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calvin klein

Calvin Klein Set To Open Largest ‘One-Of-A-Kind’ Lifestyle Store In Tokyo 

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Designer brand Calvin Klein Inc. is once again expanding their global presence by opening its largest “one-of-a-kind” lifestyle store in Tokyo, Japan. 

The new global flagship store will be opening on August 29th and is located at 4-31-10 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, in the heart of Harajuku, Tokyo. The store will be 14,160-square-feet and have three floors. 

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The store is being described as a  “cultural and commercial destination” and will be “not only as an elevated retail experience but as a platform for community engagement,” according to Fashion United. 

Calvin Klein representatives told the publication that the retail location will offer the “ultimate brand experience” as they continue to solidify their elevated lifestyle offering to Japan. This marks the “next chapter in the brand’s global retail expansion in major markets around the world,” following their opening in Paris in 2024. 

They also will be opening a new store in SoHo, New York later this year. 

Global brand president at Calvin Klein, David Savman, said in a statement: “

The Tokyo flagship marks a pivotal milestone in the global retail strategy for the Calvin Klein brand. Calvin Klein has always stood at the intersection of fashion and culture, creating products and consumer experiences that resonate and inspire, and our stores are where this element of our iconic DNA is the most fully realized.”

“We are excited to expand our footprint in one of the world’s most influential fashion capitals and deliver an elevated consumer experience where the Calvin Klein way of living meets the culture of fashion.”

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The new store in Tokyo is meant to merge Calvin Klein’s modern minimalism with traditional Japanese craftsmanship. 

Danielle Wightman-Stone for Fashion United reported that the store is finished with custom elements that are designed to “showcase a fusion of heritage and modernity.” Artists Wataru Hatano and Rikuo Takata provided art pieces with stonework that was locally sourced as well. 

The Japanese craftsmanship is also exuded through vintage traditional decor to simultaneously offset and blend with the modern lines and structures of Calvin Klein. 

The first and second floors of the store are dedicated to women’s and men’s assortments including the brand’s full lifestyle apparel, underwear, and accessories. As a means of also honoring the significance of denim in Japanese culture, there is a major focus on the material throughout the whole store as well. 

The third level will work as a “flexible event and gallery space,” with a separate VIP area for the brand’s 2025 Calvin Klein collection. 

The store is housing a limited-edition capsule collection as well to celebrate its opening, and the collection will only be available at the flagship. This particular collection is said to be “rooted in denim” with a custom color palette and CK Tokyo branding. There will only be 100 individually numbered pieces per style in the collection as well.

pandas

Last Of Japan’s Pandas Are Heading Home To China Amid Severing Ties 

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Hundreds of people in Japan have gathered within the past couple of weeks to say goodbye to the country’s last pair of pandas before they went back home to China this week, leaving the nation without any of the bears for the first time in 50 years.

Lei Lei and Xiao Xiao are the panda twins who have been living at the Ueno zoological gardens since their birth. Now, four-years-later, they’ve been transported back to China via truck. Many fans of the pair have been left saddened and disappointed by this move, as they’ve grown to love the furry twins. 

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The media spoke to Nene Hashino, a woman wearing a panda-themed jacket while holding a stuffed bear toy towards the end of Lei Lei and Xiao Xiao’s stay in Japan, who said that she’s been “coming to watch them since they were born. It feels like my own children are going somewhere far away. It’s sad.” 

The pandas’ return to China was suddenly announced just last month after a diplomatic spat occurred. Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi recently hinted that Tokyo could intervene militarily in the event of an attack on Taiwan, and her comment provoked a strong reaction from Beijing, which regards Taiwan as its own territory. 

The bears were loaned to Japan as a part of China’s “panda diplomacy” program, and was known to be a symbol of friendship and peace between Beijing and Tokyo since they first created ties in 1972. 

The return of Lei Lei and Xiao Xiao came a month before their loan period expired, according to the Tokyo metropolitan government, which operated Ueno zoo. 

“According to the relevant agreement between China and Japan, the giant pandas who were living in Japan, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, today began their return trip to China,” China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, said this week. 

“As always, we welcome the Japanese public to come see giant pandas in China.”

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Japan has also supposedly been seeking the loan for a new pair of pandas. The public opinion, however, doesn’t fully support a new loan. The Asahi Shumbun newspaper showed that 70% of those surveyed did not think the government should negotiate with China on the lease of new pandas, with 26% supporting the lease. 

As a sendoff, on Sunday the Ueno zoo invited 4,400 winners of an online lottery to see the panda twins for the last time. Fans wore panda-themed clothes, hats, patches, and stuffed animals as they lined the streets for hours to say their last goodbye. 

Lei Lei and Xiao Xiao were delivered in 2021 by their mother Sin Sin, who arrived to Japan in 2011 and was returned to China in 2024 due to her declining health. 

Since last year, China has been discouraging citizens from traveling to Japan over claims of deteriorating public security and criminal acts against Chinese nationals in the nation. Beijing has also reportedly begun closing off exports to Japan of rare-earth products that are integral for the production of electric cars and missiles, according to reports. 

On the other end, China may not be politically motivated when it comes to the removal of the twin pandas, as they often remove their pandas from foreign countries after a series of months to years, according to Masaki Ienaga, a professor at Tokyo Woman’s Christian University who is also an expert in east Asian international relations. 

“Other countries used animals as tools of diplomacy, including Thailand with its elephants and Australia with its koalas. But pandas are special. They have strong customer-drawing power, and … they can earn money,” Ienaga said.

“If you talk about [Chinese] politics, the timing of sending pandas is what counts, and pandas could return to Japan if bilateral ties warm.”

Artificial Intelligence Is ‘Rewiring Democracy’ Around The World 

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AI is “undermining confidence in our information ecosystem, how the use of biased AI can harm constituents of democracies, and how elected officials with authoritarian tendencies can use it to consolidate power.”

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Kiyoshi Hamada Toshiba

Changing the Landscape of Mass Production and International Business | Kiyoshi Hamada

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Modern advances in communication have resulted in unprecedented global connectivity. With the advent of the internet, the entire world has become a marketplace for the free flow of information and technology. The difficulty of such a feat is easy to overlook. Even as a young man, Kiyoshi Hamada was determined to develop and implement novel approaches to mass manufacturing and business.

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Hiroshima Anniversary

Hiroshima Survivors Fear Continuous Nuclear Threat On 80th Anniversary Of Atomic Bombing

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This week, Hiroshima recognized the 80th anniversary of the US atomic bombing of the Japanese city. Many of the remaining and older survivors took the time to make a statement regarding their frustration and fear over the large number of government leaders around the world who still support the use of nuclear weaponry.

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nintendo

Nintendo Hits Pause on U.S. Switch 2 Pre-Orders Amid Trump Tariff Turmoil

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Nintendo has indefinitely postponed pre-orders in the United States for its highly anticipated Switch 2 gaming console following the Trump administration’s announcement of significant new tariffs on imported goods.

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auto

Toyota Halts Shipments Of Vehicles Amid Auto Safety Scandal In Japan 

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Toyota Motor and Mazda have halted shipments of some of their vehicles amid a safety test scandal currently occurring in Japan. Japan’s transport ministry has found irregularities in safety applications to certify certain models, according to reports from CNN.

The ministry said that the irregularities in the applications were found from Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha Motor. When these automakers applied for safety certification for their vehicles, it was found that they had submitted “incorrect or manipulated safety test data.”

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Japan’s transport ministry initially wanted automakers to investigate certification applications in January. They made this decision because last year, Toyota’s Daihatsu compact car units experienced a safety test scandal. 

Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis, advisory firms, are recommending that Toyota shareholders vote to not re-elect Akio Toyoda as the chairman during Toyota’s annual general meeting which will be taking place later this month. 

ISS emphasized a “spate of certification irregularities” at the Toyota Group. Toyoda is the grandson of the founder of Toyota. CNN reported that he recently spoke to journalists regarding these recent developments:

 “As the person in charge of the Toyota Group, I would like to sincerely apologize to our customers, to car fans, and all stakeholders for this.”

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Toyota stated that they have temporarily halted shipments of three car models that are made in Japan. 

Government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayahi said that the misconduct occurring within these automakers is “regrettable,” as the scandals are reflecting poorly on the Japanese government and their relationship with investors and corporate reforms. 

Toyota stated that their “wrongdoing had occurred during six different tests conducted in 2014, 2015, and 2020. The Corolla Fielder, Corolla Axio, and Yaris Cross were the models being affected.

Mazda has also suspended their shipments of the Roadster RF sports car and the Mazda2 hatchback after the automaker found out workers had modified engine control software test results. 

Atenza and Axela models from Mazda also had crash tests that have been tampered with. The airbags in the models had been tampered with so they would go off after a timer, instead of relying on on-board sensors which are meant to detect a crash. The two models are no longer in production.

toilets

Tokyo To Offer ‘Toiler Tours’ After International Interest Sparked By Oscar Nominated Film, Perfect Days 

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Japan’s high-tech toilets have consistently been a major point of interest for tourists. Tokyo has now capitalized on a recent spark in international interest in Japan’s toilets from the Oscar nominated film, Perfect Days, from German director Wim Wenders, which follows the story of a toilet cleaner in Tokyo.

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earthquake

Deadly Earthquake Hits Japan On New Year’s, Thousands Forced To Leave Their Homes 

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On New Year’s Day, Japan was hit with a massive 7.6 magnitude earthquake that has left thousands of citizens without a home. The earthquake hit the western coast of Japan, and at least 168 people have died with dozens still missing, according to reports from the Associated Press.

Thousands of troops, police, and firefighters have traveled to join the rescue efforts on the coast of the country to go through collapsed buildings in hopes of finding survivors. 

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The danger is unfortunately still present for Japan, however, with authorities warning citizens of potential landslides, which there is an increased risk of due to heavy snowfall around the epicenter of the earthquake located on the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa prefecture. 

AP reported that the death tolls included 70 people in Wajima, 70 in Suzu, and 18 in Anamizu, the remaining deaths were among other surrounding towns. At least 323 people are still unaccounted for, with 565 people being treated for injuries. Around 1,390 homes were either seriously damaged, or completely destroyed. 

After the initial earthquake, Japan was also hit with a tsunami which added to the damage, and aftershocks have been continuous daily. 

Meteorological officials in Japan also warned that strong earthquakes could persist for up to another month. Recovery efforts have barely begun for residents due to the ongoing aftershocks. 

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Wajima, a tourist town that is known for its retail shopping street, had a lot of its parts destroyed due to fires that erupted from the earthquake. 

Around 30,000 people are currently staying in schools, auditoriums, and other evacuation centers throughout the area. However, many officials are worried about the additional risk of Covid-19 and other illnesses spreading within these centers. 

Shelters are struggling with the influx of struggling citizens who need shelter, food, water, and overall safety. People are sleeping on cold floors, and were initially only able to have a piece of bread and a cup of water a day. More aid is helping the centers and are actively working to get to those who need help to offer hot food and additional sleeping options. 

Soldiers have been able to set up some temporary bathing facilities with hot water for citizens who have been without for days. More stoves, clothing, bedding, food, water, and more are on the way to these evacuation centers, and rescue efforts are still ongoing. 

flags

South Korea And Japan Reach Deal Over Wartime Labor Disputes

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This week, South Korea announced a new deal that will compensate the nation’s forced labor victims from Japan’s occupation of Korea. The two nations have been working to better their relationship due to increased security situations. 

“[This is] a groundbreaking new chapter of cooperation and partnership between two of the United States’ closest allies,” said US President Joe Biden. 

Park Jin, South Korea’s Foreign Minister, announced on Monday that the government’s Foundation for Victims of Forced Mobilization by Imperial Japan will financially compensate 15 victims or their family members using private donations. 

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The decision also follows a 2018 South Korean Supreme Court ruling that stated Japan’s Nippon Steel and Mitsubishi Heavy Industry should compensate 100 million Korean won ($77,000) to each of the 15 South Korean victims who were mobilized between 1940 to 1945 during Japan’s occupation. 

Today, only three of those 15 victims are still alive, and all of them are in their 90s. 

“We welcome the measures announced by the South Korean government today as a way to restore a healthy relationship between Japan and South Korea, which has been in a very difficult situation since South Korea’s Supreme Court ruling in 2018,” Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters.

“The measures announced by the South Korean government are not on the premise that Japanese companies will contribute to the foundation (in South Korea). The Japanese government doesn’t have any particular stance on voluntary donations by individuals or private companies both in Japan and abroad,” he said according to CNN.

Back in 2018, Japan didn’t agree with the South Korean Supreme Court decision, and no compensation has been paid, leading to increased tensions between the two nations. Japan began restricting exports of materials to South Korea while South Korea disposed of its military intelligence-sharing agreement with Tokyo.

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While the two countries signed a treaty in 1965 meant to settle any lingering issues between them, tensions remained, and South Korea’s military dictatorship at the time led many citizens to feel like the deal wasn’t fair. 

Current South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has been working hard to mend the relationship, specifically between Seol and Tokyo. The administration wants the two US allies to be on the best terms possible due to an increase in security risks coming from North Korea and their multiple missile tests. 

“Under Yoon, South Korea has been striving to come up with a reasonable solution that is in the common interest of both countries, while respecting the opinions of the forced labor victims,” Foreign Minister Park said Monday.

“I think we need to break the vicious cycle for the people in terms of national interest without neglecting such a prolonged strained relationship between South Korea and Japan,” Park said.

Biden stated that both nations were “taking a critical step to forge a future for the Korean and Japanese people that is safer, more secure, and more prosperous.”

Corey Wallace, an East Asia politics and security analyst at Kanagawa University in Japan, said he sees Monday’s “agreement as an outgrowth of Yoon’s much bolder embrace of Japan as a ‘partner’ over the last nine months.

Both sides have started to adjust their perceptions of the value of trilateral security cooperation and the costs of bilateral antagonism vis-a-vis North Korea. It is also related to broader concerns in both countries about the sustainability of the US military posture in East Asia given both military developments in North Korea and China and recent events in Europe,” Wallace stated.