Global creative agency monopo is teaming up with Shokuraku Asano, a 100-year-old obi maker from Kyoto! The company is working to create a digital experience for interested viewers, sharing each artisan’s personal story. Those who love Japanese culture are welcome to enjoy traditional Japanese crafts in an entirely new way!

Using a one-of-a-kind QR obi, a new storytelling method is showing off the hard work and love that goes into the company’s textiles. A special website and video allow interested viewers to experience the process of making an obi digitally, simply by using their smartphone. Even those unable to visit Japan to see these obi in person can dive into the history of the area’s textiles and become more acquainted with one part of Kyoto’s manufacturing culture. 

Kyoto was the ancient capital of Japan. The city is known for its history and preservation of Japanese culture, and prior to the pandemic, the city was constantly filled with visitors from around the world anxious to learn more about the country’s traditional culture. When the pandemic hit the world in 2020, it changed the city forever–tourists disappeared and the city became much quieter. Now that Japan has opened its borders, however, tourists are returning in droves.

While Shokuraku Asano upholds tradition, it also seeks to leave a mark on new generations by embracing new technology. This unique project is worth noting, so get your smartphone out and start learning!

We applaud monopo’s attempt to share this incredible traditional Japanese craftsmanship with people around the world. 

A Doraemon version of Hiroshige’s 1833 ukiyo-e painting Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido Hoeido Edition (Rainstorm) will be available to order on October 29!

This work is said to be one of the most famous paintings by the artist, who was considered the last great master of ukiyo-e.

The painter was best known for his depiction of rainscapes, and many of his paintings pushed the envelope of traditional art.

This painting shows Ise Province, what is now present-day Mie Prefecture. 

Doraemon and his friends have been expertly placed into the famous piece of art, desperately climbing a steep hill during a sudden evening shower.

For Doraemon and Nobita, the rain is a chance to have fun. Looking at the piece, viewers can see an image of hope in tough times and can remember that with friends, anything is possible and any difficulties can be overcome. 

The piece is made from high-quality materials, and you won’t want to miss ordering one of these rare works of art!

From November 17 until December 25, Tokyo Midtown will hold the popular Midtown Christmas event for 2022!

Adults and children are sure to love this massive Christmas event. Each year, a massive Christmas tree appears in Tokyo Midtown, but this year’s festivities will also throw some more unique pieces of art into the mix.

This year, visitors will see golden lights on the city’s trees, as well as a pop-up Christmas tree inspired by party poppers. Lights and music will join together to make guests feel as though they’ve walked into an outdoor theater, and the popular ice skating rink will once again be open for everyone to enjoy. Why not enjoy the Christmas season in Tokyo’s shimmering midtown?

Bubbles Fill the Air for a Limited Time at the Christmas Story Lights

A Massive Dome Filled with 300 Lights Invites Visitors to Celebrate the Season

Hands-on Experiences at the Party Popper Tree

At the 5th annual Kyoto Ani-Monozukuri Awards 2022, a collection of Attack on Titan playing cards made in traditional Japanese style took the Gold Prize in the Craft Design category. In Japanese, monozukuri means ‘to make something by hand.’

The Kyoto Ani-Monozukuri Awards aims to revitalize business between the anime industry and local companies and organizations. It honors outstanding collaborative products, inviting those with a creative streak to try their luck at designing something uniquely anime-inspired. This year’s awards show saw 157 total entries, with one winning the grand prize, seven winning both gold and silver, and six winning bronze.

Charaditional Toys was launched this year, and the company aims to create items for adults who love anime characters. The Gold Award was granted to the company after judges were inspired by the traditional Japanese craftsmanship and high quality shown in the final product. Made by Oishi Tengudo, a company founded in Kyoto in 1800, the cards were made using classic methods. These 48 original playing cards are like nothing fans of Attack on Titan have seen before. 

A second project is scheduled for release in winter 2022, so stay tuned!

©諫山創・講談社／「進撃の巨人」The Final Season製作委員会

PREMICO is known for creating collaborations between popular anime characters and traditional Japanese crafts. Now, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Sailor Moon, some special items are available from around Japan at the PREMICO online store.

Special anniversary items created by master craftsmen around Japan are now available to order, all inspired by the theatrical release Sailor Moon Eternal. These five items come from Fukushima Prefecture, Ishikawa Prefecture, Tokyo, Kagawa Prefecture, and Fukuoka Prefecture, and you can see details of each below!

Be sure to get your hands on some of these exclusive collaboration items!

Fukushima Prefecture – Aizu Lacquer Music Box

Aizu lacquer ware has a history of over 400 years in the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture. Sailor Moon’s Crisis Moon Compact has been painted on glossy black lacquer, and the symbols of the ten Sailor Soldiers surround it. By opening the lid, fans will hear the show’s theme song, Moonlight Densetsu. 

Ishikawa Prefecture – Kutani ware Dishes (Set of 3)

Kutani ware, a style of Japanese porcelain, is produced in the Kaga region of Ishikawa Prefecture. The vivid colors seen on these plates were inspired by the brightness of the Sailor Moon franchise. The set includes three plates: one inspired by the inner soldiers, one featuring both the inner and outer soldiers, and one displaying everyone’s favorite cats, Luna, Artemis, and Diana. 

Tokyo – Edo Faceted Glass

This Edo faceted glassware depicts the twinkling of the stars, each made with care by a dedicated craftsman. Two colors are available: a light crimson color with the symbols of the inner soldiers and Super Sailor Chibi Moon and a lapis lazuli color with the symbols of the outer soldiers.

Kagawa Prefecture – Wooden Kagawa Lacquerware Bowls (Set of 2)

Kagawa lacquerware is characterized by its use of colorful lacquer to create delicate and detailed patterns. This pair of bowls feature the symbols of Super Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask on bright vermilion and black backgrounds.

From the Crisis Moon Compact and the Silver Crystal to the famous Mask, these bowls are decorated with gorgeous gold and silver coloring and traditional maki-e finishing.

Fukuoka Prefecture – Hakata Woven Long Wallet

Hakata cloth is a silk fabric made by weaving a thin warp yarn and a thicker weft yarn together in a tightly-packed weave to create a stiff, ribbed appearance. This beautiful wallet features feminine colors and powerful symbols such as the legendary silver crystal and the inner soldier’s symbols, along with a golden crescent moon. 

(c)武内直子・PNP／劇場版「美少女戦士セーラームーンEternal」製作委員会

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.

Goldwin Inc. has announced a special event for both children and families to enjoy! The GOLDWIN PLAY EARTH PARK event, running until May 29, has taken over the lawn at Tokyo Midtown. Five architects have created playground equipment inspired by five elements: fire, earth, water, wind, and sky. The event wants to inspire children to be more curious about the world around them. What better way than to get Pokemon involved?

For the event, Goldwin, The North Face, Helly Hansen, Speedo, and Canterbury all collaborated with artists, designers, and of course, the Pokemon series.

Goldwin is known for providing incredible sports and outdoor apparel, and behind its sturdy technology lies a deep curiosity regarding nature. This new collaboration has brought new perspectives and ideas to the collection, and those visiting the venue won’t want to miss out.

Collaboration Items at a Glance

THE NORTH FACE ✕ Pokemon

YOUNG EXPLORERS Jacket: ¥10,890 (Tax Included)

YOUNG EXPLORERS Hat: ¥6,380 (Tax Included)

Just like everyone’s favorite Pokemon Pikachu, the event wants to inspire children to be filled with energy as they explore the world around them and take on new adventures. These new jackets come inside a pouch inspired by a Pokeball and are mde of environmentally friendly recycled nylon material.

*Products in The North Face x Pokemon collection will be sold by lottery starting April 22. Check the official website for details on how to enter.

©Pokémon.
©Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.
TM, ®, and character names are trademarks of Nintendo.

HELLY HANSEN ✕ minä perhonen

Left: VINDKRAFT PEP Tote: ¥9,900 (Tax Included) / Middle: VINDKRAFT PEP Patch Tote: ¥19,800 (Tax Included) / Right: VINDKRAFT PEP Pochette: ¥3,300 (Tax Included)

Based on Helly Hansen’s ‘VINDKRAFT’ project to recover and upcycle sailboats’ sails, minä perhonen has designed a bag by combining scraps from its own production process. Nothing goes to waste, making this perfect for those aware of the current problems facing our environment.

*As this is an upcycled product, the number of pieces is limited and each piece is unique.

Collaboration items are available at a pop-up shop at the GOLDWIN PLAY EARTH PARK event. A number of workshops are also open for children to enjoy, with a focus on their relationship with nature while living in the city. Check out the special site for more information!

The pop-up event ‘Takahiro Koga -CRYPTO- ~Pottery in the Age of Subversion x NFT~ produced by B-OWND’ will be held at Rayard Miyashita Park from April 4 until April 11, 2022. 

Real Work Neo Manekineko -Crypto-

NFT Work Neo Manekineko -Break-

Rayard Miyashita Park, South 2F Atrium Plaza (Digital signage will differ during the event)

The event will feature new works and 3D computer-generated digital art pieces by up-and-coming artist Takahiro Koga. The exhibition will utilize the pillar-shaped digital signage found in the building, and will demonstrate the potential for new art exhibitions going forward. 

During the event, visitors will receive a white list NFT for the purchase of artwork, which will serve as a preorder coupon for the NFT art piece Neo Manekineko -Break-. A total of 100 guests who utilize this coupon will receive an NFT art piece as a gift. Additional pieces of NFT artwork will be available on the NFT sales platform HARTi. 

The Tokyo Handicrafts Craft Fair Exhibition at Matsuzakaya Ueno will be running from March 23 until March 28, and guests will be able to pick up some incredible glassware at the event. Glasslab will be selling Edo cut glass with panda designs in three different colors. These will also be available online. 

Panda Cut Glass Special Edition – Bamboo Version (Light Pink x Green)

Before Adding Alcohol

After Adding Alcohol

Panda Cut Glass – Lapis Lazuli Version (Light Blue x Lapis Lazuli)
　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Before Adding Alcohol

After Adding Alcohol

Panda Cut Glass – Yellow Version (Yellow x Bronze-red)
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Before Adding Alcohol

After Adding Alcohol

Edo-Kiriko gets its name due to it originating in Edo (modern-day Tokyo). Every detail is cut into the glass by hand to create stunning designs. The way the glass sparkles changes depending on the light, which is a sight to behold. In the latter part of the Edo period, the cut-glass method of engraving designs onto the surface of the glass was brought over to Nagasaki from the Netherlands, and kiriko was born as a result of trying to mimic those techniques. Shiina Yasutane is a third-generation craftsman specializing in ‘sandblasting, who can reliably draw lines as fine as 0.09 mm wide.

Ginza Tsutaya, located on the 6th floor of the GINZA SIX department store, is now holding a Spring Ceramic Fair until March 7, 2022.

Many popular ceramic artists are coming together for the event. This year’s lineup includes dishes and mugs with botanical patterns and animal motifs in spring-like colors to add color to tables and living spaces. A large number of works, from vases to tableware and even ceramic brooches, will be on display, including works by Wato Maekawa and Oda Pottery. 

Participating Ceramic Artists

Ritsuko Imai

After studying pottery in England, Imai currently lives and works in Mashiko, Tochigi Prefecture. This year’s exhibition will show off her dyed works, including Zougan works, a technique in which different materials are inlaid into one material. Enjoy her small plates and teapots with soft colors.

Miki Furuhata

Miki Furuhata is a pottery artist in Nagano. Using gentle colors and unique self-made glaze, her colorful pieces are a lovely addition to one’s daily life.

Hanako Sakashita

Hanako Sakashita uses a ‘kneading’ technique, in which colorful clays are kneaded together to create patterns, marbles, stripes, checks, and countless other patterns. Enjoy the many textures, shades, and patterns found in her works!

Wato Maekawa

A ceramic artist living in Toyama Prefecture, Wato Maegawa creates works inspired by the four seasons. Her flower-shaped plates are reminiscent of Japanese sweets.

Toutousya

Using candle wax to make prototypes, these ceramic brooches and boxes are made with a technique adapted from candle making. These hand-painted pieces are very popular, and those on sale in this year’s exhibition are covered with flowers, birds, and animals in spring colors.

Oda Pottery

Oda Pottery was founded in 1921 in Mizunami City, Gifu Prefecture. Their lineup features vases that are easy to incorporate into any interior. 

Creative company NAKED has begun producing a collection of workshops on traditional crafts found in Saga Prefecture. Along with local creators, the event will continue through February 2022. 

NAKED, together with Saga Prefecture, started a project called the ‘Saga Art Prefectural Government Project’ in 2016, which focuses on promoting the night economy in Saga. From the fall of 2021 until winter 2022, visitors to Saga will be able to enjoy a night walk surrounded by lanterns and local pieces of artwork.

During this event, workshops led by Saga’s top creators will invite visitors to create a number of unique, personalized items, from lanterns to hand lotion. Certain workshops are for both adults and children, making this a fun event for the entire family. 

Workshops

aroma*aroma Fragrance School Seminar House: Aromatherapy Soap Making for Parents and Children

Arita Porcelain Lab Painting Experience

Ogi Akari Project Bamboo Lantern Making Experience

Making Magatama at Yoshinogari Historial Park

Balloon Museum: Paper Balloon Making Experience for Parents and Children

full of flowers hyakka Flower Swag Making Experience

aroma*aroma Fragrance School Seminar House (with aroma lecture) Hand Cream Making Experience

Bubbleman Store for Adults: Saga Lotion Making Experience/ Bubbleman Store Candy Soap Making Experience for Parents and Children

Ureshino Warmth Festival Lantern Making Experience

A Tokyo Revengers online pop-up event is currently underway at chara-ani.com! Fans of the series can grab some zoot suit-themed merchandise until January 23, 2022. Don’t miss out on the exclusive purchase bonuses and SNS campaign!

Online Pop-Up Event Bonus Original Illustration Card

Twitter Campaign Giveaway – Pins, Zoot Suit Ver. (6 varieties) 

Tokyo Revengers Ring

Chara-Ani Purchase Bonus: Large Bromide

Tokyo Revengers Pin Zoot Suit Ver. 

Chara-Ani Purchase Bonus: Pin (Baji & Chifuyu)

 Tokyo Revengers Acrylic Keychain, Zoot Suit Ver. 

Chara-Ani Purchase Bonus: Acrylic Keychain (Baji & Chifuyu)

 Tokyo Revengers Acrylic Stand, Zoot Suit Ver. 

Tokyo Revengers Record-style Coaster, Set of 2, Zoot Suit Ver. 

Tokyo Revengers A4-size Clear Folder, Zoot Suit Ver.

Tokyo Revengers Tapestry, Zoot Suit Ver.

Tokyo Revengers Big Stand, Zoot Suit Ver.

Tokyo Revengers Instagram Stand

 Tokyo Revengers Metal Keychain

*The pre-order deadline for this item is January 18, 2022.

Tokyo Revengers Mask Chain

Tokyo Revengers Chibi Keychain

Chara-Ani 3-set Purchase Bonus

Ⓒ和久井健・講談社／アニメ「東京リベンジャーズ」製作委員会