Motul appoints Ingram as licensing agent for Japan

Motul has appointed Ingram as its agent for Japan.

Founded in 1992, Ingram (International Guidance Research And Management) has been a leading name in the Japanese licensing business for nearly three decades, and specialises in developing well-known global properties in the Japanese market and bringing popular Japanese brands to the international market.

Ingram’s homegrown clients include Rilakkuma, Mamegoma and Tarepanda, while its overseas properties include UCLA, Nesta and Cambridge University, and a number of major lifestyle brands including Norton, Santa Fe and Route 66.

The partnership continues Motul’s expansion as a major lifestyle brand, targeting a wide range of categories ranging from apparel, stationery and houseware to backpacks, phone covers, kitchenware and, of course, car accessories.

Ben Kato, founder and owner of Ingram, says: “We are thrilled to be working with Motul, a renowned company in motor sports, as its licensing agent in Japan. By combining Motul’s powerful brand identity with our strength in licensing and promotion, we expect to build a strong presence in Japan for Motul and a diverse range of products across many sales channels. Motul is a genuinely exciting prospect in this market, and I am looking forward enormously to working with this property.”

Managing the Motul campaign is Laurent Taieb, a licensing specialist with over 25 years’ experience. He says: “Motul is a globally recognised name that is perfectly positioned to become a popular lifestyle brand in multiple categories and markets. We are delighted to be working in the key Japanese market with Ingram, an established and respected name with a strong international reach and a powerful reputation for working with both overseas and lifestyle brands.”

Motul appoints Blue Chip Brands as its agency for Australia and NZ

Phat Kandi joins curated Japan-inspired line up as HMV marks 100 years with pop culture store launches

The British alternative fashion brand, Phat Kandi, has been selected as one of the chosen few independent labels to supply HMV as it marks its 100th year in retail with the launch of ten new pop culture stores across the UK.

The initiative will see HMV launch a raft of specially curated stores offering the latest in kawaii or Japanese pop culture inspired products, all of which will be supplied by independent and up and coming brands. Product collections will range from fashion and accessories to imported Japanese foods and more.

The running theme throughout the curated collection housed within these ten new locations will be the essence of pop culture today.

Established in 2019 by its creative director, Mel Williams, Phat Kandi has been developed a brand aimed at ‘bitter sweet misfits,’ an audience she describes as ‘the dreamers, the rule breakers, and the overlooked,’ as a place where they can ‘feel at home.’ With a love of  all things Japanese, and inspired by the fashion tribes of Harajuku, Mel created a brand combining her distinctive hand writing, illustrations and her fashion design experience.

“I’m super happy to be part of HMVs exciting new pop culture concept stores. We’re a perfect fit for their customers who want something alternative to the norm. Concept stores like this are well over due for the UK high street, consumers are screaming out for freshness, new offerings and up and coming brands which is what HMV are delivering,” said Mel.

“I’m looking forward to growing with the HMV tribe, as well as adding new categories to our fashion range.”

Phat Kandi have also landed two US stockists: Hot Topic, Dolls Kill, EMP ( Europe) as well as a licensee partnership across sportswear during what Williams has described as a “very exciting time for Phat Kandi.”

“Even through a pandemic we’ve managed to survive and grow, and we’re only just warming up. My vision for Phat Kandi is to become a global brand, the go to place for alternative products, then open our own concept stores in London, Japan and LA,” she continued. “I totally believe the vision will become a reality one day.”

The first HMV store under the new initiative is now open in Solihull offering Phat Kandi limited edition fashion pieces such as tees and bucket hats. Nine more concept stores will be opening across the UK each month from September.

Phat Kandi joins curated Japan-inspired line up as HMV marks 100 years with pop culture store launches

The British alternative fashion brand, Phat Kandi, has been selected as one of the chosen few independent labels to supply HMV as it marks its 100th year in retail with the launch of ten new pop culture stores across the UK.

The initiative will see HMV launch a raft of specially curated stores offering the latest in kawaii or Japanese pop culture inspired products, all of which will be supplied by independent and up and coming brands. Product collections will range from fashion and accessories to imported Japanese foods and more.

The running theme throughout the curated collection housed within these ten new locations will be the essence of pop culture today.

Established in 2019 by its creative director, Mel Williams, Phat Kandi has been developed a brand aimed at ‘bitter sweet misfits,’ an audience she describes as ‘the dreamers, the rule breakers, and the overlooked,’ as a place where they can ‘feel at home.’ With a love of  all things Japanese, and inspired by the fashion tribes of Harajuku, Mel created a brand combining her distinctive hand writing, illustrations and her fashion design experience.

“I’m super happy to be part of HMVs exciting new pop culture concept stores. We’re a perfect fit for their customers who want something alternative to the norm. Concept stores like this are well over due for the UK high street, consumers are screaming out for freshness, new offerings and up and coming brands which is what HMV are delivering,” said Mel.

“I’m looking forward to growing with the HMV tribe, as well as adding new categories to our fashion range.”

Phat Kandi have also landed two US stockists: Hot Topic, Dolls Kill, EMP ( Europe) as well as a licensee partnership across sportswear during what Williams has described as a “very exciting time for Phat Kandi.”

“Even through a pandemic we’ve managed to survive and grow, and we’re only just warming up. My vision for Phat Kandi is to become a global brand, the go to place for alternative products, then open our own concept stores in London, Japan and LA,” she continued. “I totally believe the vision will become a reality one day.”

The first HMV store under the new initiative is now open in Solihull offering Phat Kandi limited edition fashion pieces such as tees and bucket hats. Nine more concept stores will be opening across the UK each month from September.

Japanese restaurant Shoryu Ramen partners with Hatsune Miku for DIY Ramen Kits and more

The Japanese restaurant, Shoryu Ramen has launched a new collaboration with the anime character brand, Hatsune Miku that sees the introduction of a themed DIY Ramen Kit for fans across the UK.

In a deal brokered by the European licensing agency for Hatsune Miku, Max Arguile’s Reemsborko, the partnership marks the first licensed DIY Ramen Kit collection from Shoryu Ramen to date.

Hatsune Miku is a wildly popular Japanese virtual singer and growing international character brand, owned by Crypton Future Media. The holographic pop star is the focus of a growing portfolio of licensing partnerships in the UK and European markets.

Under the new deal, each DIY kit will include a choice of Shoryu’s signature Ganso Tokotsu Ramen, a rich 12-hour broth topped with char siu BBQ pork belly, kikurage mushrooms, spring onion, red ginger, and nori seaweed, while the vegetarian White Natural Ramen features unique tonyu soy milk, miso, konbu and shiitake broth, atsuage fried tofu, kikurage mushrooms, menma bamboo shoots, spring onion, tender broccoli and nori seaweed.

Both come with Hatsune Miku skewer decorations and placemats.

Alongside the ramen kits, the Hatsune Miku matcha detox cocktail serves two and is a unique blend of tropical and sour flavours with matcha tea, pineapple juice, coconut syrup and fresh lime juice. For dessert, customers can tuck into an exclusive Hatsune Miku turquoise cookie with Belgian white chocolate.

Each kit comes with a free limited edition Hatsune Miku X Shoryu Ramen tote bag with a dancing Miku for customers to keep. A range of Hatsune Miku merchandise will also be available online from japancentre.com.

Each kit is priced at £44 and will include a DIY ramen kit and cocktail for two, two Hatsune cookies and a limited-edition tote bag.

Mythological Japanese IP Samurai Animals prepares for 10th anniversary with licensing showcase

The global licensing award-nominated character franchise, and popular Japanese IP, Samurai Animals is preparing to celebrate its tenth anniversary next year, with an 11-month run-up of launches, including a new online platform, promotional video, and a series of trade show exhibit initiatives.

Samurai Animal is a mythical Japanese saga that pits armies of animal samurai against each other in a fight for justice. The IP was created and launched by the pop-culture specialist Kensin, a major name in the region, known for its design and manufacture of character figures, statues and artwork reproductions that includes a number of manga classics.

In the run up to the property’s tenth anniversary, Kensin has launched a dedicated website www.samuraianimals.jp that showcases the Samurai Animals concept, individual character introductions, e-books and licensing information.

The firm has also created a promotional video that captures the essence of Samurai Animals. A curated selection of traditional Japanese sumi-e drawings featuring Samurai Animals characters have been combined into a rich visual tapestry. The curated soundtrack is the world-famous cantata, “Carmina Burana” featuring the first and last section of the piece, “Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi” and starting with the iconic “O Fortuna”.

The two-and-a-half-minute promotional video, along with a shorter version, is now available on the artofwarkensin YouTube channel.

Finally, Kensin will mark ten years of Samurai Animals by exhibiting at the 10th LICENSING JAPAN – Character & Brand Licensing Trade Show taking place from 21st to 23rd October at Tokyo Big Sight.

The Samurai Animals website and promotional video will form key features of the booth. A range of Samurai Animals merchandise will be showcased.

Product to date includes digital books, jewellery, apparel, laser figure crystal stands, mobile phone accessories, wall panels and craft beer. Samurai Animals is a past finalist at the prestigious LIMA (Licensing International) International Licensing Awards in the Character or Toy Brand Program category.

Yutaro Sakakibara, founder and president of Kensin, said: “As Samurai Animals approaches its tenth anniversary, I am excited for the opportunities that lie ahead for the brand. We want to continue building the brand awareness all around the world and I am confident the new website and promotional video will help audiences to understand the world view and vitality of Samurai Animals and its possibilities. I am also optimistic that this new visualization will help realize my long-term goal of a Samurai Animals movie.”

Samurai Animals online: https://samuraianimals.jp