Never Dine Alone in Moomin Café

There’s a theme restaurant in Japan that offers a very special accommodation to their solo diners. Moomin Café, inspired by the popular classic anime—Moomin—has been keeping their solo customers in company with cute giant stuffed toys of Moomin characters!

According to Benelic, the company that manages Moomin Café branches, “…the policy has been in place since the café opened in 2003.” The café’s decorations, foods, drinks, as well as their merchandise, are also inspired by the series’ artwork.

However, this sweet and unique albeit eccentric accommodation has gathered both positive and negative comments from people. Some are saying that they feel more awkward sharing the table with a huge stuffed animal.

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Traffic Safety With Moe!

Tokyo Police Campaigns Traffic Safety With Moe!

Recently, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police launched their safety driving/bike riding campaign in special collaboration with Mimana Orimoto’s manga Bakuon!!. The cute characters from the manga appeared on posters, magnets, stickers, and lotteries — with the hope of raising awareness of road traffic safety.

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Rice Paddy Art - 田んぼアート

Rice paddy art 【田んぼアート，tambo āto】is a form of art that originated in Japan. The art is defined by people planting rice of various types and colors to create giant pictures on the paddy field. It started in 1993 when people of Inakadate looked for ways to boost their village. The villagers then decided to honor the village’s 2000-year history of growing rice by creating the rice paddy arts. A mock castle was also erected at the village office so people can view the giant pictures from above. Over the years, the designs had become more complex and well-known.

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Cat Sweets too Good to Eat!

A Japanese housewife, Caroline, creates these lovable cat-themed sweets annually on Cat’s Day (that’s on 22 February in Japan). She started off with making cat shaped nerikiri, a traditional Japanese sweet made by mixing shiro-an (sweetened white bean paste) with gyuhi (made of glutinous rice, similar to mochi but softer), then tinted and sculpted into various shapes and styles.

Unfortunately, these adorable sweets are not available for purchase.

They are just too cute to eat!

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Disney Girls Project

In 45 stores at Laforet Harajuku a limited edition of Disney Girls items will be for sale, from February 2nd until April 6th. Such things being sold are clothes, shoes, bags and accessories featuring Minnie Mouse, Alice, Marie and other characters. Some special events, such as a Frozen Styling Contest and Girls Day Party will take place.

‘Foxy’ Minnie Mouse shoes – available at the Jeffrey Campbell Boutique

 Minnie Mouse Dress – available at E hyphen world gallery BonBon

Special Disney installations are placed on the different floors from LaForet

LaForet and Disney

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Rilakkuma Rims

For those of you who are obsessed with the popular San-X character, Rilakkuma rims will go on sale in April. They will come in two colors:

Pearl White

Silver

Even the valve caps are cute!

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Mikeneko-san

Legendary furry cat sells roasted sweet potatoes in Kurayoshi!

 

Yaki-imo (or roasted sweet potato) is a popular Japanese snack, especially during cold weathers. Yaki-imo can be prepared in several ways, which include roasting the satsumaimo (sweet potato) on small heated stones — a method called ishiyaki. 

The most famous ishiyaki-imo seller is the legendary cat mascot known as Mikeneko Yamada.

Mikeneko-san’s ishiyaki-imo stand can be found around the Kurayoshi City of Tottori Prefecture. As one might guess, this furry cat selling sweet roasted potatoes on the streets is so popular — especially among children!

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Japan's Spring Season Fun

-Floral-coated Banana and Pink Burger for Japan’s spring season
Tokyo Banana no Hana is a special spring version of the sweet Tokyo Banana treat. While the regular version consists of a banana custard cream wrapped in a soft sponge cake, the special version has a banana shake flavored cream inside instead. The Tokyo Banana no Hana is available for a limited time — perhaps, during the spring season only. This sweet and creamy treat makes a very cute souvenir!

 

And not getting left behind, McDonald’s Japan released Sakura Teritama — a very special Cherry Blossom version of their regular teritama! Sakura Teritama has slightly pink-coloured buns, with a delicate flavor of cherry blossoms and pink mayonnaise, together with red radish, teriyaki flavored pork patty, fried egg, and lettuce. Along with Sakura Teritama, Sakura cherry drinks and float will also be released for a limited time — perfect for the celebration of Spring!

Japan Self-Defense 2014 Calendar

 

Images of the 2014 Japan Self-Defense Forces calendar depicting beautiful women in uniform have been popping up on portal sites around Japan. The calendars were created to raise awareness of the JSDF and to “lift morale.”  Interestingly enough(?) no actual members of the Japan Self-Defense Forces appeared in the calendar but bikini models and others, such as idol Rina Nagai took their place.

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Cat Day!

Japan is celebrating its 27th annual Cat Day today, also known as Nyan Nyan Nyan day!

Why Nyan? 

In English, we describe the noise cats make as "meow," but in Japanese it's "nyan." (If you've ever seen the "Nyan cat" video, that's how it gots its name.) The word in Japanese for the number two is pronounced "ni," which apparently sounds close enough to nyan that Feb. 22 (written 22/2 in Japan) could be called nyan nyan nyan. In other words, today's day sounds kind of like "meow meow meow" in Japanese.

Other than posting pictures and videos of your feline friend, there's not "much" going on with this day. Surprisingly, now that Valentine is long gone, I heard Goncharoff had made a special kind of chocolate candy box for that day only. 

Is it a mere coincidence they would involve two holidays in one? I think not!