Meiji Herb and Salt CrackerChips

Meiji is offering Herb and Salt flavored CrackerChips which use olive oil and therefore are said to be relatively healthy. These are designed to go well with Meiji cheeses such as Meiji Camembert cheese. 明治　クラッカーチップス ハーブ＆ソルト味

http://www.meiji.co.jp/corporate/pressrelease/2012/detail/20121023_01.html

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

Kyushu Amaou Strawberry KitKat

Hikata amaou strawberries, which are grown to large sizes and are very sweet, are a famous Kyushu product. Many people bring them home from a trip there to give as gifts to friends. This product creates a delicate balance between amaou strawberry flavor and white chocolate, and is only sold in the Kyushu area. ネスレ キットカット あまおう苺

http://d.nestle.jp/kitkat/omiyage/kk_mni_amaou_chigo.html

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

Meiji Anpanman Vending Machines

Meiji is deploying Anpanman character vending machines to aim at the younger market. Anpanman has been the top ranking character among 12 and under children. Each machine offers regular items such as milk, flavored milk and juice, but also offers smaller size, similar varieties with Anpanman characters on the package.

For those unfamiliar with Anpanman, it is a really simple, but pretty funny show aimed at young children. There is a world occupied by a variety of personified foods, among which the superhero is Anpanman, whose head is an azuki bean paste filled bread. In each episode, Baikinman (bacteria, the villain, pictured on he upper right of the vending machine) causes problems that require Anpanman to come to the rescue. Somehow, his head gets wet and he has to be rushed back to the baker to receive a new head (and thus his power). He then saves the day.

There are also times when Anpanman comes to the rescue of a small child who is hungry, and without hesitation, he will break off a piece of his head and offer it. A pretty creative mind came up with this show. Although it is aimed at small children, I still think the premise is hysterical and the show well done. 明治　アンパンマン自動販売機

http://www.meiji.co.jp/corporate/pressrelease/2012/detail/20121001_01.html

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

Nescafe Excella Dairy Farm Latte

Nescafe has introduced a new can latte which emphasizes the milk in the name by calling it "dairy farm latte" and claims a rich milk aroma.

http://d.nestle.jp/nescafe/can/12203903.html

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

Azuki Sandwich KitKat

Sandwiches with azuki (or adzuki) beans and butter on toast is a popular item on menus in the area between Tokyo and Osaka. It sometimes goes by the name of Ogura Toast 小倉トースト or Shiruko Sandwich しるこサンド when it is in biscuit form. KitKat calls it Azuki Sandwich flavor and sells this exclusively in the Tokai and Hokuriku regions. ネスレ キットカット あずきサンド

http://d.nestle.jp/kitkat/omiyage/kk_mini_azuki_sand.html

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

Kikkoman Dronet Freres Wine

Dronet Freres French Wine goes through Kikkoman in Japan.

http://www.kikkoman.co.jp/wine/drouet.html

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

McDonald's Demi Cheese Gratin Croquette Sandwich

McDonald's starts selling gratin croquette sandwiches (plain and with cheese) with a demi-glace sauce this week.

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

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

Koiwai Konjiki Yogurt

Kirin's dairy subsidiary is now located in Tokyo, but has its roots in Iwate Prefecture, part of the earthquake and tsunami hit Tohoku region. An area of Iwate, Hiraizumi 平泉, where a very famous temple Chusonji Temple 中尊寺 is located, which in turn possesses a golden temple building 金色堂, was named a World Heritage Site several years ago. Koiwai is selling a yogurt in special gold containers to celebrate the designation of the temple as a World Heritage Site and to promote reconstruction in the area. The name of the yogurt is the same as the name of the temple building, Konjiki yogurt 金色ヨーグルト covered in gold (the photo shows the building surrounding the gold temple building). Donations are made to recovery efforts on the sale of this yogurt as well as several milk brands. 金色ヨーグルト、キリン、小岩井、平泉、中尊寺、金色堂

http://www.koiwaimilk.com/doc/hiraizumi.html

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

Tamaruya Wasabi KitKat

This is a variety I have tried and really liked - maybe not as an everyday item, but as an occasional treat. Tamaruya Wasabi KitKat is a collaboration between the famous wasabi seller based in Shizuoka and KitKat. These KitKat claims a harmonious flavor balance between wasabi and white chocolate ingredients. I frequently see these for sale in Tokaido Shinkansen (bullet train) stations. If you go to areas where wasabi is grown, they put it in everything - wasabi ice cream is surprisingly good. ネスレ キットカット 田丸屋本店　わさび

http://d.nestle.jp/kitkat/omiyage/kk_tamaru_wasabi.html

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

Kikkoman Kendall-Jackson Wine

Kendall-Jackson Wines of California go through Kikkoman in Japan.

http://www.kikkoman.co.jp/wine/kendall.html

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