
Specifically women who want to share lovely photos of whatever they’re eating on social media.
Snack food maker Calbee is the king of Japanese potato chips, which is a throne you don’t get to sit on without constantly pushing the envelope of fried spud slice innovation. To that end, Calbee has brought us such delights as matcha green tea chocolate potato chips, KFC potato chips, and the unusual “sushi-flavor-flavor” potato chips.
And now Calbee’s determination to take chips to bold new places has led to the creation of potato chips…for women!
Well, not just any women. Potato chips, in and of themselves, aren’t seen as a particularly masculine or feminine snack in Japan (because, well, they’re potato chips, which just about everyone agrees are delicious). Instead, Calbee says its new Potato Chips Lovely Cheese, as they’re officially called, were designed to appeal especially strongly to women in their 20s and 30s who enjoy snapping pictures of whatever they’re munching on to post on Instagram and other social media photo-sharing platforms.
The Lovely Cheese flavor actually provides a double dose of its marquee ingredients, with a mixture of rich gouda and milder cream cheese. There’s also just a touch of blueberry for an ever so slightly sweet sensation and aroma, all of which Calbee says makes the Lovely Cheese chips an excellent pairing selection with the sparkling wine commonly popped open by fashionable young ladies for Christmas parties in Japan.
But just as important as the flavor, according to Calbee, is the festively distinct bag, which it hopes will become a visual shorthand for “Holiday party time!” over the next few weeks.
Oddly enough, the chips themselves aren’t billed as looking any different than any other variety. Still, the mix of cheese and blueberry does sound intriguing, and since Calbee doesn’t sell its sakura butter chips anymore, this is your best option for pretty-in-pink chips.
Lovely Cheese is on sale now exclusively in Japanese convenience stores, priced at roughly 150 yen (US$1.30) per bag. It’ll be available through mid-January, so it’ll still be an option for New Year’s Parties too.
Sources: Ryutsu News via Otakomu, PR Times
Top image: Pakutaso
Insert image: PR Times
Follow Casey on Twitter, where he misses Men’s Pocky and regrets never having been able to try Asahi First Lady beer.


Snack maker promises its extra-thick, extra-expensive potato chips are extra-delicious
We try Japan’s new “wet potato chips” — A moist revolution or soggy defeat?
The perfect summer snack – potato chips that are made to be cool, literally
Edamame potato chips appear in Japan, made with the king of edamame, dadachamame
New “wet” potato chips revolutionise the snack industry in Japan
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam is getting a new look before its end-of-summer removal
Universal Studios Japan is giving Frieren anime fans the chance to make unforgettable memories.
New Japanese overnight train coming to connect Tokyo with Tohoku in sleep-travel style
When is miso ramen not miso ramen? When it’s the new ramen at one of Japan’s top beef bowl chains
Japan now has “edible cat fur” for people who really love felines
7-Eleven’s new green tea rice ball and sweets are only available in Japan’s top tea-growing area
Sanrio Hotel Floria isn’t actually a hotel, but it’s still a must visit for fans traveling in Tokyo
300-tonne hose washes up on Japanese shore
7-Eleven Japan has a new Creamy Iced Cafe Latte that’s a hit on social media
Reinvented traditional Japanese hearths may be coming to a restaurant near you
East Japan Railway announces plans to abolish magnetic-strip tickets
New Square Enix Cafe reveals Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Nier, and Fullmetal Alchemist menu items
Japan’s cheap beef bowl chain goes upscale with Matsuya Premium, but is it worth the higher price?
Family Mart commits “reverse fraud” in new Giant All-Star Festival, and we couldn’t be happier
New Tokyo sweets shop offers 648 different mochi ice cream dumpling combinations
7-Eleven Japan joins the craze for Korean Gamja Cheese Balls
Shakey’s Japan creates matcha mochi, Kyoto fish, and Kansai Chili Con Carne pizzas
Anne Hathaway creates PR frenzy in Japan after mentioning Tottori in Devil Wears Prada interview
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Kyoto public junior high school becomes first in Japan with a hoodie school uniform
Japanese convenience store shows us how to dress for the rainy season
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
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】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Japanese potato chip Rubik’s Cubes coming soon
Japanese potato chip maker to sell potato-growing kits
Calbee goes spicy with two new potato chip flavors — Thai tom yum kung and Sichuan-style tofu!
KFC-flavor potato chips returning to Japan after a nearly decade-long absence
Pizza Potato crisis causes turmoil in Japan for chip-lovers and opportunists alike
Green tea chocolate-covered potato chips arrive in Japan! 【Taste test】
Get ready for a cherry-blossom-flavored spring with Sakura Butter potato chips from Calbee!
Microwavable potato chips go on sale in Japan, because why should we eat cold potatoes? 【Video】
Let’s talk about chips: Japanese netizens weigh in on the ten best potato chips in the country
Calbee teams with gourmet French chain for uni and dried roe potato chip flavor
Results of national poll for new flavor Calbee chips turn up “Tuna Corn Curry,” other bizarre flavors
Calbee Potato Chips pouch impresses us and makes us want more chips
New snack sensation: super sour and certainly salty lemon flavour potato chips
Lotteria wins us over with two amazing new potato chip burgers
Smelliest sushi in Japan to become potato chip flavor
Japanese snack giant Calbee makes its chips the star ingredient with unusual fast food venture