2014-09-30

Coca Cola Red Sparks

The 2019 Rugby World Cup to be held in Japan will serve as a warmup of sorts for the Olympics to be held here the following year. Coca Cola is a rugby sponsor in Japan and have an industrial league team called the Red Sparks headed by a former national team coach.

http://www.cocacola.co.jp/stories/redsparks01#TCCC

Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.

2014-09-29

Kirin Virtual Beer Factory Tour App

Kirin is offering a virtual tour of its Shiga Beer Factory via an iPhone/iPad app, which features 360 degree photographic and video views from several locations within the factory. キリンビール

https://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/marugoto-gong-chang-jian-xue/id922379589

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2014-09-28

Sapporo Black Label Beer Tokuho Special

Sapporo is selling a special fall limited edition version of its Black Label Beer only in the Tohoku region. It uses 100% Tohoku region sourced hops. Nice label, and yes it does probably taste great with fried oysters. サッポロビール

http://www.sapporobeer.jp/area/tohoku/products/kurolabeltohokuhop/index.html

Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.

2014-09-27

Yamazaki Lunch Pack Hamburger

This sandwich is a teriaki sauce and mayonaise hamburger sandwich. I have tried it and it is pretty good and very affordable at 175 yen (if I remember correctly). I am translating this as hamburger, but usually many people would argue that it should be the word for chopped beef (hamburg in Japanese). However, since this is on bread, it seems appropriate to use hamburger (hambaga in Japanese). ヤマザキ ランチパック ハンバーグ

http://www.yamazakipan.co.jp/

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2014-09-26

Yamazaki Lunch Pack Ham and Cheese

This sandwich is part of the Yamazaki Lunch Pack Royal Blend series with uses a special bread with a rich butter aroma. ヤマザキパン ランチパック

http://www.yamazakipan.co.jp/

Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.

2014-09-25

Chemistry of Candy from Compound Interest

Another great chart from Compound Interest.

http://www.compoundchem.com/2014/10/21/chemistryofcandy/

Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.

2014-09-24

Suntory Whisky Retro Design

Suntory is offering retro bottles, where not only the bottles, but the whisky is the same as that originally offered in 1929. サントリー

http://www.suntory.co.jp/

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2014-09-23

KFC Jumbo Halloween Biscuit

This biscuit was made by KFC employees using enough ingredients for 50 biscuits. It looks like this was a one time event and humongous biscuits will not be available on the menu. ケンタッキーフライドチッキン

http://www.kfc.co.jp/

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2014-09-22

Morinaga Chupa Chups

The global brand, Chupa Chups, originally from Spain, has gone through Morinaga in Japan since 1977. If you look up the history of Chupa Chups on Wikipedia, there is a short, but interesting, entry. チュッパチュップス 森永

http://chupa-dempa.jp/

Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.

2014-09-21

Subway Sausage Roll with Cheese

Subway has introduced a sausage roll with cheese on flat bread and are touting as being a prefect winter sandwich - hot, chewy and easy to eat with one hand.

http://www.subway.co.jp/

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2014-09-20

Lotteria Tower Tree Burger USB Memory Giveaway

Lotteria has periodically held specials where they offer 5 patty monster sandwiches called tower tree burgers. They are currently conducting a giveaway where people can receive 5 patty burger replica USB memory sticks. To qualify, you need to retweet the promotion tweet. Looks interesting, if not very convenient. ロッテリア

http://lotteria.jp/7th_anniversary/

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2014-09-19

Ito Ham Kakaricho Eats Fugu

Here is an interesting image - Ito Ham's character Kakaricho (assistant manager) eating fugu or puffer fish. This dish is a specialty of Yamaguchi Prefecture and therefore he is pictured on a visit to that prefecture and surrounded by other images from the area. I think they relate to the Senteisai Festival for the young Heike family emperor who died there 1185). 伊藤ハム 先帝祭

http://www.itoham.co.jp/

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2014-09-18

Starbucks Soy Honey Granola Frappaccino

This certainly look decadent. The Starbucks Soy Honey Granola Frappuccino is only available at the Roppongi Hills Starbucks in Tokyo.

http://www.starbucks.co.jp/

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2014-09-17

McDonald's Halloween Offerings

Interesting Halloween offerings from McDonald's Japan: the Squid Ink Burger and the Camembert Chicken Filet-o. The Squid Ink Burger will have dark buns colored with black sesame, two beef patties, cheddar cheese, chipotle sauce, black squid ink sauce, and fried onions. The Camembert Chicken Filet-o is a chicken filet sandwich with a camembert sauce.

Very interesting and looks like they have been influenced by Burger King Japan's recent offerings.

http://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/

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2014-09-16

Happy Halloween from Guinness

Happy Halloween from Guinness Japan.

http://www.guinness.com/ja-jp/

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2014-09-15

MOS Breakfast Hot Pastrami

One of the morning hot sandwich selections from MOS Burger is a pastrami sandwich which also comes in the easy to handle paper bags. モス

http://mos.jp/

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2014-09-14

MOS Breakfast Hot Sandwiches

MOS has introduced new breakfast hot sandwiches which are easy to eat, avoid a mess and can also be taken and eaten on the run. Each sandwich uses a special paper package which can easily be separated along the perforation to expose half the sandwich and while keeping your hands clean. モス

http://mos.jp/

Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.

2014-09-13

Coca Cola Branded Ferris Wheel in Gunma Prefecture

Coca Cola Japan shared this photo of a Coke branded Ferris wheel in Gunma Prefecture. コカコーラ

http://www.cocacola.co.jp/

Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.

2014-09-12

POM Salt and Summer Mikan Drink

There are many aspects of this product. First of all, POM is a citrus brand for local produce from a local beverage maker in Ehime Prefecture - a brand strong enough to make it all across Japan. Mikan mandarin tangerines are grown in this area which is located on the Seto Inland Sea. Therefore, naturally, this product uses local mikan, but also contains a local sea salt which is also well known, Hakata Salt from an island of the same name. So the salt is well known and of regional interest, which fits well with a beverage maker from the same region, but also fits in well with the popularity of salty products during the hot summer months. 伯方の塩 愛媛飲料 ミカン

http://www.ehime-inryo.co.jp/topics/shio_natsumikan2.php

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2014-09-11

Sangaria Delicious Milk Shake

With its "Delicious (or Oishii) Milk Shake", Sangria claims to have been the first company to sell milk shakes in PET bottles in 1998. This was by using a special aseptic filling method. No other details, but it tastes fairly good and has a fairly long shelf life despite containing milk and eggs. サンガリア おいしいミルクセーキ

http://www.sangaria.co.jp/products/milky/oishii-milk-shake/

Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.

2014-09-10

Tully's Autumn Pancake Special

If you are looking for an indulgent addition to your coffee, Tully's autumn pancake special might be for you. This is a caramel, apple, cinnamon pancake topped with whip cream. タリーズコーヒー

http://www.tullys.co.jp/

Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.

2014-09-09

Meiji Matcha Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts

Meiji is offering a Kyoto Matcha tea flavor version of its popular chocolate covered macadamia nuts. This matcha tea used for this product comes from a city long famous for green tea, Uji, Kyoto. Clearly, this product is not just about taste, but also connects with traditional Japanese culture. 明治 マカダミア チョコ 抹茶 宇治

http://www.meiji.co.jp/sweets/chocolate/almond/

Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.

2014-09-08

Mos Burger Tobikiri Hamburgers

Mos Burger is now offering what it calls Tobikiri or Superb Burgers, for which it explains that "simple is best". As such, these burgers use large patties of 100 percent Japanese beef and a soy sauce and onion based topping. The cheese version also includes an original cheese topping made from Hokkaido Gouda cheese. Looks nice and isn't quite as expensive as some of the premium offerings from other fast food outlets. とびきりバーガー モスバーガー

http://mos.jp/cp/tobikiri/

Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.

2014-09-07

Meiji Short Lived Suginoko Mura Chocolate from 1987

Many are familiar with Kinokonoyama and Takenokonosato, but not many remember that there was briefly a sister product called Suginoko Mura or Cedar Village. All of these products are chocolate covered bread sticks shaped as either mushrooms, bamboo shoots or cedar trees. きのこの山 たけのこ里 すぎのこ村 明治

http://www.meiji.co.jp/sweets/chocolate/kinotake/products/

Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.

2014-09-06

Burger King Black Burgers are Back

It would appear that Burger King got enough publicity from their black burgers last year to bring them back again this year with a twist - specifically black cheese. They promise an experience which defies common sense. This time around there is the KURO pearl and the KURO diamond. Both feature black buns (using bamboo charcoal for coloring), a black patty (with black pepper added), black cheese (also colored with bamboo charcoal) and a black chaliapin sauce (colored using black squid ink). KURO means black in Japanese and the KURO diamond also has lettuce, onion, and tomato. By ordering the KURO diamond, you can add a large Coca Cola Zero (to complete the black experience) for free. These go on sale starting September 19th and will go for a nice premium, 490 and 690 yen. バーガーキング

http://www.burgerkingjapan.co.jp/release/pdf/PressRelease140910.pdf

Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.

2014-09-05

Suntory Barley vs Malt

Nice visual from Suntory on the difference between barley and malt. Malt or malted barley has been allowed to germinate followed by drying. サントリー 麦 麦芽

http://www.suntory.co.jp/company/quality/monohito/12/

Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.

2014-09-04

Coca Cola and the Harvest Moon

Coca Cola suggests toasting the harvest moon on the 15th with a Coke. 中秋の名月 コカ・コーラ

http://www.cocacola.co.jp/

Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.

2014-09-03

Coca Cola Sign in Shibuya

Very nice side-by-side photos of the Coca Cola sign in Shibuya in 1966 and now. コカ・コーラ

http://www.cocacola.co.jp/

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2014-09-02

Yebisu Beer Festival

The Yebisu Beer Festival at Yebisu Garden Place sounds like a good place to be Sept 12-15. エビスビール サッポロ

http://www.sapporobeer.jp/area/shutoken/yebisubeerfes/index.html

Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.

2014-09-01

Nissin, Morinaga and Nishikori

Kei Nishikori is making news for doing well at the US Open. Among his endorsements, you will see two food companies - Nissin (instant noodles) and Morinaga (Weider sports drink). 森永 日清 錦織圭

http://www.weider-jp.com/

Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.