Model, DJ, and photographer Hikari Shibata will hold her first photo exhibition in five years, THROUGH THE WINDOW, at the FLOAT Gallery in Tokyo for four days starting September 8, 2023.

The exhibition’s title was inspired by Shibata’s shyness, which has always led her to photograph landscapes rather than people. Many photos were taken through windows, and both the view and reflections are meaningful and personal to Shibata herself.

This year’s exhibition features photos of daily life taken in Copenhagen, Denmark’s largest city, where Shibata stayed for a total of three weeks in March 2023. It will also feature photographs snapped in Berlin, Los Angeles, and New York City.

Shibata will visit the gallery in person to present her creations. In addition to the sale of exhibited photographs, guests will also be able to purchase T-shirts, hats, and Shibata’s first photobook, the latter of which is available in limited quantities. The self-published 112-page hardcover book was entirely designed by Shibata herself. T-shirts will be available in two colors and feature the title of the exhibition, while hats will come in three colors with an embroidered graphic image of the sun reflected in a window.

Starting March 4, the permanent museum teamLab Forest Fukuoka will transform its artwork into a stunning spring theme. Guests will be able to enjoy gorgeous cherry blossoms for a limited time, and starting March 24, the Catching and Collecting Forest will also be transformed in the same way.

TeamLab’s works are created in real time by procedural generation, meaning that they are always changing and evolving. Each work changes depending on the season.

▼Starting March 4

Both Shifting Valley, Living Creatures of Flowers, Symbiotic Lives – A Whole Year per Year and Animals of Flowers, Symbiotic Lives II – A Whole Year per Year are only available to see during spring. Come and see animals made entirely of cherry blossoms as they roam through the museum!

The work titled Soft Terrain in Granular Topography shows multicolored grains of light pouring from the sky, while Flutter of Butterflies, Ephemeral Life surrounds visitors with brightly colored butterflies

▼Starting March 24

In the Catching and Collecting Forest, visitors can explore with their smartphones and catch various animals made entirely of cherry blossoms.

©永井豪／ダイナミック企画　©ダイナミック企画・東映アニメーション　©ダイナミック企画　©東映アニメーション　©松本零士／零時社・東映アニメーション

From March 21 until April 5, 2023, Matsuzakaya Nagoya will host The World of Super Robot & Hero: Kazuhiro Ochi Art Exhibition, celebrating the creator’s 45th anniversary as an artist. Ochi is well-known for his work on Mobile Suit Gundam and dozens of other popular anime series, from Martian Successor Nadesico to Urusei Yatsura.

Ochi has personally selected over 100 items to be put on display at the exhibition, including illustrations from Mazinger Z and Devilman, both of which are celebrating their 50th anniversaries. Fans can also expect to see illustrations from the newly-announced UFO Robot Grendizer project along with original sketches, promotional materials, and much more.

Available merchandise will include an art book signed by Kazuhiro Ochi himself, prints, and character goods. New Cutie Honey and Cosmic Fantasy products will also be available for purchase.

The animator himself will also be in attendance on select days, so don’t miss this rare opportunity to meet an anime legend!

Guests spending over ¥5,000 (including tax) at the exhibition during days in which Ochi is in attendance will receive an autographed illustration card only available at the Nagoya venue.

Exhibition Merch at a Glance

©Go Nagai／Dynamic Planning Illustration by K.Ochi

　©KAZUHIRO OCHI

イラスト／越智一裕 ©永井豪／ダイナミック企画

ShowMinorSavage, a new unit formed by BMSG’s Aile The Shota along with SOTA and MANATO from BE:FIRST, have released their first EP! ShowMinorSavage was added to all major streaming services on February 22, 2023.

The three artists met at a BMSG audition and immediately hit it off, sharing similar musical backgrounds and interests. Unsurprisingly, they formed ShowMinorSavage soon after.

Their unit name comes from their intention to transform minor acts in the music scene into major acts, showing how savage they can be. Their first EP was created with this idea very much in mind.

ShowMinorSavage / SUPER ICY (Prod. Chaki Zulu) -Music Video-

The EP features the first songs produced under the group name ShowMinorSavage, including No Cap Navy, a song sampled from SKY-HI’s Nanairo Holiday created by the three members, and Thinkin’ bout you, a dope hip-hop track expressing the member’s love and featuring a vocal loop by TRILL DYNASTY. The groovy and extremely danceable song SUPER ICY was produced by Chaki Zulu.

The major debut of ShowMinorSavage is sure to create waves in the music scene, and you won’t want to miss it!

The popular boy band BE:FIRST has released the music video for the new song Boom Boom Back on YouTube.

Boom Boom Back – BE: FIRST (Music Video)

This is BE:FIRST’s first new song in five months. The hybrid hip-hop dance number is effortlessly unique, with the music video showing off each of the member’s personalities as they wander Shibuya.

The video brings to life the Shibuya of the 2000s, combining both dramatic shots and dance shots, the latter of which are shot on a Shibuya-inspired stage. With a mix of 90s flavor, 2000s teen beats, and a splash of modern styling, this track is sure to be a hit with fans.

The video was produced by a team of talented creators, including director Kensaku Kakimoto, known for his short film Parasite in Love, Shiho Etori, an active editor, and Satomi Inagaki, who is currently active in commercials and documentaries.

The addictive choreography was created by KAITA and KAZ the FIRE, choreographers who have been attracting attention on TikTok and Instagram with their #BBB Challenge.

Boom Boom Back was released digitally on February 13, 2023. The song is already appearing on a number of major charts, topping the iTunes Overall Song Ranking and the LINE MUSIC Real-time Song Top 100. Major streaming sites are also holding listening campaigns, so be sure to check them out.

This is BE:FIRST’s first music video in quite a while, so be sure to give it a watch!

From March 14 until April 23, 2023, Tokyo Midtown Hibiya will hold Hisashi Eguchi’s Tokyo Girlfriend illustration exhibition, set to show off the artist’s unique perspectives on people and cityscapes. The exhibition will feature new illustrations of the titular girlfriend standing in the streets of Hibiya drawn especially for this exhibition, as well as various other girlfriends both large and small.

GING NANG BOYZ Kimi to Boku no Dai 3ji Taisen-teki Renai Kakumei CD Jacket (2005)

A LONG VACATION – Eiichi Ohtaki 40th Tribute Illustration (2021) ©2023 Eguchi Hisashi

Hisashi Eguchi, a manga artist and illustrator, continues to convey the charm of the city and its people by vividly depicting Tokyo and the many unique happenings within. As Tokyo Midtown Hibiya celebrates its 5th anniversary along with many other nearby businesses, the Tokyo Girlfriend exhibition of illustrations by Hisashi Eguchi is being held to celebrate.

The exhibition will feature a new painting of the mysterious girlfriend standing in the streets of Hibiya, newly created for the Tokyo Midtown Hibiya exhibition. A number of original pieces using Pantone overlay, Eguchi’s favorite painting medium in the 80s and 90s, will also be on display for the first time.

During the exhibition period, guests can enjoy autograph sessions, live sketches in which Eguchi himself will draw a portrait of selected subject on the spot, and workshops where he will teach tips on how to be a better illustrator.

Don’t miss your chance to meet one of the greatest illustrators of the modern era!

©2023 Eguchi Hisashi

From February 11 to February 26, an exhibition inspired by the popular rock band CreepHyp will be held at the PARCO GALLERY on the 6th floor of the Nagoya PARCO West Building. The event is being held to celebrate the 10th anniversary of CreepHyp.

The exhibition is themed around a ‘Museum of Voices.’

A person’s voice is said to be a true expression of their personality. This exhibition will give fans a new sense of what CreepHyp is and will feature their music, their MC content, and various radio appearances.

Visitors will be able to listen to the member’s voices, but they’ll also be able to step on them, dive into them, look at them, and experience plenty of other ways to enjoy the band’s content. Completely immersed in this world of voices, this experience promises to be like no other. Come experience it while you can!

The exhibition was largely created by CHOCOLATE, the creative team behind CreepHyp’s past exhibitions. Exclusive merchandise will also be available on-site.

Fans of the pop rock band Macaroni Empitsu will want to head to Tokyo from February 17 to March 6, 2023 to enjoy a newly-reworked 10th-anniversary exhibition. Guests are invited to look through various macaroni holes around the exhibition hall to catch glimpses of some curious and rare items only on display for a limited time.

After being held at several locations around Japan, the exhibition will return to Ikebukuro PARCO in Tokyo next month.

Items appearing in the Macaroni Empitsu 10th Anniversary Book -Macaroni Kuronikuru- will be on display, and a short film titled Aspirations will be screened following its premiere in Shibuya.

Graphic designer Shun Sasaki served as the art director for the exhibition.

Fans won’t want to miss out on the exhibition’s original merchandise featuring key visuals and lyrics from the band. Come get a glimpse at the history and personal lives of Macaroni Empitsu’s members while you can!

[Comment from Vocalist Hattori]
“Macaroni Empitsu’s exhibition is making a triumphant return to Tokyo! New content has been added this time around, so be sure to come fall into the macaroni hole!”

The globally popular anime series Chainsaw Man will get a mini-exhibition at TSUTAYA and TSUTAYA Books locations nationwide from December 23, 2022 until January 22, 2023. A special poster is being prepared for the exhibition and original drawings will be on display. New merchandise will be available during the event period. For more information, follow MAPPA’s official Twitter page (@MAPPA_Info) for updates!

Original Reproductions to be on Display

One original reproduction will be displayed at each of the approximately 300 participating stores. 

Original Goods

Details on MAPPA x TSUTAYA Chainsaw Man Mini-Exhibition Goods

Acrylic Keychain (4 varieties), ¥935 each / Pin (4 varieties, random), ¥550 each / Acrylic Figure (4 varieties), ¥1,925 each / Clear Folder (4 varieties), ¥440 each / Leather Sticky Note Book (4 varieties), ¥605 each / Premium Postcard Holder (1 variety), ¥1,760 each / Mobile Accessory Case (1 variety), ¥2,200 each

As a purchase bonus, guests spending ¥2,200 (including tax) or more will receive a limited edition postcard (4 varieties).

©藤本タツキ／集英社・ ＭＡＰＰＡ

Following the conclusion of the current ‘Little Best Friend Woodstock’ exhibition, the Snoopy Museum will hold a food-centric event from January 14 until July 9, 2023!

Selected Works on Display

Peanuts Comic (January 20, 1991)

Peanuts Comic (September 6, 1988)

Peanuts Comic (February 7, 1988)

Peanuts Comic (September 14, 1954)

Peanuts Comic (March 27, 1986)

Peanuts Reprint (Partial / January 13, 1973)

Goods at a Glance

Approximately 40 rare original drawings of Snoopy and his friends will appear at the exhibition, all focused on the character’s favorite foods. Food features prominently in the Peanuts comic strip, whether it be friends eating breakfast or school lunch.

The exhibition features items from the collection at the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, California. 

Snoopy loves to eat and loves doughnuts and marshmallows, but absolutely hates coconuts. Of course, the gang loves cookies, and eating lunch while chatting is the highlight of the day! Come enjoy this tasty event in 2023.

(C) Peanuts Worldwide LLC

The 360 Reality Audio and Dolby Atmos versions of BE:FIRST’s first album BE:1 are now available on all major streaming services. The album was first released on August 31 and managed to chart extremely high, instantly becoming a massive hit. 360 Reality Audio uses Sony’s 360 impresive stereoscopic sound technology, allowing sound to pour in from all directions. This allows music lovers to experience their favorite songs in three-dimensions, making it feel as if they were at a live concert. 

The group’s first album BE:1 contains 15 songs from various genres, including BE:FIRST’s debut song Gifted. It also includes Bye-Good-Bye, which has been streamed more than 100 million times, and Scream, which took the top spot on the Billboard Japan Overall Song Chart JAPAN HOT 100. The album includes a total of 15 songs, many from different genres, so if you haven’t listened, this is the best way to do so! 

A video related to the song Milli-Billi from BE:FIRST’s first album BE:1 was released on November 30 at 21:00! Following its release on August 31, 2022, BE:1 has become a massive hit with fans worldwide.

Milli-Billi -???????- / BE:FIRST

https://youtu.be/xW_tCRiiFOs

Milli-Billi is a hip-hop track in which each and every member of the group tried their hand at rapping! Filled with BE:FIRST character while also being fresh and new, this fast-paced relay-style song has become a fan favorite.

A video of SOTA dancing with KAITA, the choreographer of the song, was posted on TikTok, quickly becoming a hot topic not only among fans but also among dancers. Numerous dance cover videos have been posted since.

@befirst_official Milli-Billi 🤑🤑🤑 🕺w / choreographer KAITA #振付師本人 #KAITA #SOTA #BEFIRST #MilliBilli #ミリビリ ♬ Milli-Billi – BE:FIRST

Milli-Billi is very popular among the group’s fans and there’s no doubt that this will be a winner. Every music video that the group has uploaded so far has managed to pull in incredible amounts of views, so we look forward to seeing how well this one performs.

Check out the video to see what it’s all about!