Sapporo Hopbatake no Kaori Beer‏

Sapporo is making a limited edition happoshu beer called Hopbatake no Kaori (ホップ畑の香り) or Aroma of a Hop Field. It is only being produced in 2012 and only in a limited volume. It advertises the use of "Furano Beauty" hops grown in Furano City, Hokkaido. It also advertises the use of a "fresh aroma production process" (フレッシュアロマ製法), but a quick search did not turn up any related patents.

http://www.sapporobeer.jp/hopbatakenokaori/products/index.html

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

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Tully's Berries & Acai Swirkle‏

For the summer, Tully's is offering a Berries & Acai Swirkle.

http://www.tullys.co.jp/menu/seasonal/index.html

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

Sunkus Big Croquette Sandwich‏

This photo was posted on Facebook by Circle K Sunkus Convenience Stores. Looks like something I might buy, eat and then immediately regret. At first it appears to be an oversized, artery clogging hamburger, but then you see it is actually a croquette sandwich - meaning lots of bread and potato. Therefore, the hit you take is more from simple carbohydrates than fat.

http://www.circleksunkus.jp/product/kanto_shinetsu/p02.html

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

Asahi Satsuma Koku Murasaki Shochu‏

This shochu (薩摩こく紫) is the first to use Akemurasaki (暁紫) sweet potatoes for a full flavor. They are giving away bottles to 10 people. Registration on Asahi's website is required.

http://www.asahibeer.co.jp/kokumurasaki/campaign/index.html

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

KFC Route 25 Store‏

KFC in Japan is testing a new store concept. KFC chicken is available in a pub-like setting with other typical foods that go along with beer and other drinks also available. Keeping on the Kentucky theme, Jack Daniel's whiskey is used for the high balls. So far there is only one store near Shinjuku.

http://kfc-route25.jp/menu.html

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

Suntory Gokuri Banana‏

Suntory has added banana as a new flavor in its Gokuri fruit drink line. The other two flavors are grapefruit and pineapple. Each product contains 15% fruit juice. Gokuri (ごくり) means gulp in Japanese.

http://www.suntory.co.jp/softdrink/gokuri/

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

Sapporo Tasuki Giveaway

Somewhat reminiscent of the beer commercials in the US many years ago which set up the false dichotomy "tastes great" vs "less filling", this Sapporo commercial pits "goes well with meat" vs "goes well with fish". The banners which read "I like meat" (肉好き) and "I like fish" (魚好き) and were used the commercials are being give away to two people (one each) who enter their addresses on the website.

The commercial is for Mugi to Hop (麦とホップ) happoshu beer and a ribbon or sash in Japanese is called a tasuki (襷).

http://www.sapporobeer.jp/mugitohop/tasuki/

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

Nippon Ham Adventure Game

The Nippon Ham Group is conducting an online game where people search around a virtual town for answers to a quiz and learn interesting things they never knew about The Nippon Ham Group at the same time, or at least that is the way it is explained. Special prizes including unagi bentos are given away as presents.

http://www.nipponham.co.jp/group/special/

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

Cocos Summer Curry Items‏

Cocos family restaurants are offering Summer curry items: nan bread, butter chicken curry, Indian flavor seafood curry, spicy beef, assorted vegetables tomato curry.

http://menu.cocos-jpn.co.jp/menu/new/index.html

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