Traditional craft meets modern glamour

Centuries-old calligraphy brush manufacturer, Kumano Fude, has collaborated with the Japanese branch of American cosmetics company Max Factor to produce a new series of make-up brushes.

This “Pro Finish” collection uses 100% natural fibers and draws on Kumano Fude’s artisan brush making techniques. Kumano is a town outside of Hiroshima that has a long tradition of brush crafting and today 80% of all calligraphy brushes are made by collectives in this area. Fude is the name for the brush.

Being of “professional quality” and priced from ¥2,100 (lip brush) to ¥9,450 (face) the brushes are marketed at make-up artists, although they are sure to be coveted by more than a few amateur beauticians.

Natural cosmetics have been a major trend recently in the beauty industry and so has a general “back to Japan” movement over the past few years that has seen a number of health, beauty, and fashion products draw on traditional Japanese materials. The Pro Finish series fits in nicely with this, while getting an additional edge from Max Factor’s glamorous image.

Likewise, a number of fans of natural cosmetics, another growing trend, are taking interest in lipsticks created from the beni flower, a traditional Japanese cosmetic used by courtesans and geisha and can be traced to ancient China. Like fude, beni is made by craftsmen.

In other somewhat related east meets west news, Mattel International has announced plans to release a second limited edition Barbie doll wearing Hello Kitty fashion. Following the success of last year’s Hello Kitty Barbie (pictured right), the latest model, Hello Kitty Apple Tree Barbie (pictured left) will feature a Hello Kitty inspired outfit with an apple theme.

4000 dolls will be available from July 26 for ¥5,670, orders will be taken from June 3.

Tags: beauty, cosmetics, crafts, FMCG, tradition

Bamboo gets a boost from new products

Bamboo is next on the list of traditional Asian ingredients to get a trendy makeover. Taketori, a company that specializes in manufacturing bamboo products, has come out with “Bamboo Salt,” that promises to be healthier than ordinary table salt.

The bamboo is grown in an area known for high mineral content and, in what seems like a complicated process that involves packing salt inside the bamboo pipes and roasting them at a high temperature until the bamboo turns to charcoal, the resulting “Bamboo Salt” is also rich in minerals. Minerals, apparently being good for you, and a selling point in today’s health obsessed market.

Next up is the Bamboo Toothbrush (¥430), courtesy of Fine. The handle is made from synthesis of bamboo local to Shizuoka prefecture and resin while the brush, which comes in two varieties, is either made from the usual PBT plastic or natural pig’s hair.

According to the press release, the Bamboo Toothbrush is for those who are “sensitive about what they put in their mouths.” We agree, the less chemicals the better, but pig’s hair?

And while clothing made from bamboo is hardly new, Japanese sportswear brand Godwin is re-launching a campaign for their line of shirts made from panda food.

Finally, fashion brand Kenzo draws on the brand’s Asian heritage with its latest product, Fresh Frosty Bamboo Moisturizing Gel.

This “stimulating” body moisturizer is made specifically from the water extracted from young bamboo shoots grown from March until May in the hilly region in China’s eastern Zhejiang province. Bamboo’s use in health and beauty treatments dates back to ancient China.

Though the Kenzo brand was originally created by Japanese fashion designer Kenzo Takada, the company is based in France and has been owned by luxury giant LVMH since 1993. We anticipate, however, that Fresh Frosty Bamboo, available throughout Japan from June 1, ¥6,825 for 200ml, will be a hit among consumers following the natural and traditional beauty trends.

Tags: Bamboo, beauty, ecology, Fashion, FMCG, health

MINIInternational Magazine Kyoto Mash-Up party

Last weekend CScout Japan teamed up with MINI Japan, Kreative Konzeption, and Metropolis to help put on the Kyoto Mash-Up party at hip event space Sfera, celebrating the latest edition of MINIInternational Magazine.

The stars of the party, of course, were the stars of the magazine, which focused on Kyoto’s booming art/design/music scene. Music was provided by acclaimed Kyoto-based DJ Halfby and DJ Nic Jagger who flew in from Germany for the event.

You’ll have to pick up your own copy to get the full experience, but MINIInternational magazine features a broad cross-section of modern Kyoto from traditional architect Katsumi Yasuda to director Kazushige Togo, and SOUSOU footwear designer Takeshi Wakabayashi. This isn’t the typical “outsider looking in” view of Kyoto, but was written by experts who were either born in Kyoto, or have adopted it as a second home.

Thus far there’s been great coverage of the party/magazine, from press, featured artists, and attendees (See 1, 2, 3, 4) to MINI dealers here.

Stunning papercraft was on display from Eriko Horiki, a featured MINI
International artist.

Kudos to MINI Japan for their support, and Kreative Konzeption and Metropolis for putting together an amazing event with a top-notch guest list. Special thanks to Roland Hagenberg, Yoshihito Sasaguchi, and Yasuyuki Sodeoka for putting together an amazing magazine with their deep expertise on Kyoto.

Of course, many thanks to the artists and guests that came to celebrate together, as well as all of the caterers, Sfera staff and management, and all others involved in making this project a success.

It’s amazing how many people go into making a single party, but we had a great time, and hope everyone else did as well.

To sum up, here’s some more DJ Halfby for your listening pleasure.

Tags: Architecture, Art, Automotive, design, Mini, music, Parties, Press

Hello Kitty Mangekyo kaleidoscope projector

We discussed the Mangekyo kaleidoscope projector from U-Mate here a while back, but unlike 99% of other items, we didn’t really see a possible Hello Kitty angle.

Seems we were wrong, and fantastically short-sighted.

The Hello Kitty Mangekyo is a kaleidoscope projector like the original Mangekyo, but this time the patterned rear discs are adorned with Sanrio’s favorite daughter, Kitty-Chan. Now you can blast a limited edition kaleidoscope onto your wall or ceiling that moves around like a normal kaleidoscope, but with the ever-cute face of Hello Kitty painting the background.

Like the original, this model is customizable with colors and beads and also becomes a room lamp with the cover attached, but even the body itself is branded for Hello Kitty. Every inch of it in fact!

Now available at JapanTrendShop in very limited quantities.

Tags: Hello Kitty, Lifestyle, Toys, U-Mate

Regional food campaigns at Lawson

It has a regional focus, celebrity endorsement, and is available for a limited time only. The new Lawson’s special menu produced by Rakuten Eagles baseball star Masahiro Tanaka has all the makings of a convenience store hit.

The Eagles, sponsored by the popular online shopping site Rakuten, are based in Japan’s Northern Tohoku region where the new limited menu will be available. “Ma-kun,” the Eagles starting pitcher, lends his name to classics like Omelet Rice and questionable inventions like Omelet Rice Style Melon Bread.

Convenience stores change the selection of prepared food items on a monthly or weekly basis, running several special campaigns at once. In addition to Ma-kun’s menu for Tohoku, Lawson is also currently featuring a Hokkaido Ham Fighters (another baseball team) tie-in for products exclusive to the Hokkaido region that use only local ingredients.

Meanwhile those of us in Tokyo get the Sukashikashipan (sand dollar) melon bread produced by popular singer Shoko Nakagawa.

And the Naruto-themed selection, as part of the nationwide campaign.

Tags: Convenience Stores, cscout, FMCG

Retro bike culture lives, in new magazine

Every so often on a quiet, lonely night, we can’t help but imagine what the streets must have like during the golden era of motorcycles in Japan. The period from the mid-‘70s to the mid-‘90s is considered the peak of this particular boom, when the nosiest followers formed rowdy gangs called Bosozoku who cruised the midnight streets terrorizing ordinary citizens trying to get some sleep for the work week.

While these days are now but a mere twinkle in a middle-aged man’s eye, there remains a significant amount of lingering nostalgia for Neko Bros. Motorcycle Company to wager on a new magazine devoted to the preservation and collecting of the classic old bikes.

Zeppan Bikes (discontinued bikes) debuted on magazine shelves on May 30th with a cover promising indepth information on maintaining classic bikes, where to find parts, and odes to perennial favorites like the Kawasaki’s Z series and Zephyr models and the race replica models popular in the latter half of the ‘80s and early ‘90s.

Zeppan Bikes joins other magazines, such as Lightning, that are devoted to retro lifestyles.

Tags: magazines, motorcycles, Retro

HomeStar Spa planetarium from Sega Toys

UPDATE: The even newer Homestar EX!

It’s been awhile, but we’re finally getting a nice update to the immensely popular Homestar “Home Planetarium” series from Sega Toys.

After the original Homestar became so popular, the much-improved Homestar Pro and the portable Homestar Pure hit the market. However, aside from some special editions, there hasn’t been an update in over a year.

Coming soon, the Homestar Spa is a home planetarium for your bathroom!

Homestar Spa is combining elements of popular ambient and bath toys for adults (JapanTrendShop has tons), with waterproof design and additional projection elements such as “flowers” and “kaleidoscope“.

While not yet out on the market, HomeStar Spa will be debuting at the upcoming Tokyo Toy Show, and we’ll be there as always for in-depth coverage of this year’s latest gadgets and toys, including plenty of photos and video.

Tags: Homestar, Homestar Spa, lighting, Planetariums, Sega Toys, Tokyo Toy Show, Toys

Miss Tokyo Girls Collection up for grabs

Girls Walker has announced the beginning of the search for the next Miss Tokyo Girls Collection, the finale event for the now famous biannual “real fashion” festival. This is the ultimate opportunity for a would-be reader model, not only to grace the pages of one’s favorite magazine, but to actually join the stage with top teen fashion icons.

Unlike traditional pageants, where the winner is selected by a panel of “expert judges,” Miss TGC is eventually chosen from a panel of peers: the girls in the audience who can vote with their mobile phones.

The role is a springboard for modeling success not only in Japan but in East Asia as well, as the real fashion movement, driven by a TGC now held in Beijing, is making serious inroads into China. Despite lingering sensitivities between the two countries, which can sometimes hinder cross-border success, the sheer popularity of the style has made Tokyo Girls’ fashion, and the faces supporting it, a hit among young women and teens in urban China.

On a similar note, OTTO Corp. has announced the June 1st opening of the OTO-Tokyo Selection boutique in Shanghai. The select shop features Tokyo fashion labels, like Maison Gilfy, ReDark, and Glad News that show at TGC and have boutiques in Shibuya 109, and promises that new items will hit the racks on the same schedule as the Tokyo stores. OTTO has also announced plans to open 20 such boutiques in China by 2012.

Tags: Fashion, online shopping, Shibuya 109

Super-appliances from Toshiba

Okay, its not as impressive as the “Shower Clean Suits,” but the new Lacoo steam iron from Toshiba Home Appliances does promise to get out all the wrinkles from your clothes without having to remove them from the hanger.

With twice as many steam holes and an innovative new shape, the steaming capacity of the Lacoo is five times that of the typical steam iron, meaning a simple one-over should do the trick. Prettier than the average iron (which has been long overdue for a makeover), it also promises to freshen cloth and reduce static electricity and even has an automatic switch-off function, for those of us who always forget to turn off the iron. The only thing more efficient would have to be a robot!

Come to think of it, the microwave could do with a face lift as well. To that effect, Toshiba has just announced the release of a “Super heating, steam based, healthy cooking and infrared ray, stone kiln microwave oven.” Yes, that was direct from the press release.

The super heating function allows for food to be steamed at temperatures of up to 250C, with the claim of keeping vitamins intact while causing fat and salt to drop away. Meanwhile the stone oven function promises to make perfect French bread. Sounds to good to be true!

Both super-appliances will be available from June, prices yet to be determined.

Tags: appliances, Technology, Toshiba

Ran’s Night QR code Body Rhythm monitor for women

Body health monitors, whether built into scales or even mobile phones, are quite popular in Japan. Typically these are used to keep tabs on body fat or “body age”, but Ran’s Night is an original concept made specifically for women, and uses QR codes to capture the data for analysis.

Ran’s Night is designed to keep track of a woman’s monthly cycles by monitoring subtle changes in body temperature (between 0.3 ℃ ~ 0.5 ℃), and displays the previous night’s temperature on-screen, while also saving the data from the previous week. However, the full longterm picture comes with integration online.

While some stats can be read on the device itself, the long-term summary is found by mobile or PC on Ran’s Story. Each morning the user scans the daily QR code on the screen, which then inputs that night’s data into her personal profile and creates graphs and charts along with other information (such as weight) input manually. Thus, over time, it’s possible to visualize monthly cycles and better predict future period strength, PMS, ovulation, and other events.

There’s also an SNS component, as Ran’s Night also works to create a balanced life for all days by hosting a community at Ran’s Story to provide advice and information, and share experiences between users.

Though currently sold out, Ran’s Night will be available again soon for about $125.

Tags: Mobile, QR Codes, Ran's Night, Web