Known traditionally as “Pocky Day” in Japan, 11 November may become “Good Shopping Day” before long.
Pocky (Page 2)
Because after a hard day at the office, there’s nothing like unwinding with a glass of bourbon and a chocolate-covered pretzel stick.
Take an inside peek into the production process of Pocky, the beloved Japanese snack which has found its way into supermarkets around the world.
Popular Japanese snack Pocky has had a makeover and they’re now available heart-shaped and in “lucky” blue for a limited time!
‘Tis the season to eat Pocky! Celebrate Pocky Day with these amusing (and tantalizing) tweets from Japan!
The vagaries of reading in Japanese mean that often the same text or numbers can be said a variety of ways. For example, some of the many readings for 2 and 9 and “ni” and “ku,” which combine to form niku, the Japanese word for “meat,” which is how November 29 became known in some circles as Meat Day. Going from the carnivorous to the carnal, 8 can be read as “hai,” making both November 28 and February 8 observed as Knee-High Socks Days.
Sometimes, though, you don’t need pun-filled pronunciations for an excuse to start a pseudo-holiday. Writing November 11 all in numerals gets you 11-11, and all those vertical lines look to some like a handful of enticing Pocky sticks. And so, this week Japan celebrated Pocky Day by not only devouring boxes of the stuff, but by turning the chocolate-covered treats into works of physical and photographic art.
Famous Japanese confectioner Glico has been bringing us iconic Japanese sweets like Pretz and Pocky for decades. Now they have a real treat in store for us, thanks to an extra-special line-up to celebrate the upcoming 3-D movie, Stand By Me Doraemon.
The new specially marked packs include a hidden secret: 3-D moving images of Doraemon that come to life in your home. But these aren’t just any images. They’re created by you, with your very own colours and designs transformed into unbelievable, moving images, each with Doraemon acting out a fun scene before your very eyes! Check out all the different designs after the jump.
Who hasn’t had a daydream about being the best in the world at something? Unfortunately, most of us have already missed our chance to set the Guinness World Record for youngest professional drummer, yet are still a couple decades away for breaking the mark for oldest competing gymnast.
Thankfully, there are accomplishments that aren’t age sensitive, such as the world record for longest relay of people feeding each other, which is exactly what a group of teamwork-minded snack food enthusiasts got together to attempt in Tokyo.
Along with having a pleasing smell, one of the essential requirements of being part of the RocketNews24 team is a certain measure of eloquence. I can proudly say that the rest of the crew writes really, really good (they also help me out a lot, quite obviously).
But sometimes, words aren’t quite enough. How can mere prose do justice to the subtle hues of a cherry blossom, or the reverberations of a temple bell? Sometimes, in order to properly carry out our mission of spreading the simple joys of Japanese culture, we have to carry it with us and head out into the world, which is just what we did recently while traveling Africa.
Unfortunately cherry blossom season is still about five months away, and we couldn’t fit our cast-iron bell in the overhead bin, so we settled for the next best thing: bringing boxes of the chocolaty snack Pocky to share with the Maasai people of Kenya.
Every year on 11 November people in Japan celebrate Pocky & Pretz Day. In case you don’t already know, Pocky are thin cookie sticks with chocolate, strawberry, or other flavored frosting. Pretz are a more mature stick with salty flavors. Their simplicity is matched only by their sheer addictiveness.
Because of the date’s resemblance to the snacks (11/11), every year, their maker Ezaki Glico cooks up a special campaign. In 2011 on Pocky & Pretz Day if you tweeted a special sentence using Pocky and a particular hashtag you could have won free snacks.
However, for Pocky & Pretz Day 2012, Glico has their sights set on entering the Guinness World Records.
MOST POPULAR
Now
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
We asked our Japanese team of writers how they deal with seasonal allergies in Japan
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Starbucks Japan opens new Kyoto store in Place of Scenic Beauty
Got an old kimono lying around? Turn it into one-of-a-kind art with upcycle service Ikasu!
Is this Japan’s most extreme cherry blossom viewing? Leap, cycle and climb through 2,500 sakura
Minecraft User Decides to Make Kinkakuji, Eventually Creates the Entire City of Kyoto
Is Daiso’s microwave Japanese rolled omelet maker worth your time and money? [Taste test]
Number of foreigners working in Japan hits all-time high, 25 percent come from same country
7-Eleven Japan’s “Paper Tiger” sandwich sparks online controversy over deceptive packaging
Weekly
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan opens new cafe and art gallery in top Tokyo tourist neighbourhood
Is Japan’s Crab-shaped Cup Ramen Timer worth the hype?
Pizza Hut Japan teams up with creator of one of the country’s best kinds of ramen for ramen pizza
Komachi Shokudo: Japanese mum’s-style cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Tokyo
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
Starbucks Japan releases a new Cream Puff Frappuccino for a limited time
The top 10 graduation songs in Japan as chosen by current Japanese high school students
Pikachu and Eevee become handmade Lladró porcelain sculptures to celebrate Pokémon’s 30th birthday
Monthly
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026- Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
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
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026- Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Yearly
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
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]- Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
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
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Is this Japan’s most extreme cherry blossom viewing? Leap, cycle and climb through 2,500 sakura
Minecraft User Decides to Make Kinkakuji, Eventually Creates the Entire City of Kyoto
Is Daiso’s microwave Japanese rolled omelet maker worth your time and money? [Taste test]
Number of foreigners working in Japan hits all-time high, 25 percent come from same country
7-Eleven Japan’s “Paper Tiger” sandwich sparks online controversy over deceptive packaging
We tried Akihabara’s Star Kebab sushi roll and it changed our world
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Häagen-Dazs Japan releases new ASMR ice cream called “Rocky Crunchy!”
New Jimmy Choo x Sailor Moon collaboration brings anime magic to bags, shoes and accessories
Japan’s Top 10 Scenic Train Trips–according to two “densha otaku” train guides
Calling all reincarnated princesses! Sailor Moon’s “Princess Serenity dress” up for grabs
Power up like Godzilla with new limited-edition Godzilla Energy Drink
-
