
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
Japanese gacha machine in Shibuya now sells tiny capsule terrariums
Study finds hundreds of people in Indonesia legally named after Naruto, Inuyasha, other anime stars
12-year-old foreign tourist missing in Japan, police asking for help finding her [Video]
Best burger in Tokyo? JB’s serves up a cheap craft burger that not a lot of people know about
Teen girl in Japan refuses to be victim, personally escorts train pervert to police for arrest
New Wet Rice Cracker Burger from Dom Dom breathes new life into a “miracle” snack
Google’s first Google Store outside the U.S. is now open in Tokyo
Krispy Kreme Japan is baking up two new donuts that you can only get at one spot in the country
The Japanese city where ordering grilled chicken doesn’t guarantee you’ll actually get chicken
Watch a sumo bout inside Tokyo Tower, at a new restaurant endorsed by two yokozuna
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
Studio Ghibli adds new Jiji’s baby plush toy to its anime merchandise range in Japan
Japan’s new beer glass is designed to force you to drink…water [Video]
Beautiful off-the-beaten-path spot near samurai castle in rural Japan looks like a Monet painting
This beautiful rural Japan river is a great alternative to touristy summer retreats [Photos]
Japanese airlines set to cut fuel surcharges for international flights in September and October
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
99-year-old woman rescued while attempting to climb Mt. Fuji
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
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
Green tea chocolate-covered potato chips arrive in Japan! 【Taste test】
Pizza Potato crisis causes turmoil in Japan for chip-lovers and opportunists alike
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
Smelliest sushi in Japan to become potato chip flavor
New snack sensation: super sour and certainly salty lemon flavour potato chips
Lotteria wins us over with two amazing new potato chip burgers
Natto-flavored potato chips are now yours for the taking (or trashing) in Japan