The NFT project City Pop TOKYO is inspired, fittingly, by City Pop, a music genre from Japan that is immensely popular worldwide, particularly among Gen Z. Now, the project is collaborating with the incredibly popular idol group FRUITS ZIPPER!

Starting at the end of April, Legendary NFTs inspired by the members of FRUITS ZIPPER will be released sequentially as part of the City Pop TOKYO NFT collection. These collaborative NFTs feature rare designs that are unique among the other characters in the City Pop TOKYO NFT collection and were drawn by Natsumi Sato, the illustrator who oversaw character design for the collection.

This collaboration will commemorate the release of City Pop TOKYO’s main collection, which will be available starting at the end of April. City Pop TOKYO will allow both NFT holders and non-holders to participate in new character development through a series of Twitter posts after the main NFT collection is sold. Characters will level up by earning training points when they post on Twitter, which will also be reflected in their NFT properties. The final ranking will be based on level, and a subsequent audition will be held, with winners being invited to join ASOBISYSTEM as new talents.

For this collaboration, the wildly popular FRUITS ZIPPER is sure to bring some new excitement to this incredible project.

Customers can create an original pair of shoes by choosing from a selection of four different illustrations, which can be placed on the outside of the shoe and the tongue.

These sneakers will be available online and at White atelier BY CONVERSE locations.

The NFT marketplace HINATA will start selling collaborative pieces on November 25, combining classical drafts of Kyoto printed silk images with modern art pieces by up-and-coming creators.

Kyoto Printed Silk Draft x Modern Ukiyo-e Artist Ono Tako

Draft (Left) and Spring Dreamland – Sunshine by Ono Tako

Ono Tako is a modern-day ukiyo-e artist who creates unique paintings combining Eastern and Western elements.

A beautiful woman stands in front of lush spring scenery in this gorgeous piece.

Although this is clearly an ukiyo-e piece, it has a more modern flare, expressing a more universal standard of beauty while also infusing traditional elements.

A total of six works will be available in two variations: the soft and warm Sun and the calm and tranquil Shade. 

Ono Tako: https://twitter.com/ono800

Kyoto Printed Silk Draft x Illustrator Omulettomato

Draft (Left) and Full Moon by Omulettomato

Omulettomato is an illustrator who is rapidly gaining popularity for their feminine portraits.

Three different drafts depicting beautiful Japanese nature have been combined and transformed into a modern lady with moe elements.

A total of eight works will be available in three variations: Daybreak, Sunrise, and Full Moon.

Omulettomato: http://omutoma.tumblr.com

Enjoy this curious collaboration and own a piece of classical and modern Japanese culture.

Headquartered in Los Angeles and Tokyo, 1SEC operates the web3 creative studio 1BLOCK. For a limited time, the shoe brand atmos and the wildly popular manga series Space Brothers, which has sold over 28 million copies, will collaborate with the 3D NFT project MetaSamurai and the AIR SMOKE ZERO (NFT) virtual sneakers.

MetaSamurai will incorporate the sensibility and style of atmos sneakers with the beloved characters from Space Brothers. The collaborative AIR SMOKE ZERO sneakers show off the iconic elephant pattern from atmos along with the moon, the main setting for the Space Brothers story.

Don’t miss out on this unique and one-of-a-kind NFT!

©小山宙哉／講談社

A three-day exhibition of XR NFT art created by Japanese artists was recently held at Shibuya PARCO from October 15 until October 17. A hands-on booth was set up on the first floor of Shibuya PARCO’s Nakashibu-dori where visitors could freely view the world on display and take a hands-on tour. The exhibition marked the triumphant return to Japan of the city-linked XR NFT art exhibition originally held by Psychic VR Lab at NFT NYC, the world’s largest NFT event held from June 20 to June 23. Seven Japanese artists decorated New York Times Square during the event, and the recent event in Shibuya featured works by three of these artists. 

On October 15, Psychic VR Lab opened Shibuya Scramble Layer, an XR-ization of the famous Tokyo landmark, using its real metaverse platform STYLY. PARCO provided support for this initiative, which aims to open the metaverse to the city and enhance the experience value of Tokyo itself. Together, the two will work together to create new attractions for visitors to the capital to enjoy.

Art collective teamLab will exhibit its first NFT work, Matter is Void – Water, at teamLab Planets TOKYO DMM in Toyosu, Tokyo starting November 1, 2022. This is the collective’s first NFT work to be released through Pace Gallery’s NFT platform Pace Verso, and those interested can purchase one starting October 19 at 11:00 EST. Outside of Japan, the work will be exhibited for the first time in Paris at Paris+ par Art Basel, the world’s largest contemporary art fair, and on a giant billboard in Times Square in New York City. At teamLab Planets in Tokyo, the exhibit will be housed in an incredible immersive space. 

The Matter is Void NFT project includes seven NFT works. One of these, titled Matter is Void – Water, will be on display at teamLab Planets.

“Although only one of the seven NFTs will be for sale, anyone can download and own the overall work itself, whether or not they own the NFT. In other words, the uniqueness of the work is not conferred by the NFT, and nothing can distinguish the downloaded work.  Regardless of whether a person owns the NFT or not, it is all still authentic.

teamLab’s work is titled Matter is Void. However, owners of the NFT can change this title, and this change will be reflected in all works downloaded and owned by people around the world. Even the text on exhibition at teamLab Planets will be rewritten!

The value of the work change depending on the text added by NFT owners. If the words are valuable, more people will want to own it–if the words are nonsense or without value, no one will want it on display. This will keep people from writing something offensive or useless. Everyone will want to write something that will make the value increase. It’s all decided by the owners!

Also, even if the NFT owner reverts back to “Matter is Void” after rewriting it in other words, the words “Matter is Void” will be written with different wording.

Once the NFT is altered, it will never go back to the way it was. That makes this a more novel and exciting experience!”

The digital NFT idol project ‘Project B-idol’ has announced its first collaboration with an artist! As the first release, the song Lumière is now available as an NFT. Produced by INIMI, a team of musical artists attracting worldwide attention, the catchy number was released on September 1, 2022.

A number of unique tracks made by both well-known artists and newcomers to music are available on the NFT Marketplace ‘PlayMining NFT Premier.’ Each member of Azure Melodies sang this new track, and those who purchase the song will be permitted to vote on how the group progresses.

Don’t miss out on this musical NFT, available in limited quantities on PlayMining NFT Premier!

GARNiDELiA has announced the start of the GARNiDELiA 3.0 Project, an NFT art project featuring a number of characters inspired by the duo’s popular stage costumes.

In collaboration with Fever of Unknown Origin (FUO), a Web 3.0 fan-based project, world-renowned illustrator YULIA has created fictional illustrations of characters inspired by GARNiDELiA’s stage costumes.

Those purchasing an NFT will be able to set the illustration as their social media profile picture and will be available for purchase by fans from around the world.

A pop-up store sponsored by the Fever of Unknown Origin (FUO) project will be held at Laforet Harajuku from September 5 until September 16 to celebrate the project’s launch and the group’s 12th anniversary on September 11. The GARNiDELiA booth will feature costumes worn by the duo on stage and live videos. 

The pop-up store will also feature collaborative items by illustrator NAPPY and designer Ankin, so come check it out!

The web3 creative studio 1BLOCK, based in Los Angeles and Tokyo, released a 3D NFT collection on August 12 to massive fan response. The Lupin the Third x MetaSamurai NFT set sold out instantly. The AIR SMOKE ZERO, Japan’s first virtual sneakers, feature a younger Lupin and friends. 

The NFTs sold out immediately after going on sale, and the collection was temporarily ranked 7th in the world based on transaction volume on OpenSea, the largest global NFT marketplace. The price of a single item has also quadrupled since it was first sold.

The collection is based on Takeshi Koike’s long-running Lupin the Third series. Each item is one-of-a-kind. 

To celebrate the release of the collaboration collection, a commemorative NFT will be airdropped to those holding MetaSamurai NFTs on August 19. Check out the 1BLOCK Discord for more details.

In 2018, the film Penguin Highway won the Satoshi Kon Award for Excellence in Animation and Best Animated Feature at the 42nd Japan Academy Awards. In 2020, A Whisker Away was released globally on Netflix and ranked in the Top 10 most viewed films in over 30 countries. Understandably, Studio Colorido has been receiving acclaim from international audiences, and the company will release its next film Drifting Home on September 16. The anime movie will be available on Netflix and will be screened in select theaters around Japan on the same day.

To celebrate the film’s release, a project will be held between the film and Otaku Culture Studio, a Web3.0 NFT project.

Otaku Culture Studio, which promotes Japanese anime culture through NFTs, supports talented creators and aims to create a world where fans and creators collaborate to make Japanese anime, manga, and game content together. The project creates opportunities for fans to be involved in the production of things they love. NFT collaborations with numerous Japanese creators have already been decided, and the appeal of the country’s pop culture is being shared with audiences around the world through this ambitious project.

NFTs sold at Otaku Culture Studio will come with an original AR figure that can be displayed on AR applications, an invitation to an NFT-holder-only community, and other benefits. The production and sale of NFT-holder-only merchandise may also be coming in the future. For more details, check out the official project website.

©コロリド・ツインエンジンパートナーズ

The Y’s SEEULATER X GSG9–the newest collaboration sneaker between Y’s and Adidas–will go on sale on June 3, with preorders starting on May 28. 

Designed with military elements in mind, the Y’s SEEULATER X GSG9 was based on the more rugged SEEULATER model. The new sneakers incorporate the GSG9 sole, and pairs will be available in black on black or white on black. Featuring detailed finishes and an urban feel, these high-performance kicks can be paired with any and all outfits. 

The SEEULATER, a hiking shoe from the ADVENTURE series, was originally launched in 1995. Not originally released in Japan, many now regard it as a legendary masterpiece in footwear. The sturdy shoe’s name comes from the phrase “see you later,” usually said when passing a fellow runner on the trail. Originally made for the German tactical police, the GSG9 features shock-absorbing soles that help to maintain a stable, strong grip on any terrain. 

The sneaker’s body features a combination of smooth cowhide leather and breathable mesh. This perfect blend of function and design showcase the best parts of both Y’s and Adidas. Will you be grabbing a pair of these classic and contemporary kicks?

Nike’s newest sneakers, the ‘W AIR MAX 90 FUTURA,’ will be available at atmos pink locations nationwide starting May 28, 2022.

The W AIR MAX 90 FUTURA is an easy-to-wear sneaker combining classic Nike style and an updated patchwork design in a number of colors. Heavily inspired by Tokyo streetwear, the newest visual for the sneakers feature the up-and-coming artist group bala. The visual has been directed by OWNCEAN from the duo UNA+MATCHA, who is also active as a DJ and model. The five female members of bala. are known for their modern style and freedom of expression. For those interested, a new interview with bala. is available only on the official atmos pink Instagram page.

bala.

In 2022, the new project bala. was launched to gather artists and creators presenting cutting-edge music, fashion, and art from Japan to the rest of the world. bala. will link with the global music scene and present fans with an honest vision of Tokyo culture. The project aims to be a collective of artists that connects both underground and overground cultures, pop and alternative genres, and Japan and Asia with the world. The collective is led by MANON, an iconic presence in the Japanese rap scene; ASA Wu, a trilingual singer from Taiwan; SUNNY ONLY1, a Gen-Z alternative pop singer and model; and a creative crew called  ‘KissGelz’ (MANON, Dan, Kayno). They will create a new cultural hub under the bala. umbrella.