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 89th Tokyo Yushun, or Japanese Derby, is scheduled to take place on May 29, 2022. Ahead of the event, a special site featuring Kabuki actors Onoe Matsuya and Ukon Onoe was opened on May 12. That’s right–it’s time for the Kabuki Derby!   Celebrating its 89th year, the Japanese Derby is considered one of the finest horse races in the world. To make this traditional and prestigious event even more exciting, a collaboration with the traditional Japanese performing art of Kabuki is getting people talking.   Tokyo Yushun Kabuki Simulation GameIn the Kabuki Derby, visitors can enjoy tons of unique content made with Onoe Matsuya and Ukon Onoe. The site’s racing game even has a completely original story! Trivia quizzes related to the Derby and obstacle courses will also provide hours of fun.   Special Video: Home Horse Racing!Special Video: Instant PAT!Special Video: Full House DerbyIn the original videos, both Kabuki actors appear as brothers in the Edo Period. The two are sure to make you smile with their performances, as they explain what they do on their days off and show off how fun horse racing can be.   Horse DesignerThere will also be a Twitter campaign where you can win prizes depending on the results of the Japanese Derby. Be sure to tune in and root for your favorite horse!

Japanese makeup brand Shu Uemura launched its new 2022 Spring/Summer Collection on April 22, 2022 in limited quantities. Kabuki actor Ichikawa Somegoro VIII, who became a Shu Uemura brand ambassador in March 2022, is seen in new visuals for the collection.  

Collection

Limited Edition Eyeshadow Palette

Nude Punk Eye Palette (5 limited edition colors / 1 existing color)

Lilac Rebel Eye Palette (3 limited edition colors / 3 existing colors)

  Lipstick Unlimited Kinu Satin

Tailored Nude, Limited Edition Color (Star Shade)

Auburn Tulle

Lipstick Unlimited Kinu Cream

Taupe Couture (Star Shade)

Sienna Silk

Ultim8∞ Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil

Hard Formula Hard 9 Seal Brown

Petal 55 Foundation Brush

  The Shu Uemura philosophy is that makeup is “fashion for the face.” From makeup that hides blemishes to makeup that helps people express themselves, every piece is important. In 1968, Shu Uemura introduced ‘Mode Makeup,’ with the idea that just as there are patterns in clothing, there should be patterns in makeup as well. He proposed free expression using makeup and inspired people to be more fearless with their makeup application. Try expressing yourself more in 2022!

Japanese cosmetics brand Shu Uemura is releasing two new holiday collections in collaboration with beloved Sanrio character Hello Kitty! The first collection, featuring twelve items, will go on sale on November 1, 2021, and the second collection, featuring four items, will be available on November 15, 2021. Only limited quantities will be available. Preorders are now available on the official online store. Certain products will also be available at Sanrioworld GINZA 1F starting October 30 to celebrate the new collaboration. 

Bold, edgy, and chic makeup looks

Rich Collection Lineup

 

1st Collection Lineup

Rock the Party Palette (6 limited-time colors/ 4 existing colors): ¥9,900 (Tax Included) 

Discogram Eye Palette (6 limited-time colors): ¥7,150 (Tax Included) 

Unlimited Disco Glitz Lipstick (2 limited-time colors): ¥4,070 (Tax Included) 

Unlimited Satin Lipstick (2 limited-time colors): ¥4,070 (Tax Included) 

Unlimited Lacquer Shine Lipstick (1 limited-time color/1 existing color): ¥3,740 (Tax Included)

Unlimited Cream Lipstick (2 limited-time colors): ¥4,180 (Tax Included) 

Ulim8∞Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil (Limited-time packaging) 450ml: ¥12,650 (Tax Included) / 150ml: ¥5,060 (Tax Included)

Limited-Time Channel Goods

*Available only at the official online store and Global Flagship Beauty Boutiques

Unlimited Satin Lipstick VIP Auburn: ¥4,070 (Tax Included) 

Hard Formula 9 Seal Brown: ¥2,860 (Tax Included) 

Rock the Party Premium Makeup Box: ¥35,200 (Tax Included) 

Rock the Party Mini Lipstick Set: ¥7,150 (Tax Included) 

*Available only at the official online store and Global Flagship Beauty Boutiques

  The new collaborative collection is inspired by Tokyo nightlife and is perfect for creating both a glamorous rock ‘n roll look or something more soft and sweet. A number of new shades of eyeshadow and lipstick appear in this holiday collection, so why not snag some of these high-quality goods before they’re gone?    © 2021 SANRIO CO., LTD. APPROVAL NO. L614617

Japanese cosmetic brand Shu Uemura is set to release its new origami-inspired 'mindfully crafted in japan' collection on June 18, but presales opened on their online shop last Tuesday. The collection is a display of Japanese tradition and craftsmanship with sustainability at the core of its concept.    

ultime8 ∞ sublime beauty cleansing oil (Limited Edition Design) | ¥12,650 (Tax Included)

hard formula hard 9 (seal brown 02) (Limited Edition Design) | ¥2,860 (Tax Included)

petal 55 foundation brush (Limited Edition Design) | ¥6,600 (Tax Included)

The collection focuses on three aspects of mindfulness with Japan as its focus: mindful of Japanese nature with locally and sustainably resourced ingredients, mindful of Japanese resources by taking only what is needed, and mindful of Japanese traditional craftsmanship by preserving traditions from the past. Shu Uemura's Cleansing Oil is one of the brand's most notable sustainable products, preserving everything important about Japanese culture from its history to its natural environment. Using traditional methods passed down the ages, the product is made from plant-derived ingredients sourced sustainably, and the packaging is made from 100% recyclable plastic. The Cleansing Oil bottles were also added to Shu Uemura's new recycling program which began on May 5 which enables bottles to be reused.   Don't miss out on this special new collection by Shu Uemura.

Japanese makeup artist brand Shu Uemura dropped its new limited-edition "rouge unlimited iron reds collection" on New Year's Day. Pre-sales for the  collection opened via the brand's online shop on Boxing Day.   Shu Uemura is inviting people to blast into 2021 with 13 powerful iron red lip shades. This includes 12 colours as part of the rouge unlimited iron reds collection (9 limited-edition, 3 existing) in three textures - Rouge Unlimited, Rouge Unlimited Matte, and Rouge Unlimited Lacquer Shine - and 2 colours of the Rouge Unlimited Liquid Matte (1 new, 1 existing).  

Metallic colours designed for Asian skin

The rouge unlimited iron reds collection arrives in three textures as part of Shu Uemura's popular Rouge Unlimited series, from a vivid combination of reds and oranges to deep rusty browns. The colours have a sensual metallic sheen to them which gives them a complex appearance like that of a flame. The colour variation has been designed with Asian skin tones in mind to bring out their beauty.

Rouge Unlimited (3 Limited-Edition Colours/1 Existing) | ¥3,300 Each (Before Tax)

"Metallic" MET OR 555 / "Metallic" MET CR 355 / RD 163 / BR 788

  Rouge Unlimited Matte (3 Limited-Edition Colours/1 Existing) | ¥3,300 Each (Before Tax) "Metallic"  MET M RD 163 / "Metallic" MET M BR 786 / M RD 163 / M BR 786   Rouge Unlimited Lacquer Shine (3 Limited-Edition Colours/1 Existing) | ¥3,300 Each (Before Tax) "Metallic" / M LS OR 570 / "Metallic" M LS OR 583 / LS RD 198 / LS BR 784  

Eye-catching Liquid Rouge ignites

Rouge Unlimited Liquid Matte (1 Limited-Edition Colour/1 Existing) | ¥3,600 Each (Before Tax) M RD 04 / M OR 01 A long-lasting liquid matte colour that's striking but doesn't run. It comes with a brush inspired by traditional Japanese writing brushes that makes it easy to fit and draw beautiful lip lines.  

New Year Limited-Edition "Iron New Year Collection"

Released January 1, 2021

To celebrate the New Year, three of Shu Uemura's signature items have been dressed up in red and liquid gold. These iconic items capture the quality and craftsmanship of Japanese products and arrive in limited-edition packaging for the start of 2021.   Ultime 8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil | ¥11,500 (Before Tax)Hard Formula (Brown/Acorn) | ¥2,600 Each (Before Tax)Petal 55 Foundation Brush | ¥6,000 (Before Tax)