Rock band LUNA SEA announced their return. During the Hong Kong press conference the band confirmed the reunion and announced their first concert tour in ten years. The tour, named 20th Anniversary World Tour Reboot will start on November 27 in Germany and will likely end with a 2days performance at the Tokyo Dome in December.

* Ryuichi Kawamura (河村隆一, Kawamura Ryuuichi?) – Vocals
* Yasuhiro “Sugizo” Sugihara (杉原有音 Sugihara Yasuhiro) – Lead guitar and violin
* Kiyonobu “Inoran” Inoue (井上清信 Inoue Kiyonobu) – Rhythm guitar
* Jun “J” Onose (小野瀬潤 Onose Jun) – Bass
* Shinya Yamada (山田真矢 Yamada Shinya) – Drums

LUNA SEA had indicated that they would be announcing something big at the press conference. Because of the use of the word “REBOOT,” fans expected the band to be reuniting, and their hopes were confirmed with the news of the world tour. LUNA SEA explained that they held the press conference in Hong Kong because they had announced their breakup there back in 2000, but many fans worldwide were still able to watch the conference due to a live online broadcast through Ustream.

LUNA SEA has announced six dates for the tour. They also intend to introduce some new songs during the tour.

* 11/27 – Bochum, Germany (Ruhrkongress)
* 12/4 – Los Angeles, United States (Hollywood Palladium)
* 12/11 – Hong Kong (Asia World Expo)
* 12/18 – Taipei, Taiwan (Taiwan Trade Center)
* 12/23 – Tokyo, Japan (Tokyo Dome)
* 12/24 – Tokyo, Japan (Tokyo Dome)

LUNA SEA Press Conference in Hong Kong

Today, Naruto may be one of the most popular character in both manga and anime all over the world.  Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Lost Tower is now showing at the theater.  It is the seventh overall Naruto film and the fourth Naruto Shippuden film.

In commemoration of the theatrical release of the Naruto Movie, Shinjuku Marui One Store, the launch pad for Tokyo’s cool fashion culture, opens Naruto Pop-up Shop on the first floor during July 31 to Aug 19.

How about dropping in to visit, after seeing the Naruto movie?

Shinjuku MaruiOne

Nozomi Sasaki

Model Nozomi Sasaki(佐々木希), 22, will promote Fujifilm’s new line of FinePix digital cameras in a series of upcoming commercials. One commercial in the series that has already premiered features Sasaki in cowboy garb, “quick-drawing” the camera like a wild west gunslinger, and snapping a photo of a dog jumping through the air to catch a 10-gallon hat.

Nozomi Sasaki is a popular Japanese fashion model who has appeared in fashion magazine Pinky. Sasaki started as a teen model when she won two modeling competitions Young Jump’s GYARUKON Grand Prix 2005 and Princess Pinky Grand Prix 2006.

The new FinePix Z800EXR hits stores on Aug. 7. The new commercial will premiere on the same day.

The next commercial to air will feature Sasaki taking photos of her three pet dogs:)

First opening its doors in 1946, Kiddy Land is one of Japan’s most popular Toy Stores. KIDDY LAND features an amazing six floors of exciting toys, character goods, stickers and more. Both international and Japan-based products are available to delight the entire family.

Kiddy Land Harajuku was closing its doors in August for a major renovation project. A temporary Kiddy Land Harajuku store will open on September 17, 2010. The new location is only a few minutes walk from the current store. Kiddy Land Harajuku will now occupy the building that is currently HHStyle, and interior goods and furniture store. HHStyle is moving out of the building at the end of July. The new Kiddy Land Harajuku location will cover three floors and will include a Snoopy Town section and the usual cute character goods from Hello Kitty, Miffy, Rilakkuma, and all of the others.

New Kiddy Land Harajuku Shop Opens September 17, 2010

Cat Street in the old HHStyle Building
Address: 6-14-2 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Hours: 11:00 – 21:00 daily

View New Kiddy Land Harajuku Shop in a larger map

Singer Namie Amuro, will appear in the next edition of Coca Cola’s “Zero” commercial series that begins airing on Saturday.

Namie Amuro is a Japanese singer and dancer from Okinawa. Born on 20 September 1977 , she started her career in 1992 with a group ‘SuperMonkeys’ and debuted as a solo singer in 1995. Named the most successful Japanese female singer of all time and sold over 32 million records, she still remains as one of the most popular and best selling singer even to this day.

The “Wild Summer” commercial will feature Amuro strutting her stuff in front of a background of flames while being blasted by bursts of wind. The singer said the commercial is meant to make viewers feel like they can beat the summer heat.

ICONIQ

Singer ICONIQ, is appearing in a new commercial for Shiseido cosmetic brand MAQuillAGE. ICONIQ’S hair has grown out from her buzz-cut debut last December, and in the commercial the perfectly made-up singer struts in front of 120 extras.

ICONIQ is a Japanese pop  singer and actress. She made her debut as the leader and lead vocalist of Korean pop girl group Sugar as Ah Yoo Mee, and was previously signed as a solo artist with SM Entertainment. In 2008 she moved to Japan and debuted under Rhythm Zone as “ICONIQ” in 2009.

At the end of January, 2010, she was chosen by Shiseido as her new face to promote Shiseido’s Maquillage range. In March 2010, she released her first full album titled as her second Japanese song Change Myself.

ICONIQ is also appearing in a commercial for the Aug 7 summer festival “Wieder in Jelly a-nation ‘10.” Her new single “Tokyo Lady,” which will be in both commercials, will go on sale Aug 11 and be available as a mobile ring tone from Aug 28.

Plastic Tree

On August 13th Plastic Tree will be holding their Nippon Budokan Performance “Tent2″ and to celebrate the event, there will be a limited collaboration campaign with SHINJUKU MARUI ONE’s PEACE NOW as “PEACE NOW Tent 2″. On the last day of the campaign, which will be July 25th, the members of Plastic Tree are scheduled for a hand shake event and another number of projects. Don’t let this chance get past you.

Plastic  Tree  is an alternative rock band from Japan that was formed in December 1993 by Arimura Ryutaro and Hasegawa Tadashi. Since then, the line-up has changed a few times before settling on Ryutaro on vocals, Tadashi on bass, Nakayama Akira on guitar and Satou Kenken on drums. Tadashi is the leader but most decisions are made as a group.
Ryutaro and Tadashi wanted to combine two words to form the band name; something artificial and something natural.

PEACE NOW is a Gothic lolita brand that incporates current trend to create casual yet unique clothes that can be worn everyday.

1. “PEACE NOW X Tent 2″ Collaboration Campaign
Campaign 1:
*Plastic Tree Member Hand Shake Event
*SHINJUKU MARUI ONE 1F “PEACE NOW X Tent 2″ Limited SHOP Opening
Campaign 2:
*Plastic Tree Lottery
Held during the event hours among all customer purchasing goods worth more than 6,300 yen in the “PEACE NOW X Tent 2″ Limited SHOP and being owners of the Epos card can participate,
Campaign 3:
“PEACE NOW X Tent 2″ Limited SHOP Limited Goods Sale!
Hello Kitty X Plastic Tree X PEACE NOW Triple Collaboration of “Hello Kitty X Neko Jirushi BIG T-Shirt Limited Color” Time-Sale.

2. Plastic Tree Shop Hand Shake Event
7/25 Part One: 14:00 / Part Two: 16:00
[Participation Rules] Purchase goods worth more than 6,300 yen at SHINJUKU MARUI ONE 1Fの”PEACE NOW X Tent 2″ Limited SHOP to receive a participation card.

Tadanobu Asano

The late manga artist Fujio Akatsuka will have his story told in a film being released next year. Titled “Kore de Ii no da!! Eiga★Akatsuka Fujio,” the movie will star Tadanobu Asano (浅野忠信) as Akatsuka and Maki Horikita (堀北真希) as his editor.

Maki Horikita

The “King of Gag Comics”, Akatsuka was born in Manchuria, China, , but moved back to Japan with his mother after World War II. After graduating, Akatsuka got a job in a chemical company, which he hated. At the same time, he sent some of his manga to magazines until his ‘Arashio Koete’, was first published in 1955 in the magazine Manga Shoen. He gave up his day job and started to work under Tezuka as a resident of the Tokiwasou apartment building where he was the roommate of Ishinomori Shoutarou.

Fujio Akatsuka

The story is based on a book written by Toshiki Takei, who actually served as Akatsuka’s editor at Shonen Sunday for a 10-year period. It covers the relationship between Akatsuka and Takei between 1967 and 1974. Although the rookie editor in the book is male, the character has been changed into a female for the movie.

Filming started on July 4 and will wrap up in early August. Theatrical release is scheduled for early summer 2011.

Misako Aoki

Misako Aoki has been a lolita fashion model for “Gothic & Lolita Bible” and “KERA” magazine.
Although the origin of Lolita fashion is unclear, it is likely the movement started in the late 1970s when famous labels including Pink House, Milk and Angelic Pretty began selling. Shortly after that came Baby, The Stars Shine Bright. In the 1990s, Lolita fashion became better recognized, with bands like Malice Mizer and other Visual Kei bands coming into popularity.Aoki is a lolita brands icon, and she was one of Japan’s three “Kawaii Ambassadors who were appointed by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2009.

On July 1, Misako Aoki will appear on XOJAPAN LIVE at 18:00p.m.as a special guest!

Atelier Pierrot is a select shop of Japanese Gothic Lolita and Classic Lolita. It’s characterized by beautiful line of Gothic style.The company, with its Laforet Harajuku shop is known for its wide array of both gothic inspired and Lolita costume clothing.

Atelier Pierrot’s online shop is here.

Japanese silver accessory brand. Naoki. The designer of the brand had been working for some well-known sophisticated accessory company in Japan. After that, he established “Alice Garden” and “SNOB”. He juggles designing for clothes and accessories and production also. Accessories what Naoki creates have fine details and delicate expressions! “Alice Garden”’s online shop just opens here.

“Fantaisies dans le Monde des Rêves” is  an event took place during Memorial Day weekend, May 28-31, at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, California, nearby to the McEnery San Jose Convention Center.

The mission of the event is to facilitate the incorporation of the Asia based fashion culture into America in a manner that is unaltered and authentic to Japan’s cultural roots.

The brand new event is not only include guests from past events, such as Angelic Pretty and Kokusyoku Sumire, but also introduce three new brands and their designers: Chantilly, Vivcore and Atelier Pierrot.

Yuko Aizawa, the manager of Atelier Pierrot, enjoyed interacting with fans.