, the artist opened a new solo exhibition at A.F GALLERY in Harajuku.

In addition to many of her past creations, visitors will also be able to see newly drawn works created especially for the exhibition, as well as works from the recently released NFT project City Pop TOKYO, for which Natsumi Sato acted as the character designer.

Sato is planning on holding exhibitions in Fukuoka and Osaka in the future.

The NFT project City Pop TOKYO is inspired, fittingly, by City Pop, a music genre from Japan that is immensely popular worldwide, particularly among Gen Z. Now, the project is collaborating with the incredibly popular idol group FRUITS ZIPPER!

Starting at the end of April, Legendary NFTs inspired by the members of FRUITS ZIPPER will be released sequentially as part of the City Pop TOKYO NFT collection. These collaborative NFTs feature rare designs that are unique among the other characters in the City Pop TOKYO NFT collection and were drawn by Natsumi Sato, the illustrator who oversaw character design for the collection.

This collaboration will commemorate the release of City Pop TOKYO’s main collection, which will be available starting at the end of April. City Pop TOKYO will allow both NFT holders and non-holders to participate in new character development through a series of Twitter posts after the main NFT collection is sold. Characters will level up by earning training points when they post on Twitter, which will also be reflected in their NFT properties. The final ranking will be based on level, and a subsequent audition will be held, with winners being invited to join ASOBISYSTEM as new talents.

For this collaboration, the wildly popular FRUITS ZIPPER is sure to bring some new excitement to this incredible project.

From March 14 until April 23, 2023, Tokyo Midtown Hibiya will hold Hisashi Eguchi’s Tokyo Girlfriend illustration exhibition, set to show off the artist’s unique perspectives on people and cityscapes. The exhibition will feature new illustrations of the titular girlfriend standing in the streets of Hibiya drawn especially for this exhibition, as well as various other girlfriends both large and small.

GING NANG BOYZ Kimi to Boku no Dai 3ji Taisen-teki Renai Kakumei CD Jacket (2005)

A LONG VACATION – Eiichi Ohtaki 40th Tribute Illustration (2021) ©2023 Eguchi Hisashi

Hisashi Eguchi, a manga artist and illustrator, continues to convey the charm of the city and its people by vividly depicting Tokyo and the many unique happenings within. As Tokyo Midtown Hibiya celebrates its 5th anniversary along with many other nearby businesses, the Tokyo Girlfriend exhibition of illustrations by Hisashi Eguchi is being held to celebrate.

The exhibition will feature a new painting of the mysterious girlfriend standing in the streets of Hibiya, newly created for the Tokyo Midtown Hibiya exhibition. A number of original pieces using Pantone overlay, Eguchi’s favorite painting medium in the 80s and 90s, will also be on display for the first time.

During the exhibition period, guests can enjoy autograph sessions, live sketches in which Eguchi himself will draw a portrait of selected subject on the spot, and workshops where he will teach tips on how to be a better illustrator.

Don’t miss your chance to meet one of the greatest illustrators of the modern era!

©2023 Eguchi Hisashi

Customers can create an original pair of shoes by choosing from a selection of four different illustrations, which can be placed on the outside of the shoe and the tongue.

These sneakers will be available online and at White atelier BY CONVERSE locations.

An anthology illustration collection themed around women and flowers will be released in September 2022! The collection will contain 142 beautiful illustrations by 12 up-and-coming artists. Interviews with these artists will be included at the end of the book.

Image Collection

The images within range in style from girly and stylish to pop and cute, with each girl surrounded by flowers pulled from each season. The delicate brushwork and vivid colors of the popular artists will inspire the reader’s creativity, so don’t miss out on this book when it releases next month!

Participating Artists

Buchi / Keiko / YUE / potg / mashu / Minami / Niwa Haruki / Hinano / Yukorin / Suzu Sakuraba / Ayata / Toaruocha

The first PEANUTS Cafe is now open in Osaka! Snoopy fans should head to LaLaport EXPOCITY in Suita, Osaka, to enjoy some tasty themed treats. The PEANUTS Cafe online store has also started selling exclusive merchandise.

Menu

Delivery Box

Pizza

Pancake

School Bus

グッズ

PEANUTS Cafe Plate

Bamboo Plates with Coloring Book (Limited to 100 Sets)

Crayons with Vegetable-based Coloring

Dining scenes are often shown in the PEANUTS comic strip. This new cafe in Osaka focuses on the theme of ‘mealtime,’ the time of day that Snoopy loves the most.

Taking advantage of its location next to Expo ‘70 Commemorative Park, the area is surrounded by colorful flowers and greenery. The menu offers more health-conscious selections filled with veggies and fruits, and a special takeout menu is perfect for a picnic in the park.

In the PEANUTS comic strip, school buses always appear on the way to and from school and at certain events. A school bus exclusive to PEANUTS Cafe Osaka will welcome guests, hoping to immerse them in the world of Snoopy and his friends. Visitors can enjoy taking pictures with exclusive art as they take in the sight of a real school bus from the United States.

The cafe offers a variety of tableware to make everyday dining more enjoyable, along with souvenir sweets. Certain items are only available at the Osaka location, so be sure to visit! 

© 2022 Peanuts Worldwide LLC　

Palette Club, a school for illustrators located in Tsukiji, will be holding a 45th Anniversary exhibition for OSAMU GOODS! The characters were created in 1976 by Osamu Harada, who is from Tsukiji, and Dusty Miller. Items featuring these adorable characters are still incredibly popular to this day.

Exclusive Merchandise

Rare original drawings, prints, and goods from the 1970s to the 1990s, as well as Dusty Miller store bags and fan club newsletters, will be on display during the event. Those more nostalgic about these characters and those new to them will both find something to enjoy!

Pie International will release Neo-Retro Illustrations: A Creator’s Guide to Blending the New and Nostalgic on April 22, 2022.

In recent years, blending both nostalgic prints with modern sensibilities has become a popular trend in art, especially among young people. This “retro boom” has become a genre in itself, and this tome compiles some of the most incredible examples of this genre from 40 popular illustrators.

The book contains over 250 pieces of “neo-retro” art, blending past eras with futuristic colors and highlights.

The new book also includes interviews with the featured artists, providing a glimpse into their creative roots and personalities.  The cover illustration was done by NAKAKI PANTZ.

Featured Artists

AiLeeN / an / itousa / Inata / Inoue Noi / Oliwa / Sawako Kageyama / Kamin / Kisumi Rei / Guugorou / Kano Komori / Natsumi Sato / Michi / Sanho / Haruna Sudo / Soreeeeyu / tabi / Choo / TV♡CHANY / NAKAKI PANTZ / NANCYSNAKE / Nekopota. / noco / hachika / Hana Chatani / Hanabushi / Harawata Chanko / PHI / Catherine Hitachi / HOHOEMI / mawawiz / Mannen Mofuku / Hiro Mizuno / Monyochita Pomichi / Yoko / Rasuku / Rikku / RING / Rorurari / wacca

The merchandise brand Cocollabo will be opening a special shop featuring Hatsune Miku and other Vocaloid goods, 39Culture 2022, at Shibuya LOFT starting March 4, 2022!

Illustration by Mo

Illustration by Hechima

Illustration by miyoru

Illustration by Mame Shinoda

Merchandise

Speedy Lottery

The theme for this year’s 5th-anniversary event is ‘fashion and music,’ a throwback to the first event. Four illustrators–Mo, Hechima, miyoru, and Mame Shinoda–have contributed illustrations for the shop’s goods, while koya and shu have written a theme song to liven up the venue! Miku fans, don’t miss out!

Art by 藻/へちま/miyoru/篠田まめ （C） Crypton Future Media, INC. www.piapro.net

Digimon Con, an online event held by Bandai, will be held in February 2022! The event will be open to fans around the world, and the Digimon Illustration Competition is now open to fans of the series in Japan and the United States.

Digimon Con

This free online event will feature a unique lineup of content related to the long-running Digimon franchise, including an anime segment, a game information segment, a live performance, and more!

Dates:

JST: February 27, 2022 at 10:00
PST: February 26, 2022 at 17:00
EST: February 26, 2022 at 20:00
Where to Watch: The Official Bandai YouTube Channel

Digimon Illustration Competition

Starting December 17, fans from both the US and Japan can send in their best Digimon art until February 7, 2022. Detailed information, including requirements, can be found on the special Digimon Illustration Competition website!

Digimon Illustration Competition
Details/Submissions: https://compe.japandesign.ne.jp/digimon-ic-2022/
Submission Period：

JST: December 17, 2021 at 10:00 – February 7, 2022 at 12:00
PST: December 16, 2021 at 17:00 – February 6, 2022 at 19:00
EST: December 16, 2021 at 20:00 – February 6, 2022 at 22:00

■Theme: Cute or Cool Digimon
Choose one of the following eight Digimon and draw them in either a cool or cute scene!

Agumon

Patamon

Terriermon

Gammamon

Numemon

Devimon

Lillymon

Machinedramon

Application for Participation: Fill out the form found on https://compe.japandesign.ne.jp/digimon-ic-2022/
Eligible Countries: Japan, United States
Eligibility: Applicants must be recognized as an adult in their country of residence. 

Prizes: 

Grand Prize（1 Winner）
・¥300,000
・Winning Illustration Used in the Digimon Trading Card Game

Award of Excellence（7 Winners）
・¥100,000
・Winning Illustrations Used in the Digimon Trading Card Game
　

Judges’ Special Prize（Number Undetermined）
・¥50,000

©本郷あきよし・東映アニメーション　©本郷あきよし・東映アニメーション・フジテレビ　©BANDAI

Selling over 110,000 copies to date, the ILLUSTRATION series shows off the current state of Japan’s art scene. Japanese artists are recognized around the world for their unique style, and 150 diverse pop-culture creators will be featured in ILLUSTRATION 2022, releasing on December 6, 2021. Compared with last year’s release, this tome will feature ninety percent new artists, keeping readers abreast of the state of contemporary illustration today. 

ILLUSTRATION 2022　(Standard Edition)

ILLUSTRATION 2022　(Special Edition)

The cover art was provided by Tsumi Cotoh, known for her work with popular music duo YOASOBI. The book was designed by up-and-coming designer Arima Tomoyuki. 

At the end of the book, readers can enjoy an interview with Sony Music Entertainment’s Yohei Yashiro, the man behind YOASOBI. PIEDPIPER, the general producer of Kamitsubaki Studio, also gave an interview. Tsumi Cotoh and Arima Tomoyuki also discuss the process of creating the book. 

ILLUSTRATION 2022 utilizes the newest artbook printing technology, ‘Brilliant Palette,’ to deliver the most high-quality color prints. A Special Edition featuring a unique cover will be sold in limited quantities, so try to grab one while you can!

American apparel brand Fruit of the Loom is teaming up with two ASOBISYSTEM talents for a new collection! Illustrators Nah and Kayoubi, both popular with Gen Z will begin selling items from the new collaboration at ROOP TOKYO on the ZOZOTOWN site starting November 12, 2021. 

Nah Collaboration Items at a Glance

Nah

A 24-year-old illustrator from Fukuoka, Nah began her career in 2018. Particularly popular on Instagram, she’s become known for using pastel colors in her sexy and cute pop art. Her concept is one word: oddball. Her main character is a girl who is one step ahead of everyone else. 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nah_ill_/

Homepage: https://asobisystem.com/talent/nah/

Kayoubi Collaboration Items at a Glance

Kayoubi

With charming retro designs spiced with a bit of modern flare, Kayoubi’s art inspires a love for the 80s and 90s. The artist is currently involved with a number of collaborative projects, including those will apparel brands and CD jacket designs.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/__tuesday__9/

Homepage: https://asobisystem.com/talent/kayoubi/

The designs for the collaborative project feature cute girls in bright colors. Along with hoodies and T-shirts, bucket hats and tote bags are also available. Which design is your favorite?