Our reporter was strolling through Ginza one afternoon and found herself in an Okinawa specialty goods store. As she was browsing through the aisles, she couldn’t help but notice a brightly colored can of Coca Cola with a red shisa (lion dog) printed on the front. Upon further inspection of the can, she realized that she had stumbled upon Okinawa Coca Cola, made with the waters of Okinawa. How would this special Coke taste? She just had to buy one and find out.
Our reporter first had to go home and put the Okinawa Coca Cola in the fridge. The suspense was killing her, but the Coke was bound to taste subpar if she drank it at room temperature. Once the can was chilled, it was time for the taste test!
She took her first sip and…it tasted just like normal Coke. It was definitely refreshing, but wasn’t different than any other Coke she’d had. Doubting her tastebuds, she took a few more gulps, but the Coca Cola made with water from Okinawa just tasted like plain old Coke.
Disappointed, our reporter admired the empty can. The design features images of shisa, a lion dog popular in Okinawan mythology, as well as manta rays, which can be found off the coasts of Okinawa, and the prefecture’s famous flower, the akabanaa (hibiscus). Even though Okinawa Coca Cola doesn’t taste any different than regular Coca Cola, the can is beautifully designed and would make a great souvenir from a trip to Okinawa. If you can’t make it to Japan’s southernmost prefecture or to the Ginza specialty goods shop, you can order Okinawa Coca Cola online here for 120 yen (US$1.18).
Images: RocketNews24
[ Read in Japanese ]
What’s the best (and worst) cola in the world according to our Japanese writer?
Don’t get your lips stuck to this Coke bottle made entirely of ice
Bleach Coca-Cola is on sale in Japan and won’t kill you, but how does it taste?【Taste test】
Pepsi Japan to release its “most refreshing” cola ever
Okinawa soul food: We try the most epic pork and egg onigiri rice balls in Japan
Station of despair: What to do if you get stuck at the end of Tokyo’s Chuo Rapid Line
Japanese train station vending machine has the best souvenirs for rail otaku
Japanese government will check and judge new baby name pronunciations, presents guidelines
Totoro towels gently glow in the dark to set the Ghibli nighttime mood in your home【Photos】
Mysterious light-up rainy night-sound Totoro figure doesn’t actually show a scene from the anime
This downtown Tokyo cafe is like a time machine that takes you back 50 years into the past
Do you know what this caterpillar-like food is? We had no idea!【Taste test】
Cucumber Sprite? Japan was through with it before the rest of you all knew what to do with it
The results are in! One Piece World Top 100 characters chosen in global poll
New train recreates hotel atmosphere with wood interiors and views from the foot of Mount Fuji
Japanese company develops classy heavy metal band frames for glasses
One of Japan’s rarest sweets is a sell-out hit that looks and tastes like frost
Studio Ghibli showcases traditional craftsmanship with new wallet range
Major Japanese city is abolishing extracurricular activities at all of its middle schools
Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke plushies show a softer side of formidable Ghibli characters
Shakey’s is back! All-you-can-eat pizza chain returns to downtown Tokyo’s Shinjuku
Possessing Harry Potter’s Sword of Godric Gryffindor is now illegal in Japan
Uniqlo announces first-ever collaboration with horror manga master Junji Ito【Photos】
J-pop mega star Ado reveals she’s been living in the U.S., may not understand language acquisition
Starbucks Japan is calling it quits with paper straws
Studio Ghibli releases new range of cardigans for anime fans
Japan’s most popular castle raising ticket prices by up to 200 percent for non-local tourists
Furikake rice seasoning sales are soaring, which is bad news for Japan as a whole
Studio Ghibli heroine cardigans give you warmth and strength to face everyday challenges
Eight unforgettable hot springs, as recommended by Japan’s “Professor Bath”
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengers
[Deleted] Article written for April Fool’s Day 2018
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Studio Ghibli releases free-download board game — Here’s how to play it without reading Japanese
Japan’s indie craft cola canned cocktails just might upend the sour/chu-hi world【Taste test】
Self-freezing bottled Coca-Cola now available at convenience store vending machines in Japan
We try hone-jiru (bone soup), a delicious Okinawan specialty hard to find on mainland Japan
We find an Okinawan chili sauce made with the rarest kind of awamori–so we had to taste it
New “Sleep Water” from Coca Cola Japan promises to help you drift off, wake up refreshed
Western products some Japanese people love: Diet Dr. Pepper, the rare unicorn of drinks in Japan
Coca-Cola to release their healthiest cola ever in Japan this March
Our Japanese-language reporter tries eel cola so you don’t have to 【Taste Test】
Making minudaru, Okinawa’s super simple jet-black pork【SoraKitchen】
Okinawan soul fool Pork Tamago Onigiri sold not at a five-star restaurant, but at an airport
Is Coca-Cola Japan’s new canned Jack Daniels cocktail better than mixing your own?【Taste test】
Japan’s little soda that can, Iyoshi Cola, gets into the canned cocktail game
New garlic cola from Japan’s garlic capital is as surprising as its name proclaims
Japan’s new watermelon Fanta is first of its kind with added salt content
Coca-Cola Japan brings out a new design bottle exclusive to Okinawa
Japan’s Coca-Cola Plus Coffee is here to keep you both bubbly and caffeine-charged
Leave a Reply