Photo - 7-Eleven Ishi-chan Ginger Onigiri

This is a photo of an onigiri from the collection mentioned before.

Yamazaki SkyTree Specials

Yamazaki is selling special long versions of several pastry varieties to coincide with the opening of the Tokyo SkyTree. Varieties include meat pie, yakitori and ponzu sauce, salty caramel crape, salty vanilla cream pie, black pork minced cutlet, and potato/walnut/pumpkin.

http://www.yamazakipan.co.jp/gotouchi/index.html

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

Tully's Espresso Shake & Matcha Cream Swirkle‏

Tully's is offering a seasonal Espresso Shake and a Matcha Cream Swirkle which uses matcha from Uji, Kyoto.

http://www.tullys.co.jp/menu/seasonal/index.html

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

Photo - 7-Eleven Salmon & Salmon Egg Onigiri

This is one of the products developed in collaboration with Kanjani 関ジャニ the pop group, Salmon & Salmon Eggs 鮭といくら, and promises a taste of Hokkaido.

Photo - 7-Eleven Karaage Fried Chicken

Karaage 唐揚げ are the traditional way to fry chicken in Japan. They look like nuggets, but are not minced.

Gusto German-style Potatoes‏

Gusto has added German-style potatoes as a side item. They are German-style, but are advertised as using Irish Cobbler potatoes 男爵芋 grown in Hokkaido.

http://www.skylark.co.jp/gusto/menu/indexMenu.php

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

Photo - McDonald's Gold Masala

Photo - Caramel Pudding McFlurry

Meiji Savas Junior Protein

Under the Savas brand, Meiji sells sports drinks and training supplements (whey, etc.). They are introducing a new protein supplement for young athletes called Savas Junior Protein (cocoa flavored). It is whey based and supplied needed calcium, iron and vitamin D, as well as 10 other vitamins. They are holding a promotion where 20 people who answer an online questionnaire receive free product.

http://www.meiji.co.jp/sports/savas/fan/cmp/120813_savascmp/index.php?

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

Photo - Veloce Coffee Jelly Matcha au lait

Yamazaki Disney Giveaway

Yamazaki is holding a giveaway where the top prize is tickets to Disney plus meal coupons, as well as toasters and products. Entry involves collecting seals attached to product and mailing them in.

http://www.yamazakipan.co.jp/campaign/2012/autumn/index.html

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

Photo - Veloce Coffee Jelly au lait

Veloce is a coffee chain in Japan.

Tully's 15th Anniversary Sweets Plate‏

As part of it's celebration of 15 years in Japan, Tully's is offering a sweets plate consisting of vanilla ice cream and mango & banana flavored mille crepes.

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

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

Photo - Meiji Marvel Avengers Energy Yogurt 2

Photo - Meiji Marvel Avengers Energy Yogurt 1

Gusto Curry World Tour‏

Over the summer months, Gusto family restaurant has been offering what they call a curry trip or world tour if you will. As part of that tour, they offered curries from India, Singapore, Thailand and now Japan. In connection with these specials, people who sign up to receive information about each location on their cell phones are automatically eligible for plane ticket giveaways to each of these locations.

http://gusto-curry.jp/

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

Photo - Utsunomiya Gyoza or Pot Stickers

Photo - Pokka Salt Joy

Meiji Rilakkuma Promotion

Meiji is holding a giveaway of Rilakkuma (or Relaxuma リラックマ) goods. Rilakkuma has become one of the most popular character goods series in Japan. The name is a combination of relax and bear (kuma 熊) and people seem to feel a strong attraction to a cuddly little bear that just wants to lie around and do nothing. Most people are probably envious.

This promotion gives away tables, floor mats and glasses with the character on them. Entry requires mailing in bar codes from Meiji fruit flavored milk, Van Houten cocoa drink and Nestle coffee drinks - all in gable cartons and all manufactured by Meiji.

http://www.meiji.co.jp/foods_drink/drink/relaxuma/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rilakkuma

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

Photo - Morinaga Partheno Greek Yogurt

This is another photo of a product mentioned recently. That is a packet of honey on top.

Photo - Meiji Pokemon Chocolate Bar

Collector's edition Pokemon ポケモン cards are included (15 total to collect).

Tully's 15th Anniversary Happy Bag‏

Tully's is offering a Happy Bag to celebrate 15 years in Japan which contains coffee, a drip mug, a coffe mug and coffee coupons.

http://www.tullys.co.jp/cpn/happybag/index.html

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

Photo - Snow Brand Bifidobacteria Probiotic Drink Yogurt

This product has a long name, 生きて届けるビフィズス菌カプセル or Encapsulated Bifidobacteria Delivered Alive, and uses Snow Brand MegMilk's SP strain.

Photo - Ito En Morning Yoo

Here is another photo of a product I have mentioned this product before.

Coco's Cold Shaved Ice for Summer

Coco's is offering several flavored shaved ice desserts topped with ice cream for the summer. Flavors: lemon jelly & a plum, strawberry & vanilla ice cream, matcha-azuki & vanilla ice cream, and ramune-pineapple & vanilla ice cream.

http://menu.cocos-jpn.co.jp/menu/new/index.html#shaved

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

Photo - Meiji Zavas Sports Drink

Here is a bottle of Meiji Zavas sports drink. This is "mineral charger for your body" version, which includes 4 minerals, 3 vitamins and citric acid.

Photo - Shonan Cooky Crack Chocolate

This is white chocolate broken into chunks. In Japan, this is called "crack chocolate" or 割れチョコ. While not quite an illicit substance, this chocolate was good.

Meiji Ginza Curry Showa 1,000 Yen Notes

Meiji is holding a unique promotion for their Ginza Curry line, which requires a bit of explanation. All Japanese are familiar with the Western system for numbering years and it is used frequently here, but the traditional Japanese system involves counting the number of years into the current Emperor's reign, and each reign or era is given that emperor's posthumous title. The 64 years of Emperor Hirohito's reign are called the Showa Era and this is year 24 of the Heisei Era.

That brings me back to this promotion, where the first prize for 200 people is 3,000 yen, not much, but is in the form of the three different 1,000 yen notes issued during the Showa Era. The second place prize is also three 1,000 yen notes (for 2,800 people), but all in the form of the only note issued during the current era. Same face value but the older notes are obviously worth more. Not sure how much the old notes are worth, but feel certain lots of people would like to have a set to show friends if nothing else. Must have been interesting to sit in on the brain storming session that came up with this promotion.

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

Yumean Shirasu Domburi‏

Yumean has two special donburi sets which feature shirasu or young sardines しらす: one topped with uncooked shirasu and the other with lightly fried shirasu.

http://www.skylark.co.jp/yumean/

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

Coco's Cold Sesame Noodles for Summer‏

In the hot summer months, cold noodles also appear on menus, and then disappear again at the end of the season. Here is are some cold noodles in a sesame based soup offered at Coco's family restaurant.

http://menu.cocos-jpn.co.jp/menu/new/hiyashigomadare.html

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

Photo - 7-Eleven Pasta Salad

This is a cold pasta salad with shabu pork and ponzu vinegar sauce.

Photo - 7-Eleven Ikura Onigiri

This ikura (or salmon egg) onigiri uses ikura steeped in soy sauce, specially selected rice, Ako area baked salt 赤穂焼塩, and nori from the Seto Inner Sea 瀬戸内海.

Tully's 15th Anniversary‏

Tully's is celebrating 15 years in Japan.

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

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

Photo - 7-Eleven Natto Roll

This product notes the use of nori or laver from the Ariake Sea 有明海, Kyushu.

Kirin Beer University‏

Kirin has an interesting site to promote its beer and educate customers at the same time. Kirin Beer University has a faux university seal and the building depicted looks somewhat like the University of Tokyo. University departments offer studies in beer history, manufacture, culture, nutrition, health etc. In a rolling Twitter feed at the top of the page, one person writes "you can enter this school, but you never graduate" which brings a certain Eagles song to mind.

http://www.kirin.co.jp/daigaku/index.html

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

Burger King 1st Anniversary Kansai

Burger King is celebrating its 1st Anniversary in the Kansai area (6 stores). For the next few Fridays they are giving away junior size burgers with any order. The burgers come with a package of Alpine Salt (Alpen Salz).

http://www.burgerkingjapan.co.jp/campaign/cp59_2.html

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

Meiji Galbo Twist‏

Meiji has introduced a twist version of their popular Galbo line of chocolate snacks. Galbo snack promise a new texture or mouth-feel experience combining creamy texture chocolate with crunchy air-puffed chocolate.

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

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

McDonald's 100 Yen Drinks‏

McDonald's is offering all carbonated drinks for 100 yen, regardless of size. This special lasts through the first part of September.

http://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/campaign/sparkling/index.html

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

Meiji Maca Health Drinks

Meiji has introduced a new formulation of is maca health drinks. Maca is a South American root which is said to improve mood, energy and sexual performance. This may result from the presence of (1R, 3S)-1-methyltetrahydro-carboline-3-carboxylic acid which is reported to have effects on the central nervous system. The new formulation includes royal jelly which is thought to have some of the same properties as maca.

http://www.meiji.co.jp/health/maca/

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

Oden Season Begins

This week the convenience stores in Japan started offering oden (pictured). This is a hot dish associated with winter or cold weather. Sort of interesting to see it while the weather is still so hot.

Photo - courtesy Wikicommons

Yoneku Tamori Cup Beer‏

Yoneku produces meat products and also runs several regional craft beer companies. To promote a the Tamori Cup yacht race, they are selling a commemorative beer and triple smoked bacon products. Yoneku does a good deal of its business online and a 6 pack plus the triple smoked bacon will set you back 4,600 yen. The yacht race and Yoneku are both based in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture.

http://www.yonekyu-eshop.jp/products/show/182

http://www.yonekyu-eshop.jp/products/show/180

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