On every last day before I leave Tokyo, I stop by Meguro Station and go to three places: the bookstore, MUJI, and the local convenience store. Today, I bought a book for Brian, some swag at MUJI, and the stuff pictured above at the combini. Here's a quick explanation of each awesome snack shown above (clockwise, from top right):
- Koeda chocolates. Yum yum crunchy sticks of chocolate and almond fun. Like most things Japanese, it comes neatly packaged in 12 little packets inside a rectangular red box.
- Aloe Yogurt. This will change your view of yogurt forever. It has aloe-flavored little jello thingys inside.
- 3 Bikkuriman snacks. If you were a kid in the late 80s in Japan, you'll remember how incredibly popular these things were. Each packet of wafered chocolate comes with a Bikkuriman card.
- GABA: The chocolate for the stressed out workaholic. This will end up being a gift.
- Meiji Rich Strawberry chocolate, made with 77% real strawberry fruit.
- Super soft steamed chocolate pudding. This is nothing like the jell-o fake pudding crap they sell in the US. You gotta try it.
- Pucchin pudding. The classic flan-in-a-plastic-cup. My brother loves this stuff.
- Tropicana grapefruit juice. I don't know why. I just wanted to drink something tangy.
I do the combini thing too but I always ALWAYS get the dude that has to count every item in my basket. And when I end up buying like 20 limited edition Kit Kat flavors for friends back home, it can get embarrassing....
Nothing like having the guy (always in a loud voice) going "nijugoten! nijurokuten! nijunanaten!......" Come on...please stop...please??
(T^T)
Posted by: Nobita | February 13, 2008 at 09:54 AM
I miss the combini so much. The "corner shops" here in London are not convenient. They are open crap hours and don't ever have anything I need.
Although the food is great in combini (I especially love the obligatory omebushi onigiri), the non food items are great. Japanese hair ties are the best. The ones that come in long elastic bands that you tie to the thickness of your hair. Stockings, socks, underwear...these are things that are convenient to have when yours have gone missing. I can never find underwear in my London Corner Shop, and I live in Central. I really miss Japan.
Posted by: daneeta | February 13, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Great... now I'm even hungrier than I already was. I'd kill for some Pucchin right about now.
Posted by: brownkidd | February 13, 2008 at 03:40 PM
Ahh Aloe Yogurt...Oh how I miss it. But I never enjoyed Pucchin what is it made out of?
Posted by: Risachan | February 13, 2008 at 05:02 PM