
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
Unique inclined elevator in Japan leads to a town that inspired Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away
Tokyo hotel lets you make your stay a Sanrio one with special My Melody and Kuromi rooms【Pics】
Beautiful vintage Japanese manhole covers being offered for sale by Aichi city【Photos】
This “mountain bandit” restaurant is one of the coolest places in Japan【Photos】
Secret-identity J-pop singer Ado to hold handshake event with surreal setup to hide her face
National Geographic names Yamagata Prefecture on its “Best of the World 2026” travel destinations
The deluxe disappointment and basic brilliance of Japan’s oldest standing soba noodle chain
Japanese military called in to deal with increasing bear attacks in rural prefectures
Japan’s mint chocolate season hits Family Mart with 14 new choco mint treats (and five superstars)
Hinamatsuri Pikachu kimono couple plushie on the way to celebrate Japan’s Doll Festival【Photos】
Sanrio and Sonic the Hedgehog characters become fast friends with new plushie collection
Totoro fountain figurine recreates the sights and sounds of one of anime’s most memorable scenes
Step into Japanese culture with Converse’s new Japan-exclusive shoes featuring gods, sushi style
Top Japanese baby names for 2025 feature flowers, colors, and a first-time-ever favorite for girls
Starbucks Japan releases new Christmas drink that can be topped with whipped cream
Studio Ghibli releases new Howl’s Moving Castle perpetual calendar
Beautiful Totoro bento box mixes classic and modern symbols of Japan
New Kyoto experience package lets you film epic samurai battles with your friends
Japan’s mini VHS anime home video replicas are the newest blast of capsule toy nostalgia【Pics】
Kagawa’s Udon Gummies are so hard to chew they come with warning labels
Human washing machine pods coming to Japanese hotels【Photos】
Studio Ghibli releases new “komorebi” plush toys to brighten your days
JR Hokkaido train driver in trouble for reading book about trains on stopped train
Studio Ghibli releases new anime tea and mugs in Japan
Japanese hotel chain’s new service: A bed and pajamas for otaku travelers’ plushies
Tokyo bento boxed lunch shop charges different prices depending on how heavy your laptop is
Studio Ghibli anime stoles are here to keep you warm with a range of famous characters
Japan has vending machines that put protective film on your phone for you — Here’s how to use them
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas Frappuccino and holiday drinks for 2025
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Possessing Harry Potter’s Sword of Godric Gryffindor is now illegal in Japan
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
One of Japan’s most beautiful hot spring towns announces new limits on number of day trippers
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
Japan’s new microwavable potato chips are amazing, but the best thing isn’t how they taste
Natto-flavored potato chips are now yours for the taking (or trashing) in Japan
Leave a Reply