The luxury hotel Grand Hyatt Tokyo will offer Easter sweets and baked goods at the on-site Fiorentina Pastry Boutique from April 1 until Easter, April 17, to celebrate the arrival of spring.   Easter Egg Macaroon   Easter Cookies with Icing   Easter Lollipop   Easter Bunny BriocheThis year, in addition to the new Easter Bunny and Easter egg macaroons, cookies with icing, lollipop chocolates, brioche in the shape of the Easter Bunny, and other sweets and bakery items will be available. Don’t miss it!

The Pasco Kumamoto Prefecture Project is a collaboration between the Japanese pastry company Pasco and Kumamoto Prefecture which has appointed Kumamon, the mascot of Kumamoto, as its head to promote local foods.   The project was started as a reconstruction and restoration effort to help support Kumamoto after the devastating earthquake that struck in 2016 and the 2018 Japan floods. For every select product sold, 0.5 yen is donated to the relief effort to aid victims of the disasters.The Pasco Kumamoto Prefecture Project is set to run until end end of September this year. It released two items on April 1 as part of the project. It is now releasing two new products: the "Strawberry Jam & Milk Whipped Cream" pastry and "Pancake Omelette Custard & Milk Whipped Cream." The milk, strawberries, and eggs used for these confections are all sourced from KumamotoThe pastry recipe creates whipped cream from milk and layers it with a strawberry jam made from yuubeni, a popular brand of strawberry grown in Kumamoto, before baking. The pancake omelette is a combination of Jersey milk, eggs, and custard cream to create a fluffy dessert.  

Pasco carefully selects ingredients as part of Kumamon's promotional products

The ingredients used in the recipes for these food products are all carefully selected to go deliciously well with Pasco's bread. This includes milk, eggs, and yuubeni strawberries. Pasco plans to used Kumamoto-grown rice for a new product in August. 

Scan the code on the packaging and meet Kumamon!

A special Kumamon AR service has also been created as part of the project. If you scan the code on the packaging of these products using a smart device, you can take a photo together with Kumamon as pictured above. He has the same design as on the packets.

Fashion brand Samansa Mos2 joined paws with the cat-themed bread and pastry store Neko Neko Shokupan to release their first collection together at Samansa Mos2 stores and the online store CAN ONLINE SHOP on May 14.  

The Line-Up

 

Half-Sleeve Photo Print T-Shirts Colours: Off-White/Unbleached/Beige Price: ¥3,190 (Tax Included)

Half-Sleeve Monogram Print T-Shirts Colours: Off-White/Yellow/Brown Price: ¥3,190 (Tax Included)

Half-Sleeve Back Print T-Shirts Colours: Off-White/Yellow/Brown Price: ¥3,190 (Tax Included)

 

Back print tee design

Shokupan Print Hoodie Colours: Beige/Khaki Price: ¥4,290 (Tax Included)

 

Kid’s Line

Photo Print T-Shirt Colours: Off-White/Yellow Price: ¥2,530 (Tax Included)

 

French Flare T-Shirts Colours: Beige/Khaki Price: ¥2,530 (Tax Included)

     

Miscellaneous

 

Embroidered Canvas Tote Bag Colours: Unbleached/Beige Price: ¥3,850 (Tax Included)

 

Handkerchief Colours: Beige/Purple Price: ¥660 (Tax Included)

 

Reversible Shoulder Pouch Colours: Beige/Khaki Price: ¥3,190 (Tax Included)

 

Bottle Holder Colours: Beige/Khaki Price: ¥2,750 (Tax Included)

 

Mobile Ring Holder Colours: Beige/Grey Price: ¥1,650 (Tax Included)

      Neko Neko Shokupan are known for their rich and milky cat-shaped bread which uses milk and zero water. They’re a hugely popular bakery brand who often find themselves across social media pages including Instagram. This marks their first collaboration with Samansa Mos2 who celebrate their 35th anniversary this year. The collection features key visuals taken from the Neko Neko Shokupan brand. Items include a variety of tees and hoodies as well as other miscellaneous must-grabs like tote bags, handkerchiefs, bottle holders, and more. There’s even a children’s line-up as part of Samansa Mos2’s kid brand Samansa Mos2 Lagom so parents and their children can coordinate cute matching outfits. Look felinely-fashionable this summer with the Samana Mos2 x Neko Neko Shokupan collection. 

Hitobito, the company behind Japan's popular bakery cafe chain Bread, Espresso &, is set to open a new branch inside Makita General Hospital in Kamata on March 1. The cafe opened its doors for pre-openings earlier this month with shortened business hours. Bread, Espresso & has 20 branches across Japan including the popular one located in Omotesando, Tokyo. Its frequented by people of all ages for its deliciously soft bread made from 100% Japanese wheat.The cafe's picture book-like interior design caters to children featuring bread-shaped tables and cute illustrations.Customers are welcome to try out the free samples on display. Each sample has a little card detailing various information which customers can take to the register if they want to buy that item. Often in Japanese bakeries there are tongs and trays which customers are free to use, but this new style of service lessens contact with others for a safer trip during the pandemic.The bakery serves Bread, Espresso & classics like French toast and their mu pastries, as well as alternatives like gluten-free breads, no-sugar treats, and more.

Japanese bakery Neko Neko Shokupan is promoting the release of the second in the two-part anime film series Sailor Moon Eternal by baking up a bread inspired by everyone's favourite feline: Luna. The bread will be sold from February 11 to March 25.

Neko Neko Shokupan Luna Bread w/ Chocolate Pen | ¥1,200 (Before Tax)

The bread is made of pastry laced with black cocoa powder. Luna's ears are strawberry flavoured and she  of course has her iconic crescent moon atop her forehead. She arrives safely packaged in a cube-shaped box decorated in night sky stars and the moon. This box is placed in an eye-catching bag with little Sailor Moon details that are sure to be familiar to any fan, including Luna herself as well as Artemis.   The bread is available in-store at Neko Neko Shokupan branches and via the online store All Hearts Mall in Japan The first film in the Sailor Moon Eternal series was released on January 8, 2021, and the second on February 11, 2021.   ©武内直子・PNP／劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンEternal」製作委員会

Neko Neko Shokupan is celebrating Japan's annual Hinamatsuri festival, also known as Doll's Day, by releasing a set of three limited-edition flavours of its popular cat-shaped bread. It is now available via their online store until March 3, 2021.

Strawberry / Plain / Matcha - ¥4,600 (Tax & Shipping Included)

Neko Neko Shokupan Hinamatsuri Strawberry

Neko Neko Shokupan Hinamatsuri Plain

Neko Neko Shokupan Hinamatsuri Matcha

Neko Neko House

The cute set includes pink-coloured strawberry, white-coloured plain, and green-coloured matcha breads which are available for delivery at addresses in Japan. They arrive in a cute house-shaped box.