Through the end of the year Wendy's is selling a Mushroom Melt Burger. Looks good. Discount coupons are available to people who sign up for the newsletter on their cell phones.
http://wendys.co.jp/wendys/index.php
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Wendy's in Japan is continuing to push the line between fast food and conventional restaurants. Along with super premium sandwiches like the Lobster-Caviar Burger, they are now offering Budweiser beer or Carlo Rossi wines with burger sets. Each alcohol option is available for 400 yen separately, or for and extra 200 yen when ordered as part of a set.
http://wendys.co.jp/wendys/index.php
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Green Tea works the other way around from some of the other standard ice cream flavors. It is now a standard overseas, but has long been a basic part of the Japanese flavor spectrum. This product does not mention the source of the tea, as would be common for many other products in Japan, but it does claim the tea has been crushed in a stone mortar, which is interesting. That is the way it is done in temples and for the tea ceremony, but I suppose they do it on an industrial scale also. グリーンティー
http://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/products/minicup/green-tea.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Annin dofu 杏仁豆腐 is most often translated as almond jelly, and is made from almond and/or apricot kernel powder, agar or starch, sugar and water, and then served as a cold desert. It originated in Hong Kong, but is very popular in Japan. As the largest China Town in Japan is in Yokohama, one of the special KitKat varieties representing Yokohama is annin dofu flavor. This is a good example of how Yokohama has a very international image, not just a Western image. ネスレ キットカット 杏仁豆腐 Nestle
http://d.nestle.jp/kitkat/omiyage/kk_annindofu.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
This dates from earlier this year, but is interesting nevertheless. MOS Burger and JAL collaborated on special meals including Tohato potato rings and a signature MOS rice burger. It is worth noting that this was not just offered to kids, but also to adults in first and business classes.
https://www.facebook.com/mosburger
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
The zero fat trend came relatively late to Japan. I used to think this market was smart enough to see through what I consider bogus - you cannot reduce fat without increasing other components such as carbohydrates. But when the demand is great, companies have to respond. Here is a zero fat, grape flavored yogurt (carbohydrates 21.8g/120g)
http://www.meijibulgariayogurt.com/product/detail-29.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
This has to be my favorite ice cream variety. Not so fancy I suppose, but oh so addictive. I feel like I remember being a fan of this variety before it became a standard item in all ice cream stores. In any case, it certainly is a standard here in Japan also. Although the image on the package looks a great deal like Oreo cookies, the copy stresses that the cookies are an original Haagen Dazs offering. ハーゲンダッツ クッキー&クリーム
http://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/products/minicup/cookies-cream.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Hokkaido yubari melons are highly prized and can go for outrageous prices. Fortunately there are normal versions of the melon and those are frequently sold to visitors to be taken back as gifts. The special Hokkaido variety of KitKat consists of yubari melon flavored wafers covered in milk chocolate and is sold only in Hokkaido. As with all these regional varieties of KitKat, they can most easily be found in train stations, airports and other places visitors and travelers are most likely to pass through. ネスレ キットカット 夕張メロン
http://d.nestle.jp/kitkat/omiyage/kk_yubari.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
This honey flavor Bulgaria yogurt is only available through home delivery.
Strawberry is a flavor which almost seems Japanese to me now, as many areas of Japan are "known" for their specific variety of delicious strawberries and many families and work groups go on outings were you are let loose in a strawberry greenhouse and allowed to eat as much as you want for 20 minutes or so. This offering from Haagen Dazs does not use Japanese strawberries however - strawberries from the American northwest are used.
http://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/products/minicup/strawberry.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
