Pino has been Morninaga's chocolate covered, bite size ice cream brand since 1976. This month, they are introducing two variety packs: chocolate, almond & vanilla, and matcha, caramel & vanilla. 森永 ピノ
http://www.pinoice.com/pc/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Lipton chilled drinks go through Morinaga in Japan. This month, they are introducing a matcha chilled cup drink called The Matcha, which is a matcha flavored milk drink. In the press release, they note the growth of matcha as a flavor in the chilled cup market (3.0 to 3.9 percent from 2008 to 2011). This makes it the second largest category after coffee - larger than the regular or brown tea category. 森永乳業 リプトン 抹茶ミルク
http://www.morinagamilk.co.jp/corporate/release/2012/1115_1205.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Kirin is advertising the use of Ichiban Shibori Stout as a frozen dessert. Looks very good, but also surprising in a way. In my experience, companies are very reluctant to suggest major transformations like freezing, because it is hard to guarantee the final quality of the product.
The recipe involves mixing in gum syrup (20 mg per 250 ml can), freezing for 4 hours, breaking apart with a spoon and pouring cream over the top. キリン スタウト デザート
http://www.kirin.co.jp/brands/ichibanstout/howto/drinking/frozen/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Okinawa and southern Kyushu are known for several varieties of sweet potato, one of which is Beniimo 紅いも (purple yam, Okinawa sweet potato). KitKat is selling a special beniimo-white chocolate KitKat only in Kyushu and Okinawa. ネスレ キットカット 紅いも
http://d.nestle.jp/kitkat/omiyage/kk_mini_beniimo.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Went to Bikkuri Donkey restaurant with the family tonight. Very reasonable and the chopped beef is seasoned just right. Aside from the food, I was reminded how Bikkuri Donkey plays all Beatles, all the time. Just think back almost 50 years ago when parents in the West didn't like the long hair and loud music, and here in Japan rightists protested because the Beatles played the Budokan. Now Beatles music is the only choice for music that will offend no one, everyone knows and everyone likes - worldwide. And once again it is almost 50 years after the music was first released pretty amazing. びっくりドンキー
http://www.bikkuri-donkey.com/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
McDonald's is promoting a 15 piece McNugget box for 600 yen, starting at 5 pm each day.
http://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/campaign/chickenmcnuggets/index.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Kirin Ichiban Shibori Stout Beer is the stout version of Ichiban Shibori which uses the same first wort, but also crystal malt and roast barley. キリン スタウト
http://www.kirin.co.jp/brands/ichibanstout/about/index.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Tochiotome is said to be the most popular variety of strawberry in Japan. It was developed in and is not grown in Tochigi Prefecture. It claims to have a very good shape, taste and color. A special KitKat variety mixing tochiotome strawberry and white chocolate is sold only in Tochigi Prefecture. ネスレ キットカット ミニ とちおとめ
http://d.nestle.jp/kitkat/omiyage/kk_mini_tochiotome.html
http://www.tochigi-ichigo.net/staticpages/index.php?page=whats
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
This fish variety pack was shown on the Facebook page for the Goto Project 五島列島支援プロジェクト, a fan/support page. I cannot identify all the fish and only snapper and amberjack are noted. Nothing like good fresh fish though. The Goto Islands are located off the coast of Kyushu and is known in the west as one of the main places where the "Hidden Christians 隠れキリシタン survived the centuries when Christianity was banned and penalized by death in Japan.
Kirin Ichiban Shibori Beer 一番搾りビール was introduced in 1990 and I think it was the biggest brand in Japan until Asahi Dry took over that title. It remains very popular and the concept for its good taste is the following. During the beer production process, wort is separated from the mash solids. It is squeezed out if you will. This is done more than once on the same mash, but Kirin only uses the first separation for Ichiban Shibori beer, and that is what ichiban shibori means in Japanese - first press, first separation or more simply the first wort. キリン 一番搾り製法
http://www.kirin.co.jp/brands/IS/index.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
