Japanese Uji tea shop Itohkyuemon broughr back its seasonal Hydrangea Parfait to the menu at three of its stores last Monday.

Hydrangea Parfait

Hydrangea Tea Party

Kyoto’s city of Uji, where Itohkyuemon’s main branch is based, is home to Mimuroto Temple which is famous for its hydrangea flowers. The temple always bustles during the springtime rainy season. It’s around this time that people can be waiting up to 3 hours for a seat at Itohkyuemon. Their Hydrangea Parfait is their most popular parfait, never failing to create a buzz on Japanese social media. It contains hydrangea-flavoured mashed sweet potato, hydrangea jelly, leaf-shaped matcha cookies, blueberries, and more, all capturing the swaying hydrangeas during the downpour of the rainy season. They are limited in stock and are not re-added to the menu until the following year once they run out.

Customers can order the parfait on its own, with a cup of tea, or with both tea and warabimochi. The tea set and tea party versions come with a free hydrangea coaster.

AMAZAKE STAND opened its first branch in Kamakura a year and a half ago as the first store in Japan serving homemade rice-malt amazake sweet sake. The cafe has announced that its second branch will open in Sendai on June 10, 2021. It hopes to promote the delicious taste of amazake to more people and pass it down to the next generation.

Homemade Amazake – Plain (Small Size) | ¥390 (Tax Included)

Strawberry Chocolate Amazake – Blueberry Cheesecake Amazake – Apple Pie Amazake | From ¥600 Each (Tax Included)

Amazake is a great alternative for those who can’t handle the taste of ordinary strong sake. The cafe makes it with koji and rice from Tohoku and offers it in a range of different flavours. All beverages are made without granulated sugar and include a range of ingredients that have beautifying effects on the skin and help with recovering from fatigue such as grape powder, amino acids, and Vitamin B.

Mirume Shinryoku Sabo is a new cafe and tea-lover paradise that opened in Nagoya on May 10, 2021, serving high quality bottled Japanese tea, desserts, and other delicious delights.

Daifuku : Eat-In ¥250 (Tax Included)

Ise Tea Sweet Bean Jelly: Eat-In ¥250 / Store ¥500 (Tax Included)

Ise Tea Cheesecake: Eat-In ¥350 / Store ¥3,300 (Tax Included)

Mirume Shinryoku Sabo is the newest cafe to be opened by Shinryoku Sabo, an award-winning tea company in Mie Prefecture. The cafe’s tea experience includes using a kyuusu, which is a type of small teapot, to brew Isecha green tea. Customers can learn the best way to prepare tea from an in-house instructor of Japanese tea, who will also provide backstory on the tea leaves used. Their deliciously brewed cup can be paired with a variety of desserts like daifuku, maju, cheesecake, and more.

The cafe also sells the “Morning Bottle,” its signature bottled cold-brew tea which is prepared on the day in the early morning. Bottles can be returned to the cafe to be reused, allowing for no waste. Since the tea is cold-brewed, it also contains little caffeine.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical released a 30-second video titled “Netsunarero” on their official YouTube channel on May 6 announcing Hatsune Miku and members of Leo/need from the Project Sekai Colorful Stage ft. Hatsune Miku mobile game as the official ambassadors for the Japanese sports drink Pocari Sweat.

The importance of “Netsunare”

The video stresses the importance of netsunare – sweating in order to get used to the heat during summer. Leading the promoting of this message is Hatsune Miku who is followed by Leo/need, MEIKO, Mirai Akari, Fuji Aoi, and YuNi. The video features the original song Waiting for Clear Weather created by Orangestar for the Project Sekai Colorful Stage ft. Hatsune Miku mobile game. The popular track has been streamed over 1.9 million times as of April 2021.

The Character Line-Up

Since December 2019, Otsuka Pharmaceutical has appointed Hatsune Miku, MEIKO, Leo/need, MEIKO, Mirai Akari, Fuji Aoi, YuNi, and other familiar faces as official ambassadors for Pocari Sweat to spread information on how to overcome Japan’s hot summer weather to the world. It is part of the beyond2020 project which Otsuka describes: “With an eye to 2020 and beyond, this cultural program will contribute to the creation of a legacy befitting a maturing society that will make the next generation proud, through Japan’s strength which consists of its local and diverse culture.”

Leo/need from Project Sekai Colorful Stage ft. Hatsune Miku

Project Sekai Colorful Stage ft. Hatsune Miku is a mobile game for iOS/Android. The members of Leo/need include guitarist and vocalist Ichika Hoshino, keyboardist Saki Tenma, drummer Honami Mochizuki, and bassist Shino Hinomori. They will release their first single on June 9, 2021.

Twitter Campaign

Otsuka Pharmaceutical is also holding a Twitter campaign in Japan as part of the promotion where 200 random people can win a box of seven 500ml Pocari Sweat bottles for cooling down in the summer heat.

How to Sign Up

Step 1: Follow Pocari Sweat on Twitter @pocarisweat_jp

Step 2: Retweet or quote any of Pocari Sweat’s posts featuring the hashtag #ネツナレろ (“Netsunarero”)

Running: May 6, 2021 – May 19, 2021 (Japan Only)

Campaign Site: https://pocarisweat.jp/action/pocarimiku/netsunarero/

© SEGA / © CP / © CPM / © Mirai Akari Project / © YuNi / © Fuji Aoi

This summer, Southern Tower Dining and Lounge South Court—both of which are located inside Odakyu Hotel Century Southern Tower—are serving up a fluffy matcha shaved ice dessert called Wa -Nagomi- from June 1 to September 30.

Southern Tower’s Famous Fluffy Light Snowfall Wa -Nagomi- Shaved Ice | Eat In ¥1,470, Takeout ¥700

The matcha-flavoured shaved ice has a texture as light and fluffy as snow. As you spoon through the dessert your taste buds are met with a range of delicious tastes and textures like the Japanese rice flour confection known as gyuhi, winter melon syrup, black soybean flour ice cream, and cream.

The dessert can also be ordered for takeout. The black soy bean flour ice cream adds a crunchy cereal-like texture to the soft shaved ice, and with the takeout option, there’s also chocolate-coated wheat bran and brown sugar syrup.

In promotion of the Godzilla vs. Kong movie, Japanese soft drink manufacturing company Cheerio Corporation released a new energy drink called GODZILLA ENERGY on April 30.

The Godzilla franchise began in 1954 with the first movie release. Since then, it has gone on to receive 29 films, three animations, and three Hollywood adaptations. An anime series began airing last month, and Godzilla vs. Kong was released worldwide on March 31 (but is releasing in Japan on May 14).

GODZILLA ENERGY is imbued with the full force of Godzilla’s energy so you too can stomp relentlessly on your way to victory. The 500ml can has today’s standard 210mg caffeine and 630mg arginine今.

The can’s design features a monstrous image of Godzilla with a neon logo and the drink itself is the same vibrant colour.

TM & © TOHO CO., LTD.

Royal Park Hotel is collaborating with the Japanese condiment brand Mizkan, which is known for its vinegars, mustards, salad dressings and more, to serve non-alcoholic cocktails made with vinegar. The Non Alco-Vinegar Cocktail Fair will be held from May 1 to June 30.

Royal Park Hotel x Mizkan

Tropical Princess/FLORAL BEAUTY Vinegar Cashew/Frozen Fruity Su/Blueberry Black Vinegar Soy Milk Shake/Vinegar Fruit Yogurt/Ponzu & Tomato Ginger

The non-alcoholic vinegar cocktails were created for both drinkers and non-drinkers of alcohol as a way to enjoy the food scene more. The alcoholic drinks used in cocktails gives them a kick, and so does vinegar when used in food. These beverages combine vinegar with a range of fruits, teas, carbonated water, and other ingredients.

The line-up was conceived by the Vinegar Club who have also posted recipes for various cocktails on their website – links below.

McDonald’s Japan is releasing two new beverages at McCafé by Barista® on April 28 each made with three varieties of peach: the Gorotto Peach Smoothie and Fuwa Fuwa Peach Creamy Frappe.

Gorotto Peach Smoothie: Regular ¥440 / Large ¥480

Fuwa Fuwa Peach Creamy Frappe: Regular ¥490 / Large ¥530

McDonald’s Japan’s original Peach Smoothie and Peach Frappe beverages first appeared in 2015 and have been slurped up by customers every year since. This year, they return even juicier and more delicious than ever before by being made with three kinds of peach juice: yellow peach, white peach, and for the first time, nectarine.

The Gorotto Peach Smoothie cup is topped with a sauce made from fresh white peach pieces that give an exquisite sweet kick to the richly sweet yellow peach. The nectarine adds a sweet and sour layer to the mix for the ultimate peach combination. The Fuwa Fuwa Peach Creamy Frappe has all of this plus a topping of fluffy whipped cream. And for an extra ¥60, customers can double the amount of sauce they can have on either of these drinks.

While these limited-time drinks are on offer, customers can pick up a stamp card. For every peach frappe or smoothie ordered, they’ll get a stamp. Collect all four and get yourself a free regular-sized mango smoothie, green smoothie, chocolate frappe, or espresso frappe. The card is valid from April 28, 2021 to September 30, 2021.

Mister Donut Japan released its new tasty collection of limited-edition doughnuts in collaboration with Gion Tsujiri, the famous tea shop in Kyoto from April 9. 

The Line Up

Fluffy Uji Matcha Mochi with Black Honey 

Fluffy Uji Matcha Mochi with Soybean Whipped Cream 

Fluffy Uji Matcha with Azuki Red Beans Mochi 

Pon de Double Uji Matcha

Pon de Double Uji Matcha with Black Honey Mochi

Pon de Double Uji Matcha with Soybean Whipped Cream and Azuki Red Beans 

Uji Matcha Chocolate, Azuki Red Beans and Rice Cake Balls Pie

Special Edition: Mister Donut Voucher Card with Masaki Sudaミ

The 1st edition of collection released on March 12 with the theme of colouration 

that enhances the colour of matcha. The new edition launching this time was developed with the theme of Japanese ingredients such as black honey that brings harmony with matcha.  “Fluffy Uji Matcha” series consist of 3 flavours made of luxurious Kyoto Uji Matcha with fluffy donut which marks its first appearance of this year. “Fluffy Uji Matcha with Black Honey” is a glossy doughnut coated with matcha chocolate with black honey filling. A wide variety of doughnut featuring 7 combinations of matcha and Japanese ingredients are unbearably delicious and unmissable. 

Mister Donut holds a promotional campaign in collaboration with the Japanese movie God of Kinema starring Masaki Suda, current image model of the brand. 

During the campaign, follow Mister Donut’s official Twitter account and upload pictures of the collection with hashtag  “#ミスドでつや抹茶” and 428 lucky customers can win a voucher worth ¥500 with exclusive design features Masaki Suda.  Additionally, 67 lucky customers who have also participated in the 1st edition of Mister Donut ×Gion Tsujiri collection campaign previously can receive a voucher worth ¥2,000. 

Enjoy popular limited-edition doughnuts with Gion Tsujiri until your heart’s content. 

Japanese tea shop and cafe Tsuboichi Seicha Honpo has baked up a brand new matcha roll cake made with high quality matcha leaves specially selected by their own tea experts. If indulgence is your calling, then this cake is the perfect accompaniment with a cup of tea whether it be matcha, Japanese tea, black tea – or any other of your favourite kind of tea.

The cake is a striking black colour, one that is featured in traditional Japan. The soft matcha filling provides an eye-catching contrast to the sponge. It’s baked on a high temperature over charcoal and bamboo which serves to deepen the colours even more and elevate the vividness of the green matcha.

Cafe time can now be enjoyed at home with this very special treat.

Kyoto makeup brand Yojiya is now selling its own collection of snacks and drinks which it released via its website last week.

Yojiya Matcha Sandwich Cookies | ¥1,400 (Tax Included)

Yojiya Cafe Latte Chocolate Cookies | ¥1,350 (Tax Included)

Yojiya Matcha Milk | ¥950 (Tax Included)

Yojiya’s snack line-up is made with the idea of being able to enjoy high-quality food products at home. Their collection includes crunchy matcha and cafe latte cookies along with matcha milk, the latter of which is made with famous Uji matcha from Uji, Kyoto. Perfect for a tea/coffee break or as a souvenir.

Häagen-Dazs Japan released two new ice cream flavours as part of its Decorations mini cup series on March 23: the Matcha Chocolate Cookie and Almond Caramel Cookie.

The visually-striking Häagen-Dazs Decorations series is a smooth, rich-flavoured ice cream with delicious toppings to compliment the ice cream.

For the third entry to Decorations, Häagen-Dazs welcomes back the Almond Caramel Cookie from 2019 and adds the all-new matcha and chocolate combo Matcha Chocolate Cookie.

Matcha Chocolate Cookie / Almond Caramel Cookie – ¥295 Each (Before Tax)

Even more delicious after stirring

The best way to enjoy Decorations is to first spoon the ice cream as it is to taste the flavours. After that, you’ll want to stir it all together to all the flavours and textures fuse, creating a delightful contrast between the soft ice cream and crunchy toppings.

Almond Caramel Cookie

Almond Caramel Cookie takes inspiration from the Florentine biscuit which is a sweet pastry topped with nuts and fruits. The cup contains delicious caramel butterscotch ice cream laced with caramel sauce, all of which is topped off with crumbly sliced almonds and crunchy butter cookie pieces.

Matcha Chocolate Cookie

The Matcha Chocolate Cookie is exactly what it says on the cup: a fragrant matcha ice cream infused with chocolate sauce and topped with sweet chocolate and matcha cookies.