Taking advantage of the delightful grape season, the newly introduced Yamanashi Shine Muscatand Kyoho grape desserts are crafted with freshly harvested grapes from Japan. To maintain their peak freshness, these grapes are shipped to Singapore within just 48 hours of being picked.
For cake lovers, there are over 10 options to choose from. One popular choice is the Yamanashi Shine Muscat Cake ($5.80), which features soft sponge layers with fresh cream and Kyoho grapes, topped with more cream and Shine Muscat. Another must-try is the Yamanashi Shine Muscat Rare Cheese Cake ($5.50), which offers a similar experience in a cheesecake variation.
The Yamanashi Shine Muscat and Kyoho Grape Double Cream Puff ($6.50) offers a quick and delightful treat, while the refreshing Yamanashi Shine Muscat and Kyoho Grape Parfait ($8.50) is perfect for beating the heat. This dessert includes glass jelly topped with generous portions of Kyoho grapes and Shine Muscat.
These exclusive treats are available at all Chateraise stores, with select items offered only at the Chateraise Premium YATSUDOKI store at Millenia Walk. Don't miss out on these delicious desserts before they’re gone on 29 September!
The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition (referred to as “the Association”) will be showcasing Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan (referred to as “the Expo”) at NATAS Holidays 2024 in Singapore (16-18 August 2024).
At the event, a special PR booth will highlight the Expo's attractions, and the official character MYAKU-MYAKU will debut in Singapore to meet and greet visitors. Additionally, there will be social media campaigns where visitors can snap photos and post them online to receive commemorative Expo items. With less than 300 days until the Expo opens, MYAKU-MYAKU's visit aims to generate excitement and build momentum for the upcoming event.
Photo Credits: Expo 2025 Osaka
About “MYAKU-MYAKU”
A mysterious creature born from the unification of cells and water. Its identity is unknown. The red part is the “cell,” which divides and increases. The blue part is “clean water,” which can be transformed to flow. It seems that it is looking for itself to be who it wants to be, and has transformed into various shapes. The figure takes its shape by imitating human beings.
However, it may change its appearance too much and forget its original shape. The source of its energy is to go outside and enjoy the sunlight. It also loves rainy days and can take the rain into its body. MYAKU-MYAKU dreams that everyone knows about it even before the Expo’s opening and that it will meet many people at Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
NATAS Holidays is a travel expo organised by the National Association of Travel Agents of Singapore (NATAS). Look out for the exhibition booth situated in the Japan pavilion coordinated by Japan National Tourist Organisation (JNTO). Here, visitors can learn about the attractions of Expo 2025 and the Singapore pavilion. A highlight of the event will be a meet-and-greet with Expo 2025’s official character, MYAKU-MYAKU, along with an Expo quiz competition at the mini stage in the Japan pavilion. Visitors can snap commemorative photos, and those who share their photos on social media or answer quiz questions correctly will have the chance to win exclusive Expo items.
Additionally, MYAKU-MYAKU will be joined by Hiroshima Prefecture’s local character, HIROKUMA, who was introduced in September 2023. This marks MYAKU-MYAKU’s first visit to Singapore, and the character will not only appear on the mini stage but also take to the event’s main stage to actively promote the Expo to a broader audience.
Event Details
● MYAKU-MYAKU meet-and-greet and quiz competition (Mini Stage)
Friday 16 August 14:00 – 14:20
Friday 16 August 14:45 – 15:00
Saturday 17 August 15:20 – 15:40
Sunday 18 August 13:00 – 13:20
Sunday 18 August 15:40 – 16:00, 16:30 – 16:50 *Collaboration with HIROKUMA
*Commemorative Expo items will be given to those who take a commemorative photo with MYAKU-MYAKU and post it on various social media and who answer the quiz correctly.
● MYAKU-MYAKU Appearance at the NATAS Official Main Stage
Saturday 17 August 16:30 – 17:00
Sunday 18 August 10:30 – 11:00 (*MYAKU-MYAKU will appear for part of the event)
● Collaboration with Hiroshima Prefecture’s local character, HIROKUMA
Saturday 17 August 16:30 - 17:00 (Part of the second half of the event) on the NATAS Official Main Stage
Sunday 18 August 15:40 – 16:00, 16:30 – 16:50 on the mini stage
Finally after a 3-year wait, Southeast Asia’s biggest and most prestigious Japanese Pop Culture event - Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2022 (#AFASG22) is back, and here are some of the key updates of the festival line-up.
Held physically from 25 to 27 November 2022 at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, there will be tons for anime fans to indulge in. While fan-favourite segments remain, there are also new experiences too! There's the star-studded Day Stage Line-up, a refreshed Creators’ Hub, J-Dance Competition, Meet & Greet Sessions, AFA Night LIVE! and also an all-new AFAVerse visitor experience too!
Day Stage Highlights
25 November
A virtual guest appearance and talk show with V-tuber Fulgur Ovid from NIJISANJI EN,
PRISM Project will host an epic face-off battle of improv between two groups of virtual talent, with prompts chosen live by audiences
A talk show featuring Vtubers based in different countries, featuring Luna Amane of NHOT BOT, Maya Ichimonji from GEMS COMPANY, Nox from VirtuaReal, and Lilrya Prisvielle from VReverie
An appearance and performance by Miura Ayme and Satoshi Kada from Obey Me!, an otome game of the "Shall we date?" series!
And a special guest appearance by celebrity cosplayer Hakken.
26 November
Screening of the first 2 episodes of ARKNIGHTS: Prelude to Dawn, the anime adaptation of the popular mobile game, featuring a recorded message from the Japanese voice actress for Amiya and a recorded interview with the production staff from the anime production house, Yostar Pictures.
Appearances by Junta Terashima and Ryota Takeuchi, who voice and sing as characters from the group The Cat’s Whiskers in the Paradox Live multimedia franchise, ahead of the upcoming anime series coming in 2023.
Lycoris Recoil, one of the most popular titles from the July 2022 anime season, will be featured through a talk show on stage. Guests coming for this stage event will be announced separately.
27 November
A special panel from MAPPA, an animation studio that will be talking about the current and upcoming projects of the studio, with hit titles like Chainsaw Man, “ATTACK ON TITAN” The Final Season, Hell’s Paradise, and VINLAND SAGA SEASON 2.
Special DJ performances by D4DJ, a media mix project from Bushiroad that revolves around content including anime, games, and live concerts performed by the voice actresses.
A guest appearance and talk show with voice actor Yuki Ono.
AFA Night LIVE!
Fans can enjoy the 10th Anniversary Event Premiere Screening of Sword Art Online - FULLDIVE on 25 November, 7.30pm, at AFA Night LIVE! This adds to earlier announcements shared on AFA Night LIVE!, which features a stellar cast of virtual YouTubers (VTubers) and artistes. Held over three nights, AFA Night LIVE includes hololive Meet, an interactive live talk show and Meet & Greet session with some of the world’s most celebrated VTubers, on 26 November, as well as I Love Anisong, a fan-favourite music event, on 27 November.
Creators’ Hub x pixiv
For the first time, AFA will partner with pixiv, Japan's largest online art community, to present the largest-ever Creators Hub. On pixiv, people share illustrations, manga, and novels, with close to 20,000 works from 230 different regions worldwide posted daily. pixiv is also hosting an Illustration Contest, where the winning entry will receive these amazing prizes:
200,000 JPY in cash (approx. SGD 2000)
A free Creators Hub booth at AFASG 2023
A chance to display an original artwork at the pixiv display area in the Creators Hub
Featured Creators
With over 150 participating creators this year from 15 countries and regions, organizers shared that 28 Featured Creators have been selected to showcase their work at the festival grounds. AFA Singapore 2022 will also collaborate with Sarah Thursday to release a limited-edition capsule collection! Featuring an exclusive t-shirt, tote bag, and sticker, check them out at AFA SHOP and AFASHOP.CO!
They include:
Rachta Lin - self-taught illustrator whose travels and experiences influence her creations
Sarah Thursday - creates illustrations inspired by dark alternative subcultures with a profoundly personal twist
Digital artist Raiko- paints characters from games and anime usually in a semi-realistic style.
Competitions
A new J-Dance Asia competition will be held, with the Finals on 26 November at Akiba Stage on the festival grounds. Groups of 2 to 10 pax will be able to highlight their choreography based on a Japanese song track in front of the crowd. Renowned dancers from Singapore and Japan will stand as judges, and also get to strut their stuff in a special dance showcase. Participants to J-Dance Asia stand a chance to win cash prizes of up to S$1,000. Registration is open from now till 11 November 2022 at bit.ly/AFASG22JDance.
The Cosplay Singles showcase competition will return to AFASG22. Cosplayers can take this chance to show off their costumes on a regional stage and stand a chance to win up to $500 cash. Registration is underway from now till 06 November 2022 at bit.ly/AFASG22CosplaySingles.
Exhibitor Highlights
It will include Anime Metaverse, Bandai, Bushiroad, Conan, Genshin Impact. Good Smile Company, Hakkaen!, Kotobukiya, Nissin, Valiant Force and more. Showcases will range from exclusive merchandise to offers.
Meet & Greet Sessions
Fans who want to meet AFA’s celebrity guests can look forward to Meet & Greet sessions. Sessions will be available with celebrity cosplayers Hakken, Charess and Ely. Tickets are on sale now. Check the website for more details.
The AFAVERSE Visitor Experience
For the first time, visitors will enjoy a game-like experience from the moment they step into the festival grounds. You will get a specially-designed NFC-enabled band to earn AFA Hero XP, AFA Coins, instant discounts, and unlock virtual easter eggs. And you can also design your own Seika AFA-tar, unlock special skins from AFA-Pitstops, or exchange for limited-edition accessories with AFA-Coins.
Fans will be able to purchase all ticket tiers, from General Admission 1-Day Exhibition to 1-Day VIP tickets online from today.
Tickets start from S$21 / Day for the Exhibition.
Stay tuned to the official site or connect on social media for the latest updates on the festival. More details are available at animefestival.asia/singapore2022.
Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2022 Dates: 25 - 27 November 2022 Location: Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre (L3 & L4) Exhibition Timing: 10 AM ~ 8 PM
Mark your calendars and make a date with your friends and family as we countdown to 2023. We have gone through alot this past couple of years and to mark the resilience of the nation, it’s time to ring in the brand New Year, full of hope, with spectacular fireworks and light projections.
Held in conjunction with Marina Bay Singapore Countdown (MBSC) 2023, STAR ISLAND Singapore Countdown 2022-2023 (presented by JCB and welcoming Sanrio as Premium Sponsor) is coming back full scale on 31 December 2022, bigger and better than before.
Set against the iconic Marina Bay city skyline, a 70-minute fireworks musical extravaganza, which features larger-than-life pyrotechnics and dazzling lights, immersive sound and world class entertainment is set to illuminate the sky in a kaleidoscope of colours with artisanal Japanese fireworks that have never been featured anywhere in Southeast Asia.
Preview of “Ghost Effect Shell'' fireworks
This year’s show features an artisanal “Ghost Effect Shell'' fireworks which have been designed to bloom in Singapore’s stunning colours - a red-to-white gradation across the sky.
Preview of “Prime Minister Award” winning fireworks at Omagari Fireworks Competition
10 bursts of fireworks bestowed with the “Prime Minister Award” earlier this year at Japan’s Omagari Fireworks Competition will also paint the night skies of Marina Bay for the very first time, with each firework hand-crafted by Japan’s finest firework artisans.
Hanabi entertainment show
Building up to the stunning fireworks display at night, ticket holders can experience a futuristic twist on the traditional Japanese hanabi entertainment show. Hanabi - the Japanese word for fireworks, is a long-standing summer tradition all across Japan, where people gather to eat, drink and watch firework displays in the cooler summer nights.
STAR ISLAND will take this tradition into the future by elevating the experience with the use of cutting-edge technology and experiential show elements. You will get to watch STAR ISLAND’S brand new storyline, choreographed to a 70-minute unique soundtrack, with their state-of-the-art sound technology to bring an immersive audio-sensory experience.
Free admission - “Prequel to STAR ISLAND” from 25 - 30 December 2022
Set on an even larger scale this year, this world-class multi-sensory playground is filled with activities for all ages. Expect Live DJ performances, family-friendly entertainment zones and gastronomic offerings at the food village as part of the STAR ISLAND experience.
STAR ISLAND will also be hosting a free admission event preview - “Prequel to STAR ISLAND”, at the MBS Event Plaza from 25 to 30 December, where you will be able to get a sneak peek of the show. The area will be transformed into a ticketed satellite location for the main show on 31 December.
Ticket sales
Tickets will go on sale on 20 October, ranging from S$88 to S$318 (VIP experience). VIP and Premier tiers come with exclusive entitlements. Each ticket permits entry to the seated gallery at The Float at Marina Bay and access to the food village.
Parties looking to celebrate in luxury can reserve a “SUITES” package that comes with a bird’s eye view of the show, complete with sofa seats, table service, and exclusive lounge access. Limited “SUITES” tier start from S$10,888 respectively.
Singapore! Let's all start gearing up as the yearly coolest gaming convention comes back into town! Hubby's excited to see what the cosplayers scene is like this year and I am curious to check out the new and upcoming game titles and try my hand on them before they hit the market! As the Asia Pacific remains the largest overall region for gaming, estimated to take in $72.2 billion in 2019, and esports to be featured as a medal sport at the upcoming 2019 Southeast Asian Games - the gaming ecosystem is abuzz with interest. All eyes are on GameStart Asia, Singapore’s largest and longest-running gaming event.
From humble beginnings of hosting 12,000 visitors in its inaugural edition in 2014, GameStart Asia has since welcomed 100,000 gamers, esports athletes and cosplayers over its 5 year history. SEA MAJOR, which has called GameStart home since 2016, returns as host to some of the world’s most prestigious fighting game tournaments. 2018’s edition of SEA MAJOR saw over 400 participants, with online engagement on Twitch alone reaching 25 million (minutes watched), with 2.6 million video plays on 1.6 million devices. GameStart today is Southeast Asia’s premier gaming event, having forged long term partnerships with renowned platforms including Taipei Game Show, BIC Fest, Game Prime Asia and BitSummit to connect passionate local and international gaming communities.
To be held on 12 and 13 October 2019 at Suntec Convention Centre, Organiser - Eliphant has unveiled a series of announcements for its sixth edition -GameStart 2019 (#GameStart2019) to get their fans hyped and ready for the event of the year.
Themed as “Asian Mythology”, visitors can gear up to new and exciting content that include showcases of the latest blockbuster games, esports, indie games, tabletop gaming, cosplay and appearances by special guests from various games industry segments.
Something new this year, there will be a themed adventure room game experience created for the first time. The Castle will require gamers to gather in a party of 4 (or join a group), select from two story-based routes, and embark on their chosen clan’s mission to find the sealed demon within the abandoned castle.
The new GameStart Demo Zone will also host new and upcoming games on the PS4 and Nintendo Switch consoles, including Tokyo RPG’s latest title, ONINAKI, Ubisoft’s Just Dance 2020, and other games which will be announced closer to the event days. Publishers Marvel, Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia, Arc System Works, and Square Enix will also showcase games at the event.
RETURNING FAVORITES
● The popular Tabletop Zone - The global board games market is a niche sector that has quietly seen astronomical growth in the last 3 to 4 years and is on track to be worth US$12 billion by 2023. The Tabletop Zone has seen strong growth in attendees since it was first introduced at GameStart 2017. Local and international exhibitors, including Moaideas from Taiwan and Asobi, a concept store for hobby enthusiasts, who will bring “Fate/Grand Order -collection figure-” will be at the convention. The Open Gaming area will have a selection of games for the uninitiated to try tabletop games led by Game Masters. Pre-registration for the free sessions is available at https://event.gamestart.asia/exhibitors/open-gaming/ .
● A haven for artists and the creative scene, Doujin Market x GameStart 2019 is a collaboration with the largest artist convention in the region, and provides artists from SEA the chance to showcase and sell their creations to visitors. For the fourth year running, Doujin Market - Doujima x GameStart Artist Alley returns to make art accessible to video game fans, while providing local and regional creators an opportunity to showcase their work. Over 40 creators will showcase some of the very best video game-inspired artwork, accessories and fan creations.
● Some of Asia’s best indie developers, including those from Myanmar and China, will gather at Founders Base to showcase their work, in addition to Gamestart’s partners - Taipei Game Show (Taiwan), Busan Indie Connect (BIC) Festival (Korea), Game Prime Asia (Indonesia) and BitSummit (Japan).
JOURNEY WITH TOP ESPORTS ATHLETES
SEA MAJOR (SEAM) 2019, the largest fighting game tournament in Asia, returns to GameStart 2019 bigger and better, with top players from around the world. It will host two major events - the Asia Regional Finals for Capcom World Tour (Street Fighter V), and the Finals of the inaugural SOULCALIBUR Asia League. Some of the world’s top players will be participating, including Daigo “The Beast” Umehara (Japan) and Kayane (France). Organisers hinted that a special announcement by a game publisher is expected to be made during the tournaments. Registration for SEA MAJOR will end on 8 October.
Other tournaments include:
● Organised by FIFA veteran Xtr3me3 and Eliphant, the annual GameStart 2019: FIFA 20 Championship returns this year with a prize pool worth SGD 3,500, sponsored by MyRepublic GAMER and Armaggeddon.
● Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and League of Legends tournaments under the MyRepublic Gamer tournament series.
● Pixel Battle Ultimate Challenge - a fun challenge for GameStart’s own mobile game which received a big content update in August 2019. Daily winners will take home a Secretlab gaming chair and GameStart swag.
GUESTS APPEARANCES
Get up close and personal with industry talents in the gaming community, as visitors will get to meet
and appreciate their skills and insights in GameStart 2019. From veteran game producers to talented
musicians and creatives, be inspired by Asia’s best in the gaming industry.
● Veteran Producer from Square Enix and Creative Producer of Tokyo RPG Factory, Takashi Tokita , will present his new game, ONINAKI, on the GameStart Main Stage on 12 October. In addition, he will hold a special session to talk about his 30+ years of experience in game development. Attendees will have a chance to ask him questions in a more intimate setting. Limited seats are available for this session, and those keen to attend can register at http://bit.ly/gs19ss.
● Violinist Luna Lorrain , in Singapore for the first time, will perform her renditions of beloved game and anime songs on the GameStart Main Stage. She has performed in some of the biggest ACG (anime, comic and game) events in Southeast Asia.
● Digital Artist and Illustrator Richard Suwono is a huge fan of fighting games and known for his unique art style, often depicting characters from fighting game franchises. Fans will get to meet him at the SEA MAJOR zone, as well as purchase 2 exclusive T-shirt designs by Richard for GameStart 2019 and SEA MAJOR 2019.
● Taiwanese pianist, V.K. , is best known for his compositions for Deemo, a successful music game developed by Rayark games. He will be performing on the GameStart Main Stage on 12 October.
● Riiyuukii Cosplay will be making appearances at GameStart as Alyse, the GameStart mascot. Up-and-coming model Yuuno will also appear as a new Nemesis character to Alyse.
Eat.Drink.Play.Repeat.
Weary gamers can replenish their HP and MP, or celebrate their victories at The Sanctuary . Curated by home-grown mead company Lion City Meadery, six delectable food stalls, a range of award-winning mead (a familiar drink in many Role-playing Games), and a selection of craft beer from Canadian Craft Beer, will be well-stocked to fill tummies and quench the thirst.
The Sanctuary is conveniently located close to the Tabletop Zone, so players can enjoy food and drink while they contemplate their next move. Attractive prizes await the bold who complete quest cards by performing various activities at selected booths, with Armaggeddon returns as the Official Quest Sponsor. Sponsors and partners of GameStart 2019 include Twitch (Official Live Stream Platform), MyRepublic (Official Fibre Broadband Partner), Monster Energy (Official Energy Drink), Lion City Meadery (Preferred Alcohol Partner) and XSplit (Official Live Stream Software).
Levelling Up - The Next Chapter
In May 2019, GameStart Asia announced its partnership with the inaugural gamescom asia, to be held in Singapore in 2020, to jointly curate an all-rounded gaming experience. This October, gamescom asia will be exhibiting at GameStart 2019.
“GameStart will hand over the reigns to gamescom asia in Singapore, and work closely with Koelnmesse Singapore to build on the current gaming community that we have established over the years. When we started in 2014, my team and I set out to put Singapore and Southeast Asia on the map for gaming. The partnership is an exciting milestone and I’d like to think that what we’ve done and achieved has helped create this opportunity, no matter how small a part we’ve played. For now, the team is hard at work putting the finishing touches to GameStart 2019, with special announcements and activities lined up to thank the community - fans and partners alike - with the best experience ever. We hope that everyone can come and join us.” --- Elicia Lee, Founder of GameStart Asia.
Christmas is just days away and NEX has invited the Minions, from the popular 3D computer-animated comedy Despicable Me, for some tropical wacky Christmas fun with its shoppers!
From 23rd November till 31st December, the largest mall in north-east Singapore has catered many Minions related activities including the ongoing "Guess and Win" contest and "Holiday Bonanza" for its patrons to celebrate a merry Minions holiday season through Christmas shopping with a chance to win a trip for two (2) to the Minions Theme Park in Osaka, Japan!
At the same time, NEX is also partnering with Make-A-Wish Foundation® Singapore (MAWSG) to make giving back an easy and enjoyable experience for the family. Only on 14th and 15th December, at B1 walkway near KFC, shoppers can take home an 8-inch Minion plush for $10 or a 12-inch Minion plush for $20 where the proceeds will go towards making a child’s wish at MAWSG come true this Christmas!
So let us not forgetting to embrace the spirit of giving by adopting a Minion plush this coming Thursday (14th Dec) and Friday (15th Dec) while celebrating a Merry Minions Holiday at NEX!!
Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page/ follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram for the latest updates!
