No matter where you are in the world, there’s a very good chance you’ve tried Pocky before! These crunchy biscuit sticks with chocolate coating were first launched in 1966 by the major confectionary Glico and quickly became a national favorite. Before long, Pocky had established itself abroad as an iconic Japanese snack, thanks in large...

Japanese ads have long been notorious for their silly, over-the-top, and often baffling content. A quick glance at the multitude of compilations of Japanese commercials on Youtube reveals not only that there’s an international audience for Japan’s colorful ads, but that this trend is far from dying out. Every once in a while, however, an...

Growing up, we probably all remember being told not to play with our food. However, did you know that in Japan, there’s a popular kind of candy that’s not only great for playing with—but actively encourages it?! Japanese DIY candy kits are specially designed products that give customers the tools and instructions to make their...

Japan is a country well-known for its weird and wonderful cuisine. From traditional Japanese dishes like fermented soy bean natto and salty-spicy pollock roe mentaiko, to modern snacks like cough drop flavored Kit Kats and horse meat ice cream—Japan is a wonderland for adventurous diners looking to challenge their taste buds. But Japanese food isn’t...

When it comes to gifts, there is nothing more uniquely Japanese than classic omiyage. Omiyage, a word literally meaning “local product,” is a box of individually wrapped local snacks that Japanese people give their friends and colleagues after returning from a trip. In the West, this might seem like a nice gesture, but in Japan,...

In 2014, Nestlé capitalized on this success by opening the first Kit Kat (or KitKat) Chocolatory: a boutique Kit Kat store offering a range of special edition products.