Haagen Dazs Crepe Glace

In Haagen Dazs' Crepe Glace series, they are currently offering Chocolat Framboise, Tiramisu, and Strawberry Cheesecake. ハーゲンダッツ

http://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/chocolat_framboise/

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

MegMilk Snow Brand Kurihara Pudding

MegMilk Snow Brand uses the Harumi Kurihara 栗原はるみ, a well known author to Japanese cook books, to provide recipes for their website and to promote a line of products that carry her name, mostly puddings. She is also used on NHK for international broadcasts - not sure why, because English appears to be a constant struggle for her. One new product in the Kurihara line is a white chocolate flavored pudding, which includes a separate pack of yuzu citrus juice to add as needed. Obviously aimed at the slightly higher priced dessert market. ゆず 雪印 プリン

http://www.kuriharasanchi.com/index.html

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

Kirin Classic Beer

While Kirin Lager Beer is the brand and flagship product that Kirin traces back to 1888, its production methods have been tweaked over the years. In 1996 Kirin Lager Beer switched from a heat processing method to a non-heat processing method. It also changed its name to Kirin Nama Beer キリン生ビール. In 2001, Kirin Nama Beer reverted to the original Kirin Lager Beer name and also introduced Kirin Classic Beer which goes back to the old heat processing method.

You end up with an interesting situation where Kirin Lager Beer is the brand which dates back to 1888, but Kirin Classic is a relatively new, but uses the most traditional (by Japanese standards) processing method.

I like Kirin, but have never taken the time to compare these two products head-to-head, so to speak. There is a product for the near future. キリンクラシックビール

http://www.kirin.co.jp/brands/RL/products/classic/index.html

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

Shinshu Apple KitKat

Shinshu is the old name for present day Nagano Prefecture and is still frequently used as it conveys a nostalgic feeling. Apples are a well known crop in that area, therefore the KitKat variety sold exclusively in Nagano is Apple-Milk Chocolate. ネスレ キットカット ミニ 信州りんご

http://d.nestle.jp/kitkat/omiyage/kk_mini_shinsyuringo.html

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

Tokyo Metro Rainbow Cakes

I saw this these at a subway kiosk this past week for the first time. After looking around on the internet I see it is at least the second set to go on sale. Japanese subway lines are color coded to help make sense of the seemingly random routes each line takes. These log-shaped cakes use three different lines and then adds a flavor which matches the color of the line. In this case all the choices are the following:
Hanzomon Line - purple - rum-raisin flavor 半蔵門線、ラムレーゾン
Yurakucho Line - yellow - Mont Blanc flavor 有楽町線、モンブラン
Chiyoda Line - green - azuki-matcha flavor 千代田線、あずき抹茶
The assortment is collectively called Tokyo Metro Rainbow. 東京メトロレインボウ

http://www.metocan.com/shop/item_detail?category_id=227402&item_id=904932

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

MegMilk Snow Brand Mikan Yogurt

Ichizu ni Mikan Yogurt いちずにミカンヨーグルト This yogurt contains mikan (Japanese mandarin oranges) and nothing else. That is what the product name emphasizes - ichizu (one thing only) and ichizu ni (single minded) are combined to get this meaning across.

http://www.meg-snow.com/products/yogurt/8140b.html

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

Kirin Lager Beer

Kirin Lager Beer is more than Kirin's flagship brand, but it is clearly the iconic Japanese beer. Kirin Lager Beer dates to 1888, which is pretty impressive for an Asian brand. Asahi Dry has taken over the top spot in sales, but still has a way to go in my estimation, before it overtakes Kirin Lager Beer. Changes have been made to the production process over the years. Most notably in 1996, when Kirin switched to low temperature processing, which is still emphasizes in advertising. キリンラガービール

http://www.kirin.co.jp/brands/RL/products/lager/index.html

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

Tohoku Zunda KitKat

Zunda is a paste made from green soybeans and is used as an ingredient and flavoring in the Tohoku area. This KitKat variety is zunda flavored and is only sold in the Tohoku area. ネスレ キットカット ずんだ風味 枝豆

http://d.nestle.jp/kitkat/omiyage/kk_mini_zunda.html

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

MegMilk Snow Brand Dole Jui Gurt

Jui Gurt is MegMilk Snow Brand's Dole branded seasonal fruit and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) drink. In the press release, the presence of LAB (killed) is noted for flavor enhancement, not health.

http://www.meg-snow.com/products/juice/

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

Morinaga Condensed Milk Character Mirurin

Earlier this year Morinaga held a contest to name the cow character on its condensed milk brand Morinaga Milk Rennnyu, which they cutely called モウそろそろ、名前がほしい which translates as something like "it is about time for a name", but also includes the Japanese equivalent of "moo". So the character representing this brand which was introduced in 1956, finally got a name after a winner was chosen from 6,625 entries. Mirurin ミルリン is the new name and is a contraction of milk ミルク and ring リンリン for the bell around the cow's neck.

http://rennyu-farm.jp/

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