Meiji Holoholone Chocolat

Meiji's new Holoholone Chocolat promises a new taste experience with a crunchy shell and melty chocolate filling, that is so good that it will move you to tears.

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

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

McDonald's Free Coffee

McDonald's is offering a free small cup of coffee, one per person, 6 to 9 am, Oct 1st to 7th. I assume this is both to get people in the store and remind them that McDonald's is a more economical option to the major coffee shop chains.

http://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/

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

Okhotsk Craft Brewery

Okhotsk Beer Co., is located in Kitami, Hokkaido, is named for the Sea of Okhotsk north of Hokkaido and the restaurant has a layout large enough to hold wedding ceremonies. The beer lineup is fairly standard with no fancy names. There is only one special brew being offered, Marugoto Hokkaido or "Completely Hokkaido" (a slow low-temperature brew), but there is no photo to accompany it. The standard lineup includes, Okhotsk Wheat Beer, Okhotsk Pilsner, Okhotsk Ale, and Okhotsk Mild Stout.

http://www.beers.co.jp

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

Photo - Rakuyo Black Pork Shumai

These are frozen shumai containing Berkshire or black pork. The package notes that they are made in Japan. 黒豚、楽陽、焼売

Photo - Yamazaki Double Soft Bread

ヤマザキ、ダブルソフト、パン

Photo - Verde Two Chocolate DISPEN PAK

These DISPEN PAKs are quite popular and come in many flavor combinations. When you fold them, thus breaking the seal and pushing the two sides together, the contents come out as a mixture. The two flavors here are black and white chocolate. The package suggests use on bread or strawberries. ヴェルデ、ディスペンパック、ブラック・ホワイトチョコ

Photo - Lotte Macadamia Chocolate

The package notes the use of whole macadamia nuts. ロッテ、マカダミア

Kirin Guinness

The Irish beer Guinness goes through Kirin in Japan. Unusual for a brand in Japan, Facebook is their main site instead of just as an afterthought. ギネス、キリン

https://www.facebook.com/GuinnessJapan

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

Photo - Kirin The Pungency Tea

If you do a simple search on this product, you will see lots of bloggers jumping all over it as an example of ignorant English usage. English misuse is commonplace in Japan, but this is not such a case. The name might or might not be a good marketing move, but there is a clear reason for choosing it. This photo is of an empty bottle. Kirin Afternoon Tea, The Pungency キリン、午後の紅茶

There is the definition for from Twinnings USA tea glossary
http://www.twiningsusa.com/glossary.php?id=p
PUNGENT
Describes a preponderance of desirable attributes, which are the essential characteristics of a good tea. Pungent describes a tea liquor which has a marked briskness and astringency without being bitter on the palate. A most desirable cup characteristic.

Japanese Food Products, Sept 2012

Food Science Japan's first month on Pinterest is coming to a close. This month's board for Japanese food products can be found if you follow the link below. These are photos I have taken. Not as pretty as the other board, but still worth a quick look.

http://pinterest.com/FoodScienceJP/japanese-food-products-sept-2012/

Photo - Asahi 6-Row Barley Tea

6-row barley is said to be better for teas, while 2-row barley is better for beer. This tea is packaged in a bonus 600 ml bottle as opposed to the more typical 500 ml, and the package notes zero caffeine.

Japanese Food Marketing, Sept 2012

Food Science Japan's first month on Pinterest is coming to a close. This month's board for food marketing can be found if you follow the link below. These photos mostly consist of screen shots I have taken to explain aspects of products I find interesting. People in food marketing and certainly do a great job of presenting their products.

http://pinterest.com/FoodScienceJP/japanese-food-marketing-sept-2012/

Photo - Meiji Horn Chocolate Wafers

Photo - Nestle Milo

The packages notes the calcium, iron and vitamin B content.

Furano Craft Brewery

There is not really much information on the Furano Craft Brewery and Restaurant, except some positive reviews and a photo of 3 different types of beer. Furano is an area of Hokkaido known for hops and barley, so the beers from this brewery might very well be good. What serves as a website is only one page and appears to have been created by an admirer - need work. 富良野地麦酒館

http://doxon.jp/beer/brewery/brewery.html
ぐるなび
http://rp.gnavi.co.jp/3107235/

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

Photo - Meiji Essel Super Cup Marron Flavor

Marron or chestnut flavored ice cream. The package notes that it is not just flavored with chestnuts, but contains nut chunks. マロン、栗、アイスクリーム、明治、スーパーカップ

Photo - Kirin Lager Beer Fall Colors

キリンビール

Photo - Wasabi Soba Noodles

These soba or buckwheat noodles contain wasabi as does the sauce that comes with the noodles. わさび、そば、つゆ

Photo - Sashimi Dinner

刺身

Kirin Heineken

The Dutch beer Heineken goes through Kirin in Japan. キリン、ハイネケン

http://www.heineken.com/jp/

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

Photo - Nescafe Ice Coffee Directions

These are directions for hot and cold, coffee and coffee latte on the side of a Nescafe jar. The QR code shown here is also nothing new to Japanese products. コーヒー

Sapporo CJ Pink Grapefruit Makkori

Sapporo has started selling a pink grapefruit version of its popular CJ Makkori or Makgeolli alcohol drink. Makkori is a Korean fermented rice/wheat alcohol which has increased in popularity in Japan over the past few years. サッポロ、おいしいマッコリ、ピンクグレープフルーツ

http://www.sapporobeer.jp/oishiimakguli/product/index.html

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

Photo - Coffee Polyphenols

On this jar of Nescafe Excella, 100% specially selected beans and coffee polyphenols are noted. コーヒーポリフェノール

Sapporo Yebisu and Beams Design

Sapporo Yebisu Beer and Beams Design are collaborating on a Beams loves Yebisu promotion. In the first phase, Beams designed a 6-pack sleeve for Yebisu and the Yebisu website devotes some space to Beams goods.

http://www.sapporobeer.jp/yebisu/beams/collaborate.html

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

Photo - Nescafe Excella Coffee

コーヒー

Photo - Ajinomoto Amino Vital

Contains branched-chain amino acids and citric acid. 味の素、アミノバイタル

Asahikawa Taisetsu Craft Brewery

Taisetsu Ji-Beer is a craft brewery in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. They must have grabbed a URL early because Ji-Beer means Craft Beer in Japanese.
They serve 3 main varieties:
大雪ピルスナー Taisetsu Pilsner
ケラ・ピルカ Keller Piruka - an English pale ale
富良野大麦 Furano Barley - aromatic beer which uses barley from the Furano area
And 2 seasonal varieties:
萌芽、ほうが - Sprout - a fruity, white beer aimed at women
黒岳 - Kurodake - high alcohol (8%) black beer, name from a peak on Mt. Taisetsu

http://www.ji-beer.com/

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

Photo - Odawara Scallions Full View

These scallion or green onions are from Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture. 葱、ネギ、小田原、神奈川県産

Photo - Lotte My Cube Gum

ロッテ、ガム

Photo - Hokkaido Carrots

These carrots are from Katogun, Tokachi region of Hokkaido. 北海道、十勝、河東郡、キャロット

Photo - Dydo Plum Vinegar Drink

The drink from Dydo contains 1) plum-rice fermented vinegar, 2) plum extract and 3) citric acid. 梅玄米酢、梅エクス、クエン酸

Kirin Budweiser

The US beer Budweiser goes through Kirin in Japan.

http://www.budweiser.jp/

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

Photo - Odawara Scallions

These scallion or green onions are from Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture. 葱、ネギ、小田原、神奈川県産

MOS Burger Japanese Meat Specials

Starting Oct. 2nd MOS Burger will begin selling "top quality" burgers featuring Japanese meat. There is a regular burger and cheeseburger, but the thick slice bacon burger is the main burger being advertised. From the patty photo, you can see both a cow's and a pig's head, meaning both pork and beef. You can also see in the other photograph how thick that bacon slice is. The thick bacon slide burger will sell for 420 yen. One more thing, the way it is written in Japanese makes it sound more like a chopped beef sandwich than a hamburger. とびきりハンバーグサンド、厚切りベーコン

http://www.mos.co.jp/cp/tobikiri/121002/

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

Pronto Rock and Soda

Pronto is offering chances for small goods such as golf balls, cufflinks or leather business card holders to anyone who orders whiskey on the rocks or a highball.

http://www.pronto.co.jp/menu/

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

Photo - Eggs from Shizuoka Prefecture

These eggs are from Shizuoka and are labeled as mixed size and were bought at Itoyokado. 静岡県産、イトーヨーカ堂、卵

Photo - Eggs from Itoyokado - Close up

These eggs are from Itoyokado (same company as 7-Eleven). イトーヨーカ堂、卵

Kamakura Beer Locosuka Beer

Kamakura Beer, a local craft brewery, makes variety called "Locosuka Beer" with an interesting label. First, as explanation, despite the translation on the bottle, the Japanese is clearly Yokosuka, the same as the city that hosts one of the largest US Navel bases in Japan. Not sure where the L in the name comes from. The monkey on the label is an image of a mythical white monkey that was said to live on the nearby Sarushima Island (Monkey Island 猿島). Sarushima Island was a Japanese navel installation until the end of WWII, but is now a nature preserve. 鎌倉ビール、横須賀ビール

http://www.kamakura-beer.co.jp/SHOP/YB101.html

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

Photo - Eggs from Itoyokado

These eggs are from Itoyokado (same company as 7-Eleven). イトーヨーカ堂、卵

Photo - Nestea Earl Grey Tea Liquid Packets

アールクレー

Photo - Takizawa Ham Schafer's Vienna Sausage

The package says that this is an Itoyokado (same group as 7-Eleven) original product, meaning only they sell it. 滝沢ハム、イトーヨーカ堂

http://www.takizawaham.co.jp/details/products/Preacher.html

Photo - Amazake from Gifu

This amazake (or sweet sake) claims to be a famous product from Hida (an old name for part of what is now Gifu Prefecture. The label also notes that there is no alcohol contained in the product. 岐阜県、飛騨名物、甘酒

Kirin Kilkenny

The Irish beer Kilkenny goes through Kirin in Japan.  キルケニー 、キリン

http://www.kirin.co.jp/brands/shousai/kilkennytaru.html

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

Photo - Meiji Cream Cheese Snacks

These Meiji cream cheese snacks promise an extra milky taste. 明治、キッズ、クリームチーズ

Pronto Masala Chai Tea

Pronto is selling Indian Milk tea, more specifically Masala Chai Tea or Indian Spiced Tea. The tea used is certified by the Indian government to be 100% assam black tea. アッサム紅茶、マサラチャイ

http://www.pronto.co.jp/menu/

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