Asahi is offering Salt Lemon Jelly and Salt Plum Jelly drinks in squeeze packs. They both contain extra salt (sodium), vitamins (C as well as a range of B vitamins) and citric acid. The Chinese character for salt (塩) takes up a huge amount of real estate on these packages.
http://asahi-fh.com/common/press/2012/120502.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Four Roses Bourbon is sold by Kirin in Japan. They are not currently running any promotions, but they do have mixed drink ideas and a virtual tour of the Kentucky factory on the nice looking Japanese site.
http://www.kirin.co.jp/brands/sw/fourroses/products/index.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
To celebrate the opening of their new location (second location) in Roppongi, Wendy's is adding 3 items to its Japan Premium series and calling them collectively Ocean Premium. Once again, the prices are high, but they certainly look like nothing I have ever seen before. There is a link to a good article below.
Ocean Premium
Caviar & Lobster Sandwich (Canadian Omar Lobster, caviar) 1,280 yen
Lobster Surf & Turf Burger (Canadian Omar Lobster, steak) 1,280 yen
(I assume the surf & turf refers to lobster and steak coming from sea and land.)
Garden Sensations Caviar & Lobster Salad (Canadian Omar Lobster, caviar) 1,580 yen
PDF Press Release
http://wendys.co.jp/wendys/pdf/120801.pdf
Good Article
http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/08/13/lobster-and-caviar-burgers-wendys-goes-upscale-in-japan/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
I have shown this product before, and I show it again here to emphasize how Suntory and Pepsi are not shy about putting salt up front and center on a label.
http://www.suntory.co.jp/news/2012/11442.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
This jelly type drink in a pouch is part of the Meiji Perfect Plus energy bar and drink line. This one puts salt in the name and contains sodium, potassium, magnesium, citric acid and vitamin B6.
http://www.meiji.co.jp/corporate/pressrelease/2012/detail/20120612_01.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
VAAM is a sports drink which claims to help the user burn fat, and therefore help athletes perform at higher levels (supposedly glycogen is not depleted as quickly). Meiji has an online series of comics where Mr. VAAM introduces VAAM to a variety of people. In one a boy and he ends up with better track and field results, and in another a lady gets in shape simply by drinking VAAM and riding her bike to work.
http://vaam.jp/sports/comic/index.jsp
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
The most recent incarnation of Wendy's in Japan is smaller scale and features higher end sandwiches, which they call Japan Premium (and add that these premium burgers are only available in Japan). They have had a store in the Omotesando area of Tokyo and this week are opening a second store in Roppongi - both fashionable areas frequented by foreigners and people with money.
This Foie Gras Rossini burger with truffle sells for 1,280 yen. Looks delicious, but that price is pretty steep. No detailed product description is given on the pretty, yet Spartan website.
http://wendys.co.jp/wendys/index.php
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Meiji sells a candy designed to help maintain a proper mineral balance. This highlights something I failed to mention in the previous post. Salt refers not only to table salt (sodium chloride) but also potassium and even magnesium. These products make a point of keeping a proper sodium/potassium balance (750 mg/170 mg). There are three products in the series: plum flavor with added citric acid, sports drink flavor with added iron, and sports drink flavor with added sugar.
http://www.meiji.co.jp/corporate/pressrelease/2012/detail/20120612_01.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Unagi Pie (うなぎパイ) is a famous omiyage present for people visiting Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka Prefecture. This sweet went on sale in 1961 and is said to have been named by the company president who was searching for a new sweet to represent the area. The unagi (or eel) in the name comes from a conversation he had with someone who had visited the area. That person replied "oh yes, the place with delicious eel". So he designed an sweet that looks and tastes similar to famous French sweets, but looks like an eel. The catch phrase "evening sweet" or "夜のお菓子" came about as a desire to have it become an item for families to eat together at or after the evening meal, which in that boom time was often the only family time most people had.
http://www.shunkado.co.jp/unagipai/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Meiji has introduced Energy Yogurt with Marvel's Avengers on the label. This energy drink flavored yogurt has added B vitamins and royal jelly.
http://catalog-p.meiji.co.jp/products/dairies/yogurt/020210/49408317.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
