Starbucks Coffee Japan Sakura 2011 Mug
This year’s Sakura mug definitely has to be my favourite so far. Thankfully Starbucks abandoned the style they unsuccessfully used for the Sakura 2010 Starbucks Mug and have gone back to the Sakura 2007 shape.
I love the use of the blue and green. These two colours really do reflect a true life Sakura experience with the blue sky and green leaves starting to appear on the branches. Check out my video of the 2011 Sakura Mug against a sakura tree in Tokyo Japan to see how impressive the design really is when compared to a real cherry blossom tree.
Something else I love is the addition of the metalic gold paint used for the branches and also the words “SAKURA 2011”. It’s a classy subtle design idea and it works really well. I also love how the design fades towards the top and bottom of the mug so it doesn’t get a cheap looking white bar that a lot of the older Starbucks mugs end up with. Really nice design.
The higher ups at Starbucks Japan must have really been impressed with the design too as they really went all out this year with Sakura 2011 merchandise. Have a look at this video I made in the Ogikubo Starbucks of the whole Sakura 2011 in-store collection! I really had to try hard not to buy everything on that shelf. How nice are those glasses? 🙂
Can’t wait to see what Sakura designs Starbucks has in store for Sakura 2012!
OMG!!!!!!! those clear double wall crystal ones are SO PRETTY!! Srsly, how DID you stop yourself from buying everything? :O
Twitter: shuttlecock
April 26th, 2011 at 4:14 am
Had to save money for Christmas and my trip to Australia! If I had the extra cash I totally would have bought all of them! lol! 🙂
Where can I get myself one of these Sakura Starbucks mugs without going to Japan?
I am wondering if you’re interested in doing an exchange? I will send you one from Toronto (if you don’t already have it!). 🙂
Twitter: shuttlecock
April 30th, 2011 at 12:54 am
Honestly the Sakura mugs sell out so quickly and they’re all gone now. Definitely a seasonal thing from March onwards until they sell out. Have heard they also sell them in Singapore as well. :\ You should be able to find some on eBay though.
Thanks for the Toronto offer but I like to buy the mugs as a sort of souvenier of my travels. Would feel like I’m cheating if I traded or bought them online. That’s just me though. 😉
Twitter: KFGracie
January 31st, 2012 at 4:58 pm
I JUST found my love for this collection and this post, TODAY! I have been to Japan on a deployment and was there Jan-Jun 2007. I’m kicking myself in the shins right now for not having purchased (or the knowledge that Starbucks even had this line) while I was there. eBay will just have to be my outlet for the time being… 🙁 The 2011 line was absolutely stunning. I’ll have to keep an eye peeled for the 2012 line.
Twitter: shuttlecock
February 2nd, 2012 at 2:30 am
Thanks! I know what you mean! My first 2 years in Japan I didn’t buy any mugs! Biggest regret ever!!! Now I buy them all to prevent any future regrets! lol
Looking forward to 2012’s Sakura mugs!
When do the new Sakura mugs come out? With my recent purchases of Nagano and Tokyo, it looks like I might be joining the mug collecting club soon. Am I crazy for that? lol.
Twitter: shuttlecock
February 23rd, 2012 at 3:28 am
I’ve def been on the look out for them! The 2012 Starbucks Sakura mugs should come out in a month or so I think. Can’t wait as I love their Sakura merch!