Information:   low-malt beer from Kirin

With "Endless Clear", Kirin introduces another of its "happoshu" alcoholic drinks.  Happoshu is  low-malt beer taxed at a lower rate than other beer products.  This results in a retail price that is significantly lower than regular beer that bears a higher tax rate. With consumers now less willing to spend  happoshu beer is increasingly popular. The attractive blue theme packaging helps too. 

Information: dessert with a do-it-yourself feature.

The Japanese name for caramel custard is "purin"

Housewives are accustomed to buying "purin" in mini-cups.  Nihon Suisan,  a leading Japanese food supplier,  invites customers to taste toasted custard flavor.  Customers may appreciate the ability to pop the product into the microwave and cook it to suit their preferences. An interesting addition to an popular product category. 

Information:   canned cider drink sold in vending machine

Dydo Corp. derives 90% of its sales from vending machine canned drink products, 50% of which is canned coffee.  Kamen Rider - meaning masked rider -- is a long-running  children's TV program.    DyDo's "Kamen Cider" is aimed at both children and adults holding a  fascination with the popular television series. The cider comes in 9 different can designs  based on motifs from the TV series.

Information:   Asahi Soft Drink - new tea blend

Asahi Soft Drink, a subsidiary of beer giant Asahi Beer, introduces a  16 tea blended product sold in 9 different size PET bottles at supermarkets and convenience stores.   Perhaps not earth-shaking news in the West, but in Japan where bottle tea of all types is a major drink category the blended tea market is a hotly contested market place. 

Information: stylish compact camera from FujiFilm

The latest addition by FujiFilm, the FinePix Z700EXR, was just released here in 4 colors.  This compact model comes with a 5x zoom lens and a 3.5 inch touchscreen.   The compact digital camera category with a high model  turnover  rate. Many new products come out every quarter, only some of which eventually find their way to overseas markets.

Information: multipurpose voice recorder

Sanyo Electronics new portable voice recording device is more than the sum of its parts.

The new ICR-XPS01MF is a handy digital device that  records voice in pcm or mp3 formats and also plays mp3/wma file formats. With its built-in external speakers it can double as a boombox music player.

Information:  digital calorie counter

Following up the long-term slim-and-healthy boom, Panasonic releases a new device that keeps track of one's calories consumed.

The small device counts calories consumed when walking, sitting or doing other activities. Daily maximum calorie goals can be set for  each day.   Aimed at people who intend to diet. 

Information:  "chazuke" tea condiment

"Chazuke" is a bowl of rice over which hot tea is poured.

Chazuke is a popular meal category in Japan and Nagatanien  Corp. is synonymous with the product category.  It now bring two fresh tastes to the market, Miso ans Natto.  Both are variations of fermented soy-bean production processes.

Information: bilingual digital pocket dictionary

Bilingual Japanese-English electronic dictionary, in compact sizes, are popular with all ages.  In addition to larger dictionaries, Canon's new Word Tank V330 includes learning tools to master the language tests and English classics such as "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "A Christmas Carol."

Information: improved rice cooker

In Japanese households, the rice cooker is as essential as a toothbrush.

The latest high-tech rice cooker by Mitsubishi Electronics sports an improved way to cook rice using a carbon kettle that helps equally cook rice.  It doesn't expel  the usual  steam plume either.