DESIGN /
PRODUCT
March 26, 2019
Shin-Yoshiwara and Brink Gaienmae present their second collaboration. A pop-up event is held | DESIGN
Brink Gaienmae | BLINC GIENMAE
An upgraded "Otsuyega 2019"
Founded in 1940 and headquartered in Okachimachi, BLINC GIENMAE is an eyewear specialty store. Shin-Yoshiwara is a souvenir brand renowned for delving into the history and culture unique to the pleasure district and reflecting it in its products. The two brands, both with roots in the shitamachi (old downtown) area, are collaborating again in 2019, following their previous joint effort. The pop-up event "Otsuyega 2019" will be held starting Saturday, January 5th.
Text by Satsuki Wakabayashi
2019 features colored glasses, lens cloths, and special roasted tea
The collaboration began when Yayoi Okuno, designer for Shin-Yoshiwara, and Toshiyuki Araoka, director of BLINC GIENMAE, both born and raised in Taito Ward, Tokyo, found common ground discussing the changes and atmosphere of the town from the 1980s to the present.
It's still fresh in our memory how the "Irogane Fukuro" (colored lens cloths) released at the "Otsuyega 2018" pop-up event garnered significant attention.
For 2019, they are releasing three collaborative items, joined by the sunglass brand "THINGLASS" and the Japanese tea research institute "Sakurai Tea Lab."
The first item, "Irogane" (colored glasses), features clear frames of the popular "TOKI" model from sunglass brand THINGLASS, fitted with colored glass lenses made using a rare, traditional manufacturing method. The Shin-Yoshiwara logo is also subtly placed on the temple. These are a limited edition of only 8 pairs.
The second item, like last year, is the "Irogane Fukuro" (colored lens cloth). Unusually large for a lens cloth, it features an illustration inspired by Hishikawa Moronobu's shunga print "Tokonoma no Okimono" (Ornament in the Alcove), making it perfect for cleaning smartphones, tablets, screens, and watches.
The third item is a "Special Roasted Tea" blend from "Sakurai Tea Lab," a Japanese tea research institute in Aoyama, Tokyo. Inspired by the event, the blend combines three types of tea: "Wachacha" (withered tea), known for its sweet, floral, and fruity aroma; "Tensha" (ground tea), which is the origin of the saying that a tea stalk standing upright brings good luck; and "San Rouge," which contains a type of polyphenol.
This tea will not only be available for purchase but will also be served at the BLINC GIENMAE store on Saturday, January 5th, and Sunday, January 6th.
During the event period, in addition to the aforementioned items, original Shin-Yoshiwara products will also be available in-store. It's a celebratory event to kick off the new year, perfect for visiting alongside your Hatsumode (first shrine visit of the year).
Irogane (THINGLASS x Shin-Yoshiwara x BLINC GIENMAE)
Price | ¥35,000 (excl. tax)
Irogane Fukuro (Shin-Yoshiwara x BLINC GIENMAE)
Price | ¥1,200 (excl. tax)
Otsuyega 2019 Special Roasted Tea (Sakurai Tea Lab x Shin-Yoshiwara x BLINC GIENMAE)
Price | ¥1,250 (excl. tax)
"Otsuyega 2019"
Venue | BLINC GIENMAE
Dates | January 5 (Sat) - January 20 (Sun), 2019
Closed | Mondays (If Monday is a public holiday, closed Tuesday instead)
Address | Uemura Bldg. 1F, 2-27-20 Minamiaoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo