azuki

Azuki bars are a favorite of the young and old, so take yourself, your kids, and the granny who lives next door to one of these free celebrations!

Imuraya Confectionery is a manufacturing company famous for making azuki (also spelled “adzuki”) bean products. They’re the ones we can thank for the existence of Japan’s beloved azuki bean ice cream bar, which you can bet was on our previous list of the top 10 awesome ice creams available from Japanese convenience stores.

In fact, the folks at Imuraya loved their own frozen creation so much that in 2007 they declared the first of every month to be “Azuki Day,” and even officially registered July 1 as “Imuraya Azuki Bar Day.” And what better way to celebrate this day than to hand out azuki bars for free at four venues throughout Japan??

▼ This isn’t just to tease you on a hot summer day or anything…

If you’re in Japan, be sure to stop by one of the following Imuraya azuki bar free distribution locations on July 1st, national Imuraya Azuki Bar Day.

1. Tokyo — Shibuya PARCO Park Square/渋谷パルコ公園通り広場
Address: 150-0042 Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Udagawa-cho 15-1
150-0042 東京都渋谷区宇田川町15-1
Duration: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., or while supplies last. Note: Promotion will be canceled in the event of inclement weather.
Azuki bar distribution times: 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m.
Stock: 6,000 bars
Special events: the appearance of Azuki King (Imuraya’s special mascot character), taking photos with Azuki King, and photo space

2. Nagoya — Nagoya Station Nana-chan Street/名古屋駅　ナナちゃんストリート会場
Address: 450-0002 Aichi-ken, Nagoya-shi, Nakamura-ku, Meieki 1-2
450-0002 愛知県名古屋市中村区名駅一丁目2番
Duration: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., or while supplies last
Azuki bar distribution times: 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m.
Stock: 4,000 bars
Special events: photo space

3. Osaka — Diamor Osaka Event Space D’s Square/ディアモール大阪　イベントスペースディーズスクエア
Address: 530-0001 Osaka-shi, Kita-ku, Umeda 1
530-0001 大阪市北区梅田1丁目
Duration: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., or while supplies last
Azuki bar distribution times: 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m.
Stock: 5,000 bars
Special events: photo space

4. Tokyo — Tokyo Nihonbashi Mie Terrace/東京日本橋　三重テラス会場
Address: 103-0022 Tokyo, Chuo-ku, Nihonbashi-Muromachi 2-4-1 Ukiyo Koji Senbikiya Building “Yuito Annex” 1st & 2nd floors
103-0022 東京都中央区日本橋室町2-4-1 浮世小路千疋屋ビル「YUITO ANNEX」1F・2F
Duration: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., or while supplies last
Azuki bar distribution times: none listed
Stock: 200 bars
Special events: none listed

Event information in Japanese can be found on Imuraya’s website.

Source: Imuraya
Top image: Imuraya USA