November Japanese Beer Shipments

The following is a quote from a Kyodo article. Just these numbers give you a good idea of Japanese beer trends. All categories are falling except for the lowest price third category beers (essentially a mix of beer and some sort of liquor like shochu in order to be categorized into a lower tax category). This trend could lead to 3rd category beer overtaking real beer by volume in next few years.

"Shipments of regular beer slumped 4.1 percent to 18.59 million cases, while those of third-category beer climbed 5.5 percent to 12.69 million cases. Shipments of "happoshu" low-malt beer fell 2.1 percent to 4.96 million cases."

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nb20121213a1.html

November Sales:
36.25 million cases
Beer: 18.59 million cases (down 4.1 percent)
2nd Category or Happoshu: 4.96 million cases (down 2.1 percent)
3rd Category or Happosei: 12.69 million cases (up 5.5 percent)

Another interesting point to note is how just 5 breweries are large enough to represent the entire beer market. Since Orion is an Asahi company, you could narrow it down to just 4 companies. Obviously little guys have a hard time in Japan.

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

Photo - Bento Lunch at Work

We had food brought into work to have lunch with a business associate. Nice, high-class bento. I think it is the first time I have seen the small chest of drawers used for the different servings. And best of all, it actually tasted very good.

Photo - Meiji Love Milk Disney Packaging

These are some different variations on the Disney packaging used with Meiji Love Milk.

Photo - Miyakojima Yukishio Chinsuko Omiyage

This is a famous omiyage or candy used as a present from Okinawa or more specifically Miyakojima Island. Although it is pretty much a crumbly sugar cookie, it uses the white salt which is recovered from the sea around Miyakojima island - the yukishio in the name translates as "snow salt". 宮古島雪塩ちんすこう

Photo - Minute Maid Red & Green Apple Juice

Coca Cola goes through Meiji for Minute Maid sold in paper cartons.

Burger King Breaking Dawn Crown Set

Burger King has introduced a Breaking Dawn Crown Set to support the current movie in the Twilight Saga. This teriyaki egg burger is supposed to symbolize the movie, but no details how this is supposed to be so. Looking at the picture and probably using more imagination than is warranted, the flowing teriyaki sauce could be seen as blood flowing from two fangs and the egg could represent the dawn or rising sun??? In any case, if you order a set you get a special Twilight Burger King Crown. I know Twilight appeals to younger people, but it seems like they are still older than the traditional Burger King paper crown age group.

http://www.burgerkingjapan.co.jp/campaign/cp67.html

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

McDonald's Juicy Chicken Snack

McDonald's has taken the patty from its popular Chicken Filet-o sandwich and turned it into a snack on its 120 yen menu.

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

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

Sony vs Meiji

This is sort of a shocker. This article implies that job applicants are fleeing Sony for Meiji, or rather troubled electronics companies for more stable food companies. I thought the applicant pools were distinct, but it is interesting nevertheless. Food companies are not known for paying overly generous salaries, but in this environment they do appear to be a stable alternative to electronics giants like Sony and Panasonic who unfortunately cannot seem to get their houses in order. The article also describes Meiji as a dairy company, but they are also the largest chocolate maker in Japan and confectionery companies have long had more job applicants than other food companies.

Very interesting and something that would have been unimaginable only a few years ago.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nb20121211n2.html

Photo - Minute Maid Pink Grapefruit

This is a Coca Cola product that goes through Meiji in Japan.

Haagen Dazs Cookies Cinnamon & Caramel

Haagen-Dazs has two products in a Cookies offering. This one uses cinnamon ice cream, swirls in chocolate sauce and then tops it with caramel cookie.

http://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/products/minicup/cookies-cinnamon-caramel.html

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