Takashi Murakami and Christie’s will be partnering up on a special auction called A New Day: Artists for Japan on November 9th. The auction is being held to raise money for those by the disastrous earthquake and tsunami that struck the island earlier this year. Participating artists include Zeng Fanzhi, Mark Grotjahn, Damien Hirst, Thomas Houseago, KAWS, Jeff Koons, Friedrich Kunath, Mr., Yoshimoto Nara, Gabriel Orozco, Anselm Reyle, Cindy Sherman, Aya Takano and Luc Tuymans and prior to the auction, The Gagosian Gallery will be presenting the pieces in a special 2-day exhibit.

Take a further look after the jump.

UNDEFEATED and APPLEBUM have joined forces on the forthcoming Tokyo 23 Project, which launches instore at UNDEFEATED Japan on July 30th.

There are few details about the Project available at present, but it looks set to feature illustrative silkscreen prints, as well as t-shirts bearing those illustrations (such as the ‘Daddy’ style picture above).

See more images after the jump.

To commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Paul Smith SPACE Gallery in Tokyo, the designer has released this limited edition tote bag, which comes complete with a personalized toy camera. The base of the bag is accented with the gallery’s signature blue sky print, while the body features a discrete commemorative logo. There are only 30 of these totes available – each comes with a tag that has been numbered and signed by Smith himself.

This is the first of several special releases to mark the gallery’s 5th anniversary, all of which will incorporate the blue sky print.

Via Houyhnhnm.

More images of the bag and camera after the jump.

Yet another excellent product designed with Japanese relief in mind. If you donate $20 to the Artists Help Japan Movement through Incase you will receive this limited-edition iPhone 4 case absolutely free.

Although the initial shock has passed, the displaced victims of the Japan earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster still need our help. To support continuing relief efforts, Incase is committed to raise $10,000 for the Artists Help Japan Movement through the Mercy Corps charity organization.

Incase and VBS recently went behind the scenes with renowned photojournalist Donald Weber to document the continuing tragedy in Japan, check out the film here.

More images follow after the click.

Check out Maestro & BJ as they travel to Japan with Anthony Hamilton for a few shows. Tokyo to Osaka, this is the fastest paced episode thus far. Enjoy!

After several other US brands and stores have made the move to Japan in recent years, most notably Supreme, Alife, Undefeated, Stussy, Huf is now also starting to open up the Japanese market. Blackboxx is taking care of Huf Japan. Let’s wait and see where and when the first product and/or stores will be opening up. The first moves from this new collaboration will start in October. Congrats to Huf! Via Honeyee.

We give you a preview of the Converse Japan 100th anniversary releases. Once again they present a nice and solid line-up of sneakers. The Jack Purcell Flight Jacket is probably one of the most interesting ones. The Chuck Taylor Low comes in suede and in perforated suede as a high top – both very solid sneakers.

Have a detailed look at the Converse 100th Anniversary releases that are coming next month after the jump.

Recently we have presented to you the XLarge Japan x Penfield down jacket and vest collaborations. The brand has a few more really nice outerwear pieces getting into stores very soon, that we present you here now.

The Duffle Coat comes in grey and black, a calfskin leather down jacket comes in brown and black. Furthermore they present a nice reversible light jacket and a simple all black hooded down jacket. Via Calif.

Have a look at the complete XLarge Japan Fall 2008 Outerwear line-up after the jump.

FTC has been an institution in the skate retail market for a long time now. Ever since opening their first retail outlet in Japan in 2007, the shop is making big steps towards becoming a full brand. Now they got together with adidas Skateboarding to work on a sneaker and apparel.

The shoe was designed by the FTC design team of Jovontae Turner and Graham James, they came up with a unique colorway that everyone can rock. FTC will be showing the shoe in Japan first to coincide with the adidas team riders’ apperance. Tim O’ Connor, Silas Baxter-Neal, Mr Busenitz, Lem Villemin, Benny Fairfax, Dave Bachinsky, Nestor Judkins and Vince Del Valle’s will all make an appearance in the Far Eastern wing of the FTC empire on October 10th. The collab shows off the new version of the Shelltoe silhouette which has plenty of details, including its use of colors and use of paneling, some real heat for the masses. Via Crooked Tongues/FTC.

The FTC x adidas Skateboarding Superstar will release in December. The FTC San Francisco shop will be preparing for their US shoe release in DEC as well. The collab includes the Superstars, a matching hoody and a tee. Hopefully we can show you soon.

On September 5th 2008 Edwin Europe celebrated the launchof the exclusive Japanese Vintage Line into Europe. The Japanese Vintage line is limited to a 150 pieces per style in each country and is only available at selected Edwin retailers across Europe now.  The Japanese Vintage line represents the pinnacle of denim engineereing, washing, cuts and love for denim and is available for men and women. To celebrate the launchof the Japanese Vintage Line, Edwin Europe invited Japanese Rock Band, The Dirtrucks, to Paris to perform at the exclusive venue, Le Temple, for a selected group of guests, journalists and fans.

After the jump we give you a first look at the Edwin Japan Vintage Collection.