Japan Envy Archives - Page 2 of 10

Japan Envy: Nerdy Christmas Cakes

December 12, 2015 by Anne

Christmas is just around the corner, and in Japan that means reservations for Christmas cakes are everywhere you look. While most western cultures probably associate fruit cakes with Christmas, Japan has popularized a light, usually white cake with strawberries and cream as a common Christmas eve treat. Now, Christmas cakes are so popular that they come in nearly every flavor imaginable, and every decoration imaginable, too! From Monster Hunter to Yowamushi Pedal, all kinds of nerdy fandoms are represented in Christmas cake form… And I’ve rounded up some of the best to share with you today.

Japan Envy: Pokémikke Okashi no Machi (Candy Town) Series

November 9, 2015November 9, 2015 by Anne

Another day, another adorable Pokémon merchandise series I absolutely have to get my hands on! To be fair, it’s actually been a while since I wrote about Pokémon merchandise (but my last post is more than worth checking it if you haven’t already – it’s drop-dead adorable). Rest assured, I wouldn’t break my Pokémerch silence for any less than the best!

And the best it indeed is, as Pokémikke has just announced its third series, titled Okashi no Machi, or Candy Town. The new line of criminally adorable merchandise goes on sale in late November in Japan, and it just may be my favorite Pokémikke series yet! Here’s the full lineup:

Japan Envy: Kirimi-chan x KFC = Kentucky Fried Salmon

October 9, 2015 by Anne

Sanrio’s salmon fillet mascot character Kirimi-chan has teamed up with an unlikely partner for her latest collaboration: KFC. That’s right, Kentucky Fried Chicken establishments in Japan will now be offering fried salmon, because why the hell not! Billed as special fall Hokkaido salmon, the fried salmon will be available for one month only from October … Read moreJapan Envy: Kirimi-chan x KFC = Kentucky Fried Salmon

Japan Envy: Otomate Garden Amnesia Café

September 25, 2015 by Anne

I’m a bit late to this one because I totally missed that Otomate now has their own café! Otomate Garden, the official café for all Otomate otome game collaborations, apparently opened earlier this year in Ikebukuro last month and I completely missed the announcement. Well, it just so happens that the café’s theme for the month of September is Amnesia!

Better known as Amnesia: Memories in English, this café theme comes at a great time since the English version just came out at the end of August… Though most of us appreciating the English version of the game will sadly never have the chance to attend the café in person! At least we can drool over the menu and merchandise…

Japan Envy: Dohton Bori x Show By Rock!!

September 19, 2015September 19, 2015 by Anne

Dohton Bori x Show By Rock collaboration

Let me tell you, I can’t get enough Show By Rock!!. I wrote about one Show By Rock!! café collaboration earlier this year, but this time around, the adorable app/anime series is teaming up with an entirely different venue: Dohton Bori. The okonomiyaki chain will be offering an exclusive Show By Rock!! menu through November 8th, and they’ve even decked out the members of Plasmagica and Shingancrimsonz in appropriate attire. The menu doesn’t look too shabby, either:

Japan Envy: Danganronpa Cakes from Patisserie Swallowtail

September 3, 2015September 3, 2015 by Anne

Why look at that, Japan is celebrating Ultra Despair Month, too! Well not really, but it’s a great coincidence that Patisserie Swallowtail is offering two rad Danganronpa-inspired cakes during the month of September. The sweets shop, which specializes in collaboration items for anime, manga, and game series popular with women, is located in Shibuya Marui on … Read moreJapan Envy: Danganronpa Cakes from Patisserie Swallowtail

Japan Envy: Pikachu Nebukuro Collection

August 8, 2015August 8, 2015 by Anne

Banpresto has just announced their latest Pokémon Ichiban Kuji, and if you can’t tell already, this one’s a real doozy. The series is titled Pikachu Nebukuro (sleeping bag) Collection, and features pikachus in a variety of Pokémon-inspired sleeping bags. As if it weren’t cute enough, the website even opens with an adorable short story that shows how the pikachus ended up with such an adorable sleeping arrangement!