Author: Editor in Chief

Takarajimasya will release the February 2026 extra issue of “Otona MUSE” today, December 26. It will be priced at 1,850 yen and will be available exclusively at Seven-Eleven and Seven Net Shopping. The special supplement of the extra issue is a two-piece set of a cold/insulated pouch and tote bag collaborated by Kinokuniya and JOURNAL…

UNIQLO will release today, December 26, a half-zip sweatshirt in collaboration with “The Monsters,” a popular series by toy brand POP MART. The character is created by picture book author and artist Kasing Lung, and is a small group of elves who call the Scandinavian forests home. Following the summer release of T-shirts, the new…

JR Tokai and JR West will operate the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen “Nozomi” bullet trains with all seats reserved during the year-end and New Year holidays. The period covered is from December 26 to January 4, 2026. During major holidays (GW, Obon, year-end and New Year holidays), when the number of passengers is particularly concentrated,…

Soba Making Experience We visited “Soba Restaurant Meijin-tei”. The soba makers at Meijin-tei pride themselves on their handmade soba made from 100% locally grown brown buckwheat (buckwheat seeds), milled on a millstone and roller mill! You can taste not only Seiro-soba, but also Meijin-tei Gyoja-soba and Juwari-soba, as well as exquisite grilled rice balls and…

Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture, has announced that it will change the date of its annual August “Inagawa Fireworks Festival” to November 7, 2026. The Inagawa Fireworks Festival has been held jointly by Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture, Ikeda City, Osaka Prefecture, and the Inagawa Fireworks Festival Organizing Committee, on the banks of the Inagawa River, which…

Shimamura offers great deals on winter apparel in its “Super Surprise Sale!!! Returns! will be held from December 3. The popular “Super Surprise Sale! will once again be held at all Fashion Center Shimamura stores nationwide, offering a lineup of super special items, products made in collaboration with influencers, and special deals on winter items….

The GREEN x EXPO Association and the 2027 International Horticultural Exposition Master Licensing Office will sequentially release the first additional lineup of Sanrio Characters collaboration goods on December 5. Three new items, a ballpoint pen (880 yen each), a square memo pad (550 yen), and a can badge (550 yen), will be added to the…

Heart-shaped sweets for a great reflection! Pink-colored Pal Pal limited menu items on sale! The special menu items that will go on sale starting December 26 are also all about Minnie! Huey Louie Dooie’s Good Time Cafe will be selling “Heart Ring Puff (Strawberry)” (750 yen). The sweet and sour strawberry sauce and cream are…

JICA President Akihiko Tanaka met with Vice President Haorate of the Republic of Botswana at JICA Headquarters on November 28. In his opening remarks, Vice President Haorate thanked JICA for its cooperation in Botswana. In response, President Tanaka introduced JICA’s efforts in industrial diversification and agriculture in Botswana, and stated that JICA would consider cooperation…

Tokyo Disneyland will host the fifth installment of Disney’s Palpalooza, “Minnie’s Funderland,” from January 14 to March 2, 2026. Details on special merchandise to be released on January 13 in advance of the event have been announced. The theme is “Minnie’s Funderland,” the world that Minnie, the main character of this year’s exhibition, envisioned when…