Food and Drink

For Japanese youngsters looking to emulate their father by swilling down a few swift ones, there’s a veritable cornucopia of kids’ beer to choose from. Or at least a couple of big brands anyway, along with some seasonal specials for added selection.

But far from being just a cynical attempt to give young tots a longing for the odd lager, it is in fact an essential introduction into the occasionally convoluted conventions of alcohol consumption. This poster in particular offering practical advice on pouring, as well as the essential purr of pleasure after the initial slurp has passed one’s lips.

Then, once mastered, the temptation of any tipple’s perfect partner, tobacco, can be tentatively introduced.

Japanese beverage giant, Calpis, is best known for, erm, Calpis, but the company has also opted to diversify its drinks range somewhat, and now offers more nutritional — although equally memorably named — merchandise.

Like Gun Gun Gurt for example.

A yoghurty, almost Yakult-like concoction, that, while not exactly reaching the dizzy heights of g-g-great, is nonetheless still good.

And, if its creamy and pleasant nature wasn’t enough of a sales point, it is also crammed full of calcium, which apparently makes it ideal for those not terribly tall.

Or, in rapidly ageing Japan, it could well be the perfect potion for pensioners hoping to impede osteoporosis.

Perhaps.

The Japanese drinks industry is in no way deficient of diversity, with a constantly changing range of products to choose from. However, that said, foreign firms have still managed to find some space in a seemingly saturated market, and in particular, cola giants Pepsi and Coca have a considerably strong presence.

In fact, Pepsi’s position is so secure that it can happily subject an unsuspecting public to sickening summer specials, with last year’s cucumber-based abomination now being followed by the equally awful Blue Hawaii.

A concoction that is a bizarre mix of pineapple and lemon along with the customary cola, which, while far from pleasant, just about conceals the colossal number of chemicals that must have been included to create its dazzling blue hue.

Meaning a comforting Kit Kat is the ideal treat to counter the beverage’s additive-addled aftertaste, while at the same time offering Pepsi a pertinent lesson in how to successfully produce a special edition that is not only tasty, but also way too tempting to turn down.

In a new weekend feature that unfortunately will probably fade away in next to no time due to either forgetfulness or fizzy drink fatigue, Tokyo Times will sample a beverage from the multitudinous amount that can be found in the nation’s equally numerous convenience stores and vending machines.

So, first up, if you can somehow contain your excitement, is a can of, erm, canned coffee, which is arguably an appropriate start as this popular drink is now almost as much a part of the culture as sushi and soba.

Plus it’s wonderful as well.

Or at least it’s supposed to be anyway, but despite Asahi’s claims, Morning Shot’s sugary mix tastes much the same as the myriad of other coffee’s on the market, although it should offer enough of a boost to just about set a salary man on his the way to another twelve hour day and a trek on the train.