I’ve written posts before about the numerous unique flavors that Pepsi Japan has offered.
(Click here to see them.)
Starting on October 6th, for a limited time, Pepsi Japan will offer 「ペプシゴースト」 (“Pepsi Ghost“) for Halloween.
「ペプシゴースト」 (“Pepsi Ghost”)
They will be sold in a bottles with various original monsters on the labels. And, most interestingly, the bottles say that they’re 「ミステリーフレーバー」 (“Mystery flavor”)!
Would you (will you) try these once they go on sale?
In Japanese culture, when someone goes on a trip or even to a major amusement park, they feel compelled to buy お土産 (souvenirs) for friends and family…and even their co-workers (if they’re aware of the trip).
Normally, they like to give a “regional” souvenir. Something that represents the city or country that they visited…even a “I ♥ NY ” key-chain from a trip to New York could be a gift good enough for a co-worker or such.
When Japanese people go on a domestic trip (visit another town or city within Japan), it’s popular to buy a local food item as a souvenir.
So, currently, Kit-Kat Japan are offering ご当地お土産 (Regional Souvenirs).
Map of Japan showing regional Kit-Kat flavors for various areas.
I’ve written a number of posts about the myriad of Kit-Kat flavors in Japan. (Click here to see my posts about a large variety).
Some of the special Kit-Kat flavors that the map above shows:
What Kit-Kat flavors have you tried? How did you like them?
A few years ago, Burger King Japan offered a black burger…even the bread cheese were black!
(Click here to see my post about it).
And then, last year, McDonalds Japan decided to get in the game.
They offered a pink Sakura Teriyaki & Egg Burger in April, and their own black burger in October.
McDonalds Japan’s pink 「さくらてりたま」 (Sakura Teriyaki & Egg) burger.
And now, Burger King Japan has decided to offer new, unusually-colored burgers this summer (2015).
From July 3rd (until sometime in August), they will offer two new spicy red sandwiches…even the cheese and buns are red!
The “Aka (Red) Samurai Beef”
The “Aka (Red) Samurai Chicken”
And then, for a limited-time from August 21st, Burger King Japan will offer two new black sandwiches with black cheese and buns…but different from the ones they offered a few years back.
The “Kuro (Black) Shogun” burger with black cheese and eggplants.
The “Kuro (Black) Taiso” burger with black cheese and hash-potato.
Do you know the Japanese soft drink called 「ラムネ」 (Ramune)?
「ラムネ」 (Ramune)
It’s a 炭酸のソフトドリンク (carbonated soft-drink) in a uniquely shaped glass bottle that is sealed with a glass marble.
It comes in a variety of flavors, but the most common flavor is the original lemon flavor.
Ramune is a very popular drink, especially with young people, in the summertime in Japan. It is sold in many places including summer festivals.
One time I saw a store with a sign that said 「まずいラムネランキング」 (The Worst Ramune Flavors).
The #1 worst flavor on the list was 「キムチラムネ」 (Kimchee Ramune)!
「キムチラムネ」 (Kimchee Ramune)
I bought it just to try it. They weren’t kidding! It was disgusting!
Have you ever tried Ramune?
Tokyo was the first city in all of Asia to host the Olympics (the 1964 Tokyo Olympics).
(Tokyo will host the Olympics again in five years).
Tokyo was the first city in the world to have a Disney amusement park outside of the U.S.
And now Tokyo is the first place in the world where two independent fast-food chains have collaborated to make one unique restaurant together.
The Japanese branch of the American fast-food chain “Wendy’s” have joined with the Japanese fast-food chain ironically named “First Kitchen” to open a store in Tokyo called “Wendy’s First Kitchen“.
“Wendy’s First Kitchen” menu has unique menu items made from items from Wendy’s and First Kitchen together.
Today, 2015 March 5th, is the birthday of two famous Japanese people.
They’re famous in Japan, at least. Are they known in your country too?
First of all, the world’s oldest person, 大川ミサヲ (Misao OKAWA), was born on 1898 March 5th in Osaka, Japan. She is celebrating her 117th birthday today with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren!
—
Next, also from Osaka (but wasn’t born there)…today also would have been the birthday of 安藤百福 (Momofuku ANDO).
He is the man who invented instant Cup Noodle!
「カップヌードル」
He was born Taiwan on 1910 March 5th. At that time, Taiwan was a Japanese territory.
At the age of 22, he moved to Osaka, Japan and eventually became a naturalized Japanese citizen.
When he became a Japanese citizen, he changed his name to Momofuku Ando.
“Ando” is a common Japanese family name…but “Momofuku” is an unusual name in Japan. But his first name was changed to Momofuku when he became Japanese because it is an uncommon pronunciation in Japanese of his Chinese first name (pronounced “Baifu” in Chinese). It is written 「百福」 and literally means “One hundred fortunes“.
The logo of Google’s Japanese homepage today is of Momofuku ANDO.
A company called Pop! Gourmet Popcorn from Seattle, USA has opened stores in Japan last summer.
To help promote their popcorn, they are having a give-away contest until March.
If you buy a bottle of Pepsi Special, it comes with a scratch card.
If your card says 「あたり」 (Winner), it can be mailed in for a package of free gourmet popcorn.
I tried Pop! Gourmet Popcorn. I didn’t win the Pepsi campaign…actually, I rarely drink cola at all.
One of my daughters went to the Pop! store in Tokyo and bought some popcorn. She let me try it. It’s pretty good.
Many people now know that Japan has an incredible selection of unique flavors of Kit-Kat.
I wrote a post around five years ago about many of them.
I’ve actually written quite a few posts about Kit-Kat in Japan (click here to see a search of them).
One of the newest, and most unique so far, Kit-Kat flavors in Japan is 焼きキットカット (“Grilled Kit-Kat”) !
These are meant to be put in a toaster-oven for a couple of minutes to make them toasted brown.
What do you think? Would you try them? Have you tried them already?
If you’re in Tokyo and you really … really … love Burger King Whoppers, you can enter their Whopper Challenge.
The contest, for those who are chosen to participate, will be held on Thursday, 2014 June 19th at 2PM in the Roppongi branch of Burger King.
Contestants will be given 30 minutes to eat seven Whoppers.
The prize for those who are successful will be free Whopper burgers for a month!
Like I said, it’s for those who really love Whoppers!
Do you know the FIFA soccer “World Cup“? Do you watch it?
It’s like the Olympics or “Super Bowl” for soccer.
I remember when Korea and Japan co-hosted the World Cup in 2002 and many matches were held in the Tokyo area. I tried to get interested in the event. I watched the games that Japan played, as well as the games that America played.
But, if I’m honest, I find soccer pretty boring.
I guess I’m in the minority with that opinion though because soccer, especially the World Cup, is very popular around the world.
In Japan, too.
It wasn’t always like that. When I first came to Japan, soccer wasn’t very popular here. Baseball was by far the most popular sport in Japan then.
When Japan co-hosted the 2002 World Cup, soccer-fever took off in Japan. And it’s been very popular here since.
Anyways, in anticipation of the 2014 World Cup, which will be hosted by Brazil from 2014 June 12th – July 13th, McDonalds in Japan is offering a special “World Cup” menu.
It says 「一番ウマい国はどこだ。」 (“Which country is the best?”)
They offer a Brazilian BBQ burger, German pork sandwich, Italian Risotto balls, Chicken McNuggets with Italian Basil and Cheese dip, Japanese “Ramune” floats, and more.
Is McDonalds doing a World Cup campaign like this in your country too?
Tokyo Five 
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