Sebastian Masuda to open SUSHIDELIC, a new sushi restaurant in Soho, New York City. The location will open on June 28, 2023.

“King of Kawaii” Sebastian Masuda, creator of Harajuku’s “KAWAII MONSTER CAFE,” loved by celebrities around the world, has created a new restaurant concept  in New York City

Enjoy an Immersive Kawaii Experience

Featuring a Menu Developed by Japanese Chefs and Supported by AUTEC, Inc.

Opening in SoHo, the Trendiest Neighborhood in New York City

SUSHIDELIC is scheduled to open at 177 Lafayette St. in the heart of the SoHo area, where the latest fashions and trends are born and where many fashion brands have opened their flagship stores.

We will keep you updated with the latest information as it becomes available. Please look forward to the chemistry between “Sushi” and “Kawaii,” two of Japan’s proudest exports.

Sebastian Masuda

VISIONS 2023 ILLUSTRATORS BOOK, the newest edition of the popular art book edited by pixiv, was released on October 4, 2022. Art fans know the pixiv website as a place to share artwork, manga, and more. 

The VISIONS book series began publication in 2020, and the total number of copies sold worldwide has surpassed 150,000. The latest 2023 issue features works by 170 creators, allowing readers a glimpse into the current state of illustration today.

The cover art was drawn by Mika Pikazo, a character designer for many popular titles including Fire Emblem Engage, the latest in Nintendo’s Fire Emblem series. Mika Pikazo has long been pursuing new forms of expression in digital art, including incorporating cubism. Digital art is often treated as something vastly different from traditional art such as paintings and sculptures, but the cover art of this book challenges this belief by blending digital and traditional art. Pikazo’s vivid colors and exquisite brushwork are a must-see.

In addition to providing the cover art, a 7,000-word special interview with Mika Pikazo delving into his thoughts and vision can be found in the new book, providing a detailed view of what the digital art scene will look like in 2023.

Sebastian Masuda, known as the “father of kawaii,” moved to New York City in 2022 to be more active in the Big Apple while continuing his activities in Tokyo.

His first event since moving to the city will be the COLORS FOR PEACE charity art exhibition, which will be held at the Mizuma & Kips gallery on Manhattan’s Lower East Side from July 29 until July 31. A portion of all proceeds from the sale of artwork and donations collected will be donated to the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, a human rights organization supporting those whose lives have been impacted by war.

Masuda wanted people to think about peace, which is the theme for the COLORS FOR PEACE exhibition. The showing will feature artwork in four primary colors–blue, yellow, green, and pink.

Along with original paintings and lithographs, the exhibition will also feature a bed installation where guests can freely relax. Visitors will be able to think about the people whose peaceful daily lives are threatened by the ongoing war, and will be able to support them through art.

An opening reception for the event will be held on the evening of July 29, and reservations are open now. More information will be announced on Masuda’s social media accounts, including when the artist himself will appear.

Comment from Sebastian Masuda

“COLORS FOR PEACE is an event with a very straightforward theme, and that is for guests to think about peace. Close your eyes. Imagine it. Understand it. Understand how wonderful it is that you can sleep in your own bed at home tonight. We all know how comfortable it is to be able to sleep in our own bed, with our own sheets that have our own scent.

Through my activities over the years, I’ve come to realize that the ‘kawaii’ movement is one of the best ways to inspire peace. It helps us to understand each other, and the bright and vibrant colors make people happy, both in Japan and around the world. I hope that the COLORS FOR PEACE venue will be filled with many smiling faces and that it will transcend race, religion, age, gender, and all other borders.”

In March 2022, Kawade Shodo Shinsha will release ‘The Heike Story’: The Anime we Created, an incredibly in-depth tome detailing the creation of the popular animated series The Heike Story. The series began airing in September 2021.

Creating our own image of  ‘Heike,’ one that no one has ever seen before…

Directed by Naoko Yamada, ‘The Heike Story’ is based on Hideo Furukawa’s translation of the classic Japanese tale. This book highlights the thoughts and feelings behind the creation of the anime series and includes interviews, exclusive essays, storyboards, and newly-drawn illustrations by character designer Fumiko Takano.

Sneak Peak

Will you be ordering this incredible book in March?

The Orai Tourism Association will be reopening the Orai Sun Beach in Araimachi, Ibaraki, which was closed due to Covid-19, between October 16 and October 31 to host the limited-time ‘Sunahama Library.’ The event was hugely popular when it was held in 2020.

In the Summer of 2020, beaches throughout Japan were closed to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The Orai Tourism Business Strategy Team held multiple meetings, searching for a way to allow people to enjoy the Orai seaside despite the situation. They realized that people may not want to get burned, or be covered in sand, or even get wet, but still want to be able to feel the sea. The conclusion the team came to was to open a library on the sandy beach, where visitors could enjoy the Orai sea without worry.

Get comfy with a good book while surrounded by the beautiful Orai beachfront at the ‘Sunahama Library.’

Publisher Kawade Shobo Shinsha will release two coming-of-age novels on October 14! To promote both The Last Dance of the Time Keepers and Home on the Night of the Star Festival, an anime PV created by the staff of the 2016 anime series Pop in Q and directed by Naoki Miyahara (Digimon Adventure, Dragon Ball Z) has also been released! There are also some pretty famous voice actors featured, so see if you recognize any!

Senya Mihagi, the author of both full-length novels, is an up-and-coming talent, winning the Kadokawa’s Da Vinci Story of Books Award in 2014. The original character designs and cover illustrations for each novel were created by Kouhaku Kuroboshi, who has worked on a number of popular anime works, including Kino’s Journey, Fate/Grand Order, and Sword Art Online Alternative. The PV includes voice actors Asami Seto, Shiori Izawa, Atsumi Tanezaki, Ari Ozawa, and Tomoyo Kurosawa. The music was produced by Yuki Tsujimura, who has collaborated with a number of popular Japanese artists in the past. 

To commemorate the release of the novels, five original postcards featuring art of each main character will be available from Amazon, Kumazawa Books, TSUTAYA, and Miraiya Books. You’ll get a different character depending on where you buy, so double-check beforehand!

Synopsis

The Last Dance of the Time Keepers

Isumi Kominato, a high-school freshman, moves to Tokyo from Kochi Prefecture and forms a new dance unit with her classmates. Behind the scenes, however, strange things are happening–power outages, disappearances, amnesia? Isumi, Aoi, Konatsu, Asahi, and Saki must use the power of dance to help return the world to normal. 

Home on the Night of the Star Festival

Satoshi, known as a child prodigy from the time he was an infant and like a sibling to Iori, died suddenly at the age of twenty-one. Iori, unable to accept his death, runs away to attend college in Tokyo, but three years later, she begins to receive strange e-mails after Satoshi’s belongings, including a smartphone, are given to her. What was he researching before he died, and why was a global IT company involved? What is the truth behind his mysterious death? 

Osaka’s Rihga Royal Hotel is collaborating with book direction brand YOURS BOOK STORE to produce a one-room one-day accommodation plan titled “Once in a Lifetime ~ Professionals Choose Your Book~.” The limited-time plan will be available between September 15 and November 30, 2021.

The lounge on the executive floor, known as The Presidential Towers, was reformed in March 2020 to include a library of 1,000 books, with themes including Osaka, refreshing, relaxing, and children’s books. It was then that the room plan collaboration with YOURS BOOK STORE, who was involved in the initial book selection, was proposed.

In the “Once in a Lifetime ~ Professionals Choose Your Book~” accommodation plan, a professional will discuss with the guest to learn more about their taste, with the book director offering 3 personalized book choices per person. The guest can also take full advantage of the hotel library.

Following your trip, a book chosen especially for guests will be sent to your home, with a message card describing how your books were selected. This unique accommodation plan allows you to bask in the afterglow of your trip while waiting to see what kind of book you receive.

Why not check out this unique plan where you can receive your own personalized book recommendation?

The co-working space SkiiMa, operated by PARCO, will hold the ‘BOOK FAIR in SkiiMa’ inside Shinsaibashi PARCO from September 10 to October 31, 2021. Four bookstores in the Kansai region were chosen to participate, with each exhibiting titles based on certain themes. This is the first ever BOOK FAIR in SkiiMa event, and the idea stemmed from the mind of LVDB Book’s owner. Each participating store was based on his perspective, and each theme offers something unique for visitors to discover.

Exhibitors

LVDB BOOKS

Theme Chosen:  People in sorrow

Tobira Records

Theme Chosen: The perfect gift

Sainotsuno

Theme Chosen: A book for daily rebirth

Tarahumara

Theme Chosen: The periphery of literary style

SkiiMa SHINSAIBASHI aims to stimulate the creativity of each visitor. A collection booth has been set up inside the space, displaying hobby-oriented exhibits to show off people’s passions.

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is set to open at Universal Studios Japan (USJ) in 2020ーthe year of the Tokyo Olympicsーas the world’s first theme park area centred on the world, games and video game characters from Nintendo. A whopping 60 billion yen has been injected to make the park a reality.

In promotion of the park, the “SUPER NINTENDO WORLD CHALLENGE” was held in New York, US on February 19.

Fans dashed to Grand Central Terminalーa tourist hot spotーwhere the event was held to play a game involving the iconic Question Blocks from the Mario video game franchise. The set-up, which brought to mind a Bonus Stage from the game, had people hitting the question blocks just like Marioーsomething which we all must have imagined doing before.

1,000 people participated in the event which they signed up to prior. It was a day of fun for not only players but onlookers too. Grand prize winners won trips to SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, which is set to open before the Tokyo Olympic Games start, while all other participants got their hands on some exclusive SUPER NINTENDO WORLD merch early.

One participant said: “I love everything about Mario, so I knew I’d definitely be taking part today! I’ve loved Mario since I was a kid, I even had a plush toy of him. Mario really is exciting. I’ve always wanted to be Mario, so I’m really happy with how today turned out. I want to go to SUPER NINTENDO WORLD with my best friend and try out all the attractions. I’m sure it’s gonna be a lot of fun!” (Male, 20 / Staten Island, New York) *Translated from Japanese

One of the grand prize winners said: “I’ve been a huge fan of Nintendo’s games since I was 3-years-old. I was lucky to get to take part in the SUPER NINTENDO WORLD CHALLENGE today, but to go and win the grand prize is an amazing feeling! I’ll be going to Japan with my girlfriend who I love so much! I’m always paying attention to news about SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. The Mario Kart attraction will definitely be a ride, I’m looking forward to it so much I just can’t wait! I always thought it would be great if they made a Mario theme park, so the fact they’re doing it in both Japan and even the US is amazing!” (Male, 20 / The Bronx, US) *Translated from Japanese

The Question Blocks also made an appearance in Times Square. The event was covered on the morning news in the US with fans visible at the event, Rockefeller Plaza, and elsewhere.

If you’re a Mario and Nintendo fan planning a trip to Japan then be sure you get to experience SUPER NINTENDO WORLD when it opens this year.

The Leo Lionni cafe located at Sunday Brunch, MARRONNIER GATE GINZA 1 is remaining open for a longer period due to popular demand. The limited-time cafe will now be open until September 29. This cafe is themed around the world of Leo Lionni; a famous children’s picture book author whose illustrated stories include Swimmy and Frederick. Some of his works have even featured in school textbooks. After much anticipation, the cafe has released a brand new menu.

The renewed menu includes three new items which are based on Frederick; the story which has been praised as Lionni’s best and most popular by both children and adults. A new Frederick-themed meal, cake and drink will be made available from July 20. When you order the Frederick-themed meal, the world of Frederick will unfold before you as if it has been cut straight out of the book and served up on a plate. There is no doubt that you will find these dishes so cute that you will not want to eat them.

Frederick’s Sunny Soup and Rice: ￥1,480

This is a corn, pumpkin and minced chicken dish served with a cold soup and brown rice. This depicts the image of Frederick collecting the sun as he does in the story. The rice is served hot.

“I know it” Cheesecake: ￥1,250 (price with drink set)

This is a baked cheesecake made using rhubarb and summer berries sourced from Hotaru Noen Tatsuno Farm, Nagano. This delicious cheesecake depicts the scene right at the end of the story where the mice praise Frederick saying: “but Frederick! You are a poet,” to which Frederick replies: “I know it”.

Frederick Cheese Tea: ￥900 

This is a pineapple iced tea with cream cheese and a Frederick biscuit perched on the top. The pineapple flavour is sweet yet slightly sour. This is bound to leave you feeling refreshed, making it the perfect summer drink. 

From July 13 to September 29, 2019, there will be a special discount campaign running at the Minna no Leo Lionni Ten; an exhibition dedicated to Lio Lionni which is currently running at the Seiji Togo Memorial Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Museum of Art. Please consider stopping by. 

Copyright © 2019 by Blueandyellow, LLC　Licensed by Cosmo Merchandising

A new magazine-book (known as a ‘mook’ in Japan) showcasing 100 of Japan’s most famous castles is available from December 29, 2017. This official guidebook comes with a stamp book for you to obtain a stamp from each castle.

The public interest incorporated foundation Nihon Jokaku Kyokai announced “Shoku Nihon 100 Meijo” (100 Famous Castles of Japan: The Sequel) back on April 6th this year. Its predecessor, “Nihon 100 Meijo,” (100 Famous Castles of Japan), created a huge stamp rally boom. A stamp rally in Japan is where people run around different locations collecting stamps to fill up their stamp book. This castle stamp rally was so popular that cries from castle fans around Japan called for another 100 castles to be selected.

Their prayers have finally been answered. To celebrate 10 years since the last castle stamp rally, the long-awaited sequel, presenting a new list of 100 castles, has finally been delivered. There was a rule with the first 100 to pick 5 castles per prefecture, so there were many famous castles omitted from the list. But in the new sequel, plenty of local castles have been chosen which has brought much joy to fans.

In this castle stamp rally, participants must collect stamps in their official stamp book from 100 castles situated around Japan. Each stamp features its own beautiful design of a castle. The number of people going crazy over the rally is increasing as they remember how much fun it was going around each location and seeing their stamp book fill up one stamp at a time.

The stamp rally sequel begins on April 6, 2018. The stamp book required for the rally is on sale from December 29, 2017 and comes with the official castle guidebook.

The rally can be enjoyed by just about anybody including husbands and wives, parents and children, and even by yourself.

Stamp rallies are a hobby that last a lifetime. If you’ve never done one before, how about starting with Japan’s most famous castles?

The concept shop in Tokyo “Aquvii” will open a limited time offer shop “Aquvii TOKYO POPUP  at BROOKLYN NYC” in Brooklyn, New York from the 9^th of December 2017 (Sat.) to the 7^th of January 2018 (Sun.).

Aquvii is a brand creating unique products which make people happy based on the motifs of antiques and vintage parts from all over the world.

 The concept of the brand name, “Aquvii (yawn)” is that the value of this shop will spread among people just as a yawn’s infectious effect.

The new pop up shop set up in Brooklyn will introduce Tokyo’s latest culture.

Centering around the original line “Aquvii,” they will introduce many selected items and art pieces under the theme of “gifts.”

Let’s check out the cynical, artistic and personal brand -“Aquvii.”