Heartland is a beer a brand that Kirin started in 1986 as a craft beer and beer hall in Roppongi. The beer hall has since been turned into a trendy concept bar and the beer is now made in a large factory alongside other brands, but the brand image remains that of a craft brew. Also the bottle appears not to have changed at all since the beer's initial introduction. キリン ハートランド
http://www.heartland.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Meiji's best selling line of economy priced personal ice cream, Essel Super Cup, is introducing a new flavor on the 19th, Cheese Cake. This product uses cream cheese and gouda cheese, as well as butter flavored cookie bits. 明治 エッセル スーパーカップ チーズケーキ
http://www.meiji.co.jp/corporate/pressrelease/2012/detail/20121106_01.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Meiji's The Premium Gran ice cream will began sales again on Nov 12th. This is after halting production earlier this year due to an inability to keep up with demand. I suppose we can now see if it was worth the wait. 明治 グラン
http://www.meiji.co.jp/corporate/pressrelease/2012/detail/20121101_01.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Tea (green tea) from Kyoto is generally considered to be among the best if not the best tea grown in Japan. Since tea has historical roots in Kyoto there are many famous tea shops, and KitKat has collaborated with Ito Kyuemon Tea Shop to produce a matcha green tea-white chocolate KitKat that is only available in the Kansai region. The tea used comes from the Uji area of Kyoto, probably the most famous for tea in Japan. ネスレ キットカット 伊藤久右衛門抹茶 宇治
http://d.nestle.jp/kitkat/omiyage/kk_mini_itoh_5.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Meiji is introducing a new gum as part of its Xylish line called X Juicy Shower. This gum is not a zero calorie cum however, but instead focuses on a new taste technology. Meiji claims a new proprietary soft coating method which provides an initial burst of fruity flavor plus long lasting sweetness. This is accomplished by the combination of two methods. First, in addition to the hard, sugar coating which typically surrounds the gum base, X Juicy Shower has an additional soft, sugar coating beneath the hard coating. This results in an initial burst of fruity flavor. Second, the gum base contains encapsulated fruity flavor and encapsulated sweetener (for a longer lasting sweet taste). There are two flavors, Muscat and grapefruit. 明治 Ｘジューシーシャワー マスカット グレープフルーツ ソフト糖衣製法
http://www.meiji.co.jp/corporate/pressrelease/2012/detail/20121105_01.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Kirin Brau Meister is a German style beer developed by a Kirin employee who studied and received an official braumeister designation. I do not see that it is a beer based on the old German beer law, but instead is based on the German "weiter trinken", which means a taste you never tire of. The website explains it as going far beyond taste to include color, mouth feel, initial taste, after taste, as well as the finest ingredients. So this is obviously a premium beer and looks to only be available on tap.
http://www.kirin.co.jp/brands/braumeister/index.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Meiji is celebrating 20 years of its Meltykiss chocolate line. Meltykiss chocolates have powdery chocolate surrounding a creamy chocolate core (also flavored chocolate - matcha, strawberry). The product readily melts in your mouth, thus the "melty kiss". Meiji is now introducing product extensions of this line into two different existing Meiji chocolate product. Either the creamy or the powdery chocolate used in Meltykiss will be used in some Almond, Macadamia and Fran products and the Meltykiss will be prominent on the label. This addition may help differentiate these products from very similar offerings from other companies. 明治 アーモンド マカダミア フラン メルティーキッス
http://www.meiji.co.jp/corporate/pressrelease/2012/detail/20121030_01.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Eitaro is a famous store in Tokyo which makes a variety of sweets which are bought as omiyage presents when visiting Tokyo. This store seems to be in the fortunate position that the store is more famous than any single product they sell, making it harder for other stores to compete with them. KitKat has collaborated with Eitaro to produce a brown sugar syrup-white chocolate KitKat variety which is only available in Tokyo. ネスレ キットカット ミニ 榮太樓黒みつ
http://d.nestle.jp/kitkat/omiyage/kk_mni_eitaro_kuromitsu.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
I am not sure why, but chicken is associated with Christmas in Japan, probably just good marketing. MOS Burger has a cute Christmas offering of 5 partially deboned pieces of chicken (I think these are a combination of leg and thigh with just a little bone left for getting good grip). Packs of five can be had for 1,200 yen, but a discount is available for pre-orders. Also, you can buy coupons to give as presents.
The name for the promotion is Merry Xmos, cute..
http://www.mos.co.jp/cp/moschicken/121113/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
In celebration of Wendy's 43rd Anniversary, they are reducing the price of the Lobster & Caviar sandwich set, from 1,590 yen to 890 yen, between Nov 15th and Jan 2nd. So if the high price kept you from trying this before, now is your chance.
http://wendys.co.jp/wendys/index.php
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
