In Japan, work calendars and school years coincide with the fiscal year, therefore most new employees enter companies on April 1st. On TV, in newspapers and online there were many images of new faces at company entrance ceremonies all across Japan. This photo is of new employees at Fujiya.
http://www.fujiya-peko.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
In another great April Fool's joke, Kirin introduces the 1 ml Kirin Mini. This plays on jokes about the 135 ml beer cans which are considered laughingly small. Many online comments point to people actually wanting to buy 1 ml cans for key chains, etc.
http://www.kirin.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
In a country where food companies will try just about everything, it is not always easy to spot an April Fools joke. This is a pretty good one. Glico announces a curry flavored pudding, but clarifies it is not real in small print. Hats off to the marketing team at Glico.
http://www.glico.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
This product was introduced late last year, but is still on sale. Vanilla and matcha ice cream separated by sweet bean paste and topped off with a brown sugar sauce. A work of art called Japonais (French for Japanese). ジャポネ ハーゲンダッツ 黒蜜 抹茶
http://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Haagen-Dazs is offering a mixed flavor box of seasonal flavors. The flavors are banana, strawberry and blueberry.
http://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
This is an ad for Koiwai yogurt flavored lactic acid bacteria drink. It is a healthy image to go along with their recommendation to drink one bottle of this a day. They use Lactoccocus lactis JCM5850 and it is part of the Kirin iPlus series of functional foods. (Koiwai is a Kirin group company.) This strain is said to provide enhanced immune function - for which there is not yet a claim category - meaning even if they had all the evidence in the world, they could not get an approved claim.
The product name is Mamoru Chikara no Nyusankin, which means Lactic acid bacteria which protects the body. まもるチカラの乳酸菌小岩井 プラズマ乳酸菌 キリン
http://www.kirin.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
This is an interesting new flavor for the Glico Panapp - Kumamoto Mikan (mandarin orange). Kumamon is the popular character which Kumamoto created to brand products from that prefecture. Companies can use it for free if at least some of the ingredients are sourced from Kumamoto. Kuma in Kumamoto literally means bear, therefore the character is a bear. Mon means thing, so it is literally bear-thing, which does not translate well, but works in Japanese.
This products is also designed to have the texture and taste of a French mille-feuille dessert, with vanilla ice cream layers separated by white chocolate and mikan sauce. 熊本県 温州みかん くまモン ホワイトチョコ ミルフィーユ パナップ 江崎グリコ
http://www.glico.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Kirin is celebrating 40 years of its Gotemba whisky distillery. One of the special items on sale is this Fuji Gotemba 40th anniversary single grain whiskey.
http://www.kirin.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Kirin is holding a contest to name the bus that shuttles people from the train station to their Okayama Beer Park/Factory. You can enter online and the winner will also receive an additional present of some sort (not specified). キリン岡山ビアパーク
http://www.kirin.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Here is a Ben & Jerry's flavor that should go over well in almost any country - Chocolate Fudge Brownie. ベン＆ジェリーズ チョコレートファッジブラウニー
http://www.benjerry.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
