A winter tradition in Izu, the capybara open-air bath at Izu Shaboten Zoo will be held again this year from November 19 until April 2, 2023. During the event period, guests can watch the adorable capybaras as they enjoy a hot bath once a day at 1:30 PM on weekdays and twice a day at 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM on weekends and holidays. This season marks the 40th anniversary of the popular event, though it all began as a happy accident. In 1982, an employee cleaning the enclosure with hot water noticed that the capybaras were huddling together in a warm puddle. Since then, each year, employees prepare a warm bath for the animals during winter and early spring. During the event period, in addition to the standard open-air baths, the water will be decorated with unique items depending on the season, from yuzu to rose petals.   40th-anniversary goods will available at the Animal Mart Gift Shop at the zoo, as well as the official Izu Shaboten Zoo online store.    For more information about the event's schedule, visit the official website.

Japanese ladies brand FURFUR has invented its own original characters! The two will be released as plushies on September 8, with preorder sales now open at the FURFUR online store and USAGI ONLINE.  

Sousskiss♡: ¥5,940 (Tax Included)

Night☆Tia: ¥5,940 (Tax Included)

  Sousskiss♡ is a cute but mysterious girl with an appearance much like a white cat, while Night☆Tia is a mischievous boy who’s able to charm people with his funny smile. The official FURFUR online store and USAGI ONLINE will also feature an original set of illustrations highlighting the two’s story, including why they’re always together. Look forward to it!  

The popular stop-motion anime series Pui Pui Molcar released a small collection of cute items over on the Japanese anime, manga, and hobby merchandise website CharaDepa on Thursday (February 18) including key rings, an acrylic dioramas, and badges.

Box of Badges (Contains 5) | ¥2,000 (Before Tax)

Acrylic Key Rings | ¥620 (Before Tax)

Acrylic Diorama | ¥1,800 (Before Tax)

Pui Pui Molcar is an ongoing stop-motion anime series produced by Shin-Ei Animation and Japan Green Hearts that began airing on January 5 of this year.

 

©見里朝希JGH・シンエイ動画／モルカーズ

Izu Shaboten Zoo's annual "Capybara Yuzu Hot Bath" event is set to return this winter from December 19, 2020 to January 5, 2021.   In Japan, there's a saying that you won't catch a cold if you take a hot yuzu bath, and so it has been a custom since the Edo period to float the fruits on top of the water during the winter season. Izu Shaboten Zoo's "Capybara Yuzu Hot Bath" event first started in 1996 and has continued every year since throughout the winter and over the New Year. Visitors flock to see the capybara looking content as they enjoy their warm citrus-smelling baths. The zoo's adorable capybara plush toy makes a return this year too. They are made with traditional Japanese colours like indigo blue and emerald green. Their cute appearance are sure to have you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.

Kajikawa Corportation and ASOBISYSTEM CO., LTD are looking to revamp the perceived image of the construction industry in Japan with the launch of the 3K Project. The three "K's" of the project are the Japanese words Kawaii (cute), Kirei (clean), and Kirakira (shiny). Construction work is generally perceived by a different set of three K's: Kitsui (severe), Kitanai (dirty), and Kiken (dangerous), but the number of young people, both men and women, working in the industry in Japan is on the rise, resulting in the work environment changing too. That's where Kajikawa Corporation and ASOBISYSTEM's 3K Project comes in, which aims to re-brand the industry.   That begins with the unveiling of the 3K Project's official mascots: Corny, Gungun & Nonnon, Scoppy, and Metty, a band of construction tools and equipment, each of which has their own unique traits and personalities and who will be used in promotional material about the 3K Project. A set of GIF stickers of these characters has been released on GIPHY aimed at encouraging people who are challenging themselves to new things during increased time at home as a result of the pandemic. The stickers can be found on Instagram stories by typing the following terms in Japanese: 3Kプロジェクト (3K Project), 3Kスタンプ (3K Stamp), カワイイ (Kawaii), キラキラ (Kirakira), キレイ (Kirei), or "Kawaii" in English.   Everyone around the world has had to adapt to a new lifestyle of more time staying indoors, and so we haven't been able to meet with friends and family in person as much. These GIFs are a cute way to show them that you're working on yourself.   Stay tuned for more updates about 3K Project as it works towards changing the face of Japan's construction industry.

Capy Neko Cafe is the newest animal cafe to hit Tokyo. Located in the neighbourhood of Kichijoji, right by the station, customers are able to interact with both cats and capybara at the same time. Japan is famous for its host of animal cafes, from the ubiquitous cat cafes to more unique ones like the owl cafe. But Capy Neko Cafe stands out from the rest as being the first cafe in Japan to combine cats and capybara. You might wonder whether it's actually safe to pet a capybara. They may be the largest rodent in the world, but they in fact loved to be pet by people. They are gentle creatures that get on with and can live alongside cats. At the cafe, you can take photos of the capybara who are sure to be chilling on the sofas as well as feed them. The comfy environment also means that they'll feel like your very own pet capybara at home. ▶︎Tawashi (Male) Tawashi is a sensitive, affectionate, and gentle guy. He loves snacks, and he's sure to flop down if you start petting him on the butt. Part of his daily routine is having an afternoon nap on the sofa together with the cats. ▶︎Dan (Male) The vice store manager of Capy Neko Cafe. He adores humans. He's the kind of guy who'll probably jump up onto you if you cover your lap with a blanket and sit on the sofa. ▶︎Emma (Female) Another member with a soft spot for humans, Emma is reserved kitty who lets everybody eat their food first. She's a needy and spoiled girlーif she's on your lap, you're not getting up. She's siblings with Dan. ▶︎Cream (Male) Cream is everybody's idol. He's unapologetically spoiled and a handsome guy with perfectly round black pupils.   This list is just a small taste of the many cute residents to meet at Capy Neko Cafe. The cafe is also active in finding families for their rescued cats. The number of people who want to own a cat in Japan are looking to rescues now instead of pet shops. At Capy Neko Cafe, you get the best of both worlds: you can meet and interact with a cat and see if they're a good match for you.   If you're interested in visiting Capy Neko Cafe, keep in mind that priority goes to those who have booked in advance. This can be done via their official website, so book first and look forward to kicking back and enjoying a cup of tea, coffee or soft drink before interacting with the cats and capybara!