Meiji has introduced a new VAAM flavor, apple. The reason why this is interesting is because it is not a citrus flavor, the most typical way to mask amino acid flavor. The two products shown here are the zero calorie, VAAM water in grapefruit and apple flavors. 明治 ヴァームウォーター
http://www.meiji.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Over the Golden Week period, Wendy's is offering an extra patty free on certain sandwiches - but you have to ask for the extra patty to get it.
http://wendys.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Sapporo's premium brand is Yebisu and they will be offering a limited edition version called Yebisu Royal Selection only in convenience stores from May 20th. The design and use of royal colors, which I think looks very nice, is meant to convey luxury and class. The Yebisu version is made with a special blend of 5 malt varieties: Munich malt, wheat malt, Pilsner malt, caramel malt, and crystal malt. サッポロ エビスビール ミュンヘン麦芽、小麦麦芽、ピルスナー麦芽、カラメル麦芽、クリスタル麦芽
"Brewed with five kinds of quality malt for rich flavor and a complex aroma"
「五種の厳選麦芽の奥深いコク」
http://www.sapporobeer.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Mr. Donut is featuring the combination donut croissants that became popular in New York last year. I have not tried the original, but these appear to be selling well. They are good, but very sweet - possibly too close to the US level of sweetness for my taste. I cannot remember where, but in an article I read that donuts in Japan use half the level of glaze as the same donuts in the US. ミスタードーナツ ミスタークロワッサン
http://www.misterdonut.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Kirin is giving away 500 dutch oven-drink sets to Facebook or Twitter users to participate in the promotion. There are two courses: a Kirin beer course (Kirin Ichiban Shibori Beer) and a non-alcohol course which includes the Gogo no Kocha (tea) and Kirin Mets Cola. キリン 一番搾り 午後の紅茶 メッツ
kirin.co.jp
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
For Golden Week here in Japan, Kentucky Fried Chicken is conducting a campaign where you check in on Facebook at a KFC location you can then choose your "goal" or what type of coupon you would like. This ties in with this year's World Cup and the current Cristiano Ronaldo promotion. ケンタッキーフライドチキン
http://www.kfc.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Grand Kirin will have a booth at this week's Yokohama Fruhlingsfest or Spring Beer Festival which is being held in the historic red brick storehouses in Yokohama called Akarenga (through May 6th). It looks like this festival is related to the larger Oktoberfest in Japan festival. キリン フリューリングスフェスト オクトーバーフェスト
http://www.okt-fest.jp/okt-ykhm2014-1.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Suntory has set up the outdoor Hakushu Midpark Cafe in Tokyo Midtown, which features Suntory Hakushu Whiskey and Hakushu Highballs and smoked meats like the assorted platter shown in the photo (2,000 yen). This cafe is open through May 25th. 白州 サントリー ハイボール
http://www.suntory.co.jp/whisky/hakushu/style/mpc/index.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Beer Gardens are very popular in Japan, even though they do not always work all that well in the height of summer due to the heat and humidity which makes sitting outside even in the evenings not as pleasant as you might otherwise think. Therefore while there are beer gardens in some of the major parks in Tokyo, Osaka, etc., other beer gardens are indoors. Outdoor beer gardens work much better in northern Japan (Tohoku and Hokkaido) where the evenings are much cooler.
The highball boom in recent years has led to Suntory opening some highball gardens as an alternative. This location at the base of Tokyo Tower is open daily until late September. サントリー
http://www.suntory.com/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Volvic is the water brand now owned by Danone. In Japan, it is sold through Kirin. The water business in recent years has tried to associate themselves with public good, to counter negative perceptions such as essentially selling tap water at huge mark-ups in environmentally unfriendly containers.
Since 2006, some proceeds from the Volvic business in some European countries, North America and Japan (over 1.2 million US dollars to date) have gone to clean water and public health projects in Mali. The project name is "Drink 1 Give 10" and promises to make 10 liters of clean water available for each 1 liter purchased. Very nice, but it doesn't capture all the activities such as working to eradicate guinea worm. キリン
http://www.kirin.co.jp
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
