Twentythree

Square Enix’s Mini Melody TVs tap into the nostalgia for retro games and old-school electronics.

With retro games, there’s often a fine yet indistinct line between games’ whose aesthetics have been canonized as timelessly charming and cultural milestones of digital artistry, and those whose graphics and sounds now merely feel antiquated, making them past their expiration date in terms of triggering a warm, fuzzy emotional response. Tapping into gaming nostalgia gets trickier still when you take into account that many fans’ memories aren’t tied only to the games themselves, but to the equipment they were played with, much of which has also now been replaced by newer tech.

So it’s nice to see Square Enix going the extra mile in presenting the Final Fantasy series’ early sights and sounds with these cool, clever figurines that look like CRT television sets.

The Final Fantasy Series–Mini Melody TV collection takes us back to Final Fantasy’s initial pixel art era, consisting of the first six games in the series, which were released for the NES/Famicom and Super NES/Super Famicom. Each figurine’s screen shows a scene from one of the games and also plays an iconic piece of background music from its soundtrack.

For the original Final Fantasy, you’ll see the title screen (which, famously, doesn’t come until after you complete the first objective of our quest) and its rousing musical accompaniment that would go on to become the main theme of Final Fantasy.

Final Fantasy II’s figurine plays “The Rebel Army,” and Final Fantasy III’s “Eternaal Wind.”

The Final Fantasy IV Mini Melody TV shows us Cecil, still in dark knight mode, sailing through the skies to “The Red Wings,” while Final Fantasy V’s recaptures Bartz party’s battle with Gilgamesh, backed by “Battle at the Big Bridge,” a frantic fight theme that’s possibly the most widely remembered thing about the entire game.

And finally, the Final Fantasy VI figurine has us checking in on Setzer, Celes, Edgar, and Sabin aboard the airship Falcon, searching for their lost friends as, fittingly, “Searching for Friends” plays.

Each of the figurines draws power from a AAA battery to light up its screen, which is actually an LCD display, despite the CRT-style casing. With dimensions of 6.2 x 4.45 x 5.3 centimeters (2.4 x 1.3 x 2.1 inches), they’re compact enough to fit more than one on your desk, and you may want to pick up more than one, since they’re being offered as blind-box items, so you won’t know which one you’re getting until after you open it, unless you opt for the complete box set that guaranties you one of each version.

Individual Final Fantasy Series–Mini Melody TVs are priced at 1,980 yen (US$12.50) and the complete set at 11,880. They’re scheduled to officially go on sale on January 29.

Source: PR Times
Top image: PR Times
Insert images: YouTube/スクウェア・エニックス, PR Times
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Maps and predicated peak color dates to help you plan your autumn journey to see Japan’s natural beauty.

There are a lot of reasons why fall is a great time of year to travel in Japan, such as sunny weather, not-too-hot, not-too-cold temperatures, and smaller crowds. The absolute best reason for an autumn trip, though, is to see the beautiful fall colors.

In particular, Japan’s maple and ginkgo trees, or kaede and icho if you’re using their Japanese names, are what turn many of the country’s forests, gardens, and temples into a patchwork of vivid reds and yellows every autumn. Of course, there’s a timing element involved in seeing fall foliage. Head out to see it too early, and the leaves will still be in their summer-green state, but go too late, and you run the risk of the leaves being brown and withered, or maybe even having fallen off, leaving you looking at bunches of barren branches.

So to help travelers coordinate their travel plans with Mother Nature’s, Japan Meteorological Corporation has prepared a fall foliage forecast. Generally speaking, the fall colors sweep across Japan in the opposite direction that the cherry blossoms do, starting in the north, where cooler weather sets in earlier, and then moving down to east Japan, followed by the western part of the country. There’s an additional wrinkle, though, in that high-altitude areas, typically further inland from the coastline, also tend to see their leaves change color earlier than lower-lying areas.

First, let’s take a look at the forecast maps showing when the leaves are predicted to be at their most breathtakingly bright shades of red and yellow.

▼ Peak maple color forecast map showing Sapporo (札幌), Sendai (仙台), Tokyo (東京), Nagoya (名古屋), Osaka (大阪), and Fukuoka (福岡)

▼ Peak ginkgo color forecast, also with Sapporo (札幌), Sendai (仙台), Tokyo (東京), Nagoya (名古屋), Osaka (大阪), and Fukuoka (福岡)

Compared to an average year, JMC is predicting that east Japan will turn crimson later than usual, and northern Japan’s yellow leaves will be arriving later as well. In addition to the above maps, they’ve also put together a list of the peak color dates by city.

● Predicted peak color for maple/ginkgo trees
Sapporo: November 7/November 6
Aomori: November 13/November 6
Sendai: November 25/November 29
Tokyo: November 29//November 26
Kanazawa: November 30/November 10
Nagano: November 20//November 14
Nagoya: December 2//November 17
Kyoto: December 11/November 27
Osaka: December 4/November 24
Wakayama: December 11/November 26
Hiroshima: November 28//November 20
Kochi: December 9/November 16
Fukuoka: December 7/November 27
Kagoshima: December 10/November 27

As we can see from the predicted dates, gingko trees usually reach their peak color before maples, so does this mean you’ll have to pick between seeing one or the other? Not necessarily. Unlike the cherry blossoms, which appear for only a bittersweetly short time, the fall colors can be enjoyed for a longer period. Sure, it can be tricky to time a trip to see both the maples and gingko at their absolute prettiest condition at the same place at the same time, but there’s enough overlap so that if one of the leaf types is looking its best, the other is probably very photogenic too. JMC is predicting this year’s overall fall color season to be:

● North Japan
Maple: Early October to mid-November in mountains, mid-October to late November in flatlands
Ginkgo: Early November to late November in flatlands
● East Japan
Maple: Late October to early December in mountains, late November to mid-December in flatlands
Ginkgo: Early November to early December in flatlands
● West Japan
Maple: Late October to early December in mountains, late November to mid-December in flatlands
Ginkgo: Mid-November to early December in flatlands

As we’re still at least a month away from the first signs of fall color, JMC will be updating its predictions as we get deeper into fall, but for now the forecast is enough to start forming plans from. And if you just can’t wait that long for your fall trip, Japan Railways has a new unlimited-ride train pass that can be activated from early October.

Source: Japan Meteorological Corporation, PR Times
Top image: Pakutaso
Insert images: Pakutaso, PR Times, Pakutaso (2)
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

New “Bunny Autumn Festival” collection celebrates the rabbit in the moon with sweet design details. 

As we enter September, people across the nation are beginning to take notice of the encroaching night sky and the beauty of the moon, which appears particularly bright at this time of year. The moon-gazing culminates in Tsukimi (literally “moon-viewing“), a cultural event that occurs around the time of the autumn full moon – this year the date is 25 September – and over at Starbucks, the celebrations have begun with a brand new Tsukimi collection.

Called “Bunny Autumn Festival“, the range taps into another celestial-related belief – that the markings on the moon look like a rabbit pounding rice. If you’ve ever held that image in your mind while gazing at the moon in Japan, you’ll see how the markings really do look more like a rabbit as opposed to a “man on the moon”, and it’s a beautiful way for companies like Starbucks to give moon-viewing goods an extra dash of cuteness.

The new range centres around the idea of a family of rabbits joyously celebrating the harvest festival, playing with mooncakes on a moonlit night. Though mooncakes aren’t commonly eaten here as they are in other parts of Asia, they add colour and cuteness to the collection while celebrating the moon that shines down on us all.

▼ The collection begins with the Stainless Steel To-Go Bottle, Rabbit Ivory – 473 millilitres (16 ounces) – 5,350 yen (US$33.42)

Shaped like a giant Starbucks cup, this stainless steel bottle features a locking lid for leak-proof peace-of-mind. The lid opens easily by pressing the button down and sliding it to the right.

The double-walled vacuum-insulated stainless steel construction provides excellent heat and cold retention, while the bunnies on the front provide excellent cuteness.

▼ Stainless Steel Tumbler with Replacement Lid, MiiR Rabbit Navy, 473 millilitres – 5,900 yen

The deep navy colour, reminiscent of the night sky, serves to highlight the rabbits, which can be seen leaping playfully across the bottom of the tumbler.

This item also boasts double-walled vacuum-insulated stainless steel construction, and is produced in collaboration with MiiR, a premium Seattle-based drinkware brand.

▼ Cold Cup Tumbler – 710 millilitres 3,050 yen

This product brings an air of sophistication to the range, with a starry, textured surface that catches the light, creating a beautiful, sparkly shine.

▼ The large 710-millilitre size allows you to enjoy more of your favourite beverage for longer.

▼ Cold Cup Tumbler, Rabbit Navy – 710 millilitres 2,700 yen

▼ This beautiful design features a full moon, with rabbits racing around it, against a dark night sky.

The removable lid makes this one particularly easy to clean, and like the three other items above, it comes with a free drink ticket.

▼ Stainless Steel Mug, Rabbit Coral Pink – 473 millilitres 4,200 yen

Those who prefer to drink Starbucks from a mug will be able to opt for this stylish stainless steel design, which features a wonderfully serene moment, with three bunnies gathered together under a golden moon.

▼ Double-walled vacuum insulation, and a removable lid to keep your drink hot, or cold, for longer.

Rounding out the collection are a couple of bear-y cute gifts, featuring the chain’s Bearista character.

▼ Bearista Message Gift (with drink ticket) 1,650 yen

▼ For this outing, the Bearista is dressed up in an adorable bunny costume.

The Bearista has magnets concealed in both hands, which allows it to hold the message card drink ticket firmly in place for premium presentation.

▼ It also has a loop between its ears so you can attach a keychain and use it as a charm.

The drink ticket itself is also beautifully designed, with golden embossed print and three cute rabbits under the green mermaid, surrounded by stars like a Starbucks moon.

▼ Completing the set is a gift bag so cute you’ll want to gift it to yourself.

▼ Beverage Card (with drink ticket) 750 yen

Shout someone a drink with the assistance of the sweet rabbit family, appearing on a coral-pink card that captures the fun and cosiness of moon-viewing season.

With so many different products at different price points, you don’t have to spend a lot to join the fun of moon-viewing at Starbucks this year. You’ll have to act like a bunny and jump quick, though, as the range became available online on 1 September, and at Starbucks stores on 2 September, and is only available in limited numbers while stocks last.

Source: Press release
Featured image: Press release
Insert images: Starbucks Japan (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

What looks like an anime convenience store is actually a heartwarming way to serve the local community.

All the big-name convenience stores in Japan have instantly recognisable features that can easily be identified from a distance, and for Lawson, that means blue, white and pink stripes, and a distinctive milk can logo.

Well, we thought that was the case until our reporter Mr Sato stumbled upon this store in Aomi, just a stone’s throw from Tokyo’s famous Odaiba district.

▼ From a distance, this looks like a regular Lawson.

▼ But as you get closer…

▼ … you realise it’s something different.

The store looks identical to a Lawson – so much so that if you’re not paying attention you might even walk through its doors thinking as such, but look closely and you’ll see the words “Port Store” on the sign instead of Lawson.

▼ Even the milk can logo has “Port Store” branding.

A sight like this is enough to make you think you’ve stepped out of reality and into a parallel universe, because convenience stores are notoriously protective of their trademarks, and would never let a store like this rip off their branding in the real world.

▼ Yet here it is, existing like something out of an anime or video game, with everything telling you it’s a Lawson, except for the name.

Sensing he may have found a glitch in the system, Mr Sato walked towards the Port Store and stepped through its automatic doors.

Looking around, his brain short-circuited again, as he saw that the selections on offer were more or less the same as what you’d find at a regular Lawson. However, there were some products that appeared to be unique to this location, including work gloves, socks and towels, and work shoes and helmets.

Stopping for a moment, Mr Sato whipped out his phone and ran a search online to find out exactly what he had walked into, and that’s when he learned that the store is operated by the Tokyo Port Welfare Association in partnership with Lawson. The association is a non-profit that runs shops and other services for people working in Tokyo’s port areas, and by partnering with convenience stores like Lawson and Family Mart it was able to expand, providing port workers with easier access to essential work gear and leading to the “Port Store” branded convenience stores seen in some port areas today.

Being able to buy items normally sold at workwear stores is convenient for people who work in these areas, especially when these stores are open 24 hours. For Mr Sato, though, the store had three things that lured him into opening his wallet – a waffle cone milk ice cream, cheap cheese crackers, and a Toraichi towel.

Toraichi is a Japanese workwear brand, particularly well known among manual labourers, and something you normally wouldn’t find at a convenience store.

▼ Mr Sato, looking and feeling cool with his ice cream and Toraichi towel.

While the store caters to port workers, you don’t have to be a port worker to make a purchase, so Mr Sato highly recommends stopping by if you ever see one during your travels. It’s a unique take on the Japanese convenience store and a nice reminder of how big-name chains can adapt their brand to serve the needs of the local community.

Store information
Port Store Aomi / Port Store青海
Address: Tokyo-to Koto-ku Aomi 4-4-1
東京都江東区青海4-4-1
Open 24 hours

Photos ©SoraNews24
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!