From July to August, firework festivals spring up all over Japan. Firework festivals are one of the things that are heavily associated with Japanese summers. This article is here to provide useful information so you can make the most out of them. We'll also provides ome tips on what to bring!   Things you should know about firework festivals in JapanToiletsThe toilets surrounding the venue are usually congested - for males and females, so it’s best to go before getting there. If you make it to the venue and need to go, make sure you go before the display begins so you don’t miss anything!Finding a good spotFor any fireworks event, it’s best to get there between one and two hours early so you can nab a good spot!IC Card charging/ Purchasing travel ticketsAfter the event, the train stations closest to the event are always going to be crowded with people, so before setting off for the festival, make sure your IC card is fully charged, or that you already have all your tickets for the journey there and back.   What to bringWhat should you bring to fully enjoy a pleasant evening of fireworks?1.  Leisure sheetYou can purchase tickets for special seating to enjoy the show, but many decide to sit on the ground by reserving a spot with a leisure sheet. To ensure your clothes don’t get dirty, make sure you bring this sheet with you! We recommend buying one in advance from a 100 yen shop. It is possible to get these from a convenience store, but they may sell out on the day of the fireworks event so it’s best to get one in advance. 2. Wear long sleeves!It is usually very humid on a typical Japanese summer's day, but depending on the weather and the location, it can get rather chilly at night. There’s also a possibility that ash and remnants from the explosions above your head can fall from the sky and onto you. That is why we recommend long-sleeved clothing. You could also wear a Yukata or bring a blanket. 3. Bring insect repellant and itch relief medicineAt firework festivals, many insects lurk in the grass upon which you are sat or near water. Make sure you have your creams and medicines at the ready to prevent a mosquito attack and to soothe the aftermath. You can also purchase these at drugstores or convenience stores near train stations. 4. Food and alcoholIndulging in food and alcohol whilst watching a fireworks display is one of the finest experiences you will ever have. Usually, there are food carts and stalls selling food and drinks that were prepared specifically for the occasion. We would recommend that you have a taste of these, however, they will be crowded. For those of you who hate queuing, it is best to buy your snacks and drinks in advance. Be aware that supermarkets and convenience stores close to the event will also be crowded. So, what do you think? If you’re well prepared then you can really make the most out of your night - get to it! ♡   If you have any questions about Japan, send us a message on Facebook！https://www.facebook.com/msmsnippon/

Summer has arrived, and that means so have the sweet seasonal desserts in Japan. There are many places now selling delicious treats for summer only.   Let's take a look at 5 of them!   "Butter" - Pancake Shop Pancake shop Butter have been selling a seasonal menu for the Brooklyn Lemon Summer Fair since June 27. Tuck into their fluffy Brooklyn Lemon White Tower Special, a pancake topped with refreshing lemon flavoured whipped cream and heaps of summer fruits like melon and mango.     Sushiro Cafe Omotesando Sweets Terrace This pop-up cafe will be open for a limited period of time from July 20. Managed by Sushiro, a popular conveyor belt sushi chain in Japan, it will be the world's first conveyor belt sweets cafe, serving a range different goodies including Sushiro’s most popular classic desserts made even better, sold-out sweets made by famous stores making a revival for this time only and more. Enjoy drink and dessert sets with just one coin.     Wicked Snow - Watermelon & Melon Shaved Ice Wicked Snow is a desserts cafe who are bringing back their three popular summer-only shaved ice flavours - pick from watermelon, melon, or a combination of both. The shaved ice is Wicked Snow’s own unique blend, made to look like powdered snow that melts in your mouth. Topped with plenty of watermelon and melon, this is the kind of dessert you’d expect to see on Instagram.   Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/113471     LEGOLAND Japan - Colourful Dessert Menu LEGOLAND Japan is bringing an exciting food menu to the theme park inspired by the colours of LEGO bricks. Choose from an eye-catching selection with desserts such as Watermelon Parfait, Watermelon Ice Crepe, Watermelon Roll Cake and more.   Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/112216     Chun Shui Tang - Tapioca Watermelon Milk Tea Chun Shui Tang, the Taiwanese cafe that invented tapioca milk tea, has released this original summer-only beverage in Japan. The fusion of fragrant jasmine tea, milk and slightly salty taste of the watermelon all bring out a rich, sweet flavour.   Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/112130     Don't miss out on all of the summer desserts in Japan available this season only!

Have you ever heard the Japanese word senbero? It’s a combination of the words sen meaning ‘1000’ and berobero meaning ‘drunk.’   Recently, izakaya in Japan, especially in the Tokyo area, have been offering senbero services that let you get drunk for just ¥1,000. Let’s take a look at some of the best cost performance locations in Tokyo so you can get your money’s worth!  

あっちさん(@acchi0514)がシェアした投稿 - 2017年 8月月19日午前4時43分PDT

Motsuyaku Ban (Yutenji) This place is known for having invented lemon sour, a standard Japanese cocktail made with shochu, soda and syrup. The lemon sours here cost ¥300 while the motsuyaku, or grilled giblets cost just ¥100. They serve a range of other items too such as innards stew, pig tail and more. You can get full quickly with just ¥1,000 here. We recommend this place if you want to eat a lot while drinking.    

rmさん(@r_m_6_10)がシェアした投稿 - 2018年 6月月13日午前1時29分PDT

Iseya (Kichijoji) This yakitori restaurant is can be found in Kichijoji. You’ll know it by the red lanterns that dangle around the outside of the building. It’s famous with both locals and those outside the neighbourhood. You can enjoy grilled chicken skewers from ¥80 each. A lot of izakaya sell skewers in sets of two, but Iseya offers a range of sets. The cheapest alcohol they sell is shochu at ¥220, so this place it for those who wants to drink little by little while enjoying some delicious yakitori.    

@arin_kooがシェアした投稿 - 2018年 4月月11日午後2時42分PDT

Sakaba Fukuro (Ikebukuro) This famous pub has been open for more than 50 years. Their lemon highballs are ¥200 each and their Hoppy are ¥220 each. They serve izakaya classics like innards stew and chicken cartilage karaage as well as other dishes like whale. Food prices range from ¥300 to ¥800 so it might be a good idea to order several dishes with people and share.    

@jetchop_nakajimaがシェアした投稿 - 2018年 3月月13日午前3時38分PDT

Oojiro (Shinbashi) This place is popular for its super thick cut ham cutlet. Food and drink both average at around ¥300. You can also get shochu highballs and sours for ¥300 each too, making this easy on the wallets of those who want to drink a lot. If you make this your second stop on your drinking crawl you can make drinks within ¥1,000 easily!    

@ram_golosoがシェアした投稿 - 2014年11月月2日午後11時20分PST

Sake Tachinomi Kitaya (Akabane) You’ll spot Kitaya by its deep blue entrance curtain and glowing red lanterns. They offer plates upon plates of creative dishes at the first floor counter. The food menu changes daily too, so you can look forward to enjoying a different experience each time. They sell fresh tuna straight from the famous Tsukiji fish market every morning at a mind-blowing ¥160!     Senbero isn’t only cheap, it also offers up a very satisfying izakaya experience. Be sure to try out lots of different izakaya while in Japan while looking for the best value for your money.

In our previous article, we considered the appeal of FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL in the run up to this year's event and looked over our past coverage of it. In this article we interviewed Yuna Yabe, a model and DJ who made her real festival debut last year and who is a festival fanatic. We asked her what attracts young girls to festivals, her personal experiences attending them, and her advice to those who have never been to a festival but are thinking about going. ■Yuna Yabe - Profile Born: October 30, 1997 Origin: Shizuoka Prefecture Hobby: Shopping Speciality: Dancing   Yuna Yabe has appeared in magazines, events and even music videos as a model, making full use of her unique fashion sense. Her love for music has taken her on the path of being a DJ. The moment she began her DJ career, she performed at EDJ JAPAN 2018.   ＝＝ —You love music and are often perceived as someone who has been attending festivals for a long time, but I heard you actually started going only last year.   Yes, last year's ITADAKI Festival was my first proper experience at a festival. Up to then I never had much interest in them and had never thought about going, but ITADAKI is in my hometown of Shizuoka and there were a lot of artists playing that I like. I thought wow, Shizuoka is going for it, so I decided to attend. EBIS BEATS and Tavito Nanao were the best!     —So, how was it actually going and experiencing one?   I was able to see so many of my favourite artists in one day, it was amazing! There was one on every hour, so I felt it was one of the fullest days of my life! I was guaranteed a front row spot for my favourite artists. I went all out, had the best time ever and came to be completely crazy about festivals.   One of the reasons I had never gone to one before was because I perceived them as being like a continuous riotous party, but I was glad to find out it was chill and open.   —Are there any memories or incidents from the festival that have stuck with you?   It wasn't an incident per se, but I met a lot of acquaintances by chance. That's one of the most fun things about a festival! Although it was a local festival I bumped into people I know from Tokyo. That moment when you see them and say "Huh!? Why are you here!?" is so much fun.   —If you were to choose the best act or performance you've seen so far which would it be?   I can't pick just one! But Tavito Nanao of GREEN ROOM this year and Sakanaction at ROCK IN JAPAN FES last year are unforgettable.   —You've already been to several festivals this year, correct? And you also performed at EDC. What festivals do you plan to go to or want to go to next, and which artists do you want to see?   I've been to JAPAN JAM BEACH, GREEN ROOM and KAMIKANE3000 this year.   The ones I'm planning to go to are FUJI ROCK and Summer Sonic. I want to go to RINGO FES at the start of summer too. I definitely want to see Kendrick Lamar at FUJI ROCK and Jorja Smith at Summer Sonic!   —You performed at EDC JAPAN very early in your DJ career. That's an incredible achievement, congratulations! How was it performing there?   I thought to myself all I can do is practice. There's a studio in front of EDC so I practiced there! The set was going to be a continuous hour with no changeovers, so I wondered to myself whether the real performance would turn out alright. My hands were sweating and I was very anxious, but the moment it started everybody put their hands up and danced. It was so much fun! In my set I moved from track to track while DJing, and I saw a lot of foreigners on board the entire time, so that made me extremely happy. Before I knew it I was having a lot of fun too, and the hour went by in an instant. It was my first time as a DJ experiencing the thrill of so many people listening to your favourite songs. I felt that if I get even better and play more boldly it'll be the best thing ever!   —How's your enthusiasm for this year's festivals?   I'm having fun knocking them down one by one!    —I'd now like to ask if you have any advice for people your age who are interested in attending a festival but have never gone before, or who want to try it out. What kind of preparation do you need in terms of fashion or things to take?   For fashion, I see a lot of people coordinating flashy colours, like reds and yellows. A lot of people wear baggy clothing too because it's easier to move around.   I take a cap and sunglasses to protect myself from the sun. Sunglasses make you look pretty in photos too (laughs). Most people wear their hair up. Also, a towel is a must!   I'm short, so I recommend sandals with thick soles if you're short too, since you want to be able to see the stage properly! You'll also be walking around a lot and spend long hours there, so it's important to wear something that your feet are used to and won't  get tired in!   Only wear small bags on your back that aren't going to be a nuisance to other people, and only take the absolute essentials. But I never fail to take my phone charger! (laughs)   —Are there any mistakes you've made at festivals?   I came down with heatstroke by only drinking alcohol despite it being so hot! It's very important to drink water so you don't get heatstroke.     —Is there any other advice you have for festival beginners or tips on how they can have fun?   Be weary of going to the toilet when travelling! Make an effort to know where the toilets are. You'll be in very long lines, so don't go the second you need it. Go well in advance and find windows of opportunity to go. Going in advance is very important!   Also, it's good not to meet up with a lot of friends or move around in big groups. I recommend moving around on your own or with just a few people. Seeing artists I didn't know or unexpected artists is great. Encounters like that are fun.   —Finally, what's the appeal of festivals for you?   There are many, but if I was to sum it up in a word, it would be the sense of openness! It's like taking off your shell. Everybody there is a lover of music and you can feel their excitement, so there's a sense of unity too which can be enjoyed!     ＝＝ Be sure to reference Yuna Yabe's advice and go and enjoy Japanese pop culture at a festival!   ＝＝ ＝＝ FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL '18 Running: July 27, 2018 – July 29, 2018 Venue: Naeba Ski Resort, Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture Time: Doors 9:00am / Start 11:00am / Finish 11:00pm Official Website: http://www.fujirockfestival.com/

Nintendo attended this year’s Japan Expo in Paris, which ran from July 4 to 8. They were set up in a 1,300m² space where fans had the opportunity to try out the highly-anticipated next entry to the Smash series, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which is set for release on December 7, 2018.   MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON had the opportunity to play the game at the event. Here’s our report.  

Nintendo’s behemoth play space

  Nintendo’s huge area stood out from the other booths at the event. People could try playing Splatoon 2 and Nintendo Labo, and there was a stage area that could fit around 1,000 people. They really had it all.   Fans could even take a photo with their favourite characters. Onto the main event – the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate booth. Despite it being 9:00am the line was huge! Here it is, the new Smash game. As a side note, did you know the title of the game is different in Japan? In Japan it’s called Super Smash Bros. Special. The GameCube controller is compatible again just like with Super Smash Bros.Brawl. It feels great to hold and the L, R, A and B buttons are nice and easy to press.

The middle of the controller is decorated with the iconic Smash symbol.

  His fingers were itching to play as Kirby first. The opponent was chosen randomly and ended up being the Pokémon Trainer.   ■Point 1: Smoother & Speedier Gameplay The in-game movement feels smoother than previous titles in the series and the response is much quicker.   Also, in the other games you were never able to freely move and attack while in mid-air, but in Ultimate you can move up, down, left and right after jumping.   ■Point 2: Special Moves Changed

Bomberman is assisting us with his bomb explosion

  The characters’ special moves, including Kirby, have changed. We wanted to try out some of the other characters too, but we ran out of time. We’re definitely excited to see the rest of the special moves once the game comes out.   Let’s check out some of the new characters that have been added to the franchise. There’s Daisy from the Mario series, Inkling from the Splatoon, and Ridley from Metroid.   First up we saw Inkling and Ridley. We also chose the new stage Moray Towers which is from Splatoon. You have to move up and down on Moray Towers which can be a little difficult if you’re not used to it. This is Inkling’s special move, it’s pretty strong.   Inkling uses paint and ink tanks for her moves just like in Splatoon. And Ridley’s move set works kind of like Charizard.   ■Point 3: Several Characters Have Unique Abilities We heard from a member of staff that characters who used similar moves up to now have been given their own original abilities.   For example, Fox, Captain Falcon and Wolf have all had similar abilities up to now, but in the new game they are decked out with their own skill sets, so they all play differently.   Having gotten our fill of the game, this ends the report.   All the characters from the first title up to now will feature in Ultimate. The game is perfect for anyone who hasn’t gamed much recently and were crazy for Smash when they were younger.   Look out for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate coming to Nintendo Switch on December 7.     Point Overview ①Smoother and speedier gameplay ②Special moves changed ③Several characters now decked out with their own unique abilities

Summer vacation starts in July and many kinds of events for both children and adults will be held in the Tokyo area. In this article, we will introduce to you some recommended events which will be held in July.   Photogenic Art Exhibition ‘Vinyl Museum’ to Take Place at BALLY Ginza Vinyl Museum―a participation-based art exhibition―will make its return at BALLY Ginza, running from July 21 to August 5. We previously covered the first holding of this event which brings together a variety of art displays specifically intended for people to take photos of for their Instagram pages. Last year’s event in Omotesando drew in 5,500 people and over 7,000 posts were posted on Instagram.     TV Asahi & Roppongi Hills Natsumatsuri Summer Station 2018 It’s been 15 years since Roppongi Hills first opened, which is set to welcome summer again this year with exciting events running from July 14 to August 26. Look forward to live music performances, shows, food, VR sessions, photo spots, exhibitions and more. The popular life-sized Doraemon will make a return at 66 Plaza where there’ll also be artists performing as well as anime inspired food.     Edo Cat Café: Enjoy the World of Ukiyo-e and Cats at Edo Neko Chaya Edo Neko Chaya is a new Edo-style cat café opening in Tokyo on June 15 for a limited period (until August 31) where you can enjoy the world of ukiyo-e while playing with real cats. The café is located at “Ryogoku Station Hirokoji.” Ukiyo-e paintings and models will decorate inside and bring to life the street and atmosphere of the Edo period. There will be several zones inside building, including the cat tea room, cat ‘red light district,’ cat bath, cat nagaya, and cat plaza. Each area will be furnished with ukiyo-e that fit the scene, bringing to life the world of Edo.     MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM: EPSON teamLab Borderless will open on June 21 (until August 31) and is co-managed by Mori Building Co., Ltd. and teamLab. This never-before-seen new world is created in an expansive and complex three-dimensional 10,000 square meter space by 520 computers and 470 projectors. Dive into a mesmerising 3D world and get lost amongst the borderless art.       Jump Shop 2018 Aqua City Odaiba is set to welcome the summer with a host of exciting events, including Jump Shop 2018. Jump Shop 2018 will stock a heap of merchandise from some of the most popular manga series out there from Shonen Jump’s arsenal, including One Piece, My Hero Academia, Haikyu!!, Gintama, and more. This event is held every summer and brought in around 20,000 attendees in 2017. Mark your calendars for the upcoming events happening in Aqua City Odaiba this summer, from anime to food.       Attack on Titan Collaborates with Tobu Zoo An event will be held at Tobu Zoo from July 22 with popular anime series Attack on Titan, which will enter its third season on July 14 and air to October 8. The theme of the event is Survey Corps members from the series taking on the role of biological researchers to conduct biological research. Giant life-sized panels of familiar faces from Attack on Titan will be displayed, in addition to animal panels with original designs. Two of the show’s main characters, Eren Jaeger and Levi, will make an appearance dressed as animal handlers.       How did you like our article? Why not participate in some of these events with your family and friends?