Five popular characters from the popular horror fantasy series GeGeGe no Kitaro have been transformed into Daruma dolls! Two Daruma Land locations in Fukushima Prefecture have begun selling these curious items, with sales going live on August 26, 2022. Fans can choose from Kitaro, Neko Musume, Nezumi Otoko, Sunakake Babaa, or Konaki Jijii, and each Daruma doll features an entirely new image of each character’s face drawn by popular illustrator and creator Tsumupapa.
The company producing the dolls, Shirakawa Daruma, has been creating Daruma for over 300 years, and each authentic Japanese piece is produced by a craftsman adhering to traditional techniques. The palm-sized Daruma is around 45mm, perfect for displaying on a desk or shelf. Each comes with a cushion made of Aizu cotton, a well-known craft in Fukushima. These cushions were made to resemble Kitaro’s sleeveless kimono jacket from the series!
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Hey, Kitaro Daruma
Varieties: Kitaro, Neko Musume, Nezumi Otoko, Sunakake Babaa, Konaki Jijii
Fans of the comedy horror manga GeGeGe no Kitaro might be interested in some themed underpants. Popular brand HIPSHOP has announced a collaboration with Shigeru Mizuki’s legendary series to celebrate the creator's 100th birthday, and preorders open online starting September 9. Items will be available at HIPSHOP locations nationwide starting September 16, as well as online at the HIPSHOP store, Rakuten, ZOZOTOWN, and Amazon.The first season of GeGeGe no Kitaro began in 1968, while the most recent season aired in 2020. In total, six anime series have been aired over the years, with a number of films and video games also being produced.
Underpants
For this collection, Kitaro and his friends appear as they did in the third anime series, which aired in 1985. Fans can snag underpants featuring their favorite characters in bold colors.
Packaging
The original packaging features a Japanese-style color lineup. Note the comical yokai designs on the back!
Shopping Bag
When purchasing items from the collection in stores, customers will receive a limited-quantity shopping bag featuring an original design of popular characters from every anime iteration of GeGeGe no Kitaro. Why not grab a pair of these hilarious underpants while supplies last?(C)水木プロ・東映アニメーション (C)水木プロ・フジテレビ・東映アニメーション
Tokyo City View, an incredible venue on the 52nd floor of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, will hold the first large-scale exhibition of GeGeGe no Kitaro creator Shigeru Mizuki’s works from July 8 to September 4, 2022. The event marks the creator's 100th birthday, though Mizuki himself passed away in November 2015 at 93 years old.During “The Yokai of Shigeru Mizuki: Nightly Procession of Monsters ~This is How the Monsters were Born~,” guests will be able to step into Mizuki’s world while also enjoying a breathtaking view of Tokyo. The exhibition will unravel how many of the manga creator’s monsters came to be, and a number of yokai-related books from Mizuki’s personal collection will be on display including The Illustrated Night Parade of a Hundred Demons (Gazu Hyakki Yagyo) by Sekien Toriyama and A Discourse on Yokai (Yokai Dangi) by Kunio Yanagita. Over 100 of Mizuki’s yokai drawings will be on display. Items at a GlanceExclusive merchandise will be able to purchase on-site at the special shop ‘Nekoya.’ These items are only available during the exhibition!From mugs and keychains to T-shirts and sweets, fans of Mizuki’s works will find something to love!Visitors will be able to use the AR camera in the Street Museum XR sightseeing app to take photos with five yokai hidden within the venue. Using a smartphone, scanning certain key visuals will summon monsters, so don’t miss this neat addition to the event!At the entrance, visitors will be greeted by bronze statues inspired by the yokai statues that line Sakaiminato City in Tottori Prefecture, Mizuki's birthplace, as well as windows decorated with lanterns bearing the names of different yokai. Using the AR camera, a giant Gashadokuro will appear (basically a huge and terrifying skeleton). In the final area of the exhibition, guests can snap a picture with the yokai they found along the way!＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝How to Access the AR ‘Youkai Camera’After installing the Street Museum XR sightseeing app, select ‘The Yokai of Shigeru Mizuki: Nightly Procession of Monsters” on the map of Tokyo and activate the AR camera.*Guests must download the Street Museum app. App Store: https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/machikadowomyujiamuni-sutoritomyujiamu/id1151091144Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.toppan.streetmuseum.android(C)水木プロダクション
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The Yokai of Shigeru Mizuki: Nightly Procession of Monsters ~This is How the Monsters were Born~
Running: July 8 – September 4, 2022 *Open daily.
Venue: Tokyo City View, Roppongi Hills Tower 52F (6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo) Hours: 10:00-22:00 (Last entry at 21:00)
Special Shop ‘Nekoya’
Open: July 8 – September 4, 2022 *Open daily. Hours: 11:00-22:00 (Last entry at 21:30)
In conjunction with Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s 31-show nationwide tour celebrating her 10th anniversary, the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project was launched to energize Japan through the appeal of regional towns and cities. At each stop, Kyary collaborates with a local company to help bring more attention to smaller regions and businesses. The details of the artist's collaboration project in Fukushima have been revealed ahead of Kyary’s performance there on May 20, 2022.In Fukushima, Kyary is teaming up with Kourakuen, one of Japan’s leading ramen chains dating back to 1954. For this collaboration’s logo, Kourakuen’s logo has been transformed as an homage to Kyary’s 2012 song Fashion Monster. The fan-favorite track has appeared in ad campaigns and is a must-play for the singer at concerts! Known for its tasty ramen and gyoza, Kourakuen has been a local favorite for almost 70 years. While the menu hasn’t changed too much since the early days, the chain is known for releasing some unique offerings, like chocolate Ramen on Valentine’s Day and natto miso ramen this spring. For this collaboration, fans can grab a branded Ramen Monster Spoon, perfect for slurping up your favorite bowl of ramen.Those who want to grab this item will want to head to the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project online store by May 29. The spoon will also be sold in limited quantities at the Iwaki Aryan Arts & Culture Exchange Center Lobby in Fukushima on May 20.
A collaborative T-shirt is also on sale featuring the new logo and the singer’s 10th-anniversary logo. It will be available on the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project online store until May 29!
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Kourakuen (Fukushima) x LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project Ramen Monster Spoon Price: ¥1,000 (Tax Included) Available: May 16 – May 29, 2022 Where to Buy: LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project Online Shop Available until May 29 at 23:59 https://store-localpowerjapan.com/
May 20, 15:30~ Iwaki Aryan Arts & Culture Exchange Center Lobby
Collaboration T-shirt Price: ¥3,300 (Tax Included) Where to Buy: LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project Online Shop
Fukushima Mono Mappu, a project run in collaboration with BEAMS JAPAN and Fukushima Prefecture, has revealed the contents of its 33rd installment! To promote the charms of Japan in collaboration with Fukushima Prefecture, BEAMS JAPAN has begun selling four new products, including specially-crafted Miharu Papiere-mache Ultraman masks.
Takashiba Deco Yashiki Daikokuya BEAMS JAPAN Special Products
Takashiba Deco Yashiki Daikokuya
Daruma dolls, self-righting dolls, and Akabeko toys are all known as pieces of Fukushima's local culture. Takashiba Deco Yashiki brings together papier-mache craftsmen to create pieces of Miharu papier-mache, a traditional craft in Fukushima Prefecture for the last 300 years. BEAMS JAPAN has collaborated with a workshop that continues to make these local toys to this day to bring customers four styles of custom-made products. In honor of Fukushima-born Eiji Tsuburaya, the creator of Ultraman, the character’s mask has been cast in local Miharu papier-mache. The Fukushima Mono Mappu 2022 pop-up shop is now open at the BEAMS JAPAN Shinjuku location! Visitors can buy special kitchenware along with local foods and beverages from Fukushima Prefecture, so be sure to visit!
To be Available during Fukushima Mono Mappu 2022 Collaboration
Release Date: March 15, 2022 Available at: BEAMS JAPAN Shinjuku 1F Address: 3-32-6 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo BEAMS Official Online Shop: https://www.beams.co.jp/tag/220315_BJ_01
Shirakawa Daruma Souhonpo in Fukushima Prefecture, which has been in business since the end of the Edo period, is now selling seven Tokyo Revengers-themed daruma. These good luck items are available both at Daruma Land on the second floor of S-PAL Koriyama in Shirakawa City and at the Shirakawa Daruma online store. Some characters available in Daruma form are Takemichi, Mikey, and Draken. Shirakawa Daruma Souhonpo, which has been in business for 300 years, makes use of Japanese traditional techniques to form each doll by hand. These palm-sized dolls are only 45mm long and are perfect for decorating any room. Let these Tokyo Revengers-themed good luck charms make this the best year ever!