Yokohama Coffee Festival is coming back for the first time in three years! The event will bring together the best coffee from around Japan, showing off the personality and individuality of each shop. The festival was created to build bridges between shops and customers and to spread coffee culture in Yokohama. Coffee fans should head to Yokohama Park on October 23, 2022. 

Coffee tickets–four cups for ¥1,000–will be available to purchase on the day of the event, allowing visitors to compare different shops. From those who are just starting to enjoy coffee to those who are coffee fanatics, this event will allow everyone to enjoy coffee to the max! Be sure to chat with the charming baristas as you explore the festival!

FamilyMart stores nationwide have started a campaign in collaboration with the free-to-play mobile game Pokemon Cafe ReMix! From June 21 until July 18, visitors will be able to pick up some special treats and exclusive merchandise.

Pikachu Frappes

A new addition to the Frappe series, customers will be able to enjoy Pikachu’s Pineapple Frappe starting June 21, featuring Pikachu in a cute cafe uniform. Made with golden pineapple pulp, the drink is perfect for summer, offering a refreshing sweet and sour taste. There are three cup designs available–one with Pikachu in red, one in blue, and another in green.

Original Merchandise Campaign

Part I: June 21, 10:00~ / Original PP Coaster (4 varieties)

Part 2: July 5, 10:00~ / Cafe Menu Design Original Memo Pad (4 varieties)

*Sample Images

A goods campaign is also underway. Customers purchasing three qualifying products will receive exclusive merchandise–while supplies last, of course! The event will run from June 21 at 10:00 through July 18.

Stamp Campaign

Left: 5 stamps, Original Lunch Bag / Right: 10 stamps, Original Plates (Set of 3)

Collecting stamps on the FamilyMart app can also net fans some special prizes! At the same time, Pokemon fans can use the app to win tickets to Pokemon GO Fest 2022 Sapporo.

© 2022 Pokémon. © 1995-2022 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.
Developed by Genius Sonority 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。Nintendo Switchのロゴ・Nintendo Switchは任天堂の商標です。

©2022 Niantic, Inc. ©2022 Pokémon. 
©1995-2022 Nintendo/Creatures Inc. /GAME FREAK inc. 
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。

Sony Park Mini, a tiny experimental art space in Ginza, is going to hold fans over until Ginza Sony Park opens in 2024. 

Sony Park Mini is located in a small 3.5 square meter space on B1F of the Nishiginza parking lot adjacent to Ginza Sony Park, which is currently under construction. The concept of the space is to “hold events that highlight local artists.”

More than 30 experimental programs will be held throughout the year highlighting unique creators and artists from all backgrounds including music, film, art, food, fashion, and shopping. Depending on which programs are popular, the project may extend to other cities. 

The first event, ‘Ayatake Exaki presents None Session,’ will run from March 23 until April 5, 2022, and will feature the musician and his piano.

Program Schedule
1: March 23 – April 5, 2022 / Ayatake Ezaki (Musical Artist)
2: April 6 – April 19, 2022 / Takuro Tamayama (Contemporary Artist)
3: April 20 – May 2, 2022 / Chiaki Kadota (Painter)
4: May 3 – May 16, 2022 / Neo Sora (Film Director), Aiko Masubuchi (Film Curator)
*The period of these events is subject to change. Any changes will be announced on Sony Park Mini social media accounts.

The Nishiginza Parking Lot Coffee shop, located inside Sony Park Mini, will offer a lineup of drinks made from carefully selected coffee beans. Vegan donuts and cookies made with natural ingredients will also be available.

To celebrate the final season of Attack on Titan, NewDays, a convenience store chain in Japan, has started a special campaign until January 10, 2022. Plenty of collaborate snacks will be available for the next few weeks.

Collaboration Food

Special Attack on Titan Packaging

Special Attack on Titan Packaging, “Exterminate Every Last Grain!” 

Luxury Seafood Onigiri (Special Packaging)

Luxury Seafood Onigiri

Nine Titan Bento

Collaboration Merch

Acrylic Keychain

Acrylic Keychain

Pin

Pin

Acrylic Stand

Bonus (Round 1)

Bonus (Round 2)

Present Campaign

A Prize: Signed Poster (3 Winners)

B Prize: NewDays Original Illustration Blanket (50 Winners)

Super-sized luxury onigiri are now available as part of the collaboration, along with special bread and bento featuring images of popular Attack on Titan characters. Seven types of original merchandise will be available at participating NewDays locations, and those spending over ¥600 including one or more Suntory beverages will be entered to win a poster signed by the cast. Don’t miss it!

UCC Ueshima Coffee is currently developing the Food with Coffee themed ‘UCC CAFE@HOME’ selection, pairing snacks with a perfectly matching coffee. Doraemon is the latest to appear in the CAFE@HOME series in the new collaboration, designed by Sanrio. The new series features coffee and gifts based on the Doraemon characters’ favorite snacks and was released on September 3, Doraemon’s birthday.

CAFE@HOME Doraemon Series

UCC CAFE@HOME DORAEMON Dorayaki Suited Coffee VP10g: ¥281 (Tax Incl.)

UCC CAFE@HOME DORAMI Melon Pan Suited Coffee VP10g: ¥281 (Tax Incl.)

UCC CAFE@HOME NOBITA Caffeine-free Coffee VP10g: ¥281 (Tax Incl.)

Gifts

UCC CAFE@HOME Doraemon Secret Gadget Print 6-piece Set: ¥1,901 (Tax Incl.)

UCC CAFE@HOME Doraemon Open Lot Printed 6-piece Set: ¥1,685 (Tax Incl.)

Goods

Doraemon Mug (Dorayaki): ¥1,540 (Tax Incl.)

Doraemon Cotton Handkerchief (Yellow) ¥990 (Tax Incl.)

Present Campaign Freebie: Original Coaster

CAFE@HOME, main product and cafe brand of UCC Group’s COFFEE STYLE UCC, are releasing a lineup of Doraemon themed coffees, each to be drank with the characters’ favorite snacks: One to go with Doraemons beloved Dorayaki, one for Dorami’s preferred Melon Pan, and a caffeine-free blend for the sleep-loving Nobita.

UCC has been researching coffee and food combinations for many years, using taste sensors to analyze both the coffee and food before diagnosing the comparability rating between each product. The company has patented their ‘Food Matching System’ technology, which has now been used to find out which coffee would be best suited to Doraemon’s Dorayaki.

An in store campaign has been announced to celebrate the release of CAFE@HOME’s Doraemon series, starting on September 3. During the campaign, customers who spend over ¥3,000 on CAFE@HOME’s Doraemon series will receive a free coaster. The coasters are only available in store and are limited in quantity.

Taste the world of Doraemon for yourself with UCC CAFE@HOME’s special coffee technology!

Classic Japanese coffee chain Key Coffee has teamed up with fashion brand THE SHOP TK for the second time. New merchandise is now available at THE SHOP TK locations nationwide!

Coffee Shop Photo T-shirts 

Key Motif Embroidery

Jet Brew

Jet Brew Tops, perfect for autumn weather

The two first collaborated in March 2009, releasing items under the theme of ‘life with coffee.’ The merchandise was incredibly well-received, and this new collaboration has a curious new theme: junkissa, or coffee shops which don’t serve alcohol. These establishments have been popular with young people in recent years.

The photo T-shirts in the collection feature images taken by photographer Toshiaki Kitaoka. Each photo was taken in carefully selected coffee shops, picked by Rina Namba, a director of the Tokyo Coffee Shop Research Institute. These include Coffee House Rouen, Koushuya, COFFEE SHOP Galant, and Cafe Crown. Each of these have a classic Showa feel, so if you get the chance, definitely check them out for that retro-Japan feel.

The sustainable material is made from post-brewed coffee powder, and is perfect for cool autumn weather. As with the first collection, the left sleeve is embroidered with the symbolic Key Coffee logo.

Grab some of these pieces for the coffee drinker in your life!

SarutaHiko Coffee have announced that as part of their 10th anniversary celebrations, their fifth celebratory project will be a collaboration with iconic Japanese bag brand PORTER. The bag will be available to preorder on the SarutaHiko Coffee webshop fromAugust 28, 2021. The collaboration bag features a mouton badge that has been dyed using SarutaHiko coffee.

PORTER x SarutaHiko Coffee ‘Coffee Bean Shoulder Bag (Bourbon) and Bean Mouton Badge: ¥22,000 (Tax Included)

PORTER x SarutaHiko Coffee 2-way Tote Bag S & Bean Mouton Badge: ¥28,600 (Tax Included)

PORTER x SarutaHiko Coffee 2-way Tote Bag L & Bean Mouton Badge: ¥33,000 (Tax Included)

The unique coffee bean shaped shoulder bag is the perfect size to fit your smartphone, keys, and other small necessities. The product is named after the Bourbon coffee bean, a bean famous for its high quality, calling back to the previous SarutaHiko Coffee collaboration. The 2-way tote bag features the SarutaHiko Coffee and PORTER logo on both sides, so you can swap it around to suit your mood. The bag also has pockets conveniently placed on both the inside and the outside. The L-size tote is suited to daily use, perfect for school and work as it can fit A4 documents and laptops, with a pocket on the side to fit a water bottle or umbrella.

The conveniently sized S-size bag is perfect for neighbourhood shopping trips or short outings.

The bag is dyed a deep coffee brown and has been crafted in a handy unisex design. All collaboration bags come with a removable Bean Mouton badge. The badge is made using mouton that has been dyed using the same beans that are used in SarutaHiko Coffee’s

espresso.

These collaboration items would make the perfect gift to any coffee-loving friend!

Key Coffee has recreated its coffee from 1920’s when the cafe chain first opened. Named the Yokohama 1920 Founding Blend, the coffee was released on July 20 and will be available at their 54 branches up and down Japan until August 24, the same date when the coffee shop first opened.

Yokohama 1920 Founding Blend

A picture of Key Coffee’s Yokohama branch in 1936 when it was known as Kimura Coffee

Retro Showa-style espresso con panna

Milk Brûlée

Yokohama 1920 Founding Blend recreates the same flavour of coffee that the cafe served in 1920 when it first opened in Yokohama, an area bustling with restaurants serving both Asian and Western cuisine. It uses Brazilian coffee beans at its base, a type which was circulated a lot at the time. It has a distinct sweet fragrance and goes well with milk and sugar.

Back them, coffee was a commodity yearned for by the people of Japan. After releasing their hit coffee syrup in 1921, Key Coffee began serving coffee in a way that was simple, tasty, and accessible to everyone such as drip coffee and their Noi coffee-making series. In the 1930’s their products began to line the shelves of department stores as they began to develop as a spearhead for the emergence of coffee culture in Japan. They also began selling TOARCO TORAJA in 1978, a highly-regarded premium coffee. Today, the chain continues to be a hub for coffee lovers, and is creating new coffees and techniques.

Japan has been a boom in junkissa in recent years, a classic cafe which blends the atmosphere of the Meiji and Showa periods. Key Coffee is showcasing two coffees on their recipe page which capture this flair including an espresso con panna and milk brûlée.

JApanese comedy duo JARUJARU has paired up with Fukuoka-based coffee shop NO COFFEE to release a clothing and accessory collection branded with the name ‘NO JARUJARU.’

NO JARUJARU T-Shirt | ¥4,620 (Tax Included)

NO JARUJARU Mask | ¥1,760 (Tax Included)

NO JARUJARU Sticker | ¥660 (Tax Included)

NO JARUJARU Key Chain JARUJARU TOWER 2021 ver. G&F | ¥1,210 (Tax Included)

Comments

Goto (JARUJARU)

“We had actually planned to collaborative with NO COFFEE back in 2020 for our live show, but it unfortunately had to be cancelled, so we weren’t able to. But now our prayers have finally been answered and we get to collaborate! NO JARUJARU replaces ‘COFFEE’ with our name. Like coffee, we want to become comedians that are a close part of everyone’s lives.”

Fukutoku (JARUJARU)

“NO JARUJARU!? It’s actually a wonderful piece of copy, don’t you think! We want to give you even more JARU, so much you’ll be saying NO JARUJARU!”

NO JARUJARU launched on June 19, the same day as the comedy duo performed their ‘JARUJARU TOWER 2021’ live show in Fukuoka. The collection is available at the JARUJARU MRKET online shop. NO COFFEE has collaborated with multiple brands before but this is their first time teaming up with comedians.

JARUJARU MARKET will roll out even more products in the near future, with NO JARUJARU arriving as the first release. JARUJARU’s official YouTube channel ‘JARUJARU TOWER’ has over 600 million views, and they even have an English subtitled channel called ‘JARUJARU OVERSEAS.’ The duo are only continuing to expand.

Bandai’s character-inspired Japanese confectionery series Tabemas released a new collection of traditional Japanese wagashi confections and tarts inspired by the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime series at Lawson convenience stores across Japan on June 15.

Tabemas Demon Slayer

‘Tabemas’ is an abbreviation of the Japanese words taberareru masukotto, meaning ‘mascots that you can eat.’ It is a Japanese confectionery series that combines well-known characters and Japanese sweets made from ingredients like red bean paste, sugar and rice flour.

Their line-up of three confections are based on Tanjiro, Nezuko, and Zenitsu from the series, each of which captures their charm points in terms of colour and design. Tanjiro is chocolate flavoured, Nezuko is strawberry, and Zenitsu is custard.

Tabemas Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba 2021 | ¥285 Each (Tax Included)

Demon Slayer Tarts

Tabemas has also baked up some no-baked cheesecake tarts featuring designs of Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, Inosuke, Tomioka, Kyojuro, and Shinobu.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Tarts | ¥249 Each (Tax Included)

©︎ 吾峠呼世晴／集英社・アニプレックス・ufotable

Sanrio teamed up with the convenience store chain FamilyMart to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their popular character Pompompurin with a special soufflé and macarons that hit shelves up and down Japan on June 8.

Pompompurin Soufflé Pudding | ¥276 (Before Tax)

Pompompurrin & Cinnamoroll Macarons | ¥350 (Before Tax)

Pom’s Kitchen Campaign

The Japanese pudding-style soufflé is made with smooth and velvety custard and caramel. It’s sold in a cup in three different original designs. Also available as part of the celebration is a set of macarons made to look like Pompompurin as well as Cinnamoroll, another one of Sanrio’s most popular characters. They are wearing cute king and queen crowns respectively.

A campaign is also being held where you can win some special Pompompurin merchandise by posting a photo of a rice dish inspired by Pompompurin on social media. More details can be found on the campaign website below.

MINISTOP Japan released three new desserts in collaboration with Morinaga on Tuesday: the Morinaga Milk Caramel Baumkuchen, Morinaga Milk Caramel Pound Cake, and Morinaga Milk Caramel Roll Cake.

Morinaga Milk Caramel Baumkuchen

Morinaga Milk Caramel Pound Cake

Morinaga Milk Caramel Roll Cake

Morinaga’s “Milk Caramel” is a long-selling product that has been sold for over 100 years. The triple dessert release coincides with Milk Caramel Day, a day by Morinaga that falls on June 10 to commemorate the flavour. The tasty caramel delights make as the perfect accompaniment during coffee breaks, when working, when studying, or just as a little treat.

The desserts are now available at all MINISTOP convenience stores in Japan.