Six new designs unveiled in continuing series that salutes Japan’s natural beauty and cultural legacy.
soft drinks
It’s the name that turns many English-speakers off, but even people in Japan sometimes take issue the way Calpis can linger in your mouth.
We won’t have to wait until the blossoms appear to enjoy sakura with our Coca-Cola this year.
People in Japan will be the first in the world to find out what the unique flavour combination tastes like.
Each bottle can only be purchased in the specific tourist spot it was designed for, so tracking down all nine requires a Japanese road trip of epic proportions.
Each of the locally-themed designs will be limited for sale in different regions of the country.
Although they are stopping just short of calling it an actual “health cola,” Coca-Cola Plus is the latest addition to the health-oriented cola war in Japan.
A spinning reel of enticing flavour possibilities was used to introduce the new star ingredient.
Japanese beverage maker Suntory has just announced it will be releasing its first-ever cherry blossom-flavoured Pepsi this spring.
The French carbonated orange drink Orangina has been widely accepted in Japan as one of the top sodas. In fact Japanese beverage company Suntory now owns the beverage in all Asian and European markets.
So it was with great anticipation that Japanese consumers welcomed the new lemon flavor, dubbed Lemongina, on 31 March. However, that warm welcome lasted barely a few minutes as Twitter was flooded with complaints that the new drink “tastes like dirt.” This was followed shortly thereafter by a flood of complaints that it “doesn’t taste like dirt” when drunk after hearing that it did.
Had Suntory made a major blunder in their artificial flavoring, or is part of Japan undergoing mass hysteria? We headed down to the supermarket to find out.
The story of Momotaro is one of Japan’s oldest folktales, but a lot of its elements seem a little silly. For starters, the hero’s name translates as “Peach Boy.” His companions are a monkey, a dog, and a pheasant, who he wins over by giving them some sweet dumplings in exchange for their help against the story’s villains, who all have outie bellybuttons.
Goofy as these details may sound, though, the core of the tale is absolutely epic. A young hero who harnesses the power of wild beasts, then sails into the heart of demon territory to rumble with them on their island fortress? In a world where every literary and comic character is a candidate to become a darkly stylish action hero (heck, even Batman’s gritty reboot is getting its own gritty reboot), why hasn’t someone revamped Peach Boy into something closer to Peach Man?
Actually, someone already has, but you won’t find the new Momotaro in theatres, and while you might catch him flipping through the channels on TV, you can’t find his adventures scheduled in the program guide. That’s because this amazingly awesome version of Momortaro is actually a series of commercials from Pepsi.
With its startling name, it’s taking time for the yogurt-like beverage Calpis to catch on with non-Japanese consumers, who sometimes know it better by its alternate name, Calpico. For people in Japan, though, Calpis is old hat, so much so that its makers occasionally feel the need to mix up the product line with new versions and special flavors.
This year, that means strawberry Calpis. We just got our hands on a bottle, and if you can get past any hang-ups about the name, here are four ways to enjoy this delicious limited time treat.
We’ve talked before about all the cool Kit Kats Japan gets, but the chocolate-covered wafers aren’t the only sweet indulgence with exclusive-to-Japan versions. Once a year or so, Pepsi releases a special flavor for the Japanese market, too.
This winter the soft drink maker is bringing back a popular hit from a few years ago, with the return of strawberry milk Pepsi.
In some ways, the huge amount of vending machines in Japan seems like a win-win situation. In a country that gets incredibly hot and sticky in the summer, it’s nice to never be more than a few minutes’ walk from a cold drink, and for beverage companies like Coca-Cola, the machines are a huge source of income.
That said, all of those vending machines are essentially coin-operated refrigerators, collectively sucking up a huge amount of electricity. In an effort to cut down on their energy consumption, Coca-Cola has developed a new type of unit that spends as much as 16 hours a day not using any electricity at all to keep its products nice and cool.
MOST POPULAR
Now
Japanese cheating survey finds high infidelity rate in Kyoto and one of Tokyo’s neighbors
Microwavable potato chips go on sale in Japan, because why should we eat cold potatoes? 【Video】
Over 100 foreigners disappeared in Japan last year after arriving on cruise ships
Japanese kids’ show mascot busts out a juicy piano pop tune inside a subway station
Robot matchmaking party in Japan has couples sit silently, techno cupids make small talk for them
Sakura Totoro: Official Studio Ghibli merchandise for cherry blossom season 2019
Fluffy Hello Kitty complimentary cup sleeves lead promotional Kitty lineup at Lawson
Uniqlo’s new “communist dictator” jacket has Japanese commenters confused and snickering【Photos】
Unbelievable deal from Domino’s Pizza Japan makes Wednesday the best day of the week
Japanese smartphone users rank the 10 mobile phone games they play the most
Weekly
Hollywood Your Name anime live-action movie will feature Native American girl, Chicago boy
Translator at Japanese marathon under fire for calling African athletes “cute chimpanzees”- Uniqlo’s new “communist dictator” jacket has Japanese commenters confused and snickering【Photos】
Japanese dads reveal the shocking secret behind their daughters’ “homemade” Valentine’s chocolate
Matt Kuwata stuns the world with transformation from Japanese boy to living doll 【Photos】
Ridiculously awesome cherry blossom bar with sakura pool opening in Tokyo【Photos】
Otaku parenting: Loving mom shocks daughter out of bed cosplay-style
Japanese company will ask your crush out on a date for you if you’re too shy to do it yourself
Beautiful Japanese sightseeing train will be unforgettable way to travel country’s north island
Japanese breast size study shows rapid growth in previously smallest-busted region of county
Monthly
New Pokémon dress shirt line lets you dress like an adult in the company of all 151 Kanto species
Ariana Grande “fixes” her 7 Rings Japanese kanji tattoo, but it still says tiny charcoal grill
You have One Piece creator’s official permission to have sexy fantasies about his characters
Naomi Osaka shuts down reporter who asked her to speak in Japanese following Australian Open win
Ariana Grande stops learning Japanese following backlash over her “7 Rings” BBQ grill tattoo
Ariana Grande’s “7 Rings” Japanese tattoo fail spawns hilarious parody tattoos online
This Japanese man dated a cockroach, dreamed of having sex with it 【Video】
Starbucks Japan releases new cherry blossom travel mugs, glasses and goods for 2019
Ariana Grande’s kanji tattoo fail: new ink reads “Japanese BBQ grill” instead of “7 Rings”
Twitter searches for the mysterious Shinsekis…and their potty-trained rabbit
Yearly
- New Pokémon dress shirt line lets you dress like an adult in the company of all 151 Kanto species
Japanese dad mercilessly beats son to tears in Smash Bros. after he says he wants to be pro gamer
Artist collapses at Comiket and dies, leading brother to make a request of all anime illustrators- Ariana Grande “fixes” her 7 Rings Japanese kanji tattoo, but it still says tiny charcoal grill
- You have One Piece creator’s official permission to have sexy fantasies about his characters
Cafe opens in Tokyo staffed by robots controlled by paralyzed people
Japanese 26-year old single mother arrested for inviting underage high school boy home
Miss World Japan: The great-times-20-granddaughter of samurai lord One-Eyed Dragon
Miss Universe Japan debuts Sailor Moon ninja transformation dress as national costume for 2018
Otaku husband returns home after argument to find wife has destroyed his anime robot collection
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Sakura Totoro: Official Studio Ghibli merchandise for cherry blossom season 2019
Fluffy Hello Kitty complimentary cup sleeves lead promotional Kitty lineup at Lawson
Uniqlo’s new “communist dictator” jacket has Japanese commenters confused and snickering【Photos】
Unbelievable deal from Domino’s Pizza Japan makes Wednesday the best day of the week
Japanese smartphone users rank the 10 mobile phone games they play the most
What does “Konnichiwa” really mean? Understanding Japanese greetings
Survey shows Japanese women would love to be getting some chocolate on Valentine’s Day too
Japan’s public broadcaster leaving threatening notes on people’s doorsteps
Matt Kuwata stuns the world with transformation from Japanese boy to living doll 【Photos】
Massive menstrual flow character will be Japan’s newest movie star
Japanese dads reveal the shocking secret behind their daughters’ “homemade” Valentine’s chocolate
Is it cold enough in Hokkaido for banana hammers?
-
