
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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFPXviTpOTc
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
Japan releases first official sakura cherry blossom forecast for 2026
Pokémon menstrual pads appear in Japan【Photos】
Japanese city to deploy anti-bear drones against ursine adversaries, stages adorable demo【Vid】
Bear meat noodles?!? Tokyo restaurant adds a new kind of niku soba to its menu【Taste test】
Racing into our stomachs this winter are motorcycle fuel tank-shaped bento
We traveled almost 400 miles to get popcorn from this ninja machine, but do we regret it?【Photos】
The entire Pokémon Red and Blue Kanto region map, built as a 3-D diorama, looks amazing【Photos】
Japanese beauty magazine asks readers to identify the one crossdresser among 12 beautiful women
Are all Starbucks coffee sizes the same? Testing the viral video claim in Japan
Japanese drum game Taiko no Tatsujin celebrates 20 years with TikTok version, tournament, and more
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Massive manga collaboration bringing 100 years of Shueisha manga to Uniqlo T-shirts【Photos】
Visiting Japan’s Gyarados Pokémon park in the city with a special connection to Magikarp【Photos】
Majority of Japanese women in survey regret marrying their husband, but that’s only half the story
Totoro cream puffs and Catbus cookies are finally available in downtown Tokyo
Japan’s kid-friendly ski program is now selling Pikachu snowboards for a limited time only
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
Japanese vending machine serves up unique drinks at four Tokyo train stations
McDonald’s Japan releases a Mushroom Mountain and Bamboo Shoot Village McFlurry
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
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
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
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
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】
Leave a Reply