The new Sonny Angel Japanese Good Luck Series was released on May 27, the same month when the popular doll series reached its 17th anniversary milestone. The series sees Sonny Angel wearing a range of traditional Japanese lucky charms to deliver healing and happiness to people.
The Line-Up
A Lucky Cat with a cute bell on his neck. His raised left hand/paw will bring you good luck.
A hat depicting Mount Fuji, a symbol of Japan. Pine, bamboo and plum leaves are illustrated on the folding fan.
Daruma are brightly coloured hollow dolls decorating houses in Japan so that our wishes will come true.
The Raccoon Dog has a long history as a strange, even supernatural animal and is known to be a shape shifter.
A Guardian Dog is thought to ward off evil spirits. This one is decorated in a houndstooth pattern, also known to be a sign of good luck.
Ebisuten is the god of “prosperous business”. The sea bream in his hand, a fish often served on New Year’s Day and at weddings, is a symbol of “congratulations”.
The packaging
Gift bag
The packaging features a mikuhiki design. A mizuhiki is a decorative cord made from twisted paper. If you purchase four or more dolls as part of this series on Sonny Angel’s online store, you’ll also receive a free gift bag.
Information
Sonny Angel Japanese Good Luck Series
Released: May 27, 2021
Price: ¥850 (Tax Included)
Product Page (English): https://www.sonnyangel.com/en/2021/05/07/japanese-goodluck/
Buy Online: https://www.sonnyangelstore.com/products/japanesegoodluck
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Born in Niigata and living in London, international singer-songwriter Rina Sawayama released her second album Hold The Girl on September 16. The album is Sawayama’s first in two and a half years and was written and recorded over the past year and a half. With an overarching pop sound, the album blends other genres expertly, from country, electro, and R&B to folk, metal, and rock. Hold The Girl manages to track Sawayama’s personal growth, sharing her goals for the future while fully accepting her past. The album has already received rave reviews from media outlets worldwide, including Rolling Stone, The Times, DIY, The Mail on Sunday, and more. “Among contemporary pop stars, Rina Sawayama certainly stands out,” The Times reads. Sawayama has also announced that she will hold her first solo Japan tour in January 2023, stopping in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. Her performance at Summer Sonic 2022 was a smash hit, so don’t miss your chance to see her live if you couldn’t make it!
Information
Hold the Girl – Rina Sawayama (2nd Album, Released September 16)
Stream/Purchase: https://umj.lnk.to/RinaSawayama_HoldTheGirl
Japan Tour Dates:
January 17, 2023 – Diamond Hall, Nagoya
January 18, 2023 – Zepp Osaka Bayside, Osaka
January 20, 2023 – Tokyo Garden Theater, Tokyo
Details: https://www.livenation.co.jp/artist-rina-sawayama-1159943
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Taisho Pharmaceuticals has announced a new flavor of Vicks Medicated Drops available only in Japan! The Matcha flavor will be available starting October 1, 2022.
VICKS Medicated Drops are lozenges perfect to relieve sore throats, and in an attempt to make a product for everyone’s taste, 14 flavors have been developed so far–five fruit types, three refreshing types, and six sugarless types. Matcha has become a more popular flavor among both young and old people in recent years, and this Japan-only flavor is sure to be a hit. The active ingredient, CPC, disinfects and sterilizes the mouth, so the next time you feel a cold coming on, try one of these lozenges out. Information
VICKS Medicated Drops (Matcha)
Release Date: October 1, 2022
Brand Site: https://brand.taisho.co.jp/vicks/
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The five winners of the second Japanese Traditional Culture Grand Prix have been announced! The contest was spearheaded by the Japan Traditional Culture Promotion Project, established in May 2020 as a collaborative effort among companies, associations, and local governments to establish a sustainable framework for the continued development of Japanese traditional culture. The project is headed by Seiichi Kondou, the Former Commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs. United Arrows Honorary Chairman Osamu Shigematsu serves as Vice-Chairman. Along with Nobuo Yoshida, the 14th generation head of the 400-year-old traditional paper fan store Ibasen, the Japan Cultural Promotion Project began this Grand Prix as a way to honor outstanding works of Japanese culture by companies, organizations, and individuals. Anyone can enter, regardless of nationality, residence, or age. The jury consists of 11 people from various fields, including Richard Collasse, the Chairman of Chanel LLC, and popular model Kozue Akimoto.
Grand Prix Winner
Dustpan x BroomLuo QiEach dustpan is shaped by hand to match the special shape of the Matsumoto broom, which is then dyed with natural Tokushima indigo dye. The broom is the only one in the world made from home-grown broomcorn, and each is made by a third-generation craftsman with years of experience. Runner-up Prizes
Japanese Lacquer Art - EtherTakehito Sasaki [Critique] Both traditional and innovative. The spirit of Japanese culture and the meaning of this award seem to have taken shape in this work. The zippers do not open. The surface looks like leather, but it isn’t. When the lid is opened, the glossy lacquer seems to spread out. My expectations were surpassed. Anyone who sees it or uses it will find themselves lost in imagination, and I’m sure that thinking about that will bring a smile to the creator’s face. This beautiful craftsmanship was born from plenty of care and attention. What a pleasant surprise. (Risa Tanaka) Sake Drinking Set - Japanese nagomi Sake Cups Nagomi Fujita [Critique] There’s something about this piece that shares a spirit with Art Nouveau. The delicate plants superimposed on the bright transparent glass are a powerful image. In traditional Japanese nagomi art, the linear appearance of the plants is painted a bit more lightly, but these overlapping layers and shapes resonate and make an impact. The artist used traditional techniques such as lacquer and foil in a subtle manner, while still making the plants look alive. I’d consider this as a modern take on ecology. (Yuko Hasegawa) Excellence Award
Floating Boat Counter Masafumi Kodama (Registered Architect with a First-Class License) / Taiki Ishikawa (First Class Carpenter/Registered Architect with a Second-Class License) [Critique] The motif that inspired this piece is the traditional Japanese architectural technique of funahijiki. It’s an outstanding piece that utilizes practical architectural practices to create a piece of furniture at the center of a home, somewhere that the family relaxes. It brings the beauty of Japanese wood into the modern age. Funahijiki is a technique that has been used in incredible places, such as the Kyoto Imperial Palace and Kojoin Temple. It’s graceful and elegant, and not often seen in the current age. (Hidetsugu Horikoshi) Folding Chair to Assist in Seiza patol stool SEIZAHirayama Daily Goods Shop, Makiko & Kazuhiko Hirayama [Critique] The judges liked this folding chair for assisting seiza sitting, as it’s something that could be put to practical use right away. It’s sure to help people enjoy tatami culture, and will be a big help for people who seldom sit on the floor in this traditional way. The height and size of the chair, as well as its ability to be folded for easy storage, are nice touches. I’d consider this a masterpiece with incredible potential. (Yuji Akimoto) These pieces of artwork managed to connect traditional Japanese culture with future sensibilities, so give them a look! -
Azur Lane has become a popular mobile game worldwide, and to celebrate its continued success, Pony Canyon will release a 1/7 scale figure of the character Noshiro in 2023. Preorders will open simultaneously worldwide on September 8, 2022 at 11:00.
Noshiro has been a popular character since the game was released, ranking highly in the 2021 Character Popularity Pill. This will be her first figure, and fans will adore her expression and coloring. Her glossy black hair, powerful eyes, and slender legs are gorgeous, and this large figure will become the focal point of any room. Pre-orders are now open in Japan at Pony Canyon's official online anime shop Canime and Amiami. In addition, Canime will be offering an acrylic stand and Amiami will be offering an A2-sized clear poster as store perks, both of which will be based on original illustrations from the game! ©2017 Manjuu Co., Ltd. & Yongshi Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. ©2017 Yostar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Information
Azur Lane – Noshiro
Order Period: September 8, 11:00 – October 12, 23:59
Release Date: August 2023
Preorder: https://bit.ly/3wQLvVA
Height: 230mm (1/7 scale, stand included)
Price: ¥34,980 (Tax Included)
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To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Naruto anime series, Usaburo Kokeshi has created two traditional dolls modeled after Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha. The original manga series by Masashi Kishimoto has become a global phenomenon, and fans won’t want to miss out on these unique pieces! Preorders are now open. Usaburo Kokeshi makes each of these pieces by hand, transforming them from children’s playthings into traditional works of art. The wood used to create these pieces is from trees in Gunma Prefecture. Usaburo Kokeshi Doll - Naruto Uzumaki
Usaburo Kokeshi Doll - Sasuke Uchiha These adorable dolls completely recreate both character’s outfits and hairstyles, and the designers clearly focused on the small details. Enjoy these palm-sized versions of your favorite Naruto characters! ©岸本斉史 スコット／集英社・テレビ東京・ぴえろ Information
Naruto Kokeshi Dolls from Usaburo Kokeshi
Details/Preorders: https://tfansite.jp/feature/naruto2207
Orders Open August 3, 2022 at 11:00
Release Date: Late October 2022
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Behance, the world’s largest creative social media network, has started a new project to promote Japanese traditional culture and arts and crafts to the world. Works on Behance will be transformed into NFTs, with the goal to establish a new way for traditional craftsmen to profit from their work. Japan’s traditional arts and crafts are well-known by many around the world. On the other hand, challenges still remain as many regions’ traditional manufacturing industries are digitized. Sharing more detailed information about these crafts with overseas markets has also been difficult. According to the "Survey on the Revitalization of Local Traditional Manufacturing Industries" published by the Development Bank of Japan in 2018, Japan's traditional arts and crafts industry peaked around 1980. Due to the recession caused by the burst of the bubble economy, the rise of inexpensive foreign products, and changes in lifestyle, the amount of production has been declining year by year. Compared with the peak period, current production has dropped to one-fifth or about 100 billion yen. The workers involved in traditional crafts are also aging, making it difficult to pass on their skills to younger creators. On Behance, users can not only get inspiration from other people's work but can also publish their own works and receive helpful feedback and comments. Marketing professionals also use Behance to find creators for campaigns and collaborations, and previously, a Japanese creator who had uploaded his work to the social media site was asked to illustrate the cover of the New York Times.
This project is designed to promote traditional Japanese arts and crafts in the hopes of supporting their continued development in the face of many difficult conditions.