With three cute box designs and adorable individual wrappers, this is the best way to send wishes for a lucky New Year.
Nestlé Japan is known for its wide range of unusual Kit Kats, which come in a variety of unusual flavours and special local releases, but sometimes, at the end of the year, it’s the original chocolate wafer that becomes one of their most sought-after products. The Japanese tradition of giving “otoshidama” money gifts at New Year is one that often involves envelopes featuring auspicious symbols or Chinese zodiac animals, and Nestlé has been combining the custom with the popular “Kit Kat Otoshidama” for the past seven years. The company recently announced their lineup for 2017, and the adorable packaging features a cute bird character to mark the upcoming Year of the Rooster.
▼ The boxed packages come in three designs, including a rooster cosplaying as an eggplant…
▼ A rooster dressed up as Mt Fuji…
▼ And a rooster on the back of a hawk.
Why the bizarre choice of rooster outfits? These images – Mt Fuji, hawk, and eggplant – are the top three auspicious symbols Japanese people hope to see in “hatsuyume“, their first dream of the New Year.
▼ Hopefully, if you stare at the back of the packet for long enough, you can have all three lucky symbols appear in your dream on the first night of the New Year!
Kit Kats have become popular as lucky gifts during times of celebration and exam periods, due to the fact that the brand holds connotations of luck in its name, given that its sounds similar to the Japanese phrase “Kitto katsu“, which means “You’ll surely win”.
The three individually wrapped chocolates inside the New Year’s boxes add even more luck to the mix with the words “Daikichi” or “Excellent luck” written across them, along with a rooster dressed as a Shinto priest, holding an Ōnusa paper shaker, used during purification rituals.
▼ The wrappers also include wishes for things like “surely a prosperous New Year” and a “New Year that’s surely special”.
The Kit Kats are even more exclusive due to the fact that they’re released in conjunction with Japan Post, meaning they can only be bought from local post offices for a limited time. The 2017 Kit Kat Otoshidama retail for 140 yen (US$1.35) each and will be available from 1 November to 6 January, so be sure to step inside a post office to pick up one of the boxes if you’re in Japan during that time!
Source, images: Nestlé Japan
New luxury Japanese Kit Kat available at stores around the country
Kit Kat celebrates the Year of the Monkey with special Chinese Zodiac packages
Japanese KitKats swap plastic bags for paper packaging with new origami feature
New Japanese KitKat is…a Heartful Bear!
New Japanese KitKat has been aged in whisky barrels from Islay, Scotland
Japan’s EF English Proficiency Index rank drops for 11th straight year, hits lowest ever
Chinese government’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning has heartwarming non-effect on Yokohama Chinatown
Popular Japanese ramen restaurant Ichiran’s lucky bags are great value for money
Japan considering raising international traveler departure tax even more than previously reported
KFC Japan opens a Christmas restaurant in Tokyo…but why???
Studio Ghibli stamps lift your spirits with motivational phrases from Totoro
This one delicious Japanese dessert has at least six different names
A whole slew of Totoro Christmas cakes are on their way to make the season extra merry【Photos】
Japan’s first-ever capybara cat cafe opens in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli holiday wreath adds a touch of Kiki cuteness and good fortune to your home【Photos】
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Yoshinoya adds first-ever chain-wide ramen with new beef and pork-broth noodle hot pot meals
KFC Japan introduces a new burger 8 years in the making
New fish discovered and named “Vanderhorstia supersaiyan” for obvious reasons
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowd sizes in Nara?
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Shibuya’s Don Quijote?
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods and a rhinestone tumbler that costs 19,500 yen
Is Kyoto less crowded with tourists after China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning?【Photos】
Real-world Nausicaa Ghibli anime glider completes its final flight in Japan【Video】
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
Unique inclined elevator in Japan leads to a town that inspired Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
Naturally brown-haired Osaka student sues government for forcing her to dye her hair black
Tokyo hotel lets you make your stay a Sanrio one with special My Melody and Kuromi rooms【Pics】
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
J-pop mega star Ado reveals she’s been living in the U.S., may not understand language acquisition
All the best Japanese Kit Kat flavours together in one exclusive anniversary box for limited time
Japanese KitKat Bears debut exclusively in Japan, but are they any good?
New Japanese Sake Kit Kat developed by esteemed brewery and famous soccer player
Nestlé Japan releases new Kit Kat with chocolate cake centre
New Japanese KitKats capture the flavour of a busy port city
Japanese Sushi Kit Kats available again for a limited time!
New Japanese Kit Kat debuts world’s first natural ruby chocolate
New Yuzu Sake KitKat combines Japanese rice wine with a zesty local citrus
New Japanese Kit Kat captures the taste of Hiroshima with Momiji Manju flavour
New Doughnut KitKat captures the flavour of a Japanese castle town
New Japanese KitKat flavours include sakura and pineapple candy
New Japanese Kit Kat flavour on its way, as finalists from international voting announced
We taste the new Japanese KitKat, aged in whisky barrels in Islay, Scotland
Japanese Kit Kats now come in Tokyo Banana flavour
New Japanese KitKat flavour lets you eat a zunda milkshake
Japanese KitKats get fresh with new peach rum mint flavour this summer
Leave a Reply