Every year on Nov. 11, Japan celebrates one of its favorite snacks — Pocky, a crunchy biscuit stick dipped in chocolate.
What began as a marketing stunt by Ezaki Glico — one of the world’s top candy giants — has now transformed into a nationwide sugar rush that celebrates all things Pocky.
The chocolatey treat has been a favorite since it first appeared on store shelves in 1966. Over the years, it has only grown in popularity, with a 2017 survey revealing that 96.5% of people in Japan are familiar with the snack. It’s also sold outside of Japan in 30 countries — including the United States — and is known as Mikado in Europe.
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