Yuko Yamaguchi : Hello Kitty designer (1980～)

Hello kitty’s designer has changed three times up to now. Yuko Shimizu (1974-1976), Setsuko Yonekubo (1976-1980), and Yuko Yamaguchi has designed Hello Kitty since 1980.　Now, She is an exective of Hello Kitty’s company, “Sanrio”.

Recently she began to blog (in japanese). She often hold her in-store autograph session around Japan. Those schedule are released at the blog.

If you join the autograph session with 3,000 yen, you can get some hello kitty’s cards and accessories from her.

Pokemon Jet ANA (All Nippon Airways)

by Haseo

Pokemon Jet goes into service in a Japanese domestic airline now.
Mainly in the summer vacation season, we can often board it.

by Juan Carlos De Martin

ANA (All Nippon Airways) is runnning this service. I guess it hasn’t had flights abrord.

ANA’s Pokemon Jet Home Page
家族旅行のご案内

Ado Mizumori : kawaii illustrations like 1970′s

Ado Mizumori is known as an famous illustrator. She is as an actress, singer, and writer, too. She performed painting with singing on TV show for children in 1970′s.

Recntly, kawaii movement has focused on her works. Numbers of products printed her illustrations are released.

Now, she seeme to be about 70 years old. but she is painting kawaii illustrations.

Ado Mizumori

MANGART (“Manga” + “Art”) BEAMS T

I went to the opening reception of “MANGART BEAMS T” brand in Daikanyama. “MANGART” means “Manga” + “Art”. This brand is selling mainly T-shirts printed with Manga.

Osamu Tezuka (as known “Astro Boy“, “Princess Knight“), Kazuo Umezu (as known “Orochi: Blood”, “The Drifting Classroom“) , Takehiko Inoue (as known “Slam Dunk“,) and so on., Many manga artists’ characters are on T-shirts.

New BEAMS Daikanyama store has three buildings of 2 floors. One of them is “MANGART BEAMS T”.

BEAMS TOPICS

The World of Golden Eggs (in Japan)

The World of Golden Eggs is a animated comedy show done in Japan for MTV which has a very cool chunky computer graphics look to it.

The show is set in a fictional American town called ‘Turkey Hill’, and the show seems to feature quite a few ‘shows with a show’. The series first aired in 2005 and it’s now in it’s second season. It’s very funny CG animation.

The World of Golden Eggs collaborated with Lawson(convenience store franchise) to release apple pie, banana shakes, noodles, etc…. They are very fun!!

The World of GOLDEN EGGS（ローソン）

Otokomae(Handsome Guy) Tofu 2

Masahiro(Japanese male name) is also one of otokomae tofu’s products. it’s little sweet and creamy.

I love to eat them as hiyayakko (chilled tofu and toppings) which is used the freshness of the ingredients.

男前豆腐店 (Otokomae Tofu)

Otokomae (Handsome Guy) Tofu 1

A Kyoto-based tofu maker(a brand of tofu named Otokomae which means Handsome Guy) created many kinds of great tofu.

One of their products is tofu that boasts a big kanji character for 「男」”OTOKO”(male) on the package. It’s much richer with a stronger soybean flavor than refular tofu.

男前豆腐店 (Otokomae Tofu)

Modern pets pouch

In 1960s, Japanese toy maker export many stuffed toy to US. They were named “dream pets” or so.

Now they’re revival named “modern pets”, here in their birth place Japan. not only stuffed toys, but they became some cute drawing characters.

I bought two chocolate snacks made by Meiji, to get a “modern pets” freebie pouch! I could choose blue or pink one.

Daily Yamazaki modern pets campaign
Modern pets