Upcoming Japanese Magazine Freebies

Here's a preview of the upcoming freebies for Japanese magazines. The release dates listed below are for Japan so please check directly with Kinokuniya if you wish to know when they will arrive in Singapore. Kino's air shipments are usually on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Nonno (20 Jan): Snidel watch

Liniere (20 Jan): Pas de Calais felt tote bag (21.5x39x17.5cm). See the video here.

Mina (20 Jan): Orne jewellery case

Spring (23 Jan): Tsumori Chisato pouch (19x11x5cm)

Biteki (23 Jan): Anna Sui foundation and primer sample set

Maquia (23 Jan): Luggage pouch designed by Hirako Risa (Coffret D'Or spokesmodel)

25ans (28 Jan): YSL bag hanger and coin case

Elle (28 Jan): polka-dotted stockings

Glow (28 Jan): Demel Vienne pouch (22x14.5x5cm)

With (28 Jan): Think Pink pouch

More (28 Jan): Banner Barrett bag (24x37x12cm)

Seventeen (1 Feb): Rirakkuma charm accessory (12x10cm)

Steady (7 Feb): Anna Sui tote bag (21x31x9.5cm) and card case (10x6cm)

InRed (7 Feb): Aquagirl pouch (13x13x6cm)

Sweet (10 Feb): Deicy double mirror (13x10.5cm)

Baila (10 Feb): Ahkah pink gold bracelet

Cutie (10 Feb): Dazzlin tote bag (29.5x23x18.5cm)

Cath Kidston and Tsumori Chisato Mooks

The Cath Kidston "Fly to the UK" 2010 Autumn & Winter mook (S$34.10) was released at Kinokuniya at around 7pm on Wednesday evening.

The mook comes with a matching set of cotton tote bags in the Candy Flower print. Both bags do not have any zips although the larger one comes with a slip pocket on one side.

The larger tote measures 30x41x14cm while the smaller one is 17.5x25x9cm.


The Tsumori Chisato 2010-11 Autumn & Winter mook (S$27.50) was also released at the same time. There were customers waiting at Japanese books counter just before 7pm for both mooks. There appeared to be quite a lot of stock for both mooks.

The bag measures 43.5cm at the top, 30cm at the base, 31.5cm long and 13.5cm wide. The material is polyester.

Personally, I think this is more attractive than the Cath Kidston tote. Both are quite well made and very roomy but the Tsumori Chisato print is easier to carry off.

It has a pink zip across the top and a flap pocket on the inside.

Tsumori Chisato Mook

The Tsumori Chisato 2010-11 Autumn & Winter Collection mook has just been released in Japan today. The 66-page mook comes with a lovely large tote bag measuring 43.5cm at the top, 30cm at the base, 13.5cm in depth and 31.5cm in height. The ribbon print reminds me of Anya Hindmarch.

The mook retails for 1200yen in Japan, so my guess is that it will cost around S$27 at Kinokuniya Singapore. Look for it to arrive next Wednesday. (If you need more information, please call Kinokuniya directly. I am not affiliated with Kino.)

There is also an Emoda mook released today in Japan that comes with a gel eyeliner, brush and pouch. Emoda is a popular clothing store in Shibuya 109.

InRed x Tsumori Chisato

Also picked up the June issue of InRed (S$19) which comes with a cute Tsumori Chisato sling purse.

The purse is made of polyester and nylon. Measuring 27x14x3cm, the design is quite unusual and quirky, reflective of Tsumori Chisato's design sensibility. The quality is decent for a magazine freebie, though the small half-moon shaped pocket on the front looks like it may pick up stains easily and the detachable strap feels a bit thin.

Aside from the pocket on the front, there are also two pockets on the back of the purse.

I was pleasantly surprised by the number of pockets and dividers inside the purse. This is convenient for helping to keep the contents of your purse organised. There were more than a dozen copies available at Kino Ngee Ann City when I was there in the early afternoon today.

The July issue of InRed will include a Muveil polka dotted summer bag with three ribbons, due out on 7 June in Japan.

Japanese Magazines GWP Preview

The June issue of InRed will come with a Tsumori Chisato 3-way mini shoulder bag. It has both internal and external pockets and a detachable strap that allows it to be used as a shoulder bag, a clutch or as a 'bag-in-bag'. The design is modelled after a Tsumori Chisato large tote bag. You can watch the video clip here. The release date is 7 May for Japan.

The June issue of Steady will come with a Beams tote bag. Check out the video clip here. Also due out on 7 May in Japan.

The June issue of Mini comes with an Irony tote bag. Due out on 30 April. Check out the video clip here.

The next issue of Nonno comes with a Peach John zip pouch. Due out on 6 May.

The July issue of More comes with a Gelato Pique large tote bag and Pantene Extra Damage Care shampoo and conditioner. Due out on 22 May.

The July issue of Spring will come with a Dressteria tote bag. Due out on 22 May.

Shu Uemura x Tsumori Chisato

Here's a super-cute Shu Uemura GWP that is currently available in Japan for purchases of 5250yen and above. Wonder if we will get it in Singapore?

Tsumori Chisato x Shu Uemura Train Case

The Tsumori Chisato for Shu Uemura Train Case is on display at the Shu Uemura store in Ion Orchard, which is the only stand-alone store in Singapore. Only 25 of these were made and they are not for sale. In Japan, three will be given away in a lucky draw.

As for Singapore, you first have to spend S$500 at the Ion store in order to place your first bid. And if you are outbid, you have to "top up your purchase to continue the auction". The bidding period is from now until 15 December and the highest bidder will be notified before 31 December. Frankly, I just find the scheme absurd. If they manufactured these train cases and sold them normally at the counter like they did with the Tokyo Kamon Girls collection, I would actually consider buying it. But to just drop a ton of cash without any certainty that you would actually win the darn thing? Go fly a kite.

Tsumori Chisato x Shu Uemura Haul

Shu Uemura held a party for its members at the Tangs Orchard counter today to launch the Tsumori Chisato collection. The event had a slew of special offers which I found too irresistible to pass up so this was what I came home with :-) During the makeup demo, the MA said that on the day of release in Japan, 200 customers lined up in Shinjuku for this collection and over 700 units of makeup items were sold in one day alone.

After registering, each guest was given a choice of either a gold or pink pouch with a pack of accessories that they could then use to decorate the pouch. This was pretty fun!

I picked the Venus Pink lipstick (S$45) at the SA's recommendation as she said it would brighten up my face given my fair skin tone.

The Ribbon Palette (S$130) looked very sweet when applied on the model during the makeup demonstration. The MA first applied the white cream shade as the highlighter over the browbone area before brushing on the pink shade from the middle of the lid to the outer crease. She used the lilac shade from the inner corners to the middle and then added a touch of the gold shade in the middle of the lid with the brown cream lining the upper lashline.

If you purchase both a palette and a lipstick, you receive the small pouch as the gift. I was afraid they would run of the pouch so I made my purchase very soon after registering for the event.

Like the vanity case, the pouch is very well padded with an inner pocket and a gold star charm attached to the zip. I thought this was the most valuable GWP given how much the vanity case costs. In the US, you can buy the pouch by itself for US$29.

Here's a pic of it stuffed with all the deluxe samples I received.

And the star of the collection, the Vanity Planet (S$140). The SA told me that she liked it so much that she bought it at full price as Shu Uemura does not give its SAs any staff discounts on limited edition items.


Here's a comparison pic with the Paul & Joe vanity case. The Shu one is obviously roomier and more suitable for travel as the Paul & Joe case is wrapped in paper. But in terms of price, the Paul & Joe set is more affordable at S$93 and it includes an eyeshadow palette and eyeliner pencil.


This was the doorgift worth over S$40: Japanese iris bath oil 30, Depsea Moisture Replenishing Emulsion 10ml and Cleansing Beauty Oil Premium A/O 8ml.

The GWP for spending S$150: the bath oil, Cleansing Beauty Oil Premium A/O and White Recovery EX+ 50ml and UV Underbase Fluid 10ml.

The prizes I got in the sure-win lucky dip with every S$120 purchase: another Cleansing Oil and Depsea Moisture Replenishing Cream 13ml.

If you spend S$180 and above, you also receive the Tsumori Chisato mirror which comes with its own pouch.



What persuaded me to haul so much was actually Shu Uemura sending me a S$60 voucher (off a purchase of S$120) for my birthday earlier this week, just in time for the event (what a stroke of luck!). In addition, Tangs is currently giving a $20 voucher for every S$200 purchase for Tangs Citibank Platinum cardholders. On top of that, I also enjoyed my usual 10% rebate on my Tangs Citibank Platinum card. So all in all, thanks to the event and various promos, I managed to save a nice bundle and received a ton of gifts!