The Mos Burger x Rilakkuma lucky bag is a treat for Rilakkuma fans, has some Mos Burger value too

https://ift.tt/2X5lZJM Dale Roll

One of Japan’s most covered lucky bags, and with good reason!

New year, new stuff! Welcome to the latest installment of the 2021 Fukubukuro Roundup. Today we’re opening up a lucky bag from Japanese burger chain Mos Burger. This is no ordinary year for lucky bags at Mos Burger, however; 2021’s bag has them teaming up with with the popular lazy bear character Rilakkuma to offer a delightful bag of adorable goodies!

Now, Mos Burger releases a bag every year, but it’s not always in collaboration with such a popular character. Still, it’s Mos Burger, not a popular character merchandise shop, so we assumed it wouldn’t be too hard to get. The bags, which sell for 3,000 yen (US$29.05) each, were made available for preorder on December 26, so we decided to head over to the nearest Mos Burger chain around mid-morning on the day, thinking we were probably ahead of the game and had plenty of time to order it.

We were dead wrong. Our local Mos Burger was already sold out of Rilakkuma lucky bags! Suddenly worried this was going to be hard to find, we immediately proceeded to the next closest Mos Burger branch…which was also sold out.

We really should have expected this, given the popularity of Rilakkuma and its cute, round shapes and lazy life. Other Rilakkuma goods are generally just as popular, especially if they’re limited-edition. Realizing this, we were half ready to give up when we ventured to a third shop, near Higashi-Funabashi Station in Chiba, just outside of Tokyo. The line of people out the door made us nervous, but we took our place, waited our turn, and…somehow managed to get a reservation ticket. Phew!

Now the New Year is upon us and our bag has been delivered, so let’s open it up and see what’s inside!

Of course, the first item is the Mos Burger coupon sheet that comes in every Mos Burger fukubukuro, which is likely what every Mos Burger fan hopes for in their bag. This year’s contained six coupons worth 500 yen each, for a total of 3,000 yen in discounts, which already equals the price of the bag.

But you’re probably here to see the Rilakkuma goods, right? There’s plenty of those, too. The first item that caught our eye was this Rilakkuma blanket.

Measuring 90 by 60 centimeters (35.4 by 23.6 inches), it’s a good sized lap blanket, perfect for keeping warm this winter while working at a desk or watching TV. The yellow blanket features all four characters of the Rilakkuma world (Rilakkuma, Korilakkuma, Chairoikoguma and Kiiroitori) outlined in white in different poses, so it would definitely be a hit with the bear’s fans.

The next item in the lucky bag was a forest green eco tote bag.

It looked tiny folded up, but when we unraveled it, it turned out to actually be huge! At 36 by 36 by 10 centimeters (14.2 by 14.2 by 3.9 inches), this bag can hold plenty of groceries, and will save you having to pay the surcharge for a plastic bag on shopping trips. Plus, with its outline of Rilakkuma and friends cuddling together, it’s adorable, too, so it’s a win-win-win.

After that, we found an item that has become newly indispensable in 2020: a mask case.

Meant to keep your mask from getting tangled and dirty while you’re not wearing it, this has become 2020’s most must-have item, after the masks themselves, of course. And with head shots of each of the four Rilakkuma characters lining up at the bottom, we can’t deny the appeal of this particular case.

And lastly, there was a sticky memo pad in the shape of Rilakkuma’s head! Who doesn’t need one of those?!

These were all excellent, useful, adorable items that Rilakkuma fans will love! In fact, the goods are already listed for sale on marketplace apps, and not for terribly unreasonable prices either.

For some people, however, the biggest appeal of buying a Mos Burger lucky bag is simply for the coupons–though they always include some form of Mos Burger goods, like the bento box of 2017, that are usually well worth the cost of the fukubukuro. Those people might not get much use out of the Rilakkuma goods, and on the contrary might have been annoyed because it was much harder to get ahold of the bag this year. But for Rilakkuma fans…this bag is a dream come true!

Images © SoraNews24
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Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward enlists the help of internet cat characters to remind us to wear masks

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Krista Rogers

This new Working Cats x Shinjuku Ward campaign clip draws from cuteness for coronavirus preventive measures.

With the important new year’s holiday just around the corner, now is a particularly important time for Japanese people to remain vigilant about wearing their masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. A new Twitter campaign born of a collaboration between the popular Working Cats online characters and Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward has just been released to remind people to stay safe this season.

First, a little background: Working Cats are the creation of Japanese illustrator Kumamine. They gained popularity over the Internet about two years ago and are easily recognizable for their penchant for wearing hard hats and their catchphrase of Yoshi!, which is a Japanese interjection meaning something along the lines of “Yeah!” “We’ve got this!” or “Let’s do this!” Whoever enlisted their help for this new campaign was certainly on to something–after all, who wouldn’t be more easily swayed to follow safety precautions when the request comes from some feline friends, those darlings of the Internet?

Here’s the campaign tweet from Shinjuku Ward’s official account:

【仕事猫×新宿区　ハッシュタグ「#マスクヨシ」キャンペーン】
インターネット上で人気の #仕事猫 とコラボし、#新型コロナウイルス感染症 の予防対策を皆で呼び掛けています！#新宿 #歌舞伎町 #仕事猫 #マスクヨシ pic.twitter.com/EIxaQ64Hoc

— 新宿区区政情報課 (@shinjuku_info) December 27, 2020

The short video begins with two Working Cats wearing their masks improperly until a “Stop there!” whistle sounds and they sheepishly don their face coverings correctly. Next, who should appear in a silly pose alongside the illustrated cats but Kenichi Yoshizumi, the head of Shinjuku Ward himself. He remarks that the coronavirus has been spreading quickly among young people in the area and garners sympathy by stating how much he also misses going out to drink at this time before asking for everyone’s cooperation in wearing their masks. The video ends with the campaign’s hashtag and catchphrase of “#maskyoshi (#マスクヨシ) for a fun end of the year and start of the new year.”

On a side note, this isn’t the first time that Yoshizumi has appealed to the masses using pop culture. In 2015, he declared Godzilla to be the official tourism ambassador of Shinjuku upon the unveiling of the giant Godzilla statue on a local building. We do have to wonder if the charismatic kaiju will be next on the mayor’s list when enlisting partners for tackling the coronavirus.

Source: Twitter/@Shinjuku_info via Hachima Kiko
Featured image: Twitter/@Shinjuku_info
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Doraemon teams up with fashion super-brand Gucci for top-of-the-line glamor goods

https://ift.tt/2LedHws Katy Kelly

Japan’s favorite robot cat becomes a Gucci glamor puss.

Gucci is such a household name at this point that the brand name itself has become slang for “good”. Its high price tags and ostentatious golden style have earned the brand many admirers, though in previous years they’ve faced stumbling blocks in how to cater to their Japanese market.

Their new collaboration with Doraemon, one of Japan’s cultural ambassadors and star of one of the most popular children’s manga/anime of all time, may be just the ticket to opening hearts and wallets across the nation. The line is available for pre-order and slated to go on sale in 2021, which will mark the fashion brand’s 100-year anniversary.

▼ The art shows Doraemon on a classic, fashionable background.

The collaboration goods are not merely limited to shirts, either. Gucci’s team of expert designers have whipped up loose trousers, a variety of stylish bags, sneakers, sweaters, and cotton dresses that make use of the muted chocolate fabric and the titular cat’s saturated, cheery visage.

The bags are all fringed with borders of deep red, which tie in perfectly with Doraemon’s cute little button nose and bright crimson collar.

Multiple fabrics are on offer too. There are silken bowling shirts and shorts, woolen sweaters, and even sneakers with fashionable red bottoms.

Hovering over the images of a given item on Gucci’s dedicated website will give you a preview of how the item looks on a model, as well as revealing its price. Let’s take a look at the fetching nylon jacket on the top row…

Incredibly cute. So how much is it?

A nylon jacket from the Gucci x Doraemon collaboration will cost a paltry 228,800 yen (US$2,209.98). That’s about as much as a platinum forged pendant or a Gundam model kit made of actual Gundarium.

This is to be expected from a top-class fashion brand; those who are addicted to brand names will easily drop a month’s salary or more on a particular bag or shoe. Do you think this line of classy, high-end Doraemon is worth upwards of 99,000 yen for a single item? Let us know in the comments!

Source: Doraemon x Gucci via Japaaan
Top image: Doraemon x Gucci
Insert images: Doraemon Channel, Doraemon x Gucci
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Sega leaves arcade management like retiring idol singer, confuses, upsets Japanese Internet users

https://ift.tt/3rJUkML Casey Baseel

But in some fans’ eyes, this was the only way to go.

“I’m sorry to make the announcement like this,” the tweet begins, “and I think some of you already know, but as of December 29, 2020, I will be leaving the group.”

For followers of Japanese pop culture, the phrasing is instantly recognizable. When idol singers leave their groups, either to retire from the spotlight completely or simply to focus on solo projects, it’s common practice to put out a social media post respectfully thanking their bandmates and fans. Sure enough, the tweet continues with:

“Recently I’ve been the group’s center a lot, so this was a very difficult decision for me to arrive at, and I spent a lot of time talking it over with the other members of the group. I’d be lying if I said I felt no apprehension, but I can say I’m looking forward to this new part of my journey thanks to the support of the other members of the group, our staff, and all of my fans.”

But the weird thing is that the tweet doesn’t come from the account of a pop star or talent agency, but from video game company Sega.

いつも応援してくれる皆様へ（大切なお知らせ） pic.twitter.com/w37lczDpVJ

— セガのお店公式 (@SEGA_Ent) December 29, 2020

Specifically, it comes from Sega Entertainment (though the account has now been renamed Sega no Omise or “Sega Shops”), the part of the Sega group that ran the nearly 200 video game arcades around Japan. With 2020 being an extremely bad year for an arcade industry that was already in long decline, though, Sega has decided to get out of the arcade management business. The company announced it would be selling more than 85 percent of Sega Entertainment’s stock to amusement management company Genda last month, and the handover became official at the end of December.

The rest of the tweeted message reads:

“Every moment I spent in the group was truly a precious, irreplaceable time. The group looked after me, and I was able to learn so many things. I will keep those experiences in my heart, and so as not to embarrass the legacy of my many senpai, continue giving my all as a performer.

Even after leaving the group, I will be putting the utmost effort into my performance across the country. I’m also planning to still collaborate with the group, so I’d be happy if you’d look forward to that, and ask for your continued support.”

– Sega Entertainment

▼ The new Genda Sega Entertainment logo

セガ エンタテインメントは株式会社GENDA SEGA Entertainmentになりました。このアカウントは「セガのお店公式」アカウントとして運営して参ります。
これからもどうぞよろしくお願い申し上げます。 pic.twitter.com/A3W0csitCD

— セガのお店公式 (@SEGA_Ent) December 30, 2020

It’s definitely a unique way to say goodbye, but unfortunately for Sega Entertainment not everyone understood the message or appreciated the attempt at comedy, with reactions from Japanese Twitter users including:

“No idea what you’re trying to say.”
“Is this really the time to be acting a fool?”
“Sega can never get it quite right.”
“Huh? Is some idol singer posting on the Sega Entertainment account or something?”
“It sounds more like the person in charge of Sega Entertainment’s social media is retiring.”
“This is an important announcement, so it’d be nice if you were a little clearer.”
“This is like the cheese gyudon of announcements.”

On the other hand, some people got the joke and saw it as in keeping with Sega’s focus on fun and entertainment.

“Honestly, this is exactly the sort of humor I expect from Sega.”
“I was totally lost at the start, but this is what I love about them.”
“Slick right up until the end.”
“Haha even if your account’s name is changing, I’ll still be following you.”
“Sega Entertainment is doing their best to give us a laugh at the very end, so why can’t people just send them off with a smile? Not being able to recognize humor makes you seem like less of a person.”

It looks like Sega Entertainment overestimated how many people had been keeping up with its ownership status and so felt that directly explaining the stock transfer wasn’t necessary. At the same time, it’s actually pretty admirable of them to keep their chin up and have some silly fun during the transition, especially since Genda plans to continue using the Sega branding and signage on the arcades moving forward.

Source: Twitter/@SEGA_Ent via Niconico News via Jin
Top image: Wikipedia/毒島みるく (edited by SoraNews24)
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Our Japanese reporter soothes her soul with Starbucks Japan’s Earl Grey Honey Whip drinks

https://ift.tt/2X20ny1 Shannon

Starbucks Japan’s final seasonal drink of 2020 is perhaps the most relaxing.

Starbucks Japan has had a lot to offer during the year of 2020: Chocolate Milk Tea Frappuccinos, Butterscotch Coffee Jelly Frappuccinos, and more. Rounding off this year’s batch of exciting seasonal drinks at Starbucks Japan is a series that aims the spotlight at their tea lattes. For a limited time, the popular coffee chain is offering special Earl Grey Honey Whip Frappuccinos and Lattes. Our Starbucks Japan savant and Japanese-language reporter K. Masami took it upon herself to try both out for us.

▼ This winter wonderland of a drink is our first contender.

The Earl Grey Honey Whip Frappuccino is fairly self-explanatory, featuring a mellow and sweet Earl Grey black tea base and topped with honey-infused whipped cream.

▼ It’s also garnished with a shower of white chocolate and silver flakes to mimic fresh snowfall.

Masami thoroughly enjoyed the mild flavor of the Earl Grey base that left a refreshing aftertaste. If you love the fragrance of black tea mixed with the sweetness of honey, you’ll love it as much as she did.

▼ She would even go as far as to say it can heal your soul as much as a warm cup of tea!

▼ It’s well worth the 590 yen (US$5.71).

She tried out the Earl Grey Honey Whip Latte (450 yen). Starbucks Japan already offers an Earl Grey tea latte, so this was essentially the same thing with all the toppings of the previously mentioned Frappuccino. Masami already likes the regular Earl Grey tea latte, and she though this elevates its deliciousness even more.

▼ According to her, it’s the perfect winter drink.

▼ The drinks are only available until January 19 (or until ingredients run out), so if you want one for yourself, you’d better get to Starbucks sooner than later!

Starbucks Japan is also offering a couple of other twists on their regular tea lattes like the Chai & White Chocolate Tea Latte (450 yen) and the Houji-cha Cream Tea Latte (430 yen). If you’re not a fan of straight-up black tea, maybe you’ll enjoy one of those instead! Serve it up in your fancy new 2021 drinkware and enjoy the holidays.

Photos ©SoraNews24
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Sega creates mini UFO catcher crane game with electric arm for Japanese magazine

https://ift.tt/2KSUfWq Oona McGee

Bring the joy of a Japanese arcade game into your home and win ALL the prizes! 

Like a lot of people, we have a love-hate relationship with crane games, or “UFO catchers” as they’re known in Japan. While we love to play them, and get tingles of excitement as the mechanical arm tentatively dangles our prize tantalisingly close to the chute, the chances of our prize actually falling into the tray are annoyingly slim, and that makes us funnel more and more coins into the coin slot, fraying our nerves and emptying our wallets at breakneck speed.

If only there was a way to get that feeling of joy at playing the game without having to lose all our money in the process…

“What’s that, you say?” Asks Japanese children’s magazine Yochien (which translates to “Kindergarten“). “Would you like your very own UFO Catcher to play at home?”

▼ “Then you’ll want to grab the February/March issue, which comes with a free UFO Catcher made in conjunction with Sega“.

This all sounded too good to be true, especially when we heard that Sega, who manufactures UFO Catchers for real-world arcades, would be involved in the production process. So, despite this being a magazine aimed at four-to-six year-olds, we unashamedly went out and bought a copy for ourselves.

▼ The magazine was chunky to hold, as it had this free present sandwiched inside it.

Like most of the free presents included with Yochien, this mini UFO Catcher required some assembly, which instantly had us feeling like we were in kindergarten again.

What really caught our eye, though, was the the crane arm, which Yochien describes as “the world’s first” electric arm to appear in a magazine. While the UFO machine needs to be assembled by hand, the crane arm is fully made, only needing the addition of one AAA-sized battery to work.

▼ The components for the body of the machine are given a real sense of authenticity with official Sega logos.

Constructing the machine turned out to be a simple process, and seeing as we could manage it without any fuss, it’d be easy for a six-year-old to create this too, with minimal adult assistance.

Despite being a miniature version of the original machine found at Japanese arcade centres, this UFO Catcher was slightly bigger than we’d imagined.

▼ A copy of Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea” for scale.

We didn’t mind the size of it, though, as that meant the finer details were large enough to be seen–and fully appreciated–by the human eye.

While the front of the machine is covered in plastic sheeting to resemble the glass casing, the top and sides are open, allowing you to operate the arm smoothly and add and remove prizes with ease.

While the arm needs to be positioned manually, the claws are operated by pressing the open and close buttons.

The kit comes with rectangular boxes, printed with characters like Doraemon and Detective Conan on them, which are designed to be used as prizes. So we popped them into the machine, set up the crane arm and gave it a go.

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A post shared by 江川 資具 (@takurn24)

Huzzah! Picking up all the prizes and winning them with ease gave us such a deep sense of joy and satisfaction we decided to drop a larger and heavier “prize” into the machine for testing.

▼ Could the mechanical arm handle our Gundam model? Why yes — yes, it could!

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A post shared by 江川 資具 (@takurn24)

It may have come free with a kids’ magazine, but this electric arm did an impressive job of replicating the much larger ones seen in Japanese arcade centres. The only thing that was different was its increased accuracy in carrying and dropping our prizes into the chute!

▼ Plus, we can take it out and have all sorts of fun using the electrical assist to pick things up outside of the machine.

Now that we own a UFO Catcher of our very own, we can enjoy all the thrill of playing the game from the safety of our own home. And with all the money it’ll save us, we can put all sorts of fun items into the machine for catching, like sweets, cake, and perhaps even dishwashing liquid, like that machine we saw one time…

Another bonus is we won’t have to worry about calling the police to investigate in case we fail to catch anything, like this person did when they lost at the game 200 times. Way to redeem yourselves after that incident, Sega!

Related: Yochien
Photos © SoraNews24
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Luna Mattino Japanese Street Style in Harajuku w/ Dries Van Noten, Paul Smith & Gianfranco Ferre

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Ryoya is a Japanese college student we met on the street in Harajuku.

He’s wearing a vintage logo maxi coat by the 1980s Japanese fashion brand Luma Mattino over Gianfranco Ferre and Paul Smith shirts, Wrangler wide led denim jeans, a Dries Van Noten bag, Gucci and Chanel accessories, and Gucci logo shoes.

Ryoya’s favorite fashion brand is Gucci. Follow him on Instagram for more of his avantgarde vintage street style.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

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