The Harajuku-based brand KAWAII MONSTER CAFE has announced a traveling store, KAWAII MONSTER SHOP. As the project’s first event, a Halloween pop-up shop named ‘KAWAII MONSTER SHOP – Colorful Halloween’ will open for 10 days starting October 19 in the birthplace of the brand, Harajuku.

KAWAII MONSTER CAFE is an entertainment restaurant that embodies the vibe of Harajuku in Tokyo, a town that swallows fashion and culture from places around the world and reimagines them into unrestrained originality. Originally opened in 2015 and produced by artist Sebastian Masuda, the colorful and crazy space offered photogenic food and drinks, and guests were served by the iconic Monster Girls clad in future Harajuku fashion. It became a ‘new Tokyo landmark,’ attracting over 700,000 visitors from both Japan and abroad. Even after the restaurant closed in January 2021, its one-of-a-kind concept has lived on in pop-up shops, events, and collaborations with various brands and creators.

The pop-up shop, open in Harajuku for a limited time starting October 19, offers food and drinks, merchandise, special experiences, and photo spots themed around the spooky Halloween season. Additionally, a collaboration with the popular Harajuku accessory store 6%DOKIDOKI will be held from October 19-22. Colorful hair accessories will be on sale, and shop girls with Monster Girls makeup experience will be giving seasonal makeovers to visitors.

■FOOD & DRINK

During the first half of the event, the pop-up shop will be serving food made in collaboration with the hot dog specialty restaurant HOTDOG CAFE STAND STATION TOKYO. The limited-edition menu includes the crazy Monster Dog, consisting of a monster holding a sausage in its mouth, and the monstrous Philly Cheesesteak, made with juicy tenderloin and tons of cheese.

The second half of the event will feature the Colorful Pop Burger Blue Monster (Teriyaki Chicken) from KAWAII MONSTER CAFE’s popular menu, along with French Fries with Monster Dip served with five different colorful sauces. Visitors are welcome to get into the Halloween spirit by enjoying the Monster Float during the pop-up event.

<10/19~10/22 Exclusive Menu>
Monster Dog: ¥880 (Tax Included) *In collaboration with HOTDOG CAFE STAND STATION TOKYO
Philly Cheesesteak: ¥1,350 (Tax Included) *In collaboration with HOTDOG CAFE STAND STATION TOKYO

<10/26~10/31 Exclusive Menu>
Colorful Pop Burger Blue Monster (Teriyaki Chicken): ¥1,200 (Tax Included)
French Fries with Monster Dip: ¥700 (Tax Included)

Monster Float: ¥800 [Rose/Passionfruit/Kyoho Grape]

■GOODS

New KAWAII MONSTER CAFE goods will make their first appearance at this pop-up shop! Guests can visit the Sweets Factory to create their own candy assortment by filling their favorite containers with chocolates, gummies, and other goodies. Harajuku Icing Cookies will also be available in collaboration with SHONPY, a popular cake shop. Be sure to grab some incredible souvenirs!

In addition, popular KAWAII MONSTER CAFE collaboration items from years past will be available, along with adorable plushies from the globally beloved brand Ty. Visitors can also snag some unique zipit pouches and flexible PLUS PLUS blocks starting October 26.

■EXPERIENCE

During the event, KAWAII MONSTER CAFE’s iconic Monster Girls and the character Choppy will greet guests and take photos, as well as shoot cute Halloween-inspired videos together. Visitors wishing to be transformed into Monster Girls themselves can speak to the store girls, clad in Decora fashion and rocking accessories from 6%DOKIDOKI. These ladies will provide POP Harajuku Monster makeovers featuring original tattoo stickers and unique hair accessories to get you ready for Halloween.

■PHOTO SPOT

At the event, guests will find the 3-meter tall Sweets Cake Balloon inspired by the Sweets-Go-Round Cake, the symbol of KAWAII MONSTER CAFE. Surrounded by colorful decorations and captivating monsters, visitors are sure to leave with plenty of special memories.

Guests of all ages are invited to spend the Halloween season surrounded by the unique wonders of Harajuku!

Last year, the HARAJUKU COLLECTIVE collaboration appeared at AF Gallery in Harajuku from August 10 until August 28, garnering massive acclaim from fans. The collection is now being sold at Shinsaibashi PARCO until March 12, 2023.

HARAJUKU COLLECTIVE is a Studio Ghibli-inspired apparel collection by the popular American counterculture chain Hot Topic. Bringing more Japanese culture to the ongoing Studio Ghibli collaboration launched in 2014, Hot Topic stores began selling original items produced by nine Japanese creators and brands, as well as some original American items produced by Hot Topic’s executive designers.

The lineup of Japan-original items includes T-shirts, tote bags, and other items featuring exclusive artwork by up-and-coming creators. These items depict beloved characters from Studio Ghibli’s works, as well as logos created for the collaboration. Fans won’t want to miss grabbing these unique items!

Details on the Previous HARAJUKU COLLECTIVE Pop-Up Store: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/ja/625747

Laforet Harajuku will host a pop-up shop inspired by the up-and-coming idol group FRUITS ZIPPER from February 1 until February 14! The FRUITS ZIPPER Valentine Pop-Up Shop will be found on the 5th floor MAKE THE STAGE area.

FRUITS ZIPPER debuted in April 2022 and embodies a simple concept: “From Harajuku to the World.” The group’s second single Watashino Ichiban Kawaiitokoro exploded in popularity on TikTok, pulling in over 600 million views. In February, the girls will embark on their first solo concert tour in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. This is the first FRUITS ZIPPER-inspired limited-time shop, and during the event, visuals of the group’s members will be displayed in the show windows found on the first floor of Laforet Harajuku.

◆About the FRUITS ZIPPER Valentine Pop-Up Shop

When entering the venue, fans will be greeted by a 5-meter-wide board where visitors can write and attach their messages to the FRUITS ZIPPER members on heart-shaped cards. Costumes that the members have worn on stage will also be on display, allowing fans to see each stitch up close.

Exclusive items featuring new photos of the members will be on sale at the pop-up shop. Fans can enjoy seeing the girls in their own personal style, and these items will only be available during the event! Starting February 4, tour merch for the group’s upcoming solo concert series will also be available for purchase.

◆Collaboration with Fruit Sandwich Specialty Store ‘Fruits Box Daikanyama’

Last year’s popular collaboration with Fruit Box Daikanyama, a well-known fruit sandwich shop, is happening again in 2023! Fans can find the Collaboration Gift Box for sale, including seven baked meringue goods each featuring one of the member’s colors. The box also comes with snapshots of the members, and for a few lucky fans, these snaps might be signed! The idol group and sandwich shop have also teamed up to create the Collaborative Lucky Grab Bag Lottery, including popular FRUITS ZIPPER goods and original items from Fruits Box Daikanyama. The lucky first-prize winner will receive a special set of all available February tour merchandise in all sizes.

◆Member Appearance Planned on Valentine’s Day

On February 14, the final day of the pop-up shop, the members of FRUITS ZIPPER will make an appearance! Guests will be able to participate in the first-ever hands-on event with the members, so keep an eye out for more details!

Stay up to date with the latest FRUITS ZIPPER news at the official Twitter page (@FRUITS_ZIPPER).

FRUITS ZIPPER Pop-Up Shop Exclusive Goods

Random Photo – Valentine pop-up ver. (21 varieties): ¥330 (Tax Included)

Random Pin – Valentine pop-up ver. (7 varieties): ¥500 (Tax Included)

Random Purikura Stickers – Valentine pop-up ver. (14 varieties): ¥600 (Tax Included)

The Winter 2022-2023 issue of the revived fashion creator magazine Zipper went on sale on December 23.

This issue focuses on this winter’s must-know trends and is packed with coordination tips, outfit plans through spring, snapshots, hair and makeup tips, and much more.

Zipper ended its 24-year history in December 2017. In March 2022, ASOBISYSTEM teamed up with DONUTS Inc. to revive the magazine as a quarterly release. The fashion magazine, popular with Gen Z, is known for sharing details aspects of Harajuku culture and will continue to share more from the creative center of Tokyo for years to come.

Standard Edition (Cover: Nagisa Saito)

Another Edition (Cover: FRUITS ZIPPER）

Chibi Maruko-chan and Miffy are collaborating for the second time! This follows the first miffy meets maruko series released last year.

This time, Miffy will visit the world of Chibi Maruko-chan. Fans of either series won’t want to miss out on these sweet items.

Goods

Mirror

Reuseable Bag

Water-absorbent Coaster

Acrylic Keychain

Frame Magnet

Mousepad

Glasses Case

Wall Canvas / Oil Brush

3P Drawstring Bag

Clear Case (Clear/Orange/Gray)

Clear Case S (Pram Pattern / Logo Pattern)

Tote Bag / A4 Tote Bag

3 Pocket Pouch

Glass / Glass Accessory Case

Bitatto

Drawstring Pouch with Can

Block Calendar / Clear Cup

These unique and fun designs are exclusive to this collaboration. A total of 36 items in 21 categories are available, from reusable bags and tote bags to coasters, keychains, and other useful accessories. Don’t miss out!

©さくらプロダクション
© Mercis bv

The global online fashion brand SHEIN has become wildly popular, shipping goods to over 150 countries. The world’s first permanent brick-and-mortar SHEIN store will open in Harajuku, Tokyo on November 13, 2022, displaying popular styles and items perfect for the Japanese market. All items on display will be available for purchase on the official SHEIN app simply by scanning the QR code on the tag. While items won’t be available to purchase in-store, the location will be a place where curious customers can try things on and explore new trends. The store has two floors and carries women’s and men’s wear, as well as kids’ wear, pet goods, and accessories. In addition to standard fitting rooms, there will also be a photo booth and SHEIN gacha machine!

This summer, the brand held its first pop-up event in Japan, traveling to five cities over two days. In October 2022, the three-month-long SHEIN POPUP OSAKA event invited customers could try on clothes and discover new styles.

 “SHEIN TOKYO is planning to hold a number of events to make the SHEIN brand more familiar to new customers. Please visit us and enjoy perusing our reasonably priced but high-quality items,” an official comment reads. 

Momoko Sakura’s popular character Coji-Coji and the Shimokitazawa branch of Sunday Brunch are teaming up for some exclusive Christmas cakes! Preorders are scheduled to open on November 1, 2022. 

Currently, a special collaboration menu featuring Coji-Coji is available at Sunday Brunch Shimokitazawa. This has been a huge hit, and on weekends, young people in their 20s and 30s can be seen lining up for a seat. The newly-announced Christmas cakes are a first for the popular collab, and fans won’t want to miss snagging one for their holiday table. Sunday Brunch will also release its standard Christmas cakes alongside these new additions. 

Coji-Coji’s Christmas Fruit Tart

This lovely shortcake is decorated with Coji-Coji’s face and scrumptious fruit. The strawberry filling suits the outer layer perfectly. 

[Price] Small (12cm): ¥3,800 (Tax Included) / Large (15cm): ¥4,800 (Tax Included)

*Must be picked up at the Shimokitazawa location. Delivery is not available. 

*Preorders open from November 1 until December 18 both online and in-store. 

*Limited quantity available.

Strawberry & Gingerbread Man

This Christmas shortcake blends strawberries, blueberries, and a delightful gingerbread man. The fluffy sponge will melt in your mouth, and this is a must-have for strawberry lovers!

*Must be picked up at the Shimokitazawa store.

[Price] Small (12cm): ¥3,600 (Tax Included) / Large (15cm): ¥4,600 (Tax Included)

Sunday Brunch Shimokitazawa has announced a new limited-time collaboration menu inspired by Momoko Sakura’s Coji-Coji! The collab will run from October 7 until December 11, 2022. Previously, the restaurant held a Maruko & Coji-Coji Cafe that did extremely well in 2020, so there’s no doubt this will also be a huge success.

Guests can enjoy savory and sweet dishes along with drinks inspired by the adorable character. Some of these items were featured in the previous collaboration, and will only be available at the Shimokitazawa location. Plenty of characters will appear, and exclusive merchandise will be available at the store. There will be no reservations available, so be sure to show up early! More information will be available on the official Twitter page, so check back soon.

Menu

Coji-Coji’s Avocado and Nuts Taco Rice *Vegetarian Menu

Coji-Coji’s Pumpkin Cream Udon *Vegan Menu

Jiro’s Trifle

Coji-Coji’s Secret Cake (6 varieties) *Cake and Drink Set

Land of Fairy Tales Sweets Set *Includes Drink

Coji-Coji’s Cream Soda

Suzy and Buhi-Buhi’s Cream Soda

Sunday Brunch Shimokitazawa has announced a new limited-time collaboration menu inspired by Momoko Sakura’s Coji-Coji! The collab will run from October 7 until December 11, 2022.

Coji-Coji has been a popular character in manga and anime for years, and this collaboration menu can’t be found anywhere else. Plenty of characters will appear, and exclusive merchandise will be available at the store. Previously, Sunday Brunch Shimokitazawa held a Maruko & Coji-Coji Cafe that did extremely well in 2020 and 2021, so there’s no doubt this will also be a huge success!

©️さくらももこ ©️ M.S

LDFS Co. Ltd., which operates six cafes and brands in Tokyo, has opened a new location! The company currently operates THE GREAT BURGER, a gourmet burger shop in Harajuku, The Little BAKERY Tokyo, and GOOD TOWN DONUTS. Now, they’ve brought the old-school burger store Jennifer Seven to Harajuku!

Jennifer Seven is a combination general store and burger store that sells apparel, kitchen items, and groceries. While it may seem like a general store with a coffee stand at first glance, the back door opens to reveal a secret burger shop! The innovative location will serve simple burgers, not the hearty and massive gourmet burgers available next door at THE GREAT BURGER.

General stores are found in rural America and carry a wide range of daily necessities, much like a yorozu-ya in Japan. Jennifer Seven sells original apparel, sundries, and goods with a vintage flare, as well as tableware and other items from the U.S. In addition, guests can find unique food items like handmade jellies and jams, fresh fruits and local veggies, natural wines, small gifts, and plenty more.

The drive-thru coffee stand attached to the store sells GOOD TOWN COFFEE, and Chinese-American steamed buns are also available at the Harajuku location!

Each classic burger will come with simple and tasty ingredients, including the beef patty, ketchup, mustard, original burger sauce, pickles, and onions. The restaurant’s simple interior features white and vintage wood with blue-grayish green accents and was designed by the owner himself, inspired by diners and school cafeterias in rural America.

Come enjoy a classic burger at this secret burger joint!

HARAJUKU COLLECTION, a Studio Ghibli-inspired apparel collection by popular American counterculture chain Hot Topic, is offering licensed Ghibli goods for fans in the U.S. and Canada. The collection opened its online store for those in Japan on August 10, and a limited time pop-up store has been opened in Harajuku to celebrate the release of this incredible apparel!

Japan Original Items

American Original Items

The store has a colorful exterior that shows Totoro and the Susuwatari playing together. Once inside, guests will be greeted by a massive rainbow Totoro! The shop blends the world of Ghibli with the style of Harajuku.

“If there were colorful and kawaii mushrooms in Totoro’s forest, and if it rained acorns one day, maybe he’d need a mushroom umbrella!” This colorful Totoro was inspired by this adorable thought.

The walls are decorated with artwork drawn by the creators of the original Japanese items, and guests are able to see and purchase the products in this special space. Why not visit?

© 1988 Studio Ghibli
© 1989 Eiko Kadono – Studio Ghibli – N
© 1997 Studio Ghibli – ND
© 2001 Studio Ghibli – NDDTM
© 2004 Studio Ghibli – NDDMT

The Chibi Maruko-chan Exhibition, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the anime adaptation, will be held from September 13, 2022 until January 15, 2023 at the SKIP City Sai-no-Kuni Visual Plaza at the Visual Museum in Saitama.

Chibi Maruko-chan began serialization in the shoujo manga magazine Ribon in 1986. The anime adaptation began on January 7, 1990. In May 2022, the series reached 1,500 episodes, and the series continues to be popular with men, women, and children alike.

This exhibition will showcase the charm of the anime series, which depicts the daily life of the cheerful and funny Maruko and her friends.

Something interesting to note is the transition from the analog era to the digital age. The exhibition will also include character materials and items detailing the personal life of the original author, Momoko Sakura, as well as her thoughts and feelings.

30 Years of Chibi Maruko-chan Shown in Chronological Order

From the moment guests enter the venue, they are surrounded by all things Chibi Maruko-chan. The entrance welcomes guests with a special video and an impressive 21-character movie along with profiles and signboards. Continuing on, visitors will be able to view a wide variety of over 320 valuable materials, ranging from production items like cels and settings to theme songs, movies, and merchandise.

Momoko Sakura’s Memories

Momoko Sakura has always loved creating things. In addition to her busy schedule, she created a number of other works in her private life. Many of the things she created were made from everyday items, so come and see the source of her boundless creativity!

Diorama Photo Spot

Come rediscover the charm of Chibi Maruko-chan at this impressive exhibition!