Hoshinoya Tokyo, a traditional ryokan in Otemachi, has announced the New Year’s Kabuki Plan, a two-day, one-night stay from January 5 until January 7, 2023. During the Edo Period, citizens enjoyed watching Kabuki plays during the New Year’s holidays, often sipping tea at connected teahouses. This event will invite visitors to experience what this was like, complete with traditional food and decorations.

Watching Kabuki was a chic way for those in Edo to ring in the new year. Theater teahouses were also a popular gathering place–along with arranging tickets, the teahouses offered plot notes, tea, sweets, boxed lunches, snacks, and other drinks.*

*Hiroshi Fujita, Yoshihide Tomizawa (2012) / The Updated Kabuki Dictionary, Kashiwa Shobo

Relax Before Enjoying Tea and a Play

Guests are invited to relax in the Ochanoma (Living Room) Lounge, decorated to look like a traditional teahouse with fans, ukiyo-e prints, and formal curtains. Hanabiramochi, or rice cakes with flower petals, will be served with green tea. These rice cakes are said to date back to the New Year’s tradition of eating hard foods like daikon and rice cakes in the hopes of prolonging one’s life. Characterized by its curious burdock root aroma, the cakes are sweetened with white miso bean paste. 

Enjoy a Post-Viewing Mont Blanc Shaped like Soba with Sweet Dessert Wine

At theater teahouses in the Edo period, sake, snacks, and desserts were served one after another. During this special event, a menu inspired by this practice and prepared by Hoshinoya Tokyo Executive Chef Noriyuki Hamada will be served! Soba noodles were often served after a play in the past. Inspired by this tradition, Mont Blanc made with chestnut paste and sponge cake will be served up to look like this popular dish. Paired with a dessert wine aged in oak barrels, the sweet will be served in a traditional lacquerware basket. In addition, the dish will be paired with Wasabi Pralines, Shichimi Meringue, and Ginger Pate de Fruits. 

Take a Rickshaw to the Kabuki-za Theater

Guests will be taken on an Edo-style tour on their way to the Kabuki-za Theater. Passing through the Nihonbashi area, the first stop will be the Fukutoku Shrine. It’s said that Hidetada Tokugawa paid a visit to and praised the shrine on New Year’s Day in 1614. The next shrine on the docket, Hodo Inari Jinja, was enshrined in Edo Castle during the Edo period to protect the heir to the Tokugawa family. It’s said that the shrine provides blessings for child rearing, matchmaking, and business prosperity. 

This tour will provide a more elegant way to explore Tokyo as guests enjoy exposition from their chauffeur. To make the rickshaw ride even more enjoyable, guests can rent kimonos for an extra charge.

Would you like to take a step back in time this New Year?

The Kirby Cafe has announced a warm and tasty new winter menu! New items will be available from November 17, 2022 until February 28, 2023, and are sure to warm up fans of the beloved video game series.

Menu

Winter Kirby Burger & Pasta with Powdered Snow Cheese (30th Anniversary Version)

Winter Waddle Dee Burger & Pasta with Powdered Snow Cheese

Waddle Dee’s Dreamy White Stew

Chef Kawasaki’s Winter Hors d’oeuvres with Roast Beef

Transform! Carby Cake

Kirby’s Dream Ricotta Pancake

Whispy Woods Blessed Tart

Elfilin’s Twinkle☆Frozen Drink

The Winter 2022 menu offers a variety of adorable and tasty menu items featuring Kirby and his friends all dressed up for the colder months. From a burger and pasta set to piping hot stew and fluffy ricotta pancakes, there’s sure to be something for every taste. 

The Carby cake, inspired by Kirby’s special transformation in the recent game Kirby and the Forgotten Land, has been reimagined in a winter version. Fans won’t want to miss out!

This winter, come enjoy plenty of Kirby-inspired treats while you can!

©Nintendo / HAL Laboratory, Inc.

Mika Pikazo is an illustrator and character designer. The artist has designed characters for many popular titles including Fire Emblem Engage, the latest in Nintendo’s Fire Emblem series, as well as book covers and CD jackets.

Starting December 10, the artist will hold his second solo exhibition in three years at the Hz event space in Shibuya.

According to a press release, the exhibition is being held to show a number of creations Pikazo has made recently, and aims to show off new animation and past illustrations to merge his past and future selves. The creator hopes to challenge himself more going forward.

The first main visual, REVENGE, can be seen on the exhibition’s official website. A total of three visuals have been newly drawn for the event and will be released sequentially. In addition, a number of collaborative works with other creators will be on display, so art fans won’t want to miss out.

Limited-edition merchandise featuring new illustrations will be on sale at the venue, and autograph sessions are planned to be held. For more details, check the official Twitter page!

Be sure to come to see Mika Pikazo’s colorful pieces in person!

The 13th iteration of the BT21 Cafe will open at six venues in five cities around Japan. Fans in Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, and Sapporo will want to visit this exclusive event titled ~MAGICAL TIME~. The first cafe opens in Shibuya on November 3. In celebration of BT21’s 5th anniversary, this special cafe is filled with joy and excitement and aims to give fans the best possible experience.

Cafe Menu

Magical Tea Time Set

Food Plate

Food Plate (7 varieties)

Dessert Plate

Dessert Plate (7 varieties)

Drinks

Magical Milk Tea

Black Tea

Iced Coffee / Hot Coffee

Original Goods

Acrylic Keychain (7 varieties, Random)

Acrylic Clip (7 varieties, Random)

Satin Sticker (7 varieties)

Clear Folder (2 varieties)

Handkerchief (7 varieties)

Tote Bag

Mug

Masking Tape / Balloon on a Stick

Dolomite Coaster (2 varieties) / Mirror (2 varieties)

[Online Store Exclusive] Acrylic Keychain (7 varieties, Random)

The cafe’s new menu includes afternoon tea, perfect for warming the body and soul during the cold winter months. The colorful food items and desserts are sure to be a hit on social media, and fans will enjoy the Magical Milk Tea and other dishes inspired by the popular BT21 characters.

In addition to new merchandise and bonuses featuring newly-drawn art, a photo spot will welcome guests to the cafe and invite them to celebrate this five-year milestone. 

Why not take a break from everyday life to enjoy a magical time with these cute characters?

©BT21

ANNA’S by Landtmann, a cafe located inside +Q Beauty on the 6th floor of Shibuya Scramble Square, has begun selling two Halloween cakes! These spooky sweets will be available until October 31, 2022.

Halloween Mont Blanc

Halloween Poison Apple

Guests will be able to snag the Halloween Mont Blanc and Halloween Poison Apple cakes, available for ¥580 each including tax. The Mont Blanc is filled with pumpkin custard and Chantilly cream. The Poison Apple is a sweet and sour cake featuring a blend of chocolate mousse covered in red glaze and applesauce with apple pulp.

Which of these two adorable cakes would you like to enjoy this autumn?

Fans of Yowamushi Pedal won’t want to miss this special collaboration! Chugai Grace Cafe, located on the seventh floor of Shibuya MODI, will be running the Yowamushi Pedal LIMIT BREAK cafe from September 22 until October 17, 2022.

Collaboration Menu

Sakamichi Onoda and Sangaku Manami’s Udon & Onigiri Plate 

Yasutomo Arikita and Kuroda Yukinari’s Hamburger & Salad Plate

Hayato Shinkai’s Chocolate & Banana Mini Parfait

Sohoku High School Mango Whipped Cream & Calpis Drink

Hakone Academy Mint Whipped Cream & Calpis Drink

Goods

Pin (Random Holographic included, 9 varieties)

Acrylic Figure Stand (9 varieties)

Pin, Mini Character Ver. (Random Holographic included, 16 varieties)

Acrylic Stand (16 varieties)

Table Plate (9 varieties)

Shoulder Bag

Menu Order Bonus / Online Preorder Bonus

Coaster (1st Half): September 22 – October 4, 2022

Coaster (2nd Half): October 5 – October 17, 2022

The collaboration cafe focuses on dishes you may find at home, such as udon, onigiri, and even a chocolate banana mini parfait as a dessert. New original goods with exclusive illustrations will also be available for purchase!

©渡辺航（週刊少年チャンピオン）／弱虫ペダル05製作委員会

Shin Yokohama Prince Hotel will be offering a special room and collaboration menu inspired by the popular anime series The Vampire Dies in No Time from September 22 until November 30, 2022. Reservations will open on the hotel’s official website starting September 12 at 1:00 PM. 

The Vampire Dies in No Time follows the hilarious adventures of the vampire Draluc and the vampire hunter Ronaldo. Set in the city of Shin-Yokohama, it makes sense that this collaboration would be taking place!

Original Goods

Collaboration Menu

Guests and fans of the series will be able to enjoy a fully-decorated room and collaboration menu inspired by characters from the popular anime series.

The concept room, located on an upper floor overlooking the Shin-Yokohama cityscape, is decorated with illustrations of Draluc, Ronaldo, and other characters. The guest-only goods feature newly-drawn illustrations. 

Sweets plates and drinks will be served at the restaurant on the top floor of the hotel. Guests can enjoy desserts shaped like Ronaldo’s red hat and Draluc’s ashes, so don’t miss it!

©盆ノ木至（秋田書店）／製作委員会すぐ死ぬ

Art subscription service Casie is collaborating with HOTEL SHE, KYOTO! A special art exhibition titled GALLERY HOTEL SHE, will be held from September 17 until October 16, inviting guests to enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime experience of staying in a gallery overnight!

During the event period, guests of HOTEL SHE, KYOTO will be able to select their favorite piece of artwork from an on-site gallery. The piece will then be hung in their guestroom, and visitors can spend the night appreciating it at their own pace. This is a great way to learn more about art appreciation, and guests can enjoy discussing the art world with their friends and family. 

“Although we may view art in museums and other venues, it is rare to have the opportunity to select and display a work of art of our own choice,” the project description reads. “Through this unique experience, we aim to provide guests the chance to actively engage with art and inspire them to make art a part of their daily life going forward.”

From August 26 until September 18, Chugai Grace Cafe at Shibuya MODI will hold a special collaboration cafe with the popular series Kuroko’s Basketball!

Menu at a Glance

Ryota Kise’s French Onion-style Carbonara

Daiki Aomine’s Teriyaki Burger over Rice

Shintaro Midorima’s Lucky Monaka

Tetsuya Kuroko’s Vanilla Shake

Atsushi Murasakibara’s Violet Blueberry Water

Goods

Pin (Cafe ver.)

Type A (7 varieties)

Type B (7 varieties)

Mini Acrylic Stand (Cafe ver.)

Type A (7 varieties)

Type B (7 varieties)

Nametags (Cafe ver.)

Type A (7 varieties)

Type B (7 varieties)

Mini Bromide (Cafe ver.)

Type A (7 varieties)

Type B (7 varieties)

Holographic Sticker (Cafe ver., 14 varieties)

Clear Case (Cafe ver.)

Menu Order Bonus: 1 Coaster (28 varieties, random)

Web Order Bonus: 1 Coaster 

Fans of the series will be able to sample a number of unique dishes inspired by characters from Kuroko’s Basketball. Original goods featuring newly-drawn cafe-inspired illustrations will also be available, and guests will be able to enter a drawing to win a one-of-a-kind tapestry.

© 藤巻忠俊／集英社・黒子のバスケ製作委員会
©「黒子のバスケ」アニメ10周年プロジェクト

Reebok has appointed a number of popular artists in Japan and abroad to take part in their new campaign titled ‘Life is Not a Spectator Sport -Move, Move!-’ This collaboration started in March 2022.

As a part of this collaboration, Reebok is teaming up with the manga series Eren the Southpaw. Kappa’s popular ensemble drama highlights a number of creators, and has a very poignant tagline: “To all those who couldn’t become geniuses.” Reebok’s brand message matches this and is meant to be a manifesto for life, telling people to never give up, act on their own convictions, and find their own path. 

Reebok Classic Store – Harajuku Interior

Stickers / Pins

Original Scene from Eren the Southpaw 

To commemorate the release of Reebok’s flagship model INSTAPUMP FURY 95 in Sax Blue, a huge piece of window art was redrawn by Kappi. The artist also provided an original manga featuring an entirely new story. Fans can find this at the Reebok Classic Store Harajuku and on the official Reebok Twitter page. The Reebok stores in Harajuku and Shibuya have also been completely taken over by Eren the Southpaw, completely decorated from top to bottom in images from the series. 

Shibuya Scramble Square will host a special collaboration event with the manga series Space Brothers from August 5 until August 28, 2022. The event itself will take place on the SHIBUYA SKY observation deck and the 12th-floor event space Scene12.

The popular manga series Space Brothers has sold over 28 million copies since it began serialization in 2007. After 15 years, the story is approaching its climax, with the two main characters finally landing on the moon. With fans of the series anxiously awaiting the story’s conclusion, the event will be the perfect place to celebrate. It will be split into two areas: the Shibuya Space School and the Space Cafe.

Shibuya Space School will take place on the SHIBUYA SKY observation deck, and is a fun and educational production that will teach visitors about space using VR and an exhibition of equipment used in space travel. Guests can also enjoy a photo spot featuring the moon over Shibuya, an astronomical observation class for both parents and children, and a talk show about the thrill of space travel.

Cafe Menu

On the 12th floor, guests can visit the Space Cafe. Inspired by a 1970s coffee shop, the location is the perfect spot for fans to mingle, read Space Brothers, or partake in some space-inspired treats exclusive to the event.

Collaboration Goods

Event

A selection of exclusive Space Brothers merchandise and collaboration goods will be available, and the editor of the manga will also be giving a talk during the event. Those who want to test their knowledge can also take part in a quiz competition, so don’t miss out!

The Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa in Tokyo will offer a special suite inspired by the upcoming Toshio Suzuki Studio Ghibli Exhibition from July 1 until August 31, 2022. This will include tickets to the exhibition, which will take place at Warehouse Terrada in Shinagawa from July 1 until September 7. 

Toshio Suzuki, a producer at Studio Ghibli, has worked with both Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata on a number of beloved masterpieces. The exhibition will feature a large bookshelf housing 8,800 of Suzuki’s publications and favorite tomes. Many of these were published before Suzuki joined Studio Ghibli, and guests are invited to see how the producer was inspired to join the legendary studio after working as an editor at a manga magazine. To commemorate the exhibition’s opening, this special suite is filled with books written by Suzuki along with other books that visitors may enjoy during their relaxing stay. 

In the suite, guests will find a list of 106 books that influenced Suzuki the most. This list will be available to take home. Visitors will also find reproductions of Suzuki’s calligraphy. 

©TS ©Studio Ghibli