New Era will release four collection models, including a design named after the snake, the Chinese zodiac sign for 2025, rhinestones, and items using floral fabrics. New Era stores will start handling these items from the New Year’s opening, and the official website will start handling them sequentially from January 1, 2025. Black Snake Collection…

IHG Hotels & Resorts operates 19 hotel brands with more than 6,500 hotels in more than 100 countries. In Japan, IHG Hotels & Resorts currently operates about 47 hotels under eight brands from Hokkaido to Okinawa (as of September 2024). For this interview, we asked Eriko Yokoyama, general manager of ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort, about…

Hot Toys Japan will release “[Cosbi] Disney Collection” minifigures based on the Disney movie “Zootopia” motif in January. The price is ¥2,500 (¥2,300 for Toys “R” Us reservations). The lineup includes Judy Hopps, Nick Wild, Finnick, Flash, Clawhauser, Nick Wild (police officer), Judy Hopps & Nick Wild (childhood). All are approximately 6-8 cm tall and…

As part of the “PIKMIN x JR Kyushu – Explore the Enchanted Planet of Kyushyu” event starting December 7, JR Kyushu will operate the “PIKMIN Train,” a train with designs of PIKMIN characters. On February 1, 2025, the first day of operation of the “Pikmin Train” (Series 787), a special train will run from Kagoshima…

JALPAC’s new initiative, “Travel Academy,” is designed as a “local experience program of travel and learning, where you can find hints for your life from rich lifestyles in Japan and overseas. In this issue, we report on a field trip to Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefecture, to learn from the city’s case study, “Introduction to ‘Local…

JAL, which has bases throughout Japan, has been continuously implementing regional revitalization initiatives (currently the “JAL Furusato Project”), and in August 2020 launched the “JAL Furusato Ambassadors,” cabin crew members selected through an in-house recruitment process who move to the area to promote initiatives in their respective regions. In December of the same year, JAL…

Riding the Seiyu Shinkansen I was able to ride along on the “Seiyu Shinkansen,” and I would like to introduce the situation inside the train. The Seiyu Shinkansen enters the platform. Following the participants, the interview team, including the author, boarded the train. We were guided to the car where the management staff boarded, but…

Logos Corporation, which develops the outdoor brand “LOGOS,” will release “LOGOS Kukusa” made of natural acacia wood in January 2025. It will be priced at 2,750 yen. Kukusa is a mug carved from a block of wood with no joints or glued parts, and is characterized by the warmth that only natural materials can provide….

PayPay has enabled the use of PayPay money as money-offering at temples and shrines. After verifying your identity, scan the QR code from the app’s home screen, decide on the amount, and tap “Send Your Gifts” to complete the process. It will be treated as a donation, and PayPay points cannot be used or earned,…

New items are now available at Disney HARVEST MARKET By CAFE COMPANY, a café and gift store operating at Shibuya Hikarie and Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse. The Shibuya Hikarie store will begin sales on December 26, and the Red Brick Warehouse store on January 14, 2025. The “Original Hand Towel” has the austere characters of…