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May 04, 2024
 

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KONBINI WATCH

Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Jun 10, 2017
Frozen Mango drink: Somewhere between too sweet and just right
Lawson's Machi Cafe brand is getting serious for the summer. Recently, they've introduced a new "caffeine-less ice coffee" alongside a "mega" ice coffee, covering all their bases when it comes to answering the question "How badly do you want to fidget today?" Their newest offering is a pair of sweet frozen beverages apt for warmer weather, one chocolate flavored and the other mango.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
May 27, 2017
Pineapple potato chips push flavor envelope
A few years back, Japanese snack maker Koikeya released a series of fruit-flavored chips. They were billed as a "breakfast snack," but mostly got attention for their novelty blend of potato and peach. It was interesting but made for a weird flavor combination. Was that the end of fruit-flavored crisps? Of course not.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
May 13, 2017
Chocomint Frappe: The cure for Japan's mint condition
At long last, the winter has thawed out and the warmer months have arrived in Japan. Accordingly, the convenience store shelves are filled with mint-flavored products, ranging from an assortment of chocolates infused with the herb to one of the most celebrated desserts around, Crunky's chocolate chip ice cream bar.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
May 6, 2017
Gold Master: Strong craft beer just in time for the heat
Whither craft beer? Possibly on convenience store shelves, though in small numbers.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Apr 22, 2017
Yuzu Kosho Chicken flavor chips: A tasty boon amid the potato shortage
Japan is experiencing a potato shortage. Caused by typhoons that hit Hokkaido last summer, the result is that potato chips have become scarce across the country. Well, at least some varieties. Though a handful of styles and flavors remain relatively plentiful, other fan favorites have vanished from shelves. If you have a spare packet of Pizza Potato chips handy, you might be able to make some scratch online.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Apr 8, 2017
Steamed cake that looks like an egg: Form over flavor
The simplest way to transform a ho-hum sweet into something that jumps out at customers is to make it look like a different foodstuff altogether. I've lost count of how many bland creampuff-like treats I've eaten during my lifetime simply because a machine shaped them to look vaguely like a strawberry.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Mar 24, 2017
Pakuchi and Lemonade: Harnessing the thirst-quenching power of coriander
Pakuchi, called coriander in English, has been enjoying its time in the sun as a trendy ingredient in restaurants and recipes across the country as of late.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Mar 10, 2017
Sakura Kaoru Cheese Souffle Cake: A new twist to an old theme
For the most part, Lawson's new Sakura Kaoru Cheese Souffle Cake looks more intriguing than it actually tastes, though it packs a surprise twist.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Feb 24, 2017
Pocky's vanilla variety pairs well with a particular side
To properly enjoy Pocky's creamy vanilla variety, you're going to need a drink. According to the snack's intricate advertising campaign, it is ideally complimented by a new strawberry-flavored tea, where the two flavors join to resemble strawberry shortcake.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Feb 10, 2017
Agepizza: a deep-fried substitute for the real deal to warm your cockles in winter
During the coldest stretch of winter, a warm snack helps to make the low temperatures a bit more tolerable.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Jan 27, 2017
No big surprises from Sapporo's latest artisanal brew
In order to stand out in the ever-crowded booze corner of convenience stores, Sapporo is playing up the traditional production methods behind its brews. It has released a second installment of the "Beer Surprise" series of drinks — available exclusively at Family Mart convenience stores. The Shifuku No Koku offering (¥223) boasts a complicated artisanal backstory and richer flavors than most other low-cost beers. However, the rather plain aftertaste fades quickly. Shifuku No Koku is fine for those wanting to try something a little different, but it's a story that reads better than tastes.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Jan 6, 2017
Artisanal chocolates have hit Japan's convenience stores
Craft beer, move over. It's time for artisanal "bean-to-bar" chocolate to take the spotlight at Japan's convenience stores. Sweets-maker Meiji has recently rolled out a series of chocolate bars called The Chocolate, proudly displaying the high cacao percentage and including graphs on the packaging proving the bitterness of each. This treat (¥237 a pop — a truly "craft" price) comes in several flavors, running from "elegant bitter" to "comfort bitter." But my local store recommended Framboise, which was a great call. It offsets the flavor of rich chocolate with the subtle taste of raspberries. It may be a little overpriced, but it's pretty good if you're in the mood for a decadent dessert.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Dec 9, 2016
Fitness chain Rizap takes a chance on low-calorie snacks
Fitness chain Rizap has gone from one success to the next since it began in 2010, expanding its business into new areas such as golf training and English education. It has also recently begun producing food that can be purchased at convenience stores nationwide.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Nov 25, 2016
The rich taste of Hokkaido's blue cheese — in a bag of potato chips
The Lawson convenience-store chain is celebrating Hokkaido this winter by focusing on one of the highlights of the northern island's cheese industry. For a limited time, the chain is stocking potato chips flavored with blue cheese from Hanabatake Bokujo, a well-known dairy producer from the far north.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Nov 11, 2016
Haagen-Dazs Japan's new ice creams mix things up
The latest ice cream range from Haagen-Dazs requires a little bit of work to appreciate. The "Decorations" mini-cup line features a decadent mix of flavors — banana caramel cake, cheese berry cake — that are ideally mixed together before eating.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Oct 28, 2016
Halloween is almost over, but Lawson has one last seasonal treat
Halloween-themed goods will soon vanish from the shelves of convenience stores across Japan, so stock up on this year's vaguely spooky treats while you can. Lawson's new pumpkin roll cake is certainly worth picking up before November starts — and not just for its jack-o'-lantern design. This dessert (¥230) is filled with Ebisu pumpkin from Hokkaido merged with whipped cream and cinnamon. The cake itself is, sadly, somewhat bland, making the sweet interior the real star. It's not a bad way to say goodbye to an overabundance of Halloween decorations.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Oct 14, 2016
The Pumpkin Cream Puff joins Japan's mountain of Halloween-themed treats
With Halloween just around the corner, convenience stores are filling up with pumpkin-flavored treats. Seven-Eleven has rolled out several holiday-appropriate snacks this month, including its Pumpkin Cream Puff (¥135). It features a black cocoa exterior with pumpkin paste and whipped cream waiting inside. Despite the Halloween theme, the taste is far less memorable: the filling only subtly hints of pumpkin and ultimately blends in too much with the chocolate and cream flavors. It's tasty, but not worth going out of your way for. (Patrick St. Michel)
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Sep 30, 2016
Chewy treats that taste like barbecued guts aren't as bad as they sound
It was a bit disconcerting seeing chewy horumon (innard) treats stocked in the sweets section at my local FamilyMart. But this convenience store-only offering (¥168) isn't some quirky attempt to sweeten the taste of barbecued guts, it's more akin to beef jerky than anything else. These limited-edition snacks come in two flavors: "Stomach" and "Heart." The name is the only intimidating part, however, as these feature a palatable smoky, salty taste. Bite down on one while drinking a beer and it's likely you won't even have a second thought about what you are eating — unless you happen to see the smiling pig on the package.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Sep 16, 2016
Lawson's new Apple Custard Pie hits the spot when you are on the go
Ever wanted to munch on a apple pie while you're on the go? Well, Lawson has come closest to solving the problem — for now, at least — with its new Apple Custard Pie. It's sweet, full of apples, easy to eat and arrives just in time for the start of autumn. The Apple Custard Pie (¥150) boasts a flaky exterior, with a mix of soft cream and pieces of apple on the inside, subtly seasoned with cinnamon. It's no freshly baked pie straight out of the oven, but it's a good backup when you are in a pinch.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Aug 26, 2016
Look! Chocolates are getting the jump on autumn
In the same way that shops jump the gun on Christmas by getting the Santa decorations out on Nov. 1, konbini (convenience store) shelves begin stocking autumn-themed treats while the mercury is still well above the 30 degrees Celsius mark.
Biden calls ally Japan ‘xenophobic’ along with rivals China and Russia
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks in Syracuse, New York, on April 25.
Yen swings stir talk that Japan is in the FX market once again
An electronic screen in Tokyo displays the yen exchange rate against the U.S. dollar and the graph showing its recent swings, on Thursday.
Harajuku strives to reclaim its former glory — and surpass it
Laforet Harajuku, which celebrated its 45th anniversary last year, has been a witness to the district's evolution over the years.
Weak yen fattens tourist wallets in Japan
People visit the Ameya Yokocho market in Tokyo's Ueno district during the Golden Week holiday on Tuesday.
Japan's May 1 intervention may have cost ¥3.66 trillion, BOJ data suggests
An electronic screen displays a graph showing Japanese yen exchange rates surging against the dollar amid signs of intervention by authorities, in Tokyo on Thursday.
Kishida sets sights on energy and climate in South America trip
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will use a policy speech in Sao Paulo to set out his vision for ties between Japan and South America, almost 10 years after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe advocated for stronger ties between the two in the same city.
Yellow sand allergy: A health issue made worse by climate change
A screenshot of the Meteorological Agency's satellite image of clouds and yellow sand (in pink) on Sunday.
Climate change, chalky grains and the risks for Japan’s rice farmers
A farmer plants seedlings in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Prefecture. Japan’s self sufficiency rate for rice is nearly 100%, compared with 38% for food overall, on a calorie basis.
Japan wants you to spend more with ‘luxury tourism’
Performers play a traditional drum unique to Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, in the prefectural capital of Kanazawa on March 16 to mark the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to Tsuruga Station in Fukui Prefecture.

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