Kagome recently introduced Karada Next (カラダNEXT), which is a soy and vegetable drink. It comes in two varieties - Soy Blend and Cereal Blend.
Health is the selling point and the specifics mentioned are the following:
- use of whole soy beans and not soy milk, thus more vegetable protein
- no sugar, thus 30% fewer calories then milk or soy drink (soy milk)
- excellent PFC (protein, fat, carbohydrate) balance
- isoflavones for beauty (both for women and men)
- ideal for breakfast or for snaking
Karada Next Soy Blend - 40% liquid soy (not soy milk), 30% vegetable juice, 30% fruit juice, 87 kcal/200 ml (advertises soy isoflavone content, iron and vegetable protein content)
Karada Next Cereal Blend - 50% soy-cereal (wheat/oat) blend, 25% vegetable juice, 25% fruit juice, 85 kcal/200 ml (dietary fiber, vitamin B and vegetable protein content)
http://www.kagome.co.jp/karada-next/top/index.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Recaldent is an oral health care gum. Recaldent is an Australian technology which uses a milk derived casein phosphopeptides - amorphous calcium phosphate, or CPP-ACP, to better deliver calcium to teeth. Kraft owns this technology now.
In a giveaway aimed at raising the profile of this product, 10 people who answer a quiz and questionairre will recieve 1 million yen each. Pretty big giveaway.
http://100.mezameru.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Coca Cola is a worldwide Olympic sponsor. That applies in Japan and they are using that status on products and in commercials. Not exactly sure what the restrictions are, but I assume being a worldwide sponsor makes it difficult to cheer on specific countries or athletes. The commercials I have seen are more general, whereas national sponsors are actively cheering on the Japanese team.
http://www.cocacola.co.jp/products/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
MOS Burger is holding a promotion with Pepsi NEX which involves value sets for 2 or 3 people. The naming of the meals is interesting: the 2 person set is called 夏のニコニコセット or summer smile set, but as written smile can also be read as two items each (two drinks, two sandwiches, etc.), and the 3 person set is called 夏のサンサンセット or summer bright set, but as written can also mean three items each.
http://www.mos.co.jp/cp/summer/120719/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
The convenience store chain Lawson also runs a slightly higher class chain called Natural Lawson where the quality and price of the offerings is a bit higher. They also offer items via overnight delivery. One special this month is for yakiniku rice burgers. Japanese rice is just sticky enough that you can fashion it into a bun of sorts, providing an alternative to bread. At 10 for 4,200 yen, these do not come cheap, but they do look good.
http://loppi.jp/fromnaturallawson/products/detail.php?product_id=138955
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Suntory is promoting Pepsi NEX with Summer Campaign giveaway of a variety of goods - B'z concert tickets (popular Japanese music group), Dark Knight Rising movie tickets and free Sony electronics. Entry requires registering at Suntory's online site.
http://pepsi-cp.jp/apc/sscp/F1206PEP/top.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
MOS Burger is collaborating with Ultraman in a summer promotion. There are toys given away with children's meals, chances to enter on the internet for larger prizes (via QR codes received with kids' meals) and there are in store events around Tokyo. Ultraman is obviously huge among kids in Japan, but I have been surprised how well known Ultraman is outside Japan as well. Nothing like Pokemon, but still fairly well known.
http://waiwai.mos.co.jp/ultra/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
McDonald's is selling an Oreo McFlurry in Japan, which shows how strong a brand Oreo is even in Japan.
http://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/quality/basic_information/menu_info.php?mid=8614
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
This is interesting and may be a sign of the demographic shift in Japan. Meibalance (short for Meiji Balance) is line of complete nutrition products normally aimed at older adults or hospital patients. This promotion shows that Meiji is aiming at a wider audience for this product line. If you didn't know the difference, you would think these were any other energy or nutrition drink - and of course they can be used just that way.
The top prize in the giveaway is are stays at any of the JTB affiliated onsens (hot spring hotels) around Japan. Minor prizes are gourmet foods or small household appliances. Entry is by collecting proof of purchase labels and mailing them in attached to a postcard.
http://www.meiji-eiyoucare.jp/campaign/201207_onsen/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Meiji Chip! Chop snacks now have an even more chocolaty taste and the package contains 50 percent more by weight. The line has seasonal variety flavors and now has special animated characters to promote it - the "Chip! Choppers".
Copy
チョコ感UP！さらにあとひく美味しさ！
More chocolaty! A taste that leaves you wanting more!
甘くてしょっぱい！
Sweet and salty!
http://www.meiji.co.jp/sweets/chocolate/chipchop/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
