Photo by zakkubalan ©2022 Kab Inc.

On January 17, 2022, beloved composer Ryuichi Sakamoto celebrated his 70th birthday. The artist continues to battle cancer, and as a way to encourage and empower him, the commons label launched a special anniversary website titled 10 Favorites – Ryuichi Sakamoto. The site features appearances from major artists and creators who have cited Sakamoto as an inspiration, listing their ten favorite works by the composer alongside their unique perspectives and thoughts. The 25th and final installment features SUGA of the popular K-pop boy band BTS.

Comment from SUGA (BTS)

「어릴적 부모님 손에 이끌려 ‘마지막 황제’ 재개봉을 간 적이 있었습니다.
그 때 음악에 압도 되었다는 느낌을 처음 받았고 12살 음악을 만들기 시작하며 사카모토 류이치 선생님의 음악을 많이 듣고 샘플링을 하며 꿈을 키웠습니다.
저에게 수많은 영감을 준 뮤지션들은 많지만 사카모토 류이치 선생님은 더 많은 꿈을 꾸게 해주신 분입니다 (저는 참고로 코다 다큐멘터리의 재해대피소에서 연주한 Merry Chistmas Mr. Lawrence live 버전을 가장 좋아합니다)
부디 건강하세요 선생님.

“When I was young, my parents took me to see The Last Emperor. That was when I first experienced the feeling of being awed by music. I began composing music when I was twelve and dreamed about my future while listening to your music, even sampling some of it.

There are many musicians who have inspired me, but you are one of the people who has influenced me the most. (For reference, my favorite Sakamoto piece is the live performance version of Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence that was performed in the area impacted by the 2011 earthquake, which appears in the documentary CODA). Mr. Sakamoto, please stay healthy.”

Previous contributors to the project include Shinro Ohtake, Goro Inagaki, Banana Yoshimoto, Shiro Takatani, Yukihiro Takahashi, Akira Asada, Kiko Mizuhara, Haruomi Hosono, Yuima Nakazato, Ryu Murakami, LEO, UA, Shin’ichi Fukuoka, U-zhaan, Lee Sang-il, Ryoji Ikeda, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Kei Wakabayashi, Shinichiro Watanabe, Kiichi Fujiwara, Miki Nakatani, Daito Manabe, Taeko Ohnuki, and Hirokazu Koreeda.

Fans of Sakamoto’s works should feel free to peruse the site, which includes English translations of the guest’s selections and thoughts.

A pop-up store for the popular anime series Chainsaw Man will open at baseyard tokyo from December 9, 2022 until February 15, 2023. 

The pop-up store will feature goods with new illustrations of Denji, Aki Hayakawa, Power, and Makima.

In addition to limited-edition merch, exclusive materials from behind the scenes of the Chainsaw Man anime series will be on display. The space itself is also worth seeing, with figures on sale and a huge monitor showing off the series. 

Round 1: December 9, 2022~

Round 2: January 2, 2023~

For every ¥2,000 spent on goods (including tax), a bonus item will be handed out. These bonus items will differ during Round 1 and Round 2, so be sure to come back during both periods!

©藤本タツキ／集英社・ ＭＡＰＰＡ

From November 19 to December 6, a limited-time shop inspired by the classic anime series Heidi, Girl of the Alps will open at EKIHAKO at Eki Marché Shin-Osaka at Shin-Osaka Station. Fans will be able to snag a number of exclusive items during this short time!

Heidi Pudding / Heidi Milk Caramels

Cream Sandwich

Printed Cookies with Bonus Pin

Chocolates (9-piece set)

Acrylic Swizzle Sticks

Mini Framed Magnets

Disinfectant Spray / Mini Canvas

Wooden Keychain

Wooden Stand with Clip

Non-woven Fabric Mask

Neck Strap

Clear Folder

Non-woven Tote Bag

Pullover Hoodie

Ceramic Mug

Kutani Ware Dish

Lottery

Purchase Bonus: Spend ¥2,200 or more (including tax) and receive an exclusive Osaka sticker (Not for Sale). 

Heidi, Girl of the Alps aired in Japan in 1974 and has remained popular to this day, largely due to the show’s characters often appearing in TV commercials. The goods available at this shop are only available for a short time, and visitors can also participate in a raffle to win some rare items!

©︎ZUIYO

SEGA’s popular ROMAPI purikura machines nationwide are currently teaming up with BTS! Fans can find some adorable Butter-inspired stamps with their favorite TinyTAN characters, useful for spicing up snapshots. The collab is running until December 12, 2022.

During this event, a total of 39 TinyTAN stamps are available, all inspired by the group’s hit song Butter. Two stamps are also available, and images can also be sent to your smartphone using Purikura ON. 

Fans of BTS shouldn’t miss this opportunity to snag some cute shots!

A story-based digital GPS rally inspired by Chainsaw Man will be held within Tokyo’s subway system from November 1 until November 28. Fans of the anime series won’t want to miss it!

Participants will be tasked with one vital mission: to find five senior devil hunters who are currently undercover at subway stations around the city.

Participants will download an app from the special website and follow the instructions within to find stamp locations at stations throughout Tokyo. When they reach the designated location, they’ll find a special poster, and they’ll just need to press a button in the app to earn a stamp. By collecting stamps in all six locations, fans will receive a unique key visual which can only be obtained through this event. 

Pop-Up Shop

During the event period, fans will also find a limited-time pop-up shop inside Ikebukuro Sunshine City. Original collaboration items will be on sale, and a game will be set up with winners able to walk away with unique prizes. From November 1 to November 20, admission to the shop will be by advance reservation only on a first-come, first-served basis to reduce crowding. Reservations can be made through the official website.

©藤本タツキ／集英社・ＭＡＰＰＡ

A collaboration cafe and pop-up shop inspired by the popular anime series Tokyo Revengers will open again this year following a successful run in 2021. The event will be held on the fourth floor of Tokyo Solamachi from November 3 until December 2, 2022.

Collaboration Merch

The collaboration will feature a variety of limited-edition goods with new designs based on the theme of the ‘backstreets.’ The lineup includes acrylic stands, clear folders, and plenty more. Special Baji birthday goods will also be available on November 3!

Collaboration Menu

The popular collaboration menu features food items inspired by the show’s characters, and guests will be able to enjoy everything from curry and yakisoba to pancakes and crepes. Even if you’re not hungry, you can still grab a drink!

Baji’s Birthday Celebration Event

From November 3 until November 7, fans of Baji won’t want to miss his birthday event. During this time, guests will be able to snag a special sweets plate, so don’t miss it!

See the official website for more details!

My Hero Academia began its sixth season this month, and to celebrate, a special pop-up store will open at Tokyo Solamachi for a limited time. Fans will be able to grab some neat merch from November 5 until December 2, 2022.

Limited-Edition Collaborative Goods

The new merchandise features unique character nametags drawn exclusively for the shop. Fans can grab all kinds of goods, from acrylic pen stands and pins to clear folders and pouches. 

Purchase Bonuses Available

Guests spending ¥1,000 (tax included) or more will be gifted an original illustration card. Ten designs are available, and each card will be given out at random. 

These new products can also be purchased online at the Tree Village site from November 5 at 9:00 until December 2 at 23:59. Note that the purchase bonus is not available for online orders.

For more details, check out the official website!

©堀越耕平／集英社・僕のヒーローアカデミア製作委員会

FUN’S PROJECT, a creator co-creation service operated by Dai Nippon Printing, has opened a limited-time pop-up store inspired by Hatsune Miku’s Mikaeri Bijin, or head-turning beauty, at the Tsutaya Bookstore in Shimokitazawa until October 30!

Guests can buy exclusive goods at the shop, with several incredible works on display. While Hatsune Miku has a famous song titled Mikaeri Bijin, the shop is also paying homage to the 150th anniversary of the Tokyo National Museum’s initiative to restore the original 17th-century Mikaeri Bijin ukiyo-e print by Hishikawa Moronobu and the Dancing haniwa, a pair of terracotta figures believed to have been made in the 6th century. A massive tapestry featuring Hatsune Miku looking elegantly over her shoulder was shown off at the National Museum for a limited time, receiving positive reviews. The illustrator, Rella, will have drawings and a personal interview on display, and a portion of the proceeds from merchandise sales will be used to repair important cultural assets.

Why not come grab a few unique items while you can for a good cause?

BTS fans will want to head to Nagoya! The TinyTAN Licensed Product Special Exhibition is now open at Nagoya Kintetsu Pass’e until October 2, 2022. Tons of new products inspired by Butter are available at an on-site pop-up shop!

The exhibition opened on September 17, and fans of the BTS song Butter are flocking to the event to snag some adorable new merch. In addition to new interior goods being unveiled for the first time, popular products have been released with entirely new designs. 

Many other world premiere products will also be available, including the 4 Season Blanket decorated with TinyTAN characters and inspired by spring, summer, fall, and winter. This will be available in limited quantities, so don’t miss out!

Noritake, a fine china maker, has opened preorders for cup & saucer sets inspired by popular BTS songs! The DNA, MIC Drop, and Dynamite sets are currently available to order, while the Boy With Luv and Butter sets will be available on September 21. If you want one of these gorgeous sets, be quick–preorders will end once all items sell out.

The cups and saucers are made of bone china, a type of porcelain, and are decorated in bright and vivid colors inspired by some of the Korean boy band’s biggest hits. The backs of the cups and saucers are decorated with the BTS logo, so fans will want to add this to their kitchen. 

(C) BIGHIT MUSIC. All Rights Reserved.

Jewelry brand Tasaki has announced a special collaboration pop-up with the popular manga Chainsaw Man from September 7 until September 13, 2022 at KIRAMEKI BOARD on the first floor of the Iwataya Department Store in Fukuoka. The pop-up is being held to celebrate new items in the ‘danger’ line, one of Tasaki’s new iconic items.

At the venue, guests can peruse a selection of Tasaki’s fine jewelry, including the new ‘danger’ collection which was inspired by the beauty of insectivorous plants. This is a perfect mix with Chainsaw Man, which has captivated audiences around the world with its unique plot, savage content, and one-of-a-kind characters. Special visuals of the main characters wearing jewelry from the ‘danger’ collection will be on display, drawn by the original author of the series Tatsuki Fujimoto. Also on display at the venue will be a special Pochita figure, whose chainsaw will be lavishly set with pearls.

Exterior ©TASAKI 

To celebrate the collaboration, unique jewelry inspired by Chainsaw Man, Pochita, and Power will be on sale exclusively at the pop-up venue. These will only be available in limited quantities.

Fans of the series who are looking for some gorgeous new drip shouldn’t miss this curious crossover event!

AMNIBUS STORE, known for selling original anime and manga goods, will hold a special pop-up shop for MILGRAM, a music project focusing on viewer participation. The shop will be open from September 16 until October 2, 2022. 

Event Pre-Sale Merchandise

Limited Box Purchase Bonus

Pin (11 varieties)

Acrylic Keychain (11 varieties)

Acrylic Stand (11 varieties)

Acrylic Name Plate (11 varieties)

Original Illustration Pin (11 varieties)

Event Purchase Bonus – 1 Random Bromide (11 varieties) with a Purchase of over ¥2,000 (Including Tax)

At this event, goods using official chibi character illustrations from MILGRAM will be available to purchase in advance and AMNIBUS STORE exclusive bonuses will be distributed to those spending a certain amount.

Fans won’t want to miss this exclusive event!

©ミルグラム管理委員会