Went to a sake tasting today at the Sake Plaza near Shimbashi Station as advertised by The Tokyo Sake Meetup Group. There must have been 150 or so sake varieties to try for 1,000 yen. Wonderful time. This Goriki 強力 sake from Tottori Prefecture was very nice.
http://www.meetup.com/tokyosake/
Japanese jack mackerel 真あじ onigiri from 7-Eleven. This one is seasoned with yuzu citrus ゆず and pepper 胡椒.
This is a product to warm the hearts of anyone in dairy or anyone who realizes that milk is more than cheap white stuff to be purchased by the gallon. Milk as a premium, luxury taste.
http://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/products/minicup/milk-classic.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
No doubt needing to explain why they can label beers such as Style Free and Blue Label as zero sugar while they still contain carbohydrates, this special page lays out the definitions for the different carbohydrate categories.
炭水化物 (tansuikabutsu) carbohydrates plus fiber
糖質 (toshitsu) carbohydrates (alcohol, long chain sugars, short chain or simple sugars)
糖類 (torui) simple sugars (mono- and di-saccharides)
The zero sugar refers to the third category simple sugars. This includes most sugars of popular concern such as glucose and fructose. I doubt most customers are interested in this degree of detail, but it seems reasonable to me.
http://www.asahibeer.co.jp/customer/tourui-toushitsu/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Asahi Blue Label is Asahi's 3rd category variation on its popular Style Free zero sugar 2nd category beer. It promises a crisp taste which is well worth drinking. アサヒブルーラベル
http://www.asahibeer.co.jp/bluelabel/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Caramel Brown is a 3rd category beer which uses North American bitter hops, European caramel malt and is produced using decoction mashing. This product has a limited run. サントリー デコクション製法
http://www.suntory.co.jp/beer/caramel/about/index.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
While this is a straight forward favorite, probably world-wide, two small things do strike me as worthy of mention. Although brownies are available if you look hard enough, many if not most Japanese need to have the exact nature of a brownie explained to them. Not a cookie, not a cake, a brownie. Also, there is no basic chocolate ice cream available from Haagen Dazs. Plain vanilla is fine, but chocolate requires further categorization. ハーゲンダッツ
http://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/products/minicup/chocolate-brownie.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
McDonald's is bringing back 150 yen fries for a two week period starting Friday. All sizes go for the same price during this promotion.
http://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/campaign/potato_150/index.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Meiji and Kamome have collaborated on adding chocolate to Kameda's popular Kaki no Tane 柿の種 snack. The resulting product has a specially developed chocolate coating the small rice cracker bits and almonds. This also fits in well with Meiji's 50th anniversary of Meiji Almond Chocolate. 明治 亀田製菓
http://www.kamedaseika.co.jp/info/2012/11/20121119_choco.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Macadamia Nuts are very popular in Japan with all major chocolate companies selling prominent macadamia chocolate bars. This offering adds macadamia nuts to butterscotch flavored ice cream. マカデミアナッツ ハーゲンダッツ
http://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/products/minicup/macademia-nut.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Le Lectier pear trees were imported from France to Niigata Prefecture in the early 20th century and thereafter have been associated with Niigata. The special Niigata KitKat variety has Le Lectier pear flavored wafers covered in white chocolate.
http://d.nestle.jp/kitkat/omiyage/kk_lalectier.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Through the end of the year Wendy's is selling a Mushroom Melt Burger. Looks good. Discount coupons are available to people who sign up for the newsletter on their cell phones.
http://wendys.co.jp/wendys/index.php
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Wendy's in Japan is continuing to push the line between fast food and conventional restaurants. Along with super premium sandwiches like the Lobster-Caviar Burger, they are now offering Budweiser beer or Carlo Rossi wines with burger sets. Each alcohol option is available for 400 yen separately, or for and extra 200 yen when ordered as part of a set.
http://wendys.co.jp/wendys/index.php
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Green Tea works the other way around from some of the other standard ice cream flavors. It is now a standard overseas, but has long been a basic part of the Japanese flavor spectrum. This product does not mention the source of the tea, as would be common for many other products in Japan, but it does claim the tea has been crushed in a stone mortar, which is interesting. That is the way it is done in temples and for the tea ceremony, but I suppose they do it on an industrial scale also. グリーンティー
http://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/products/minicup/green-tea.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Annin dofu 杏仁豆腐 is most often translated as almond jelly, and is made from almond and/or apricot kernel powder, agar or starch, sugar and water, and then served as a cold desert. It originated in Hong Kong, but is very popular in Japan. As the largest China Town in Japan is in Yokohama, one of the special KitKat varieties representing Yokohama is annin dofu flavor. This is a good example of how Yokohama has a very international image, not just a Western image. ネスレ キットカット 杏仁豆腐 Nestle
http://d.nestle.jp/kitkat/omiyage/kk_annindofu.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
This dates from earlier this year, but is interesting nevertheless. MOS Burger and JAL collaborated on special meals including Tohato potato rings and a signature MOS rice burger. It is worth noting that this was not just offered to kids, but also to adults in first and business classes.
https://www.facebook.com/mosburger
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
The zero fat trend came relatively late to Japan. I used to think this market was smart enough to see through what I consider bogus - you cannot reduce fat without increasing other components such as carbohydrates. But when the demand is great, companies have to respond. Here is a zero fat, grape flavored yogurt (carbohydrates 21.8g/120g)
http://www.meijibulgariayogurt.com/product/detail-29.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
This has to be my favorite ice cream variety. Not so fancy I suppose, but oh so addictive. I feel like I remember being a fan of this variety before it became a standard item in all ice cream stores. In any case, it certainly is a standard here in Japan also. Although the image on the package looks a great deal like Oreo cookies, the copy stresses that the cookies are an original Haagen Dazs offering. ハーゲンダッツ クッキー&クリーム
http://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/products/minicup/cookies-cream.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Hokkaido yubari melons are highly prized and can go for outrageous prices. Fortunately there are normal versions of the melon and those are frequently sold to visitors to be taken back as gifts. The special Hokkaido variety of KitKat consists of yubari melon flavored wafers covered in milk chocolate and is sold only in Hokkaido. As with all these regional varieties of KitKat, they can most easily be found in train stations, airports and other places visitors and travelers are most likely to pass through. ネスレ キットカット 夕張メロン
http://d.nestle.jp/kitkat/omiyage/kk_yubari.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
This honey flavor Bulgaria yogurt is only available through home delivery.
Strawberry is a flavor which almost seems Japanese to me now, as many areas of Japan are "known" for their specific variety of delicious strawberries and many families and work groups go on outings were you are let loose in a strawberry greenhouse and allowed to eat as much as you want for 20 minutes or so. This offering from Haagen Dazs does not use Japanese strawberries however - strawberries from the American northwest are used.
http://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/products/minicup/strawberry.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
This is a lychee tea from MegMilk Snow Brand. Lychee is popular in Japan, so this is not surprising. The interesting/ugly comic on the package. I thought it might be a popular comic, but could not find any information about it anywhere. They mention that customers should look forward to the story, so I suppose there will be more in the series. Maybe this character appeals to kids, it certainly would not attract me to the product though. 雪印 ライチティー
http://www.meg-snow.com/news/2012/pdf/20121004-483.pdf (PDF)
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Kobe, similar to Yokohama, has an international image and was were many foreigners lived during the pre-modern era. The special Kobe KitKat variety is pudding flavored (pudding is popular, but still considered a Western import) and the special box is in the shape of an ijinkan 異人館 (the type of house foreigners built during the Meiji Era). ネスレ キットカット 神戸プリン 異人館 Nestle
http://d.nestle.jp/kitkat/omiyage/kk_mni_kobepudding_ijinkan.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
According to the website, Haagen Dazs Vanilla has been part of the line-up since 1961, when the brand started. Japan is no exception, as this flavor tops the list of current offerings.
http://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/products/minicup/vanilla.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Pronto is promoting wine spritzers on its bar menu. This photo shows a wine spritzer-white liver pate set. プロント、ワイン、スプリッツァー
http://www.pronto.co.jp/menu/bar/index.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
MegMilk Snow Brands has a Pokemon series of dairy based drinks in four flavors: coffee, yogurt, strawberry and banana.
http://www.meg-snow.com/products/juice/7f553.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
There is a combined area called the Joetsu-Koshinetsu region 上・甲信越 which includes Niigata, Nagano and Yamanashi prefectures and sort of takes up a long narrow area of central Japan. It looks sort of strange, but it is frequently thought of as belonging together. A good example is this blueberry cheese cake-white chocolate KitKat is limited to sales in that region. ネスレ キットカット ブルーベリーチーズケーキ Nestle
http://d.nestle.jp/kitkat/omiyage/kk_mini_blueberrycheese.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Haagen Dazs' current line-up for its Crispy Sandwich series includes Strawberry Fondue, Vanilla & Beans, and Caramel Custard.
http://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/crispy_sand/index.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
These are the November pasta specials at Pronto:
Tomato cream sauce spaghetti with red snow crab
紅ずわい蟹のトマトクリーム
Carbonara spaghetti with Autumn vegetables
秋野菜のカルボナーラ
Japanese-style spaghetti with thick shitake mushrooms and pancetta
肉厚しいたけとパンチェッタの和風
プロント
http://www.pronto.co.jp/menu/cafe/food.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
MegMilk Snow Brand is introducing pizza flavored 6-piece processed cheese portions. They are advertising them as snacks or for a "family party". 雪印 ピザ チーズ
http://www.meg-snow.com/products/processed-cheese/190c2.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
This is another offering only available in the Nagano/Shinshu area. A collaboration with Yawataya, a spice shop with roots in the Edo Era, they have developed a chili pepper-chocolate variety of KitKat only available in that area. ネスレ キットカット 八幡屋礒五郎 一味唐辛子 信州 Nestle
http://d.nestle.jp/kitkat/omiyage/kk_mini_yawataya.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
In Haagen Dazs' Crepe Glace series, they are currently offering Chocolat Framboise, Tiramisu, and Strawberry Cheesecake. ハーゲンダッツ
http://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/chocolat_framboise/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
MegMilk Snow Brand uses the Harumi Kurihara 栗原はるみ, a well known author to Japanese cook books, to provide recipes for their website and to promote a line of products that carry her name, mostly puddings. She is also used on NHK for international broadcasts - not sure why, because English appears to be a constant struggle for her. One new product in the Kurihara line is a white chocolate flavored pudding, which includes a separate pack of yuzu citrus juice to add as needed. Obviously aimed at the slightly higher priced dessert market. ゆず 雪印 プリン
http://www.kuriharasanchi.com/index.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
While Kirin Lager Beer is the brand and flagship product that Kirin traces back to 1888, its production methods have been tweaked over the years. In 1996 Kirin Lager Beer switched from a heat processing method to a non-heat processing method. It also changed its name to Kirin Nama Beer キリン生ビール. In 2001, Kirin Nama Beer reverted to the original Kirin Lager Beer name and also introduced Kirin Classic Beer which goes back to the old heat processing method.
You end up with an interesting situation where Kirin Lager Beer is the brand which dates back to 1888, but Kirin Classic is a relatively new, but uses the most traditional (by Japanese standards) processing method.
Shinshu is the old name for present day Nagano Prefecture and is still frequently used as it conveys a nostalgic feeling. Apples are a well known crop in that area, therefore the KitKat variety sold exclusively in Nagano is Apple-Milk Chocolate. ネスレ キットカット ミニ 信州りんご
http://d.nestle.jp/kitkat/omiyage/kk_mini_shinsyuringo.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
I saw this these at a subway kiosk this past week for the first time. After looking around on the internet I see it is at least the second set to go on sale. Japanese subway lines are color coded to help make sense of the seemingly random routes each line takes. These log-shaped cakes use three different lines and then adds a flavor which matches the color of the line. In this case all the choices are the following:
Hanzomon Line - purple - rum-raisin flavor 半蔵門線、ラムレーゾン
Yurakucho Line - yellow - Mont Blanc flavor 有楽町線、モンブラン
Chiyoda Line - green - azuki-matcha flavor 千代田線、あずき抹茶
The assortment is collectively called Tokyo Metro Rainbow. 東京メトロレインボウ
http://www.metocan.com/shop/item_detail?category_id=227402&item_id=904932
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Ichizu ni Mikan Yogurt いちずにミカンヨーグルト This yogurt contains mikan (Japanese mandarin oranges) and nothing else. That is what the product name emphasizes - ichizu (one thing only) and ichizu ni (single minded) are combined to get this meaning across.
http://www.meg-snow.com/products/yogurt/8140b.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Kirin Lager Beer is more than Kirin's flagship brand, but it is clearly the iconic Japanese beer. Kirin Lager Beer dates to 1888, which is pretty impressive for an Asian brand. Asahi Dry has taken over the top spot in sales, but still has a way to go in my estimation, before it overtakes Kirin Lager Beer. Changes have been made to the production process over the years. Most notably in 1996, when Kirin switched to low temperature processing, which is still emphasizes in advertising. キリンラガービール
