McDonald's McLunch

Starting tomorrow, McDonald's will be offering McLunch specials between 10:30 and 2 pm. The small sets include a teriaki burger (pictured), chicken nuggets or a filet'o fish sandwich for 390 yen. There are also 500 yen sets which include a Big Mac, double cheeseburger or a chicken filet.

http://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/campaign/mclunch/index.html

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

MegMilk Snow Brand Dole

Dole fruit juices of the US goes through MegMilk Snow Brand in Japan. 雪印メグミルク、ドール

http://www.meg-snow.com/dole/

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

Kirin Whiskey Selector

Kirin has an online, interactive discover whisky selector allows you to choose the right whisky for your taste or for the right occasion. You choose from Kirin brands of course, but it is interesting. You can click on whether you like mild or dry, you can choose what type of food you will be eating it with or you can choose by category (meaning Japanese, Scotch, Irish, American or Canadian). This photo is the best non-interactive representation and shows a few of the many whisky brands that go through Kirin in Japan on a chart from mild (left) to dry (right).

http://www.kirin.co.jp/brands/sw/discover_whisky/index.html

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

Meiji Hokkaido Premium White Chocolate

These is cheese flavored chocolate (actually it is described as cheese-chocolate, but I am not sure exactly what that means and there is not an ingredient list) covered in white chocolate. It is described as being creamy and yet having a deep body thanks to the milk and an umami taste from the cheese.

http://catalog-p.meiji.co.jp/products/sweets/chocolate/010199/02687.html

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

Hard Rock Cafe Buddha Pin

This Hard Rock Cafe pin tells me two things about Japan: 1) Japanese are not overly sensitive about their religion and 2) things often get lost in translation. On the second point, calling it a Buddha pin makes me want to detail the little I know on the subject of Buddhism. Although there are a number of multi-handed and multi-headed deities in Buddhism, I can never remember seeing the historical Buddha represented like this. Although I have heard all enlightened beings in Buddhism called "Buddhas", but think it is considered correct to reserve the term "Buddha" for the historical Buddha. The image on this pin is almost certainly the Kannon goddess, who is actually a Bodhisattva, a being who has come close to attaining enlightenment, but who has held herself back on purpose to continue helping us mere mortals move in the right direction. The many hands and many heads correspond to the different forms in which she appears to humans. Different forms correspond to different and individual needs of people being saved. Some people need to be scared, other people need friendly persuasion and so forth. The most common variations I know are the Kannon with 33 faces or aspects and the 100 handed Kannon. In either case the idea is the same.

However, if you light-heartedly think of Rock and Roll as a religion, this pin makes perfect sense.

http://www.hardrockjapan.com/limited_pins/2012_tokyo_guitarist_buddha.asp

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

Morinaga TBC

TBC is a Japanese chain of beauty care (facials, etc.), but they also brand a line of health drinks which are sold through Morinaga. 森永

http://www.tbc.co.jp/

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

Calpis AllerCare L-92

The functional Lactobacillus strain that Calpis studies and uses in many of its products is L-92 (or Lactobacillus acidophilus L-92). They have published results showing an effect to mitigate allergic reactions, something very important in Japan where cedar pollen causes misery to millions each year. The name of the product containing this probiotic strain is chosen to convey the idea without making a product claim (as there is no claim category yet for anti-allergy effects). There also seem to be no direct links to the research papers on the subject, but a several click do eventually lead you to the research section of the website where a number of studies using this strain are discussed in Japanese. Interestingly, this copy has to turn around and make the point that the product is not allergen free as it contains some milk and soy derived ingredients. This product is sold at a nice premium via mail order. カルピス、アレルケア

https://www.calpis-shop.jp/l-92/
http://www.calpis.co.jp/laboratory/tokushu/report_0201.html

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

Meiji Hokkaido Rough Cut Choco Potato Chips

These rough-cut, chocolate covered potato chips use potatoes from Hokkaido.

http://catalog-p.meiji.co.jp/products/sweets/chocolate/010199/02679.html

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

Hard Rock Cafe Halloween Pin

This Hard Rock Cafe pin could be mistaken for a Grateful Dead pin, but is actually a Halloween pin for the Fukuoka location.

http://www.hardrockjapan.com/limited_pins/2012_autumn/fukuoka.html

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

Morinaga Sunkist

Sunkist fruit juices go through Morinaga in Japan.

http://jp.sunkist.com/

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