Last year, the Pola Museum Annex in Tokyo hosted a charity auction to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic breaking out across the globe. As the world continues to feel the effects of the virus, the charity event is returning for a second year, and is set to be held from November 12 until December 5, 2021. The title for this year’s art exhibition is ‘Find Your Travel.’     

Lemon Tree - Yuka Kashihara. Acrylic and oil on canvas.  2020. 

 

POLA Dot or snowball ~Based on Tosa Mitsuyoshi’s Colored Painting of Yugiri from The Tale of Genji~ - Tetsuya Noguchi. Acrylic. 2020. 

our whereabouts - Moe Nakamura. Camphor, bronze, oil. 2021. 

Philanthropy - Yuko Higuchi. Hemp paper, pen, watercolor. 2020. 

Baby Heel-less Shoes - Noritaka Tatehama. Cowhide, pigskin, dye, metal zipper, coated crystal glass. 2020. 

  Last year’s charity auction raised over ¥9,145,000 (about $83,000) for the Japanese Red Cross. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues around the globe, and as Japan remains locked down, this year’s event hopes to raise even more useful funds to help medical professionals on the front lines.  20 artists are participating in the exhibition, with each creating one work based on the theme of ‘travel.’ In addition to simply viewing these pieces at the exhibition, a silent auction will also be held online. With travel being severely restricted, these works of art seek to inspire and encourage visitors to imagine a better future, when the world is open once again. All proceeds will once again be donated to the Japanese Red Cross.   

In an effort to ensure the safety and protect the health of guests and staff, Universal Studios Japan (USJ) introduced strict measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on June 8, 2020, such as limiting the number of people who could enter the park each day and enforcing thorough cleaning routines. This enabled the park to reopen after its temporary closure. It has since been able to deliver its scope of fun and excitement to guests, albeit in a more structured way. USJ wants to make wearing masks more fun too, and so it is releasing a range of character-inspired face masks, such as Snoopy, Elmo and the Cookie Monster, on August 7. Part of the money made from sales of these masks will be donated to the USJ Wonder Kids Program which helps support children in need.

Universal Studios Japan original design masks

The masks' unique designs take the mouths of each character. These can be worn together with each respective characters' headband which are also sold at USJ. Designs include Elmo, Cookie Monster, Snoopy, Tim, Jurassic Park, and Jaws.   Photos provided by Universal Studios Japan.HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR. (s20)Minions and all related elements and indicia TM & © 2020 Universal Studios. All rights reserved.TM & © 2020 Universal Studios.© 2020 Peanuts© '76, '20 SANRIO© 2020 Sesame WorkshopTM & © Universal Studios & Amblin EntertainmentTM & © Universal Studios.TM Universal Studios.

Over 50 manga artists in Japan are coming together for the launch of the new “MANGA Day to Day” project which will depict daily life during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The project is set to roll out for free in mid-June on Twitter and Comic Days. A teaser by famous manga artist Tetsuya Chiba (Ashita no Joe; Notari Matsutarō) was released on May 22, 2020.   A related project entitled “Day to Day” is also taking place over on the Japanese literature news website TREE where over 50 popular authors have penned writings and essays on the restrictions of today’s everyday life. In addition to Japan, both projects have caught the attention of overseas news media and websites too. Like the related “Day to Day” project, “MANGA Day to Day” will have one new manga strip released for free each day on Twitter and Comic Days. A piece entitled Akudama by Tetsuya Chiba is already available to see over on the project’s official Twitter account.   People’s lives have changed drastically as a result of the pandemic. To pass down this time in history to the next 100, or even 200 years, the pieces contributed to the “MANGA Day to Day” project will be compiled into a book that’s scheduled for release in early 2021. A special edition of the book will also be compiled featuring both the manga and writing pieces.   Be sure to follow the Twitter account below to keep up to date.

A BATHING APE® released its new face mask case on Saturday (May 23) for people to hygienically put away their face masks, whether to store away or for on the go. The cases will be given to everyone that purchases something from the BAPE STORE® or BAPE.COM in Japan. The case features BAPE's iconic APE HEAD design. It's made from PVC and so can be hand washed so people can safely and hygienically store their face masks. The case can of course be used to store hand sanitiser or hand wipes too.

Like many institutions around the world now, Mori Art Museum is temporarily closed as a result of COVID-19. But that hasn't stopped the museum spreading creativity as it recently launched a new page on its website titled "Mori Art Museum Digital."   The page comes as part of a new agenda by Mori Art Museum which it is calling "MAM @ HOME" which encourages people to "Stay Home, Stay Creative." The project aims for the museum to stay connected with people even while the building itself is closed by offering a host of free art-related content.   This includes the "Future and the Arts 3D Walkthrough" which had to end in response to the museum's closure, an online sneak preview of the postponed "MAM Screen 013: Mounira Al Solh," the "ARTISTS COOKBOOK" which features recipes, photos and stories from artists around the world, and more.  

Program #1: Online Sneak Preview of MAM Screen 013: Mounira Al Solh

Mounira Al Solh - Rawane's Song (2006)

Mounira Al Solh - As If I Don't Fit There (2006)

Since "MAM Screen 013: Mounira Al Aolh" has been postponed as a measure against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Mori Art Museum is introducing two works online prior to the official screening: Rawane's Song (2006) and As If I Don't Fit There (2006).   Mounira Al Solh works internationally and is based in her home country Lebonan and in Europe. Her work offers humorous takes on everyday events and stories, as well as episodes based on the lives of women from a contemporary society where political and religious conflicts as well as issues surrounding refugees occurs.  

Program #2: Future and the Arts 3D Walkthrough

Due to the museum's closure, "Future and the Arts: AI, Robotics, Cities, Life - How Humanity Will Live Tomorrow" was forced to end earlier than scheduled. Since then, the museum has been able to share walkthroughs of the exhibition via Instagram Live, as well as photos. Now people can enjoy the exhibition in a more immersive way as the museum introduces a virtual, 3D walkthrough, which they were able to capture thanks to the galleries being empty. It's a complete recreation of the exhibition for people to enjoy at home.

Special #1: ARTISTS COOKBOOK by MAM

As a special project during Mori Art Museum's closure, the museum has introduced "ARTISTS COOKCOOK by MAM," a collection of recipes, stories, and photographs that artists from around the world have shared with them. The first recipe showcased is the "Kusama Lotus" by Kataoka Mami, the Director of Mori Art Museum. She describes lotus roots as reminiscent of polka dots and white nets, and that it's a dish we could keep eating forever. She calls it a "dish for infinity."   More recipes can be found on the museum's official social media pages, so be sure to check them out.  

Learning Online: Enjoy, Play, Learn Art @ HOME

Mori Art Museum hosts various programs and events where people can deepen their knowledge about contemporary art from around the world. The museum has posted an archived list of videos from some of their programs which people can tune in to from the comfort of their homes.

Back in August 2016, Japanese comedian and television personality Kazuhito Kosaka released his hit song PPAP (Pen Pineapple Apple Pen) his stage name Pikotaro which took the world by storm, earning headlines in international news media like CNN and BBC and receiving mentions by celebrities around the world including Justin Bieber.   To date, the PPAP music video has over 327 million views on YouTube (as of May 11, 2020). It was the number one most viewed video in the world on YouTube for three consecutive weeks. Pikotaro hailed as the first person in Japan to earn such a feat. The viral track also made Pikotaro the first Japanese artist to clock in the Billboard US's Hot 100 at No. 77 as well the shortest song to feature on the chart for which he receives a Guinness World Record.   Last month, Pikotaro released a 2020 version of PPAP, and has now dropped a brand new song entitled Hoppin' Flappin'.   On his YouTube channel, Pikotaro commented: "The #stayhome situation is ongoing so I made another new track!! Hop like a rabbit! Fly like a bird! Get your lazy body movin' with these jumps! Have fun with Hoppin' Flappin'! Can you complete the Hop and Flap? PIKOTARO was too old to do it! Let’s Hoppin' Flappin' with the new "PPAP"!!"   "Hoppin' Flappin'" / PIKOTARO