FamilyMart and Kirin are holding a campaign to support the national soccer teams. Kirin is the most visible and probably the largest national soccer team sponsor. Entry requires purchase of selected Kirin items at FamilyMart and prizes include trips to Sapporo to see the national team in action and Sony 3D TVs to watch national team games in 3D.
http://www.family.co.jp/campaign/soccer2012/index.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
In keeping with the London Olympic fever, Coca Cola has introduced a Georgia X UK-Style variation on its popular Georgia line of canned coffees. They are also holding a London vacation giveaway to promote this product. No direct mention is made to the Olympics. The product is a mixture of Darjeeling tea and Brazilian coffee. A companion product is called Georgia X Japan-Style (actually 和-style) and is a mixture of Uji tea and coffee.
http://www.georgia.jp/x/campaign.html#!/index
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
One aspect of gift giving in Japan is items you use and do not have to store usually work better. This is because people have small houses and a statue or some other such gift would take up valuable space. Food is eaten and therefore does not take up space for long, therefore it is a very popular item for gift giving. There are two gift giving seasons in Japan, New Year's and summer, where you give gifts to business associates, friends or people you have done something for you. The supermarkets are other food stores are full of overpriced gift packs at these times of year.
Hokkaido yubari melons are an indicator of how far this can go. They are wildly overpriced and are a sign of wealth and luxury.
Daiei is offering free nation-wide shipping on Hokkaido yubari melons ordered either in-store or online. Free shipping is nice, but single melons are priced at 2,900 to 3,500 yen. While expensive, that is reasonable compared with the top prices which are conveniently given for each year starting in 1985 on Wikipedia (link below).
http://www7.daiei.co.jp/index.php?shopcode=4073006&themecode=420
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%95%E5%BC%B5%E3%83%A1%E3%83%AD%E3%83%B3
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
MINISTOP, the convenience store chain, has a discount on ice coffee/soft ice cream mix drinks. It is advertised to have a sofudeka vanilla flavor (ソフデカバニラ味), or "extra strong soft cream vanilla taste".
http://www.ministop.co.jp/campaign/detail.html?camp_id=sf0605
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
For the summer, Starbucks is offering a strawberry Frappuccino with chocolate chips.
http://store.starbucks.co.jp/beverage/frappuccino/cream/4524785198746/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
FamilyMart and Asahi Beer/Asahi Beverage are holding a campaign to celebrate the grand opening of the Tokyo Skytree. Selected Asahi products must be purchased to have a change of winning and prizes include special tours of the Skytree and electronics.
http://www.family.co.jp/campaign/tokyo-skytree/index.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Sapporo is introducing a limited edition Ice Lager happoshu beer, which has higher alcohol content (7%) and has higher carbonation. It is called Ice Lager, because it is aged below zero Celsius to providing a product that goes down cool and smooth. The process is called Freezing Point Aging Process (氷点熟成製法).
http://www.sapporobeer.jp/icelager/index.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Morinaga is promoting its Farm Sky Milk (まきばの空) brand with vouchers for photo sessions at Bruce Osborn Photography and QUO cards. Entry requires mailing in proof of purchase marks on a postcard.
http://www.morinagamilk.co.jp/products/brand/makiba/campaign/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
MOS Burger is selling for a limited time a Shiokoji Burger, developed in collaboration with the NTV TV show Sukkiri. The sandwich has a spicy sauce made from shiokoji (塩糀), prepared from salt and rice malt. Chinese yam is added for mouth feel and tomato and green soybeans are added for taste and color. This sandwich fits in with an image of slightly higher class fast food - slightly fresher and better tasting and slightly higher priced and time consuming (sandwiches are not prepared in advance).
http://www.mos.co.jp/cp/sukkiri/120524/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
FamilyMart and Yoshimoto Kogyo (the Osaka area entertainment company) are sponsoring a set of 25 factory tours in all major areas of Japan. This is one of the events held to commemorate 100 years of Yoshimoto Kogyo and most of the major food companies are participating. On 5 of the 25 bus tours, famous entertainers from the Yoshimoto Kogyo entertainment company will ride along with the winners and take the same tours. Getting products in convenience stores is a constant challenge for food companies. I am sure FamilyMart did not have to twist any arms to get cooperation from all the participants.
http://www.family.co.jp/campaign/factorytour2012/index.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
