Pre-Valentine’s Day chocolate madness

Written by: Rebecca Milner on February 14, 2008 at 11:43 pm | In LIFESTYLE / FASHION | No Comments

With only one day left before Valentine’s Day, the chocolate buying rush has reached a frenzied pitch. An unfortunately timed visit to the food department in Tokyo’s high-end Isetan department store proved the madness.

The most popular chocolate companies set up Disneyland style ropes in an attempt to keep the peace. By far the longest line was for Jean-Paul Hevin at 30 minutes.

Godiva and Armani Dolce also had substantial queues, proving that brand appeal carries all the way to sweets.

A box of eight chocolates from Jean-Paul Hevin (pictured left) goes for ¥3,780, which wouldn’t be so bad if you were only buying one. Recently women feel pressure to buy giri-choco (pictured right), or obligation chocolate, for male co-workers and friends, those these guys usually wind up with something a little bit cheaper. The recipients of the chocolate, giri or otherwise, are expected of course, to reciprocate the following month. Consider it a chocolate investment.

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Tags: Confections, Romance, Valentine's Day
Category: LIFESTYLE / FASHION
Other categories: MARKETING IDEAS, DIGITAL LIFE, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS

New Valentine’s Day chocolate, again

Written by: Rebecca Milner on February 13, 2008 at 2:42 am | In LIFESTYLE / FASHION | 3 Comments

More news from the Valentine’s Day chocolate rush: Tokyo Super Sweets is offering 200 limited sets of “Ariga-choco” (a clever blending of the words for “thank you” and “chocolate”).

The “thank you” comes from the receiver, who after scanning the QR code on the package with his mobile phone, can choose from over a hundred pre-written “thank you” messages to be sent to the giver’s mobile phone.

Sending a thank you note has never been easier, so if you get one of these boys, there is no excuse!

Next up, for the literary lad, high-end department store Takashimaya is offering original chocolates (pictured left) inspired by scenes from the classical Japanese novel “The Tale of the Genji,” which is celebrating its 1000-year anniversary this year.

Also from Takashimaya, these decorative chocolates (pictured right) are designed to resemble the pieces used in the shell matching game popular with aristocrats during the Heian Era, Genji’s time. How sophisticated!

Ariga-choco from Tokyo Super Sweets: ¥2,625 for a set of 5
Takashimaya original chocolates: ¥1,680 for a set of 4

Visit our…ONLINE SHOP…Buy cool and trendy gadgets & lifestyle products straight from Japan…fast, reliable and safe…delivered right to your doorstep…

Tags: Confections, Romance, Valentine's Day
Category: LIFESTYLE / FASHION
Other categories: MARKETING IDEAS, DIGITAL LIFE, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS

Suntory whisky meets Lotte chocolate

Written by: Rebecca Milner on February 10, 2008 at 12:37 pm | In LIFESTYLE / FASHION, MARKETING IDEAS | 5 Comments

The latest product in the continuing trend of beverage company mash-up products is this Single Malt Whisky Chocolate produced by Suntory in collaboration with confectioner Lotte.

Each bite-size chunk of these premium Lotte semi-bitter chocolates contains a liquid-y center of Suntory’s Yamazaki 12-year whiskey. Suntory, Japan’s oldest distiller, is the brand that Bill Murray’s character promotes in the movie “Lost in Translation.”

The product release coincides nicely with the Valentine’s Day chocolate rush, though if mixing chocolate with something as decidedly masculine as whiskey seems an odd move for Valentine’s Day, keep in mind that in Japan women are supposed to give men chocolate on February 14th. The gift is reciprocated a month later, on the oddly termed White Day, a Japanese holiday of mysterious origin where men give women chocolate (or any suitably romantic gifts) on March 14th.

Visit our…ONLINE SHOP…Buy cool and trendy gadgets & lifestyle products straight from Japan…fast, reliable and safe…delivered right to your doorstep…

Tags: Confections, Lotte, Suntory, Valentine’s Day
Category: LIFESTYLE / FASHION, MARKETING IDEAS
Other categories: DIGITAL LIFE, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS