Latest news with #Muji
Filipino Times
11 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Filipino Times
11 days of mega savings: Don't miss Liz Super Sale at Expo Centre Sharjah!
For eleven days, shoppers can take advantage of unbeatable deals on fashion, household items, lifestyle products, and sports goods—all conveniently under one roof! From June 26 to July 6, everyone is welcome to enjoy incredible discounts at the Liz Super Sale, happening at Expo Centre Sharjah Halls 6 and 4, open daily from 11 am to 11 pm. It's the perfect opportunity for Filipinos and other bargain hunters in the UAE to stretch every dirham while shopping for trusted brands and great finds. Expect amazing offers from popular names like Debenhams, Muji, Next, Foot Locker, Mothercare, American Eagle, BBZ, V Perfumes, and many more. Whether you're refreshing your wardrobe, picking up essentials for the home, or looking for special items to add to your balikbayan box or to bring home as pampasalubong for loved ones, the Liz Super Sale makes it easy to shop for everything you need without breaking the bank. With an entry fee of just AED 5 and free parking at Expo Centre Sharjah, shoppers can enjoy a whole day of finding the best bargains and exclusive promotions without any extra worries. Don't miss this chance to stock up on big savings and discover great finds for yourself and your family back home. Gather your friends and family and head to the Liz Super Sale to experience why this shopping event is one of the most anticipated in Sharjah and the rest of the UAE.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
The Insider: How to display stuff
There's an art to arranging one's things to look pleasing, rather than cluttered and claustrophobia-inducing. Yet, too much order can appear contrived and create a visual sense of unease. So how does one get the balance right? Three is the magic number "The key to displaying collections is subtlety," says Kate Mooney, founder of Occa-Home. Fake thrown-together chic by "grouping in odd numbers of threes or fives and varying heights and textures". Low rider Terence Conran's brilliant The House Book (Mitchell Beazley) is tip-tastic: on table-tops, he suggests keeping objects low, "like a form of bas-relief" rather than something to crane necks over. For ease of dusting, "contain it on a tray". A collection of attractive bottles, meanwhile, "looks best when light can shine through them". All that glitters Hang jewellery from a horizontal row of thin nails straight as a rod (hello, spirit level) for a striking effect. Case the joint Glass domes somehow lend authority to the objects encased beneath. For a contemporary twist, try a Muji upturned acrylic DVD box (£6.95) over something old to contrast with its sleek, sharp edges. Mine houses antique dolls. Hang up Peg cool postcards from string and hang like bunting. Off the wall Follow the stylish Saltoun Supper Club's approach to DIY art and pin at least eight small, cherished objects – such as saucers, model chairs, paper butterflies – in a neat, well-spaced grid to a blank wall. Keep on moving
South China Morning Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Japanese retailers like 3Coins capitalise on Hong Kong's retail property slump to expand
3Coins, an Osaka-based retailer, plans to open an outlet in Causeway Bay, joining a list of Japanese businesses that are finding value amid a slump in Hong Kong's retail real estate market. 3Coins will open its first store in mid-July in Hysan Place and will carry Japanese products including grocery items, according to a Monday statement from Yaichi Group, a partner of the retailer. 3Coins was founded in 1994 and now has 365 stores across Japan. The size of the company's store in Hong Kong was not made available. 'Hong Kong's current economic climate is challenging … [but] many Hongkongers refer to Japan as their 'hometown', that's why we're committed to bringing good quality Japanese products at great value to the city,' said Lou. He said Yaichi, which represents Japanese brands like Sugar Butter Sand, Tokyo Banana and Mr. Cheesecake in Hong Kong, was also looking to expand its Japanese brands in the city. 'We recognise the strong local demand for authentic Japanese products and are dedicated to introducing more high-quality offerings to meet consumer expectations,' he said. The success stories of existing retailers in Hong Kong including supermarket chain Don Don Donki, furniture shop Nitori , as well as Muji, Francfranc and Aeon, have boosted the confidence of other Japanese businesses in the city, said Jeannette Chan, senior director of retail at JLL in Hong Kong.
Buzz Feed
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
15 Pens From Asian Brands That Are Worth The Hype
Uniball Signo Broad Point gel pens that flow across the page, leaving behind a shimmering ink that can be seen even on black paper. A Korean fountain pen with an extra fine point that will make everything you write feel important and official. And the hexagonal base will make it comfy to hold. Or a set of the iconic Pilot Precision Varsity pens, perfect for annotating, journaling, and everything in between. These pre-filled fountain pens are perfect for the person who wants the fountain pen aesthetic without the hassle of filling the pen themselves. An Ohto Fude Ball 1.5 to help you ditch the laptop and jump back into the art of handwritten letters. A Muji polycarbonate ballpoint for the minimalist who prefers smooth, crisp lines with a matching sleek look. A set of Zebra Co. Z-Grip ballpoint pens if you're stuck writing notes during a meeting where people are determined to speak 300 words per minute. A pack of colorful gel pens that dry so fast, you can doodle freely without ghosting half your notebook. A Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen with a flexible nib, allowing you to create broad brush strokes in your next calligraphy piece. A pack of colorful Sakura Gelly Roll so you can relive the nostalgia of bartering with your friend during recess — your green and yellow pens for that coveted glittery pink one. A vintage-style fountain pen (with a case!) — the kind of gift that makes graduates weirdly excited to sign important things, like job offers or take-out receipts. A Uni Pin Drawing Pen, a versatile and waterproof fineliner that won't run when you accidentally spill an entire glass of water on your notebook. Again. A set of Sakura Pigma Microns, pens so versatile they work on any medium or paper, whether it's a nice watercolor painting on quality paper or a crumpled fast food wrapper. A Uni-ball Jetstream Lite Touch pen that glides on the page like butter. It's no surprise that they won this year at the Japanese Stationery Award. A Zebra Sarasa Fine Felt Pen for those moments when you must add your brilliant musings to the margins of a book. A pack of stackable pens so cool, even the most serious Lego builders will stop and play with them. These pens click together, making it almost impossible to lose one. Check out more AAPI-centered content by exploring how BuzzFeed celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! Of course, the content doesn't end after May. Follow BuzzFeed's A*Pop on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to keep up with our latest AAPI content year-round. The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.
The Star
10-05-2025
- The Star
Finding beauty in life's fleeting moments – a sakura-inspired observation
On the surface, the Japanese philosophy of mono no aware – or the pathos of things – might sound a little melancholic. In reality, it is a unique Japanese concept or belief: to be more aware and sensitive of life and how it isn't a permanent one. However, it is also not a complete surrender to fate, but an elegant and subtle sentiment sandwiched between compassion and regret. Simply put, it defines the appreciation for something that's lost in between all the rapid changes. Such emotion happens not only from a major event, but often also lurks inside the smallest details in life. I think Sakura (cherry blossoms) is perhaps the best embodiment of mono no aware. For me, the beauty of cherry blossoms lies in their momentary existence. The flowers that typically last only a couple of days are dreamy, their petals fluttering in the breeze like pink snowflakes, carpeting the floor and transporting one into a surreal poetic realm. Nevertheless, most of us are well aware that all that beauty will come to a close soon enough. This instantaneous beauty is veritably the essence of mono no aware. Because it is short-lived, it is all the more precious and must be appreciated. Tourists on a boat ride at Omi Hachiman, where boatmen will tell stories of the Somei Yoshino trees, a cherry blossom variety. And since it will 'vanish' in no time, we tend to treasure its transient existence. As such, hanami or sakura viewing in Japan is more than just the act of looking at the flowers – it is sort of a ritual, too. In fact, for some hanami is a sacred ritual. Whether you are chasing the cherry blossoms or merely appreciating their beauty, the action is a cultural legacy that has been passed down for centuries, and is a response to the passing of life, nature, and time. Mono no aware is different from wabi sabi – another Japanese concept – that we are probably more familiar with. Wabi sabi underscores the beauty of simplicity, exclusivity and imperfection, while mono no aware accentuates the more subtle spiritual reverberations. It is unlike the Western-style 'tragic beauty' that typifies dramatic twists of events; it is a more composed sentiment, just like the flower petals that fall off the tree at the onset of a breeze. In Japanese aesthetics, be it tea art, flower arrangement, or garden design, such 'impermanent beauty' can be felt all the time. The shorter and quieter the momentary existence, the more heart-touching it will be. Mono no aware has existed way before classical Japanese literature, too. Today, its presence can be felt across every aspect of Japanese society, including in the animation of filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. From the fluttering of flower petals in spring to the frantic movements of busy urban folks ... all these are classic representations of mono no aware. Every time I take a group of travel buddies to Japan, I will always take them to a Muji store. Like many Japanese brands, Muji's aesthetics are simple, featuring a more neutral colour scheme that nevertheless exudes the feeling of warmth. Its no-frills design philosophy is an embodiment of the company's deep observation of the people's day-to-day life, as well as its quiet acceptance of the unpredictability of our planet. Most of the time, anyone who steps into the shop will feel compelled to buy something. Even the smallest items on display will make you feel something. I remember that once, my travel buddies and I were shopping for seasonal wagashi (local confectionery) in a department store. The short poems on the packaging illustrated the beauty of spring and cherry blossoms. There was one by renowned Japanese poet Matsuo Basho that said something like this: 'All the memories are coming back to me when the cherry tree blooms.' I guess this is the power of mono no aware. Cherry blossoms last no more than seven days, and the seasonal wagashi will also be on sale for just a single flowering season. All this is not meant to stay permanently but for a just that short period of time, to give us that instantaneous excitement. My favourite pink-coloured azuki bean mochi is wrapped in a cherry leaf. It tastes sweet and is flavourful, just like any other mochi. However, how it makes me feel each time I eat it is indescribable. Instead, I am reminded of a short poem by Ozaki Hosai that goes something like this: 'Standing under the flowers, I'm gazing at the cherry blossoms in full bloom.' Chasing cherry blossoms in Japan is very popular among travellers. Today, travelling is not just about taking nice pictures at popular sightseeing spots, but to enjoy such moments of mono no aware. During our sakura-chasing trip this year, we enjoyed the beauty of cherry blossoms in full glory, chatted away the hours, and strolled along the streets quietly. It appeared to me that time was slowing down for us. We were not rushed, nor did we feel rushed. All that we experienced were the gentle breezes, flowers, shadows, and ourselves. In short, this trip was not meant for us to run through all the must-see attractions in a short time, but to enjoy the slowness of life and that faint mono no aware feel. I wrote this article when we were in Japan, when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. One day, my travel buddies and I were walking slowly on the pebble stone trail at Minobusan Kuon-ji temple, towards the main hall of Okuno-in. The round pebbles under our feet have witnessed the movements of people for over a thousand years. In front of us were several pink weeping cherry trees that are over 400 years old, quietly blooming in the mountain breeze. The shadows of the tree branches were gently swaying. It was beautiful and rather sad at the same time. It felt like a a premonition of prosperity and decline, a gentle farewell hidden in short-lived splendour. The views expressed here are entirely the writer's own. Leesan, the globe-trotting traveller who has visited 147 countries and seven continents, enjoys sharing his travel stories and insights. He has also authored six books.
