Fans of Studio Ghibli were overjoyed when it was announced that the beloved animation studio was opening up a theme park that would recreate the worlds of some of Studio Ghibli’s most popular films. Detailed concept art for the park’s planned areas has given us a glimpse of what exciting attractions await, including an actual Howl’s Moving Castle.

Fans now have a date to mark on their Totoro calendars, as Studio Ghibli took to Twitter to announce an opening day for their highly anticipated Ghibli Park–November 1st, 2022!

「ジブリパーク」の開園日が発表されました。 pic.twitter.com/weMpQjsyEV

— スタジオジブリ STUDIO GHIBLI (@JP_GHIBLI) January 27, 2022

Ghibli Park, which will offer areas that bring to life the worlds of popular Studio Ghibli films like My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Spirited Away, is now officially set to open on November 1st of this year. A promotional sightseeing video for Aichi prefecture, where the park will open, also features some glimpses of the park in it to whet your appetite!

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International idols in Japan

Japan has no shortage of idols and fans who adore them, both inside and outside the country. However, some of those international fans take their passion one step further, making the journey to Japan with hopes of breaking into the idol scene. Yet others inspired by the Japanese idol scene become performers in their own countries. But for those who end up in Japan, many roads lead to the idol stage. Some first come to Japan as students, enthusiastic about Japanese subculture, and either through cosplaying, building a presence on video-sharing platforms, working in maid cafes, or other routes, they find an opportunity to perform at events. Sometimes, they are recruited by an entertainment agency and make their debut in an idol group.

Some examples are Manx businesswoman, YouTuber, singer and dancer Beckii Cruel, who was in a band called Cruel Angels in 2009, Austrian YouTuber and cosplayer Keeki-hime, who joined the idol group Tone Jewel in 2012, American designer Amina Du Jean (“Aminyan”) who joined the idol group Chick Girls in 2015, and Canadian twins Ally & Sally, who joined Japanese idol unit SeiSHUN Gakuen in 2017 and founded its Canadian sister group Seishun Youth Academy in 2018.

Idol International

If you’re interested in seeing a great example of multinational idols performing, there is an excellent opportunity to do so coming up on December 14th at Shin Koenji Loft in the Koenji neighborhood of Tokyo. Even if you can’t be there in person, the event will be streamed and archived.

This event will feature the first and last performance of the multinational idol group Kurofune-chan!

The one-time group was formed by Alice, who hails from Saint Lucia. A former member of idol group EMBRACE and previously a member of indie idol …continue reading

    

Though fireworks are most commonly associated with summer festivals in Japan, there’s no rule that says you can’t enjoy them year round; and during the colder months when skies are clearer, the colourful displays contrast against the dark of night and appear to shine brighter than ever.

On the 18th of December this year, the lower slopes of Mount Fuji will become the setting for ‘Japan’s highest altitude fireworks display‘ when approximately 5,000 fireworks will be launched from the second station of the Fujinomiya trail.

The display will be taking place at Amusement Park Grinpa, which is located at the second station of the Fujinomiya trail (with most hikers starting their Fuji climb from the fifth stations, it’s also a great opportunity to get acquainted with the lesser-visited lower end of the trail).

Two plans have been prepared to cope with recommendations on minimizing contact between people; firstly, the event will provide 4,500 socially distanced seats within the park that can reserved in advance, secondly, for those who wish to further reduce the risk of contact, there will be drive-in fireworks tickets that allow people to safely view the display from their parked car.
Taking advantage of the themepark’s terrain, the seats – angled on the mountain’s slopes will make the fireworks appear bigger and more powerful than ever.

Due to the prolonged effects of the pandemic, a great number of fireworks displays and events have been cancelled over the past year and a half. If the situation continues as it is, then these cancellations will force fireworks companies to close and will inevitably lead to the decline of the Japanese fireworks industry as a whole.
In response to this threat, the Mount Fuji Fireworks display has been designed as a way to support fireworks masters and …continue reading

    

Universal Studios Japan has announced they will update their current collaboration* with Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba starting November 18th. They will add new elements to both a ride and menu items featuring popular characters from the series!

* The collaboration itself will last until February 13th, 2022.

New menu items

Special food featuring Kyōjurō Rengoku 煉獄杏寿郎

Rengoku is one of the most important characters in the smash hit movie 『劇場版「鬼滅の刃」 無限列車編』 gekijō-ban kimetsu no yaiba mugen ressha-hen (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train). He is also making an appearance in the current season of the TV series.

At Studio Stars Restaurant スタジオ・スターズ・レストラン, they will offer this hamburg steak set.

Look at the pattern on the cheese!

The dish uses pie crust and grissini to invoke the image of a sword.

Yes, the motif for this dish is Kyōjurō Rengoku, the Flame Pillar* and it’s called 煉獄杏寿郎のハンバーグプレートセット rengoku kyōjurō no hanbāgu purēto setto (Kyōjurō Rengoku’s Hamburg steak plate).

*Pillars are the most powerful and skilled warriors in the Demon Slayer Corps.

The potage is made from white miso and sweet potato. According to the official fan book,「鬼滅の刃公式ファンブック 鬼殺隊見聞録」kimetsu no yaiba kōshiki fan bukku kisatsutai kenbunroku (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba official fan book: records of the Demon Slayer Corps), Rengoku’s favorite food is sweet potato miso soup.

USJ really paid a lot of attention to detail when designing these dishes to reflect these fan-favorite characters.

Photogenic food featuring Kochō Shinobu and Mitsuri Kanroji

At another restaurant, 藤の花の食事処 fuji no hana no shokujidokoro (wisteria flower restaurant), they will serve food and dessert fit for your Instagram and other social media featuring the two female pillars: Kochō Shinobu 胡蝶しのぶ, the Insect Pillar, and Mitsuri Kanroji 甘露寺蜜璃, the Love Pillar.

This beautiful dish, 華々ビフカツ膳 hanabana bifukatsu zen (flowery beef cutlet set), expresses Shinobu Kochō’s elegant atmosphere. This is …continue reading