Tokyo Five

Baskin-Robbins Halloween

October 25, 2009 · 13 Comments

Today we went to a shopping center and stopped for a coffee break at the McDonalds and I noticed the display at the 「サーティワン・アイスクリーム」 (Baskin-Robbins) next to the McDonalds.

The display was for Baskin-Robbins‘ Halloween campaign. So I took a photo of it:

DSCF5367

We didn’t buy any of the Baskin-Robbins Halloween desserts.
But we do enjoy Baskin-Robbins ice cream once in a while.

Baskin-Robbins is an American ice cream franchise that is very popular in Japan.
In Japan, it’s not called “Baskin-Robbins” though. It’s called 「サーティワン・アイスクリーム」 (“Thirty-one Ice Cream“) or simply 「サーティワン」 (“Thirty-one“).

I haven’t been to a Baskin-Robbins in America in many years. I guess it’s been about twenty-five years since I’ve seen an American Baskin-Robbins.

But I was thinking that if Baskin-Robbins in America has Halloween themed desserts they’re probably quite different from the ones that Baskin-Robbins sells here in Japan.

So I checked their websites and sure enough Baskin-Robbins U.S. Halloween treats are completely different from Baskin-Robbins Japan’s.

Maybe it’s because I’ve been in Japan so long…but I think that food in Japan (including junk-food) is much better than the food in America.
The last time we visited America (in 2004), my family and I all enjoyed our holiday there…but we missed the food in Japan!

Compare for yourself Baskin-Robbins Japan and Baskin-Robbins U.S. Halloween desserts and tell if you don’t agree that the Japanese ones look much more appetizing.

The ad for Baskin-Robbins Japan:

"Baskin-Robbins Japan" Halloween sweets

"Baskin-Robbins Japan" Halloween sweets

And here’s the ad for Baskin-Robbins U.S.:

"Baskin-Robbins U.S. Halloween cakes

"Baskin-Robbins U.S. Halloween cakes

Categories: Food · Japan · culture shock · halloween
Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

13 responses so far ↓

  • tokyo5 // October 31, 2009 at 12:17 am | Reply

    In Japan, Baskin-Robbins has a 「31の日」 (“31 Day“) campaign.

    On the 31st of any month (which, of course, is Jan, Mar, May, July, Aug, Oct and Dec), you can buy a double scoop ice cream for 31% off!

    So today is Oct 31 so if you go to a Baskin-Robbins in Japan, you can try one of their Halloween ice cream flavors for 31% off.

    We’re gonna go there today.

  • Chris // November 1, 2009 at 12:48 pm | Reply

    Damnit, now I want an ice cream cake!

  • Chris // November 2, 2009 at 9:13 am | Reply

    Dunno. I don’t even know where the nearest one of their stores is. It’s all about Coldstone in this town.

  • DenzelWraf // November 2, 2009 at 4:39 pm | Reply

    Hello there, Happy Happy hallowen!!!

  • taroinbrisbane // November 6, 2009 at 9:57 pm | Reply

    Hi Tokyo 5,

    I was searching the blogs with tag ラーメン。 Hit your entry of ramen girl. Have to watch that one.

    >food in Japan (including junk-food) is much better than the food in America

    I grew up in Connecticut, came back to Japan and the thing I missed about US was the size of the ice cream scoops. And the hamburger in McDonalds some how I think the US ones are juicier and Japanese ones are drier, when comparing the basic hamburger not the qlbers or the big macs.

    But in Japan, there’s ramen and everything else that is yummier than anything the US has to offer!! Well for a Japanese native, that’s a natural choice but hearing it from an American is pretty cool! I am a food nationalist and trying to spread the culture to Australia.

    • tokyo5 // November 7, 2009 at 12:10 am | Reply

      >your entry of ramen girl. Have to watch that one.

      My “Ramen Girl” post is here:
      http://tokyo5.wordpress.com/2009/05/24/ramen-girl/

      >the hamburger in McDonalds …the US ones are juicier and Japanese ones are drier

      Do you think so? I didn’t notice that…they seemed similar to me.

      >But in Japan, there’s ramen and everything else that is yummier than anything the US has to offer!!

      Japan’s food and service can’t be beat!

      >I am a food nationalist and trying to spread the culture to Australia.

      I looked at your blog.
      You’re a ramen chef, aren’t you?
      My favorite ramen is 「坦々麺」…what do you think of “Tan-tan-men“?

  • Chris // November 7, 2009 at 11:23 am | Reply

    For the record the best kind of ice cream for me is strawberry, especially if it has large chunks of fruit in it. Savor the chilly goodness! Given that where I live it frequently gets above 115 in the summer, believe me, I take ice cream seriously! :)

    • tokyo5 // November 7, 2009 at 11:48 am | Reply

      115°F!? That’s about 46°Celcius!
      Sounds like what the temperature would be in India, not America!

      But it’s not humid, right?

      Summer in Tokyo is similar to summer in Florida (where I grew up)…it gets to about 36 – 37° Celcius (about 97-98° F), and very humid!

Leave a Comment