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In many supermarkets across Japan, vegetables come with more than a price tag. Next to tomatoes or spinach, you may see a small photo of the farmer. Sometimes there is a name. Sometimes a short message. The idea is often called “vegetables where you can see the face” (顔の見える野菜) . The practice became more visible in the early 2000s. After a series of food safety scandals and labeling controversies, including mislabeling cases and BSE concerns, public trust in food labels declined across Japan. Consumers began demanding clearer traceability and stronger transparency in the food supply chain. Retailers responded in two ways. Tracking systems improved. Regulations tightened. On the shelf, something simple appeared. The producer’s face. In 2004, retailer Ito Yokado under Seven and i Holdings launched programs highlighting growers behind fresh produce. Regional supermarkets and agricultural cooperatives also expanded local production for local consumption sections known as chisan chisho, ...

English Version | 中文版本 People along parts of Japan ’s eastern coastline have been tossing coconuts into the ocean with messages sealed inside. Each coconut is numbered and released as part of a long-running ocean current study. Once it’s in the water, there’s nothing more to do. If someone finds one, they’re asked to report where it washed up. Some coconuts turn up months later on distant beaches. Many are never found at all. That uncertainty has always been part of the project. The practice began in the 1980s, before GPS tracking and satellite mapping became common. At the time, releasing objects into the sea was one of the few practical ways to understand how ocean currents actually moved. The method was simple, patient, and imprecise by design. You sent something out, waited, and accepted that most of it would disappear. Over the years, replies have come back from different countries. Short notes. Photos. Coordinates scribbled on paper. Enough to confirm that at least a few coco...

English Version | 中文版本 Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka, Japan has launched limited-edition Evangelion-themed gyoza as part of the Shin Hamamatsu Project , a citywide anime tourism campaign. The collaboration introduces three Evangelion gyoza variants , inspired by Evangelion Units 01, 00, and 02 , and is available through selected local food outlets participating in the campaign’s official Gourmet Mission . The Evangelion gyoza are positioned as time-limited, location-specific retail items , designed to drive fan travel, foot traffic, and social sharing . The products rely on unit colors and franchise recognition rather than culinary innovation, turning food into a collectible anime crossover souvenir . The launch forms part of a broader strategy combining anime IP, local retail, and tourism routing , a model increasingly used by Japanese cities to generate short-term retail demand and destination awareness . The Evangelion-themed gyoza are available in Hamamatsu for a limited time,...

English Version | 中文版本 A Tokyo restaurant is translating a film’s dark aesthetic into food, drinks, and collectible bonuses - without positioning it as a full dining spectacle. From February 6 to February 28, 2026 , Kome to Circus at Shibuya PARCO is running a limited-time collaboration inspired by the horror film Mag Mag (original title: 禍禍女), directed by Yuriyan Retriever. The collaboration introduces a small lineup of themed menu items , spanning food, drinks, and alcohol. These are designed around the film’s unsettling visual tone rather than comfort or flavor-led appeal. Menu naming and presentation lean deliberately provocative , aligning with the movie’s body-horror imagery instead of highlighting new culinary techniques. The collaboration menu includes: ひろしくんへの愛情たっぷり陰毛カレー “Hiroshi-kun’s Love-Filled ‘Pubic Hair’ Curry” A curry rice dish topped with mozuku seaweed, styled to resemble flowing hair, and described as being filled with an intense, heavy sense of affection rat...

English Version | 中文版本 Mister Donut has released a new collaboration item with GODIVA in Japan, but customers won’t find it in display cases. The doughnut, called Trio Heart Chocolate & Praline , is a Net Order–only product. Orders must be placed through the misdo app or website, with pickup scheduled during a limited window . It is takeout only and does not appear at physical store counters . Visually, the product features a chocolate doughnut base with layered chocolate and praline creams. On top are three heart-shaped churros , each finished differently—cocoa, strawberry, and chocolate—creating a presentation clearly oriented toward gifting and the Valentine’s season. This item sits alongside the main Mister Donut × Godiva lineup but is handled differently in terms of access . While other collaboration doughnuts are sold in stores, this one is positioned as a reservation-exclusive , making the ordering process part of the experience . The release also aligns with Mister...

English | 中文 Denny’s Japan has introduced a limited-edition parfait concept served literally split in half, aiming to better align social media photo habits with smaller dessert portions . The item, officially branded as the “split-in-half parfait,” is designed to appear like a full-sized dessert from the front while actually containing a reduced serving . According to the company, the idea is to let customers enjoy the visual appeal of a classic parfait without the expectation of finishing a large portion . The test launch includes options such as the Amaou strawberry version , presented in a custom split glass . This format keeps the layered parfait look intact while lowering overall volume, positioning the dessert as photo-friendly and less likely to be left unfinished . View this post on Instagram A post shared by デニーズ 公式アカウント (@dennysjp_official) Rather than introducing new flavors, Denny’s Japan frames the concept around format and portion design...

English | 中文 This winter, Pizza Hut Japan introduces a small but deliberate addition to its menu: KitKat Strawberry Handy Melts , created in collaboration with KitKat . It is not positioned as a pizza replacement. The folded Handy Melts format makes that clear. Compact, hand-held, and intentionally secondary, it creates room for sweetness without disturbing Pizza Hut’s savoury core. This is dessert by design—considered, contained, and clearly framed. The flavour choice is seasonally precise. Strawberry, closely associated with Japanese winter and the approach of spring, brings a sense of familiarity and warmth. Inside the crisp pocket, strawberry KitKat meets mozzarella selected for its salty richness, while the dough itself carries a gentle strawberry note. The balance leans toward harmony rather than contrast, allowing sweet and savoury to sit comfortably together. Released around January 15 (Strawberry Day) and offered for a limited time, the Handy Melts fits naturally into J...

English | 中文 Every ranked match, every tournament run, every high-pressure session begins the same way. The noise cuts out. Inputs narrow. The mind stops wandering and locks onto what matters. This is not hype, and it is not excitement. It is readiness. NEWTRON is built for that moment  - when focus becomes the deciding factor between slipping and holding position. Positioned as a focus drink , NEWTRON deliberately separates itself from the chaos-first logic of traditional energy beverages. This is not about forcing momentum or chasing spikes. It is about entering a battle-ready state that can be sustained across long matches, extended practice sessions, and repeated rounds under pressure. Focus here is not explosive. It is controlled, steady, and precise . NEWTRON approaches mental performance as a system, not a gamble. Ingredient design, amino-acid research, and carefully tuned balances are structured to support concentration without hijacking attention. The result is a drink ...

English | 中文 Kome to Circus （米とサーカス） has announced a New Year seasonal dining event themed around the 2026 zodiac sign, the Horse , introducing a limited-time in-store campaign known as the Horse Festival . View this post on Instagram A post shared by 米とサーカス 高田馬場店 (@kometocircus) The activation takes the form of a time-boxed menu event , featuring horse-meat dishes offered exclusively during the campaign period. Rather than a permanent menu update, the festival is positioned as a New Year–only dining experience , aligning zodiac symbolism with the brand’s established focus on rare and unconventional ingredients. モツ入り桜すき鍋   Sakura sukiyaki with assorted offal 馬チ〇コ丸焼き   Whole-roasted horse penis 馬脳みそ 塩焼き or 天ぷら   Horse brain, salt-grilled or tempura 馬シビレ塩焼き   Salt-grilled horse thymus (sweetbread) 桜ユッケ   Horse meat yukhoe (Korean-style raw beef dish) 馬大動脈のコリコリ刺   Crunchy sliced horse aorta (sashimi-style) 馬大動脈のコリコリ刺   C...

English | 中文 Valentine’s arrives at Starbucks Japan not as a decoration, but as an experience. The Cacao & Strawberry Mousse Frappuccino® and Cacao Mousse Latte launch this season with confidence, transforming familiar Valentine’s flavors into rich, memorable moments . Cacao leads - deep, bold, and expressive. Strawberry follows - bright, fleeting, and perfectly balanced. Mousse binds the flavors together, adding smoothness, depth, and a lingering finish that turns every sip into an occasion. These Valentine’s drinks from Starbucks Japan are designed for moments that matter - a winter afternoon pause, a quiet break between tasks, or a small personal indulgence. Each cup delivers warmth and romance naturally, without gimmicks or excess. The flavor speaks for itself. Every sip invites attention and enjoyment. The combination of cacao, strawberry, and mousse creates a seasonal experience that feels intentional, comforting, and romantic. These drinks are not just beverages; th...

English | 中文 Japan’s Valentine’s Day gets a soft, thoughtful touch as KitKat Heartful Bear returns , ready to bring warmth and sweetness into every exchange. The bear-shaped chocolates hold heart balloons stamped with messages like “I♡U” , “For U” , and “Thx!” , with space on the back for handwritten notes, turning each bite into a personal moment. This year, Nestlé Japan expands the experience beyond chocolate. Afternoon Tea LIVING carries Heartful Bear-themed pouches, handkerchiefs, pass cases, and tumblers, letting the seasonal charm live in everyday life. LOFT stores offer keychains, acrylic charms, and soft pouches, extending the gift from edible delight to lifestyle keepsake. The design, the notes, the collaborations — everything reflects how Valentine’s in Japan blends appreciation, connection, and subtle joy. Heartful Bear isn’t just a limited-edition chocolate; it’s a cultural touchpoint, a way to give meaning in small gestures, and a reminder that thoughtful design can m...

English Version | 中文版本 Valentine’s season is approaching, and Seven-Eleven Japan has introduced a new limited-edition snack just in time. From Ezaki Glico , the Pocky Happiness Blue Berry features a playful visual update. The Pocky sticks are coated in blueberry-flavoured chocolate, giving them a soft blue colour, paired with pink, heart-shaped pretzel pieces . The product launched on January 13 and is exclusive to Seven-Eleven stores across Japan . It is positioned around Valentine’s gifting and seasonal novelty, focusing on colour contrast and presentation rather than changing the core Pocky format. As with many Japanese convenience store releases, this is a limited-time item , intended for quick gifting, impulse purchases, and seasonal appeal rather than long-term availability. For shoppers in Japan, it offers another example of how Valentine’s continues to shape short-run snack designs  — simple, colourful, and easy to share. English Version  |  中文版本 Referenc...