Sailor Moon is gearing up for the grand reopening of the official Sailor Moon Store located in Japan's famous Harajuku shopping district. In honor of its return, the shop is coming back with a brand-new look and a fresh round of commemorative merchandise.
On X (formerly Twitter), Sailor Moon shared the exciting news via its official 30th-anniversary page (@sailormoon30th), confirming that the shop's return is part of Sailor Moon's ongoing 30th-anniversary event. Sailor Moon's Official Store originally opened in September 2017 at Laforet Harajuku, a major department store housing some of the area's most famous fashion boutiques. The location is divided into two major sections called "Pink" and "Blue." The former contains Sailor Moon DVDs, collectible toys, keychains and stationery products, while the latter is designated for brand-name Sailor Moon-themed clothing and jewelry. Last month, both areas shut down temporarily for preparatory renovations.
The Sailor Moon Store will officially reopen its doors on April 19. According to the description on X, new and returning customers will discover "a colorful [and stylish] new store [decorated] with sparkling aurora lights." The post also showcases examples of the commemorative merchandise that is being released for the occasion. Product highlights include tote bags featuring all five Sailor Scouts, in addition to necklaces featuring Usagi's famous transformation pen and magic wand. Sailor Moon-themed coffee mugs, bracelets, keychains and hairpins are also included in the "store original" part of the collection. Additionally, those who make purchases totaling 2,000 yen (roughly US$13) will receive a collectible store-exclusive Hologram card.
Sailor Moon Remains One of Anime and Manga's Most Iconic Franchises Over 30 Years On
Sailor Moon is one of the most iconic anime franchises in history, having acquired a massive international following since the manga's December 1991 debut. Over three decades later, the franchise has been adapted into anime form numerous times. Among the most famous of these is Toei Animation's original '90s anime series, which ran for 200 episodes across five seasons. In 2014, Toei introduced a series reboot titled Sailor Moon Crystal which more closely follows the plot line of Takeuchi's original manga. The televised portion of the anime ran for 39 episodes across three seasons. In 2021, a two-part film titled Sailor Moon Eternal premiered in Japan, covering the events of the manga's "Dream" arc. The sequel film, Sailor Moon Cosmos, covers the manga's finale, including the thrilling final battle between the Sailor Scouts and Sailor Galaxia.
Sailor Moon fans can expect even more exciting developments this month. Starting on April 12, the official live-action Sailor Moon stage show is returning to Japan after a lengthy hiatus. The show stars the Fifth Generation members of Nogizaka46, a popular idol group in Japan that made its professional debut in 2018. Two different sets of performers -- divided into "Team Star" and "Team Moon" -- will take turns bringing the Sailor Scouts to life for this production. The show will be held at Tokyo's IMM Theater from Apr. 12-29. Additionally, a stunning art book titled Sailor Moon Raisonne Art Works (1991-2023), which compiles over 745 illustrations created over the course of Naoko Takeuchi's career, will hit bookshelves in Japan starting April 12. However, an international release date has not yet been announced.
In anticipation of a large turnout, the Sailor Moon store is selling entrance tickets for April 19-21. The LivePocket application page for advance reservations will launch on April 5. Prospective attendees will be able to apply for tickets starting April 6.
Source: Sailor Moon official website via X (formerly Twitter)
