
Colourless beverage contains special ingredients to enhance the flavour of Japan’s “national dish”.
Pepsi has proved time and time again it isn’t afraid of experimenting with new releases to suit the tastes of the local market in Japan. So far, they’ve given us special flavours like sakura and Christmas cake, and recently they’ve customised their formula even further to give us Nama (“raw”) Pepsi and Japan Cola made with yuzu.
Now, they’ve outdone themselves by creating a special Pepsi designed to be drunk with the “national dish” karaage, or Japanese-style fried chicken.
The “Pepsi Karaage Senyo Cola” (“Pepsi Cola Exclusively for Fried Chicken“) is said to cut through the oiliness of the chicken and refresh your palate in a way that surpasses other types of Pepsi on the market.
This new Pepsi is said to be a better partner for fried chicken than the Nama Pepsi, which made its debut last summer as the brand’s most refreshing cola ever. As our reporters can testify, the Nama Pepsi does taste different, as it has less of a syrupy sweet aftertaste, working to refresh the taste buds rather than sweeten them.
For this new release, the scent and sweetness of cola have been dialled down to enhance the flavour of fried chicken, with the addition of dietary fibre to help cut through the oiliness, resulting in a refreshing taste. The cola is transparent and contains zero calories so you don’t have to worry about adding to the high calorie count of fried chicken.
Pepsi wants us to know that we don’t have to choose between the Nama and the Karaage Senyo, though, because as the ad below shows, the taste-tester with the big plate of karaage deems them both to be delicious partners for fried chicken.
▼ Take a look at the ad below.
The ad features Shinya Takagi and Kazuyuki Iketani performing in character as their personas from comedy duo Joyman, only now they’re ribbing each other as Nama Pepsi Vs Karaage Senyo. After their performance to impress the taste tester results in a draw, they end with their catchphrase “Nanda koitsu!” (“What’s up with this guy?”)
By introducing the new Pepsi to the market while the Nama is still available, Pepsi wants customers to try both versions so they can decide for themselves which is the better partner for karaage. They don’t have to twist our arm on that front, so you can bet we’ll be sizing them up with a plate of fried chicken when the Pepsi Karaage Senyo is released in stores on 14 June.
Source: PR Times
Featured image: YouTube/サントリー公式チャンネル (SUNTORY)
Insert image: PR Times
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!


Pepsi creates a new cola for Christmas fried chicken in Japan
Pepsi releases a new cola in Japan specifically for zangi
The Japan-exclusive Pepsi for fried chicken is here, but is it good?【Taste test】
Mint Pepsi for Yakisoba is coming to Japan, and we got to taste it before it goes on sale
Pepsi Japan to release its “most refreshing” cola ever
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
One Piece creator has hidden secret of anime treasure’s identity in chest at bottom of real-world ocean
Is Tokyo Station’s startlingly expensive wagyu bento boxed lunch worth its high price?[Taste test]
Lawson adds doughnuts to its convenience store sweets range, but are they good enough to go viral?
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Kyoto raises hotel accommodation tax to fight overtourism, travelers could pay up to 10 times more
Should you warm up your convenience store onigiri rice balls in the microwave?【Taste test】
Japan has only one airport named after a samurai, so let’s check out Kochi Ryoma【Photos】
Death Spray from Japan causes buzz online for powerful ability to cut ties with bad energy
Don’t forget that the best convenience store in northern Japan has branches farther south too
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japanese restaurant chain serves Dragon Ball donuts and Senzu Beans this spring
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 1]
Highest Starbucks in Japan set to open this spring in the Tokyo sky
Japan’s craziest burger chain takes menchi katsu to new extreme levels
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 2]
Japanese drugstore sells onigiri at pre-stupid era prices, but how do they compare to 7-Eleven?
Viral Japanese cheesecake from Osaka has a lesser known rival called Aunt Wanda
Which convenience store onigiri rice balls are the most popular? Survey reveals surprising results
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
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
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】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Make Fried-Chicken-Pepsi-Fried-Chicken with our slow and difficult recipe!【SoraKitchen】
Pepsi Zero Peach is being released in one area of Japan
Suntory releases new Pepsi soft drinks only available in Japan
“Raw Pepsi,” the most refreshing flavor ever, is out in Japan, but how does it taste?【Taste test】
Pepsi Japan teases new limited-edition flavour with clever marketing
Pepsi’s new Japan Cola has a special ingredient: one of Japan’s most delicious sweets seasonings
Coca Cola Japan releases new flavour to combat the winter cold
Citrus-packing “Pepsi White” coming to Japan for the winter snow season
We try the delicious new Japan-only sakura Pepsi【Taste test】
We hold a 14-nation taste test of Karaage-kun, Japan’s favorite convenience store fried chicken
Cold karaage vending machines take fried chicken to new extremes
Peach Coca-Cola coming to Japan in a world-first for the company
Coca-Cola releases five new gorgeous limited-edition bottles in Japan
Japan gets world’s strongest carbonated Pepsi, packaged in a new reinforced bottle
Is Coca-Cola Japan’s brand-new strawberry Coke any good?【Taste test】
Coca-Cola Japan releases new clear coke this month, we get to try it before it goes on sale
New ad for Pepsi J-Cola is like a badass Mad Max Japanese festival 【Video】