OpenSecrets.org Mars Inc

Recent trend to the blue.

http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000042123&cycle=A

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

Nestle KitKat Adult Type

Nestle is selling an adult targeted KitKat in Japan with reduced sweetness. It is this called "Otona no amasa" オトナの甘さ or adult sweetness.

http://d.nestle.jp/kitkat/regular/kk_mini_otona_3.html

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

Sapporo Gerolsteiner Sparkling Water

German Gerolsteiner Sparkling Water goes through Sapporo in Japan.

http://www.sapporo-inryo.jp/gerol/

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

OpenSecrets.org Hormel Foods

Lots of red besides the home state Senator.

http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000026518&cycle=A

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

Kirin Tanrei Beer

Kirin Tanrei Beer was introduced in 1998 as Japan's first "happoshu" or 2nd category beer. Kirin is the company who did the initial research to develop a low malt beer that could be categorized as something other than a beer. As of 2008, they passed the 20 billion cans sold mark (not sure what it is now). Tanrei 淡麗 means crisp and dry taste in Japanese and is used with beer and sake. キリン

http://www.kirin.co.jp/brands/TR/product/index.html

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

OpenSecrets.org Smithfield Foods

Heavily red, except for their home state Senator.

http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000022254&cycle=A

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

Meiji Karl Curry Flavor

In the last of three new Meiji Karl offerings, the new curry flavor also contains snowman shaped puffs in select bags.

http://www.meiji.co.jp/sweets/snack/karl/#/oragamuraya/curry/

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

Asahi Monster Engergy Drinks

Monster energy drinks go through Asahi in Japan. I read an article recently that the big brands - Red Bull and Monster - have had disappointing results in Japan. That might be in part due to the long history of energy drinks in Japan. Hardly a new concept here.

http://www.monsterenergy.com/jp/

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

OpenSecrets.org ConAgra

Lots of red, but it looks like most of it is targeted at mid-west representatives, and the mid-west is red.

http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000242&cycle=A

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

Kirin Nodogoshi Drinkability R&D

Kirin has developed a method for measuring the drinkability or ease of drinking for various liquids. This is a hugely important subject in general, because many people (especially older people) have difficulty swallowing. So many applications for this new technique they have developed might be on the horizon, but as a first step it was used to measure and improve Kirin Nodogoshi Beer.
In the explanation, they go to great pains to explain that the concept of "nodogoshi" has no exact equivalent in English or German. The definition in Japanese refers to the sensation of liquid passing through the throat when being swallowed (and is usually considered to be a positive sensation). The new method was developed in collaboration with the Niigata Rehabilitation University and consists of basically an EKG for the muscles in the neck. The frequency of the signals was associated with what the participants described as nodogoshi. They started out with soft water, cold water and carbonated water, which are known to be relatively easy to swallow and then moved on to liquids with different ingredients.
As you could easily predict, this method shows what a high level of "nodogoshi" Kirin Nodogoshi Beer displays.

http://www.kirin.co.jp/brands/nodogoshi/product/oi_secret.html

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