Yesterday, Kao has opened the first global flagship store for Japan’s top-selling makeup brand, Kate. The opening is scheduled for July 25, and the store will showcase Kate’s complete range of products.
Located in Tokyo’s Shibuya Sakura Stage commercial district, the brand said this flagship store promises multi-sensory experiences. It combines AI-powered virtual technology with hands-on makeup opportunities and personalized tutorials.
“The flagship store will challenge established beauty expectations,” says Arihiro Iwata, KATE’s brand manager. “Customers will use virtual tools merged with digital experiences that reveal new aspects of their inner selves.”
According to Kao, when customers entering the store, they will see their image on a screen, with digital particles emanating from their hair, clothes, and skin. These bubbles shift to the brand’s signature red, ascend to the ceiling, and merge with a larger mass of particles on a giant tower screen at the entrance.
The product area features built-in virtual tools and tester bars, allowing customers to explore and sample the full range of Kate products, including limited web editions.
Customers can also engage with the Kate iCON Box and the My MasChara Maker, both offering personalized advice. It is claimed that The Kate iCON Box is a makeup vending machine that dispenses physical products along with digital makeup advice. The My MasChara Maker (“mascara” + “character”) uses AI to analyze facial impressions and eye proportions, suggesting the ideal combination of mascara liquid type, brush, and color for each customer.
