These chocolate watermelon dango are a summertime-only product so popular they sell out every year. They are back again for 2018 and went on sale on May 30 online.
The popular treat was first seen back in 2015 and has been released every year since, selling out every time. The idea was thought up by young company employees to tackle the problem of getting the younger popular to eat more traditional Japanese sweets, as well as a way to make customers happy in the summer.
It’s a difficult process getting the flavour of watermelon just right of when it comes to sweets, but after plenty of trial and error by the artisans who produced this new product, they finally did it. Compared to the first test they did, these is 7x more watermelon juice inside.
Sesame seeds were used for the watermelon pips and a specially blended chocolate coating was created by chocolatiers to drizzle on the outer layer. The unique striped pattern hasn’t changed since the dango’s initial released – each and every one is hand drawn one by one. Also, to make it even more delicious this year, the chocolatiers have improved their chocolate recipe.
In 2016, the product was chosen as ‘an excellent regional product Japan can boast to the world,’ and was also chosen to feature in The Wonder 500, a collection of Japan’s finest goods, foods and travel experiences.
Try the delicious watermelon dango yourself this summer!
■Information
Choco Manto Suika – Set of 6
Price: ¥1,500 (pre-tax)
Storage: Freeze for up to 1 month. Stores for up to 2 days in the refrigerator after defrosting.
Consuming: Take it out of the refrigerator and defrost for 2 hours and 30 minutes and enjoy.
Delivery & Storage: Ships via Yamato frozen delivery. Store in the freezer. After the product has defrosted store it in the refrigerator. Do not refreeze.
Company Website: http://www.yagumodango.com/fs/yagumo/chocomanto/gd70
Rakuten Website: http://item.rakuten.co.jp/yagumodango08/suika6/
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Pocky is one of the most popular Japanese snacks around the world, and a new way to enjoy it is here. Since the 1970s, Pocky on the Rocks has been a popular way to enjoy the tasty treats during the summer. A modern version has just been unveiled, and six special boxes with exclusive designs will be released on June 14 along with a new campaign, recipe submission contest, and a collaboration with select cafes around Japan. Pocky on the Rocks was first introduced in an ad campaign in 1976. People began putting Pocky sticks in a cool glass filled with ice or using the sticks as muddlers for alcoholic drinks. This stylish summer snack has been reimagined for 2022, and customers are inspired to pair the sticks with their favorite drink, stick them into ice cream, or add them to a cup of seasonal fruit! Pocky on the Rocks in the 1970s
Pocky on the Rocks Today Collaboration with 5 Cafes in Tokyo and Kansai
Cafe Roman - Takadanobaba, TokyoCream Soda Cafe Negura - Shimokitazawa, Tokyo Dark Cherry Soda DORSIA - Sannomiya, Kobe Heart Strawberry Milk Sunshine Cafe - Higashi-Umeda, Osaka Almond Mixed Juice Poem Cafe - Motomachi, Kobe Lemon Squash Pocky’s limited edition packaging, coming June 14, will feature a recipe for the 2022 Pocky on the Rocks. A recipe submission contest will also be held on Instagram, and anyone can participate. On the campaign website, fans can find collaboration recipes made in conjunction with five different cafes around Tokyo and the Kansai region. Of course, you can also grab these treats at each shop! Fans can win retro goods in another ongoing campaign simply by snapping a picture of a Pocky receipt. You've probably tried Pocky before, but have you ever tried Pocky on the Rocks? Information
New ‘Pocky on the Rocks’ Campaign
Running: June 14 – July 7, 2022
Details: https://cp.pocky.jp /2022ontherock/
New ‘Pocky on the Rocks’ Campaign – Win Retro Goods!
Running: June 14 – August 29, 2022
Details: https://cp.pocky.jp /2022smr/
Official Site: https://www.pocky.jp/
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Bandai’s Japanese confectionary project Tabemas has been transforming popular characters into tasty treats for years. Starting April 5, over 16,600 FamilyMart stores nationwide will offer sweets inspired by illustrator nagano’s popular characters Chiikawa and Usagi!
This is the first time these characters have been featured in the Tabemas series. Fans can grab Chiikawa with sparking eyes or smiling with red cheeks, a sparkly-eyed Usagi, and the adorable cat Hachiware. It will be difficult to eat something so painfully cute, but each is sure to taste delicious! The Chiikawa sweets are milk and custard flavored, Usagi is sweetened with caramel, and Hachiware offers the taste of strawberry milk. (C)nagano / chiikawa committee Information
Chiikawa & Usagi Tabemas
Price: ¥398 each (Tax Included)
Release Date: April 5 ~
Where to Buy: Chilled Dessert Corners at 16,600 participating FamilyMart Stores Nationwide
*Limited quantities available.
*May not be available at all locations.
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Fujiya is celebrating 111 years with a special collaboration with Hoshino Resort! The sweets company is well-known for ‘Milky,’ one of the most popular candies in Japan, and now, fans of these sweets can surround themselves completely with retro vibes. To inspire younger generations to travel again, a Milky-inspired room plan is now available to book.
Four Unique Features of the Milky Sweet Accommodation Plan
１. A Milky Sweet Room with a Retro Feel!This sweet room is completely covered with retro Milky style! The candy’s mascot Peko-chan takes center stage in Taisho clothing, and guests can enjoy a Milky snack set and Milky bath salts to complete this one-of-a-kind experience. 2. Become Peko-chan with Adorable Costumes! Dress up as Peko-chan with your best friend and take some hilarious pictures! These tops and overalls are included with the room, but feel free to wear them out and about. 3. Milky-flavored Popcorn Available in Collaboration with TAMARIBA! Popcorn sweetened with Milky powder is now available at TAMARIBA. Enjoy this tasty treat as you explore the grounds, and enjoy the special bag featuring Peko-chan. Location: TAMARIBA / Available: 15:00-19:00 / Price: Free *Available while supplies last 4. Enjoy Special Experiences at BEB5 Karuizawa and BEB5 TsuchiuraBEB5 Karuizawa Find Retro Peko-chan in Karuizawa Hoshino! All-you-can-eat French Toast with Milky Sauce BEB5 Tsuchiura Make a Milky Smoothy on a Bike! Peko-chan Retro Photo Cycling Tour in Tsuchiura! Information
Milky Sweet Room Plan
Available: April 1 – June 30, 2022
Reservations Now Open
*Reservations required at least 4 days in advanceReservations/Details: https://www.fujiya-peko.co.jp/hoshino_cp/
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Celebrating the 10th anniversary of her major label debut, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is staying active in 2022. Next month, the singer will finally take to the stage at Coachella 2022 in California. In conjunction with the nationwide tour, the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project was launched to energize Japan through the appeal of regional towns and cities. Finally making it to the northern Japan city of Hakodate, details surrounding the singer's sweet new collaboration have been announced!
Kyary is teaming up with the traditional Japanese confectionary shop Senshu An in Hakodate, founded over 162 years ago. This time, the special collaboration logo was inspired by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s 2012 hit Candy Candy. The logo was originally written traditionally in black ink, but it’s recieved a major pop makeover in pastel shades of yellow and green to pay homage to the set of the Candy Candy music video. The shop is well-known for its original Yama Oyaji, a popular souvenir from Hokkaido. The new collab product feature Kyary’s face and dancers, perfect for fans of the singer–though they might be a little too adorable to eat. Made one by one by skilled craftsman using carefully selected Hokkaido azuki beans as the base, each sweet features soft pastel colors to welcome spring. The sweets are placed in a special package wrapped in original collaborative wrapping paper. Be sure to grab them from the online store before they’re gone on April 18! A collaborative T-shirt is also on sale featuring the new logo and the singer’s 10th-anniversary logo. Get one from the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project website by March 30! Information
Senshu An (Hakodate) x LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project
Available while Supplies Last at Hakodate City Hall
Available to purchase online until April 18, 2022
https://sensyuan.official.ec/items/59594025
Collaboration T-shirt
Where to Purchase: LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project Online Shop
Sales Period: March 17 – March 30 at 23:59
https://store-localpowerjapan.com/Official Site: https://localpowerjapan.com
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Tohouen, a Japanese confectionary maker in Gifu Prefecture, has begun selling a springtime version of its popular cat-inspired manju. Inspired by the many cats that like to stroll around the shop’s headquarters, the new release includes cherry blossom-colored cat paws. A traditional sweet in Japan, Manju is made from flour, rice powder, and buckwheat, with a tasty sugar and anko (red bean paste) filling.
Do you think these are too cute to eat? Information
Cherry Blossom Cat
Release Date: March 2, 2022
Where to Buy: Tohouen Stores, Tohouen Online Shop
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Celebrating the 10th anniversary of her major-label debut, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is back in the news. The artist will perform at this year’s Coachella, one of the largest music festivals in the United States, and recently released her first full-length album in three years ‘Candy Racer’ in October 2021. On January 16, Kyary embarked on the largest tour of her career, ‘Kyary Pamyu Pamyu 10th ANNIVERSARY JAPAN TOUR 2022 CANDY WAVE,’ which will see the singer performing 30 shows across Japan. In conjunction with the nationwide tour, the “LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project” was launched to energize Japan through the appeal of regional towns and cities. Following a T-shirt collaboration with a 156-year-old kamaboko shop in Kanagawa, Kyary has teamed up with Gunma-based ekiben maker Oginoya to release her own bento box! On February 6, Kyary held a concert in Okayama--the next stop on the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project. This time, the singer is collaborating with a 165-year-old Japanese confectionary shop named Koeido. The store is famous for its original kibidango, a type of sweet mochi dumpling. As part of the ‘Collaboration Logo’ project, partner companies see their traditional logos transformed as a tribute to Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s works. This time, the motif was inspired by ‘KPP BEST,’ an album released in 2016.
Original Kyaridango: ¥1,300 (Tax Included) / 15 pieces
These tasty ‘Original Kyarydango’ have the same taste as traditional kibidango, but feature Kyary’s face printed in edible ink. These sweet sets were sold in limited quantities at the Okayama Civic Hall, and are now available to purchase on the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project website until February 20. A T-shirt featuring the collaboration logo has also been revealed. The front features the Original Kyarydango and the updated logo, while the back is decorated with the Kyary 10th Anniversary logo and project logo. The shirt is also available on the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project website.Information
Koeido (Okayama) x LPJP Collaboration Kibidango ‘Original Kyaridango’
Price: ¥1,300 (Tax Included) / 15 pieces
Address: Okayama Civic Hall (2-2-1 Marunouchi, Kita-ku, Okayama)
Online Sales
Running: February 6 – February 20 at 23:59
LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project Online Shop: https://store-localpowerjapan.com/
*These products are made to order. Shipping is scheduled for the end of February.
Koeido (Okayama) LPJP Collaboration T-shirt
Price: ¥3,300 (Tax Included)
Available: February 6 – February 20 at 23:59
LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project Online Shop: https://store-localpowerjapan.com/
*Please allow two weeks to one month from the time your order is placed for item to ship. Part of the proceeds from the sales of these T-shirts will be donated to selected recipients for local development and social contributions.