A new offering in the Yamazaki Lunch Pack series features cabbage from Karuizawa in a minced meat sandwich with mayonnaise. I didn't know the Karuizawa area was known for cabbage, but it is a cool area and therefore popular for vacationing in the summer and an ideal place for dairy and food processing. This product will only be available in the Kanto area. ヤマザキ ランチパック
http://www.yamazakipan.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Kentucky Fried Chicken has 3 new Krushers flavors and they are all 100 yen off on Wednesdays. Krushers are very indulgent shakes - the taste is great but the fullness lingers a while.
Flavors: Cookie Cream, Asai Triple Berry, Kiwi Aloe, and Pineapple Citrus depressa.
http://krushers.kfc.co.jp/line.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
7-Eleven is holding a promotion with the Evangelion a futuristic animated series. By liking the Facebook or Twitter page you can have a chance at a larger than life size model of one of the characters. I assume kids eyes light up, while parents wonder where in the world they could find space for such a large action figure. エヴァンゲリオン
http://www.sej.co.jp/cmp/evasns1408.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Here is a some information about the fat burning properties of VAAM, an amino acid sports drink which some studies have shown to encourage fat burning earlier in the exhaustion cycle. Athletes (including professional athletes) use it to avoid or ease the wall that occurs when glycogen runs out, but it is also it is also marketed as a fat burning drink.
This graphic takes quite a few liberties in trying to display how much of an energy reserve people have if they use body fat. The carbohydrate calculation on the left is not explained, but apparently people have about 2,000 kcal of energy available from carbohydrates. In contrast, an average person of 70 kg and 16 percent fat has 80,000 kcal of energy available. Very problematic series of assumptions. However, I know a lot of athletes, but in Japan and in other countries who absolutely swear by this sports drink. 明治
http://www.meiji.co.jp/sports/vaam/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Kirin Beverage is one of the corporate sponsors at Tokyo Disneyland. For that reason you will see their products featured around the park. キリン
http://www.kirin.co.jp/products/softdrink/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Pokka Sapporo Beverages is selling a blood orange drink, but the blood oranges are not from Italy. These are grown in Uwajima Island in Ehime Prefecture Japan. 宇和島 ポッカ サッポロ
http://www.pokkasapporo-fb.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Lotteria is starting an almost year long promotion where they will use Japanese beef from a different area of Japan each month for their special burger. I see a lot of areas on this map which are not usually known for beef, at least I was not previously aware. Looks like it could be an education. Looking forward to seeing what they have to say about the beef from each of these areas. ロッテリア
https://www.lotteria.jp/topics/2014/topics07290001.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Pronto is a coffee shop chain owned by Suntory which is has been expanding to include hard drinks and dinner items in recent years to attract after work drinking and parties. This photo shows a suggested red wine (Senorio de Orgaz, Spain) and a white wine (Vinissimo, Italy), both imported by Suntory. サントリー
http://www.suntory.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Blueberry and strawberry varieties of Glico Pocky sticks as they are sold in Thailand. グリコ
http://www.glico.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Glico has introduced special Pretz for Hiroshima Carp (baseball team) fans. These are have a "zealous feelings chicken" flavor. The explanation talks about how even though there are Carp fans all across Japan, these items are only available in the Chubu and Shikoku areas. グリコ
http://www.glico.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Outback Steakhouse Japan shows the difference between seared and flame grilled. Seared retains more of the original taste of the meat, while flame grilled attains a more smoky flavor. Many good meats can be found in Japan, but big juicy steaks are fairly rare and expensive. Therefore photos like this appear even more appealing and indulgent than they would in the US or Europe.
http://www.outbacksteakhouse.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Morinaga is selling a frozen espresso version of its Mt. Rainier cup coffee range, called Cafe Frappe, which sounds somewhat similar to Starbuck's Frappuccino. Probably a very good product for a hot summer like this one. In conjunction with this product, Morinaga is giving away a 5,000 special branded ice cream spoons. Serial numbers included in the package can be checked online to determine if you have won. 森永
http://mtrainier.jp/caffefrappe/cp/pc/?
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Kirin has added a bitters drink to their lineup. This product is a chuhai drink (meaning it is shochu-fruit juice drink). In this case the bitters adds to the flavoring. As many people know, there are many varieties of bitters and the one used in this product is based on tarragon, chamomile and lemon peel. Kirin also has something they call the otsumomi research center, which in this case means a project to develop snacks to go well with specific products. In this case, the cheese filled fish paste is said to go well with the lemon lime bitters. キリン ビターズ
http://www.kirin.co.jp/products/rtd/bitters/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
The Japanese have a tradition of eating eel on midsummer's day (this year falling on the 29th), to help beat the heat. If I remember correctly this dates back to an Edo promotion by eel venters. In any case, 7-Eleven is selling eel shaped cream filled, chocolate covered pastries for a limited three day period 27th-29th. They look pretty cute if you ask me.
http://www.sej.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Kalbee or Kalbi is a Korean spicy beef rib dish, which has recently grown in popularity in Japan. Wendy's is playing into this trend with its new premium offering. Lettuce, tomato and red onion round out this sandwich. 炭焼肉カルビバーガー
http://wendys.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Here are two new seasonal offerings from Haagen-Dazs. The coffee vanilla looks good, but I am not a big fan of chocolate-mint combinations and therefore cannot comment on that. ハーゲンダッツ
http://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Nissin implies that along with Fujisan (Fujiyama) and Samurai, Cup Noodles have become to be seen as a symbol of Japan. Nissin has also bought large space in newspapers showing this same advertisement. Probably true and this ad does not quite cross the line into being overly boastful. 日清食品
https://www.nissin.com/jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Ben & Jerry's has brought an American favorite flavor to Japan, Americone Dream, which is vanilla ice cream, caramel and chunks of chocolate waffle cone. Not only does it look good, but it shows that American imagery is still marketable in Japan. This product also carries a Fair Trade mark which is not all that common in Japan.
http://www.benjerry.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Family Mart is one of the big three convenience store chains in Japan. Real beach season is pretty much only July and August in Japan, since June is usually cloudy due to it being rainy season. Therefore during July and especially August, popular beaches are packed and activity at popular spots, such as the area between Kamakura and Enoshima, is really something to experience. Family Mart opened this summer season only beach house to serve the needs of beach goers in near Enoshima. ファミリーマット
http://www.family.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Having trouble with the sun melting your KitKats? Nestle suggests you try making KitKat brownies. These look pretty good. キットカット ネスレ
http://nestle.jp/brand/kit/product/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Pokka Sapporo is offering special design cans only for the Hokkaido area. The Sapporo professional baseball team is the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters and ten of the players images appear on Pokka Sapporo canned coffee: 5 players on the low sugar variety and 5 on the black (no sugar or milk) variety. ポッカサッポロ
http://www.pokkasapporo-fb.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Frappuccinos used to be a coffee dessert, now they are simply desserts, which look very good to be sure. This Strawberry Delight Frappuccino contains lots of strawberry pulp in the strawberry sauce in addition to strawberry cream. スターバックス
http://www.starbucks.co.jp/products/?nid=tbn_01_pc
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Kirin is holding a very unique event in September. Thirty people will have to opportunity to make beer at the Kirin Yokohama Brewery. The all day event will take participants through most phases of the process and will include lunch. All this for about 3,000 yen is a real bargain, assuming you are one of the chosen. This event is in part to commemorate 180 years since the birth and 150 years since the arrival in Japan of William Copeland, the found of one of the first breweries in Japan, Spring Valley Brewery, the forerunner of Kirin Beer. キリン
http://www.kirin.co.jp/entertainment/factory/yokohama/event/140627_03.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Burger King Japan will stop offering onion rings in the near future and is conducting a farewell special. This added explanation asks "is this your last chance to try the onion rings?", which appears to mean the door is still open, if only slightly, for a return in the future.
https://www.burgerkingjapan.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Nikka whisky is now an Asahi brand, but the history is pretty interesting. The same Japanese studied whisky making in Scotland, married a Scot, brought it back to Japan and first set up what would become Suntory's whisky business before going out on his own and starting Nikka. The Yoichi Distillery in Hokkaido is a well visited tourist attraction with over 280,000 visitors a year.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikka_Whisky_Distilling
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
After being popular in the US for several years, coconut water has finally made it to Japan and is being offered by a number of companies. This photo is of the coconut water offered by Tropicana, which goes through Kirin in Japan. キリン トロピカーナ
http://www.k-tropicana.com/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Continuing to add sweet items to the menu, Tully's is now offering a Salt and Litchi (or Lychee) Swirkle and an Espresso Shake. Apparently Swirkle is a word made up by Tully's combining swirl and circle, therefore the need to have at least two ingredients in each such offering (they are mixed or swirled together in a circular motion). タリーズコーヒー
http://www.tullys.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
This year marks the Shinkansen's 50th anniversary and Suntory is helping celebrate with this special design cans only available on the original Shinkansen line, the Tokaido line between Tokyo and Osaka. サントリー 新幹線
http://www.suntory.com/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Meiji started selling VAAM 19 years ago. This ad stresses that the success of this product is not just the 17 amino acid mixture which is said to help endurance athletes perform better and regular people burn more fat, but is also due to the product's taste and drinkability. 明治 ヴァーム
http://www.meiji.co.jp/sports/vaam/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Lotteria is bringing back a hit promotion from 2009, the Zetsumyo or Exquisite Burger. Only this time, there is a new twist, you get a complete refund if you do not agree that it tastes good. I think most Japanese would be too embarrassed to ask for their money back on those grounds, but I also think like anywhere else this promotion will have some people take advantage of it.
I remember this offering and think, as Lotteria does, that most people will like it. Lettuce, tomato, mayo and onion on a beef patty that is said to remind you of steak. Add a dijion mustard and for the BLT version a thick slab of smoked bacon and you have a pretty appealing premium burger which goes for 390 yen (470 yen for the BLT version). ロッテリア 絶妙バーガー
https://www.lotteria.jp
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Doraemon, the blue robot cat from the future, has long been one of the most popular animated characters in Japan. To coincide with the release of a new 3D movie called "Stand By Me", Glico has released Pocky sticks with main characters on the package. グリコ ドラえもん
http://www.glico.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
