Both Pepsi and Coca-Cola in Japan often sell their products in unique “Japan only” flavors (so does Kit-Kat in Japan).
I’ve written posts about:
Pepsi Azuki,
Pepsi Shiso
and a couple other flavors of Pepsi and Coke in Japan.
Well, Pepsi is an official sponsor of the “2010 Soccer World Cup” which will be hosted by South Africa this summer.
I’m not a big soccer fan. In fact, the first time I had even heard of the “World Cup” was when Japan co-hosted it with South Korea in 2002.
But in honor of the 2010 World Cup, on 2010 May 25, Pepsi will be selling a new product here in Japan called 「ペプシ・バオバブ」 (“Pepsi Baobab“).
「ペプシバオバブ」 ("Pepsi Baobab")
According to Wikipedia, the Baobab is an unusual looking tree (a picture of one is on the “Pepsi Baobab” label) native to Africa.
Supposedly, the fruit is extremely healthy.
I’ve never heard of it before and I have no idea how the fruit tastes…but maybe I’ll try this new Pepsi flavor once it goes on sale just out of curiosity.
The ad for 「ペプシバオバブ」 (“Pepsi Baobab”) has eight soccer players named ロシアのアルシャビン (“Arshavin” of Russia), ドイツのバラック (“Ballack” of Germany), スぺインのトーレス (“Torres” of Spain), コートジポワールのドログバ (“Drogba” of Côte d’Ivoire), ブラジルのカカー (“Kaka” of Brazil), フランスのアンリ (“Henry” of France), アルゼンチンのメッシ (“Mercier” of Argentina) and イングランドのランパード (“Lampard” of England).
Ad for 「ペプシバオバブ」 ("Pepsi Baobab")
Also, 「マウンテンデゥー」 (“Mountain Dew“) is owned by Pepsi and in Japan they’re currently selling their drink in cans decorated with characters from the 「メタルギアソリッドピースウォーカー」 (“Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker“) game series.
Ad for the "Mountain Dew" / "Metal Gear" limited edition cans
And, I have written posts about the cell-phone straps that often come with purchases of “Pepsi NEX” in Japan.
For example…
the Samurai straps, the Snoopy straps, and the Star Wars Be@rbricks.
(I have written posts about other Be@rbrick characters in Japan besides the Star Wars ones before:
the MOS Burger Be@rbricks, and the KISS Be@rbrick).
Well, Pepsi NEX has teamed up with Be@rbrick again.
Now, with purchases of Pepsi NEX in Japan, they’re offering bear cell-phone straps in the likeness of famous characters from “Paramount Studios” movies.
Such as: 「ヒックとドラゴン」 (“How To Train Your Dragon”), 「シュレック」 (“Shrek”), 「マダガスカル」 (“Magadascar”), 「モンスターVSエイリアン」 (“Monsters vs Aliens”), 「トランスフォーマー」 (“Transformers”), “Top Gun”, 「サタデー・ナイト・フィーバー」 (“Saturday Night Fever”), 「フラッシュダンス」 (“Flashdance”), 「ビバリーヒルズ・コップ」 (“Beverly Hills Cop”), 「レッド・オクトーバーを追え!」 (“The Hunt For Red October”) and “The Godfather”.
Ad for "Pepsi NEX" / Paramount Japan Be@rbricks
Tokyo Five 
Ack nooo! I love CC Lemon, too! 😀
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Well, you should come to Japan soon and buy a bottle…you’ll get a free “Woodstock” cell-phone strap.
By the way, are cell-phone straps popular in England like they are here in Japan?
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Nowhere near as popular. Quite a few people have one, but you don’t have the profusion of them here that you get in Japan.
Everything’s fairly expensive in the UK. A single phone strap can be anywhere from £5 to £10, which is about 670 – 1,340en. I don’t think I’ve paid much more than 500en for a phone strap in Japan, and usually more around the 300en mark.
People who do have something hanging off their phone here, then, just tend to have one item, and they keep it until it falls apart.
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¥1,340 (about US$14)!?
It’s expensive for a cell-phone strap!
Are they very nice ones for that price?
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Not especially, no. We get ripped off a lot over here 😀
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Really? Is the cost of living high in England?
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I never seem to find the drinks with the cute freebies whenever I’m in Japan. I try the local combini’s. Should I be hunting in supermarkets instead?
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When they’re available, they can be found at both convenience stores and supermarkets. Either one.
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Cheers. I must just get unlucky then 😀
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“CC Lemon” is giving away “World Traveling Woodstock” characters with their drinks right now.
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I’m not a soda drinker at all anymore… yet that new Pepsi flavor sounds rather… tasty.
(I cut out soda two years ago when I went on my diet).
Stone
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I don’t drink much cola either. I don’t have much of a “sweet tooth”.
Occasionally, I feel like drinking a cola…but not often.
But I may try this new Pepsi…just for the novelty value.
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The boabab tree, known in Africa as the tree that grows upside down, is one of the strangest in the world. It does indeed look as if the roots are sticking out above ground. The girth of the trunk of a fully grown tree is astounding. I don’t remember any fruit growing on these trees, but no doubt there is some kind of reproductive growth. The most use is from the bark and cambium layer of the tree trunk. Tartar sauce, for one example, is made from the cambium layer and accompanying juices. Perhaps the Japanese drink is too?
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OK thanks.
You know a lot about this tree. Have you seen one before?
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Yep. Lived in S. Africa three years; saw many boabab trees, though they aren’t plentiful, like acacia for example. The trees are fascinating because of their appearance, particularly in profile at sunset.
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You lived in South Africa? Recently?
How did you like it?
How many countries have you lived in…and which do you like best?
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