Nice looking pancake with strawberries, blueberries and two different sauces, also strawberry and blueberry. 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.
There are many seasonal products in Japan and very frequently, these products follow seasonal flavors. Peach season is upon us, so there are many peach-flavored products being introduced. (We are on the downside of strawberry season.)
This peach flavored Suntory chuhai is a good example. Chuhai is shochu, a Japanese distilled alcohol, mixed with a fruit juice usually, and sometimes another mixer. Chuhai are typically popular with females. サントリー チューハイ
http://www.suntory.com/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Mercian, which is a Kirin company after a purchase several years ago, has introduced a wine called "every" which is meant for "everyday, everywhere, everyone", and they explain that it has an expensive taste at a reasonable price. They are holding a campaign where after clicking through several layers of age verification, you can spin an online roulette wheel to win a chance at free bottles. No purchase is required, but it is connected to either your Facebook or Twitter account limited to one spin a day (per account). メルシャン ワイン
http://www.kirin.co.jp/products/wine/every/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Surprisingly, at least to me, 7-Eleven is opening its first stores, 3 simultaneously, in Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku, this month. Even though 7-Eleven seems to be on almost every corner in many parts of Japan and has more outlets here than in any other country, there is still virgin territory, entire prefectures, waiting for domination. セブンイレブン 愛媛県
http://www.sej.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Lotteria is selling burgers that it touts as thick and melty because they have cheese inside the meat patties. They look pretty good and come in regular, added cheese (yes, that is in addition to the cheese inside the patty), and added egg. All use a demi-glace sauce.
http://www.lotteria.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Yamazaki is inviting customers to post photos of their favorite Lunch Pack sandwich variety with scenery that matches on the Lunch Pack Facebook page. I see no mention of any awards.
http://www.yamazakipan.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Sapporo is selling personalized bottles for White Day. If you order by today, you can personalize bottles with uploaded photos and messages of your choice.
http://wakuwaku.sapporobeer.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Sapporo is selling a Nippon Lager Premium beer exclusively through UNY Group companies, the most familiar of which is the CircleKSunkus convenience store chain. Nippon, as many people may know, is the Japanese name for Japan. The name refers to the largely Japanese ingredients used: 100% of the hops are from the Furano area of Hokkaido and 75% of the malt is from Hokkaido. It also uses the special Sapporo 3 step hops processing method. 富良野 北海道 ニッポンラガープレミアム サッポロ サークルKサンクス ホップ３段仕込み
http://www.circleksunkus.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Kirin's premium beer Grand Kirin brand is holding a White Day campaign where a man can give a friend a beer via Facebook or Twitter. You can 1) send a friend a chance to win a bottle of premium beer, 2) try to win one yourself and send anything you win to a friend or 3) buy a bottle and send the coupon to a friend. Either way the coupon you send via Facebook or Twitter is sent with a special "secret" message of your choosing.
You can choose either the original Grand Kirin or the newer Grand Kirin The Aroma, which uses special hops and a proprietary production process. The concept behind Grand Kirin is a beer so good that you can be satisfied with just one bottle (and it is priced accordingly).
The campaign is limited to men, as White Day is a commercially created holiday where men give Valentine's like gifts to women. As many people know, in Japan there is a Valentine's Day, but women give men chocolates. So one month later, confectionary companies get one more opportunity to profit on White Day (March 14th).
Interestingly, it specifies that only men can be on the giving end, but uses the gender neutral "friend" for the receiving end. Not sure if they are trying to be enlightened or not.
http://www.kirin.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Hinamatsuri or Girls' Day is tomorrow. It is not a work holiday like the former Boys' Day (now Children's Day), but ceremonial dolls are part of this event and cakes and other items that mimic these ceremonial dolls are popular seasonal products. Fujiya, now a subsidiary of Yamazaki Bakery, runs nationwide cake and sweets shops. Pictured is a strawberry shortcake for this event where the traditional Japanese court figures are replaced with the Fujiya store characters - Peko-chan and Poco-chan.
http://www.fujiya-peko.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
