The jewelry brand TASAKI is celebrating its 70th anniversary with a special collaboration featuring the manga works "Chainsaw Man," "The Cursed Child Nayuta," and "Fire Punch" by Tatsuki Fujimoto. Each piece of jewelry is inspired by these works and will be available in limited quantities.
The "Chainsaw Man" collaboration features a pendant and ear cuff that represent chainsaws with pearls and spikes from TASAKI's signature "Danger" series. A necklace inspired by the popular character Power will also be available, with variations in size and materials.
For "The Cursed Child Nayuta," the jewelry reflects the horned protagonist Nayuta, with horn motifs included in a headpiece, ring, and pendant.
The "Fire Punch" collaboration includes a pendant inspired by the protagonist Agni's flaming figure. It features Akoya and South Sea Tahitian black pearls adorned with TASAKI's flame-like SAKURAGOLD.
These collaborative pieces will be exclusively sold at the anniversary exhibition "FLOATING SHELL" in celebration of TASAKI’s 70th anniversary.
The manga ``Chiikawa'', which was started by illustrator Nagano on Twitter a few years ago, has continued to make rapid progress that will remain in the history of Japanese characters. Its popularity has gradually increased since around 2021, when the book series began to be published, but it became even more popular when the TV anime began airing in April 2022. When it was broadcast on Mezamashi TV, which has the highest ratings in the morning hours, it became a character that everyone, young and old, knew. The redistribution on YouTube has been viewed more than 53 million times. Some of these fans have become enthusiastic fans and are flocking to various events. Particularly popular are photo sessions, cafes, and exclusive shops. For example, tickets for photo sessions with characters held at shopping malls across the country are always competitive. A total of over 8,000 people came to the show, making it as popular as an idol.
The book "Insects in Cambodia" was published by Sipar Editions in collaboration with the Institut Pasteur of Cambodia. Photo: Michelle Vachon
PHNOM PENH — The book “Insects in Cambodia” showcases insects in bright colors, providing basic information on what they are and the role they play in nature. Meant for readers young and old, it was produced through collaboration between Sipar, the book-publishing and library-service NGO, and the research and public health center Institut Pasteur du Cambodge.
Authored by two experts in entomology, the book describes the roles insects play in the environment and in the lives of animals and humans. With colorful photos and illustrations along with short explanations on every page, the 42-page book presents the various classifications of insects such as coleoptera (beetles), hymenoptera (ants and bees), lepidoptera (butterflies), and diptera (flies).
Since its release, the book has been a success among all Cambodian publics, said Hok Sothik, director of Sipar and also president of the Cambodian Librarians Association. This is the first publication on insects that makes it easy for children, young people and adults to understand and learn about insects, he said.
The book has been published in three languages: Khmer, English, and French. As Sothik explained, while written for the general public of all ages, the text also includes scientific terminology about insects, which may drive some readers to do research to learn more. There are not many books on insects in Khmer language, Sothik said.
According to the book "Insects in Cambodia," there are more than 400,000 species of coleoptera. But there could be many more. Photo: mv
SIEM REAP – The Bathing of the Buddha, or Srang Preah, remains one of most important ceremonies held during Khmer New Year in Cambodia.
According to Hak Kim Huot, the abbot of Wat Aranh Sakor pagoda in Siem Reap City, the Srang Preah ceremony has been held for many generations in the country.
Usually, the bathing of the Budda takes place on Veareak Laeung Sak, that is, the final day of Khmer New Year. In the afternoon of that day, people give a bath or shower to the statues of the Buddha. During the ceremony, the monks, the elders and parents apologize for any mistakes they might have made in the course of the past year, and ask for forgiveness and blessings.
At Wat Aranh Sakor, people used fragrant water to bathe the many statues of the Buddha to wash away the accumulated dust. Afterwards, they brought water to the monks who then took turn to do the same. Some people among the public joyfully splashed water on each other.
Khmer New Year, or Choul Chnam Thmey and also called Sankranta, was celebrated from April 13 through April 16 in 2024. A combination of Buddhist and traditional events, the new year is a time when families come together.
The bathing of the Buddha ceremony is usually held on the last day of Khmer New Year. However, this year at Wat Aranh Sakor, it took place on April 18, that is, two days after the official end of the New Year celebrations.
The Japanese manga character "Chiikawa" has gained explosive popularity among young people in China.
MINISO, a major Chinese lifestyle retail chain that operates the "MINISO" brand, developed character merchandise such as plush toys in collaboration with Chiikawa. When they launched pop-up stores in shopping malls in Shanghai and Beijing, they attracted far more fans than expected.
According to MINISO, the first pop-up store, which opened in Joy City in the Jing'an District of Shanghai on March 29, achieved sales exceeding 8 million yuan (approximately 167.52 million yen) in just three days. The average spend per customer was over 1,000 yuan (approximately 2,941 yen).
On April 1, additional pop-up stores opened in Joy City in the Chaoyang District of Beijing and Hopson One in the Yangpu District of Shanghai, where long lines of fans seeking Chiikawa merchandise formed.
To prevent accidents and other incidents, MINISO limited the number of people in the pop-up stores to 60 at a time and restricted shopping time to 10–15 minutes. According to signs in front of the stores, those wishing to enter needed to reserve through a smartphone app by 8 PM the previous day and also queue up on the day.
MINISO plans to sell Chiikawa collaboration products not only in pop-up stores but also throughout its chain stores across China.
Chiikawa, which was animated for Japanese TV in 2022, sparked a boom among anime fans in China towards the end of 2023.
Until this collaboration with MINISO, no one in China had acquired the domestic rights to use the Chiikawa character. As a result, Chinese fans had been paying high fees to Japanese purchasing agents to import Chiikawa goods personally.
Based on a licensing agreement with Chiikawa’s rights management company, MINISO was able to develop and sell original merchandise for the Chinese market, significantly reducing prices compared to personal imports. This reduction in cost has greatly contributed to the overwhelming turnout at the pop-up stores.
Meanwhile, there has been a surge in reselling the products from the pop-up stores at high prices. A Caixin journalist searching China's largest flea market app, Xianyu, found Chiikawa plush toys in pajamas being traded for about 110 to 140 yuan, nearly double the original price of 69.9 yuan.
Recently, MINISO has been rapidly launching collaboration products with popular characters both inside and outside China. This collaboration with Chiikawa appears to be an exceptionally successful venture among these efforts.
However, acquiring the rights to popular characters also leads to increased costs. According to MINISO's disclosures, the expenses related to sales and distribution, including intellectual property licensing fees, for the second half of 2023 (July to December) totaled 1.322 billion yuan, a 70% increase over the same period the previous year.
Makeup artist Yusuke Kawabata is producing the haircare brand "&BE HAIR" under "&BE," which has enlisted Sakura Miyawaki as its model.
Sakura Miyawaki is known for her high professional awareness as an artist, showcased through her performances, cutting-edge hairstyles, and fashion. She embodies the "professional" concept and focus of the product creation, which led to her being chosen as the model.
In the newly unveiled visual, Sakura Miyawaki appears with blue long hair that symbolizes beautiful, strong hair. This debut boldly and stylishly represents the launch of "&BE HAIR."
Sakura Miyawaki commented, "The new haircare series from '&BE' not only feels great to use, but the packaging is also beautiful. I'm really looking forward to sharing its appeal."
Tokyo DisneySea is set to open the eagerly awaited new area "Fantasy Springs" on June 6, 2024. This new expansion area is based on the theme "A World of Disney Fantasy Led by a Magical Spring," and consists of three unique zones themed after the Disney movies "Frozen," "Tangled," and "Peter Pan."
Frozen Kingdom: Themed after "Frozen," this area allows visitors to experience the enchanting winter landscapes and magic portrayed in the film.
Rapunzel's Forest: Based on "Tangled," this area offers attractions themed around Rapunzel's adventures and her beautiful hair.
Neverland from Peter Pan: Set in the Isle of Neverland, this area lets visitors embark on a journey through the mysterious world of "Peter Pan."
Additionally, the "Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel" will also debut as part of this new area, providing guests with an even deeper experience of Disney movie magic.
At the entrance of the area, "Fantasy Springs Entryway," there is a "Magical Spring" composed of rocks shaped like Disney characters including Peter Pan, Anna and Elsa, and Rapunzel, enchanting all who visit. This spring serves as an artistic representation of the stories woven by each character, enhancing the overall fantasy feel of the area.
Get ready to experience a new world of Disney magic in the summer of 2024.
តំបន់ថ្មីរបស់ Tokyo DisneySea គឺ "Fantasy Springs" ដែលផ្អែកលើប្រធានបទ "ពិភពនៃការចម្លងផ្ទាល់នឹងរឿងបុរាណដឹកនាំដោយប្រភពទឹកវេទមន្ត" និងមានបីតំបន់ប្លែកៗដែលមានរចនាបថតាមរឿងភាគ Disney ដូចជា "Frozen," "Tangled," និង "Peter Pan"។
At the invitation of the organising committee of the China-ASEAN Intangible Culture Week, artists from the Department of Performing Arts of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, as well as artists from ASEAN countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, and China, performed at the China-ASEAN Nanning Intangible Cultural Heritage Week, which took place in Nanning, People’s Republic of China, from April 11 to 15, 2024. China and ASEAN are intertwined, with mountains and rivers having similar cultures; people-to-people ties are strong; and both sides have rich and colourful intangible heritage. In this regard, to strengthen the exchange of cooperation between China and ASEAN countries on the protection and use of intangible cultural heritage, promotion of the development of cultural tourism resources, and joint construction of China-ASEAN intangible cultural heritage.
Cambodia witnessed an unprecedented rise in tourist visits to various resorts and destinations in the four days of the Khmer New Year (KNY) holidays from April 13 to 16, according to a report from the Ministry of Tourism.
The report said of the total tourists, 110,320 were foreign tourists.
Coastal provinces Kep, Kampot, Preah Sihanouk, and Koh Kong received some 2.2 million, while cultural provinces Kampong Thom, Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear and Siem Reap received 1.65 million tourists.
The northern provinces including Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Palin and Pursat recorded 3.54 million visits while Kampong Cham province alone received the most visitors 5.34 million.
Kampong Speu and Prey Veng provinces recorded 2.1 million and 2.29 million, respectively, read the report.
The ministry said in the report that the four-day Khmer New Year holiday allowed people to visit more resorts in provinces, resulting in a sharp rise in tourist footfalls.
The ministry’s Secretary of State and spokesman Top Sopheak noted that the number of domestic and international tourists during the holidays went beyond the ministry’s prediction and even surpassed the pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels.
The ministry concluded that the unprecedented number of visitors during the KNY was due to the organisation of a variety of entertainment events – Sankranta celebrations – in each province and also because of the peace prevailing in the country that allowed more people to travel nationwide, he said.
“This domestic tourist movement during the long holiday has created huge economic benefits to the country,” Sopheak told Khmer Times.
Chhay Sivlin, President of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, said the increase in the number of domestic visitors helped the national economy as a whole.
“This holiday period played a big part in Cambodia’s tourism development,” she said.
“When people travel, they need services such as transportation, accommodation, food and other services, which help the tourism sector domestically,” she said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hun Manet on Wednesday sent a message congratulating officials for the successful celebration of the Khmer New Year with joy, dignity, safety and national pride.
“The shade of peace has provided an opportunity for all Cambodians to live together with virtue and unity in the beloved land of Angkor and also in happiness, honour and dignity,” the Prime Minister
Phnom Penh Capital Administration officials said that in the six days, from April 12 to 17, more than 80,000 workers and people took free buses in Phnom Penh to their hometowns in the provinces on the occasion of the Khmer New Year.
Met Measpheakdey, spokesman for the Phnom Penh Municipal Administration, said this morning, April 18, that the number of bus passengers is more than 80,000 during the New Year, an increase of more than 20,000 people, equivalent to 35% compared to the transport during the traditional New Year 2023.
There are two provinces with the highest number of people taking the bus, including Siem Reap and Battambang, of which Siem Reap has about 25,000 people and Battambang has more than 10,000 people.
The spokesman added that during the transport of passengers during the New Year, there are no significant problems; that is, the transport runs smoothly and safely.
At the same time, people from all walks of life also congratulated and thanked Prime Minister Hun Manet, as well as the Phnom Penh Capital Administration, for continuing to provide free buses to their hometowns in the provinces on the occasion of this Khmer New Year.
In order to alleviate the expenses of the people who have to travel to their hometowns to reunite with their families on the occasion of the Khmer New Year this year, the Phnom Penh Capital Administration has released 455 buses to transport people for free for 6 days from April 12 to 17.
