Wendy's Ocean Premium‏

Here is a much better photo of the Ocean Premium sandwiches.

http://wendys.co.jp/wendys/index.php

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

Meiji Perfect Plus Banana Bread

This is essentially the same product as mentioned yesterday, but with a different and interesting flavor. The same nutrient balance is advertised, including the glucose and caffeine.

http://www.meiji.co.jp/health/p-plus/balance/balance_banana.html

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

Hakone Owakudani Black Eggs

Here are some black eggs (boiled in sulfur containing hot spring water) on sale at the ropeway station. These are cardboard tubes containing the eggs and the there are images of the springs and the ropeway on the package.

FamilyMart Intoen Hatsune Miku

As part of their Hatsune Miku collaboration, FamilyMart is selling special vegetable drinks with the character's image on them. These drinks are made by Itoen, but you will not find them on their website. I assume this is because they are being careful not to take sides against the other major convenience store chains (7-Eleven, Lawson, etc.). The ingredients are not listed on the website, but the drinks are called "Future Vegetables" or 未来野菜 which sounds better in Japanese. This product is also a tie-in to a popular Hatsune Miku song "Po Pi Po" ぽっぴっぽー which is about drinking vegetable juice, odd I agree, but an obvious opportunity for a vegetable juice maker. The song has been out for awhile, so the song did come first.

http://www.family.co.jp/goods/thisweek/120814/hc0g7400000ljksc.html

Wiki with Japanese lyrics
http://www5.atwiki.jp/hmiku/pages/3087.html

Translated English Lyrics
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/The_lyrics_for_po_pi_po

YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQgaCVT9Bw8

Link with good photos
http://gigazine.net/news/20120813-hatsune-yakisoba/

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

7-Eleven Azuki Matcha Pudding

7-Eleven is offering an azuki bean and matcha flavored pudding as part of its premium private brand line. The azuki bean (sweet) and matcha green tea flavor combination is common in Japan. This product promises superior flavor that is not overly sweet and retails at 150 which is higher than the 100 to 120 yen price point common for puddings.

http://www.sej.co.jp/products/select_01.html

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

Owakudani Black Egg Factory

This is a photo of the black egg factory in Owakudani, Hakone. The when eggs are cooked in the boiling, sulfur spring water, the shells turn black. It has long been said that these eggs bringing health to those who eat them.

Meiji Domasshuno Yogurt

Yesterday I mentioned the first Greek style yogurt in Japan, which reminded me of another yogurt which was sold here several years ago. Meiji, which sells Bulgaria yogurt - the top selling yogurt brand in Japan, also marketed a slightly condensed version based on traditional Bulgarian practices (Domasshuno ドマッシュノ) which was sold at a more modest premium and in larger containers (250 yen for 350 ml) than the Greek yogurt discussed yesterday (180 yen for 80 ml). Unfortunately a direct comparison of the products is impossible now, but it would be interesting. In the marketing for Domasshuno, the emphasis was placed on high quality (use of premium Meiji Oishii or Delicious Milk) and a proprietary low temperature culture process to produce a better texture.

(Meiji Domasshuno Yogurt info from 2007)
http://trend.foodsnews.com/products/view/393

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

Meiji Perfect Plus Honey Toast

Meiji, as part of its Perfect Plus Morning Balance heath bar series, is selling a honey toast flavored variety. On the nutrient balance table, fiber, 10 vitamins, calcium, iron, glucose and caffeine are listed. I find the last two a bit odd. This is a meal replacement product, but does not word it that way - instead it just says one bar will satisfy you. So the caffeine (only 10 mg) could be thought of as part of the breakfast replacement, but not exactly sure why they mention the glucose.

http://www.meiji.co.jp/health/p-plus/balance/balance_honey.html

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

FamilyMart Hatsune Miku Onigiri

As part of their Hatsune Miku promotion same of the food items such as these onigiri (rice ball) offerings have the character on the label. One of these is a zangi fried chicken and mayo musubi onigiri and the other is a tuna and mayo onigiri.

http://www.family.co.jp/goods/thisweek/kanto_01.html

Link with good photos
http://gigazine.net/news/20120813-hatsune-yakisoba/  

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

Ramen Shop Ticket Machine

Ramen shops in Japan frequently have prepay machines which while certainly not classy, make the shops easier to run and get people in and out more quickly. You can choose the exact ramen variety, additional toppings, drinks and side orders this way.