Morinaga BB536 Ichiro Campaign‏

Morinaga is conducting a promotion for their BB536 probiotic yogurt through a special Facebook page in which they are giving away 4 groups of two tickets for a trip to Seattle to see Ichiro play for the Mariners. Ichiro currently appears in commercials for this product.

https://www.facebook.com/bifidus.jp

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

Meiji Rich Pudding Promotion‏

Meiji is holding a campaign to promote its Rich Pudding line. Rich pudding comes in chocolate, espresso and fresh cream flavors. The campaign is giving away 100,000 yen in JTB travel certificates as the grand prize or 30 gold spoons as second prizes.

http://www.meiji.co.jp/sweets/dessert/rich-pudding/

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

Construction at Ebina MegMilk Snow Brand Factory (Video)

I don't usually go around taking photos of factories, but I just happened to be in the area of the Ebina MegMilk Snow Brand factory and saw that it is being expanded. That is in line with news in the industry newspapers about MegMilk Snow Brand consolidating Kanto area production at this factory.

ABC Science Show - Testing beneficial side effects of drugs‏

Anti-psychotic drugs may have the added benefit of reducing the occurance of lung cancer.

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/scienceshow/testing-beneficial-side-effects-of-drugs/4019864

Meiji Oishii Gyunyu 10 Year Campaign‏

Meiji is conducting a promotion to thank customers for 10 years of Good Tasting Milk (Oishii Gyunyu) which is the best selling milk brand in Japan. A proprietary process eliminates off flavors from developing during pasteurization. A breakfast table set (made of Hokkaido wood), several dinner sets and some refrigerator magnets are being given away. Entry is by postcard and requires answering a simple quiz.

http://www.meijioishiigyunyu.com/campaign/

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

Gusto Three Herb Pork Special‏

This pork special does not designate the origin of the pork as is common these days, but instead stresses a three herb mix (oregano, thyme and cinnamon) which helps make the meat extra juicy.

http://gusto-magazine.jp/menu/index.html

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

Gusto Happiness Campaign

Gusto family restaurants are conducting a campaign featuring the girls group Happiness. Winners (30 in the Tokyo area and 30 in the Osaka area) receive dancing lessons from the group. Other prices include electronics such as iPods. To enter, you have to attach a junior meal receipt to a post card.

http://gusto-magazine.jp/index.html

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

Gusto US Beef Specials

Here are two specials featuring US beef. The one on the right is chopped steak and contains 100% US Beef - thus the US trademark. The mixed sirloin steak/chopped steak on the left also contains US Beef but uses the more general US Beef trademark at the lower left. I just wonder why the US beef industry would have competing trademarks. Seems like at the very least the general trademark should appear on all items.

http://gusto-magazine.jp/menu/index.html

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

Gusto Featured Cakes

Here are 3 cakes on special at Gusto family restaurants: Uji Powdered Green Tea Roll (Uji green tea) Ganache Cake (Belgian couverture chocolate, Hokkaido cream, black cocoa power for cake) New York Style Rare Cheese Cake (high quality sour cream).

http://gusto-magazine.jp/menu/index.html#menu

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

Skylark Group Social Media‏

Here is an example of the social media currently used in Japan. Twitter (T) is big, Facebook (F) is catching on but still nothing like in the US, Hatena social bookmarking (B) only Japan and Mixi (M) a popular Japanese social media service.

http://gusto-magazine.jp/index.html

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