TokyoScope News: Godzilla, Gyaru, and Gunplay!
A round up of recent Japanese pop culture headlines edited by Patrick Macias
Godzilla Roars Into Shibuya With New Flagship Store
On April 25, the fifth official Godzilla store in Japan, "Godzilla Store Shibuya," will open on the 6th floor of Shibuya PARCO. The store's highlight is a new 2-meter-tall statue of "Burning Godzilla" from the 1995 film Godzilla vs. Destoroyah. This statue features sound, lighting, and LED effects, transforming into its fiery form at set intervals. The store will also showcase the "GODZILLA THE ART" project, featuring new artwork by COIN PARKING DELIVERY, and offer a new "GODZILLA" apparel line, including items suitable for daily use. Exclusive merchandise inspired by the Burning Godzilla statue, such as badges, pouches, and a matte black mobile stand, will be available.
To commemorate the opening, the store will launch a variety of limited-edition items inspired by Burning Godzilla, including metal keychains and pouches. A special matte black version of the 1995 Godzilla figure from TOHOās āDESKTOP MONSTERā line will also be available for early purchase. Fans who spend over 3,000 yen (tax included) will receive a commemorative PR card exclusive to the Shibuya store.
Tower Records Kichijoji Pays Tribute to Kazuo Umezu with Manga-Inspired Opening
Tower Records opened a new location inside Kichijoji PARCO in Tokyo on April 11, 2025, and marked the occasion with a special collaboration featuring legendary horror manga artist Kazuo Umezu. Known for classics like Makoto-chan and The Drifting Classroom, Umezuās distinctive visual style was showcased on the storeās exterior, which was wrapped in artwork inspired by his creations. Inside, visitors received limited-edition posters and stickers featuring his iconic characters. The collaboration celebrated the fusion of music and manga culture, offering an immersive and playful experience that reflected both Umezuās eccentric sensibility and Tower Recordsā ongoing support of Japanese pop culture.
Kazuo Umezu, who passed away in October 2024 at the age of 88, had long lived in Kichijoji, where his red-and-white-striped home became a local landmark. His connection to the neighborhood added an extra layer of meaning to the Tower Records collaboration, serving as a fitting tribute to the beloved artist in the place he called home.
Nicolas Winding Refn and Hideo Kojima Launch "Satellites" Art Exhibition at Prada Aoyama
Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive) and Japanese game creator Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear Solid) have joined forces for Satellites, a free exhibition opening April 18 at Prada Aoyama in Tokyo. Set inside a mid-century-style apartment, the show examines the merging of cinema and gaming through six retro-futuristic TVs designed like spacecraft, which play AI-enhanced philosophical dialogues between the two creators on themes such as creativity, death, and technology. A second installation invites visitors to remix cassette tapes blending their conversations with cinematic music. The exhibition runs daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through August 25.
Drink Coca-Cola Star Wars: The Japanese Coca-Cola Campaign of 1978
Fun, extremely obsessive new article on the epic Japanese Coca-Cola Star Wars promotion of 1978, including bottle caps, bottles, and contests with lots of pics and info.
āāIn 1978, to coincide with the Japanese release of the original Star Wars film, Coca-Cola Japan launched an extensive promotional campaign featuring its beverage brandsāCoca-Cola, Fanta, and Sprite. This campaign included a variety of collectible items such as bottle caps, posters, and other memorabilia, all adorned with Star Wars imagery. The initiative not only boosted the popularity of the film in Japan but also created a unique intersection between Western pop culture and Japanese consumer marketing, leaving a lasting impact on both Star Wars fandom and promotional strategies in the region.āā
V-Cinema Essentials: Bullets & Betrayal
āOne sale now! Arrow Video's V-Cinema Essentials: Bullets & Betrayal is a five-disc limited edition Blu-ray collection that delves into the gritty world of Japanese direct-to-video crime cinema. Featuring nine films from Toei's influential V-Cinema line launched in 1989, the set includes titles like Crime Hunter: Bullets of Rage, Neo Chinpira: Zoom Goes the Bullet, and Female Prisoner Scorpion: Death Threat. Each film is presented in high-definition with original Japanese audio and newly translated English subtitles. Supplementary materials include interviews with directors, video essays by film experts, and collectible items such as art cards and a booklet with new writings. This collection is available now through Arrow Video's official website and retailers such as Amazon.
I wrote and performed a video essay for 1994ās XX: Beautiful Hunter that is included in the set.
Step Back into Y2K: Vintage GAL Fashion Pop-Up Lands in Shibuya
āA pop-up vintage clothing store, "WEGO VINTAGE č¶ GALS," has opened on the 8th floor of SHIBUYA109, spotlighting Y2K fashion trends from the early to mid-Heisei era. The store offers over 2,000 vintage items, including apparel and accessories from iconic brands like Cecil McBee and Cocolulu, as well as character goods like Tamagotchi and My Little Pony. Organized into four themesāHeisei GAL, Goth Punk, Folklore, and Surfāthe shop aims to recreate the atmosphere of the 2000s for a cross-generational audience. It will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. until April 22.
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