Ginza Mitsukoshi will launch a campaign called "Abraços do Brasil: Embracing Brazil" on June 4th to promote the charms of Brazil, a country that is attracting global attention ahead of the World Cup. Each floor of the store will feature exhibits showcasing Brazilian food, culture, and fashion, as well as events related to Brazilian coffee. The campaign runs until June 10th. The store will be the first to offer "Sitio São Francisco de Asís" (100g/1,200 yen, 200g/2,400 yen), which won first place in the Brazilian Early Harvest category at the 2013 Cup of Excellence (COE) coffee tasting competition. Additionally, the "Pâtisserie Moncher" coffee chocolate roll (1,500 yen), made with cocoa powder from Couveteur Amma Chocolate, a top Brazilian chocolate brand, will be available exclusively at the store. The "Clover" eclair (250 yen each), filled with cream made from Brazilian coffee beans, will be sold exclusively at Isetan Mitsukoshi. Other items on offer include Pão de Queijo, a signature Brazilian bread (¥80 per loaf), and brioche made with fragrant Brazilian coffee (¥800 per loaf), while Kakin Dining offers feijoada, a Brazilian soul food reimagined in Kakin'yasu style (¥300/100g), and RF-1's spicy roast chicken and avocado salad (¥380/100g). Enjoy the flavors of Brazil from prepared dishes to sweets. During the event, a coffee event will be held at the Ginza Terrace Court on the 9th floor. A latte art experience session will be held three times (11:00 AM and 5:00 PM on the 5th, and 11:00 AM on the 7th) with direct instruction from Kenji Kushihama of Maruyama Coffee, winner of the 2008 Japan Latte Art Championship. (Each session is limited to 8 people.) At the "Learn About Brazilian Coffee" event, Suzuki Tatsuki of Maruyama Coffee, winner of the 2010 and 2011 Japan Barista Championship, will give a talk about Brazilian coffee, and you can even try brewing it yourself. This will be held twice on the 9th, from 11:00 and 17:00 (maximum of 12 people per session). Each event lasts 90 minutes, and participation costs 1,001 yen, and advance reservations are required.
As for fashion items, Hawaianas, said to be the world's most famous flip-flops, will be available. You can order your own flip-flops (from 2,700 yen) by choosing your favorite color sole and thong, and customize them to your liking by adding studs or rivets (from 700 yen) to the thong. The store also offers a selection of distinctively Brazilian items to brighten up your summer fashion, including "It. Beach" flat shoes (16,800 yen) made with recycled silicone and hand-embellished with jewels, and "Coloridas" bracelets (3,400 yen) and earrings (8,000 yen) woven from golden plants grown in Brazil.
With the FIFA World Cup this year and the Rio de Janeiro Olympics just two years away, Brazil is currently the country attracting the world's attention. 2015 marks the 120th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Brazil.
