Orders are now open for some tasty chocolates inspired by the many handsome characters from Touken Ranbu ONLINE! These sweets come in decorative tins, and while they can be ordered now from Premium Bandai, they will also be available in supermarkets and other shops starting December 26, 2022.

 

Chocolate Tins / Touken Ranbu ONLINE

These tins feature many popular characters, and customers can choose from Yamanbagiri Chogi, Nankaitarou Chouson & Hizen Tadahiro, Suishinshi Masahide & Minamoto Kiyomaro, Kokindenjunotachi & Jizou Yukihira, or Ichimonji Norimune. These gorgeous tins contain three types of chocolate: rolled chocolate, fan-shaped chocolate printed with the swordsman’s crest and motif, and cherry-blossomed-shaped strawberry chocolate.

 

Assorted Chocolate Tin / Touken Ranbu ONLINE

These assorted chocolate tins are available in four designs. The first depicts Mikazuki Munechika, Kogitsunemaru, Ishikirimaru, Iwatooshi, and Imanotsurugi. The second features Kashuu Kiyomitsu and Yamatonokami Yasusada, while the third depicts Taikogane Sadamune, Shokudaikiri Mitsutada, Ookurikara, and Kuninaga Tsurumaru. The fourth shows Higekiri and Hizamaru. The chocolates in each tin are inspired by these characters, and these would make perfect gifts for fans of the mobile and online game.

 

Variety Chocolate Tin / Touken Ranbu ONLINE

Those who can’t choose a favorite character will want to snag one of these assorted tins, filled with familiar faces from the series. Grabbing all three will net you all 101 swordsmen!

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Specialty cafe chain ‘Bread, Espresso &’ will begin selling special items as a part of its chocolate fair at the Harajuku location, ‘Junkissa Bread, Espresso &’ starting June 1!

Many of the existing items on the shop’s menu will be available in chocolate versions. The Chocolate Mint French Toast is chilled and perfect for summer, drizzled with chocolate cream and mint sauce. Additional mint can be added to your heart’s content!

The mint cocoa (pictured top right) features blended mint cream on top with cocoa on the bottom. The two halves blend effortlessly as the top warms and the bottom cools.

Come enjoy these chocolate treats during the warm summer months!

From March 12 until April 3, chocolate lovers will want to visit Laforet Harajuku! 30 different stores are celebrating the 95th anniversary of Meiji Milk Chocolate with over 80 new pieces of collaborative apparel, toys, and snacks.

 

Collaboration Items at a Glance

 

 

Laforet Staff in Unique Collaboration Outfits

 

Wind and Sea Pop-up Shop

 

Laforet Harajuku continues to be a place to discover local fashion and culture. Meiji spearheaded this collaboration after realizing the potential to create new and exciting pieces for fashionable chocolate lovers to enjoy! A wide range of products from clothing to chocolate block-shaped home goods are available now, along with Meiji White Chocolate and Meiji Black Chocolate items!

A Wind and Sea pop-up shop will open for the first time at Laforet Harajuku during the event and will also be selling chocolate-themed items. Fashion model and YouTuber Noah Sato will also be featured in event ads as a Meiji Chocolate ambassador! Those purchasing collaboration items will receive a special Meiji Chocolate bar in unique packaging while supplies last.

From January 19 until February 15, gelato pique cafe is selling four chocolate-based treats for Valentine’s Day! The theme of this new menu is ‘Melt,’ and guests are asked to enjoy the richness of melting chocolate during this sweet season.

 

 Fondant Chocolat Crepe (Dine-in: ¥980 / Take-out: ¥970)

 

This crepe is topped with chocolate fondant that melts into a warm chocolate sauce inside. The chocolate whipped cream is combined with Royal Bourbon gelato, accented with blackberry and black currant sauce, and a bit of crunchiness from the cookie bits.

 

Chocolate Crepe (Dine-in: ¥980 / Take-out: ¥970)

 

This mouth-watering crepe includes plenty of whipped cream and a luxurious fresh chocolate sauce topping. Inside, dark chocolate gelato is mixed with cocoa-flavored chocolate whipped cream. 

 

Hot Chocolate Chai (Dine-in: ¥640 / Take-out: ¥630)

 

This hot chocolate is a variation of the popular chai beverage. White chocolate is combined with Assam tea leaves, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves for that perfect chai flavor. The sweetness of the hot chocolate is enhanced by the rich spices, giving it a more mature flavor!

 

Hot Dark Chocolate (Dine-in: ¥640 / Take-out: ¥630)

 

Extra dark chocolate is only enhanced with a roasted flavor creating a less sweet hot chocolate beverage. Available toppings are less sweet whipped cream, milk chocolate, and chocolate sauce.

Western confectionery brand Meine Rollen has begun selling a collection of Pokemon-themed Valentine’s day goods for 2022! Although some of these chocolates look too cute to eat, they’ll certainly earn top marks with your crush.

 

Chocolate Set L (Pokemon)

Sleeping Pikachu Pack (Pokemon)

Eevee & Friends Pack (Pokemon)

 

 

Last year’s designs focused on characters from Pokemon Red, Green, Blue, Gold, and Silver, released between 1996 and 1999. This year’s imagery was inspired by all games in the series, appealing to an even larger audience. Which design do you like the most?

Godiva Japan has begun selling two special Chocolixir beverages for Valentine’s Day! The Chocolixir Valentine Limited Edition Strawberry White Chocolate drink will be available either hot or cold and sweets lovers will feel indulged by their decadent flavors.

 

Regular Size (270ml): ¥700 (Tax Included) / Large Size (350ml): ¥790 (Tax Included) / Hot (220ml): ¥700 (Tax Included)

 

These magical elixirs are perfect for the Valentine’s season. The gentle sweetness of the white chocolate and the elegant sourness of the strawberry sauce are perfectly balanced, and the whipped cream is topped with adorable pink hearts. Be sure to find a participating location near you to pick up one of these tasty treats while you can!

The Westin Sendai is now offering four fashionable chocolates perfect for Valentine’s Day. These will be available at the Symphony Restaurant on the 26th floor until February 14, 2022. 

 

Charming Rose (8 pieces)

Colore Label (8 pieces / 4 pieces)

Parfume (6 pieces)

Tablet Chocolate (2 varieties)

 

It wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without chocolate, and the Charming Rose takes things to a new level. The handbag, which looks good enough to carry through town, is edible down to the handle and decorations. Inside the bag are eight lip-shaped chocolates in colorful cosmetic shades. Some are milk chocolate, others white, and others include fruits and nuts. Parfume offers a superb smoothness, while the Tablet Chocolate is topped with lavish nuts and dried fruits. 

Takashimaya’s yearly ‘Amour du Chocolat’ Valentine’s Day event is known as the ‘Festival of Chocolates.’

 

Bringing together chocolates from around the world, this event is a way to highlight brands being introduced to Japan for the first time along with established favorites. This year’s lineup will also feature sustainable chocolates and more luxurious sweets to make 2022 feel more uplifting.

 

The First Chocolate Brand to Land in Japan

 

Luna Creation Paris Marble Collection

 

 

Yvan Chevalier Chocolate Assortment

 

Chocolatine Yoann Debray Snowflake & Edelweiss Assortment

 

Sustainable Chocolate

 

Toshi Yoroizuka Truffle Banane 

 

 

Sils Maria Banana & Chocolate

 

 

Bvlgari Il Cioccolato Takashimaya Original Chocolate for Sustainability

 

 

MAAHA Flower Chocolate

 

Ma Priere Giandujas Selection

 

Message de Rose TOKYO Cone Fleury 2022　

 

International Chocolates

 

Charbonnel et Walker Assortment Box for Takashimaya – England

 

Recchiuti Peanut Butter Confections  / Sepia Box – United States

 

Vincent Vallee Chocolat Amour / Valentine Selection – France

 

Bubo Barcelona Chocolate Heart Sculpture – Barcelona

 

Takashimaya Specials

 

Takashimaya Limited Edition Jacques Genin Valentine’s Heart / Classic Selection

Takashimaya Limited Edition Julien Dechenaud Praline Etoile / Praline Nouveau

 

Luxury Chocolates

 

divan Valentine Box

The Peninsula Boutique & Cafe Bear Chocolate

 

Maison Mont Nord Assortment Box

 

Valentine’s Day at Home

Cacao Sampaka / Cacao Esplette

Starting January 8, Tokyu Hands stores in Tokyo are holding a special Valentine’s Day event called Chocolino Chocoliya featuring a variety of sweets! These aren’t just for giving to your sweetheart, but are perfect for friends and family too.

 

Products at a Glance

 

Tokyo Zoological Gardens Association / Ueno Zoo
Panda Set with Petit Gaufre & Chocolate Crunch: ¥1,188 (Tax Included) / Panda Baked Cookies: ¥997 (Tax Included)

Urusei Yatsura
Tote Bag: ¥1,760 (Tax Included) / Mug: ¥1,760 (Tax Included) / Star Chocolate: ¥486 (Tax Included)
Chocolate Assortment (5 pieces): ¥756 (Tax Included) / Chocolate Assortment (15 pieces): ¥1,620 (Tax Included)

Merry Chocolate Company
Merry Candy Chocolate Box: ¥378 each (Tax Included) / Assortment: ¥1,944 (Tax Included) 

 Mint Style

30-piece Handmade Kit Series: ¥1,620 each (Tax Included)

Mint Style

Make-at-Home Kit Series: ¥697 (Tax Included) 

Sumikko Gurashi

Silicon Mold Series: ¥935 (Tax Included)

This year’s project includes confections that can only be purchased at the Ueno Zoo, where twin baby pandas were recently born. Chocolates with retro-style packaging and those with motifs from popular anime series will also be available, so be sure to swing by and have a look!

 

Mister Donut locations nationwide are now selling products from the ‘misdo meets Wittamer’ collection, developed in collaboration with the Belgian royal patisserie brand Wittamer. These tasty treats will be available at participating shops until late February. 

 

Since 2017, under the brand slogan “Good Things Come to Mister Donut,” the brand has collaborated with a number of companies from around the world to invigorate its already delicious selection of sweets. To start 2022, the beloved donut chain is teaming up with Wittamer to bring their ‘Chocolat Samba’ and ‘Praline Chocolat’ to customers throughout Japan.

 

The newly-developed chocolate donut batter is made by applying the same method to make cakes to donuts, creating a light mouthfeel very much like taking a bite of chocolate cake. By combining it with ganache cream and whip, the flavor becomes even richer. It might be difficult to take a bite of something so beautiful, but if you’re near a Mister Donut, you should give these a try before they’re gone!

 

 

 

misdo meets Wittamer Collaboration

 

Chocolat Samba: ¥200 (Without Tax)
The donut’s chocolate dough is covered with ganache cream and filled with ganache whip. Pay close attention to the glossy texture inspired by the Chocolat Samba cake.

 

Chocolat Hazlenut: ¥200 (Without Tax)
Covered in graham cracker hazelnut cream and filled with ganache whip, the cocoa powder on top takes the flavor to new heights.

 

Chocolat Caramel: ¥200 (Without Tax)
Caramel mocha cream and ganache blend together with caramel chocolate and nuts for a decadent and luxurious treat.

 

Chocolat Blueberry: ¥200 (Without Tax)
Chocolate dough and blueberry jam blend seamlessly with ganache cream. Topped with raspberry-flavored chocolate flakes, this is a showstopper.

 

Japan-based chocolate specialty store Minimal is now offering a limited-edition set of gateau chocolates with fresh strawberries from Mei Strawberries in Kagawa Prefecture. These are available for preorder and are perfect for Valentine’s Day!

 

These sweets were a huge hit last year, selling out immediately. The rare variety of strawberries used is only found in 1 percent of Japanese strawberry farms, and these are blended with milk cream and specialty chocolate. 

 

The strawberry jam found on the top of each chocolate piece is made from these rare Nyohou strawberries.  Originally a small-grained variety, the Nyohou varietals send from Mei Strawberries in Kagawa Prefecture are larger with a beautiful dark-red color. Fragrant, juicy, and sweet, they also have a slight acidity that provide a more complex flavor.

 

 

To maximize the natural strawberry flavor, the chocolate is made from Madagascar cocoa beans with a more berry-like flavor. Only slightly roasted, the graininess is intact, leaving a more powerful and rich flavor. A milky sweet cream has also been added to the center to provide a better balance.

This is the second year that the company has worked with these strawberries from Mei, and after making a number of prototypes, Minimal has found the best possible way to express these unique flavors in harmony. 

 

From July 29 to August 11, over 320,000 people from around Japan voted for their favorite lesser-known local souvenir. Sponsored by Japanese e-commerce site Mercari, the contest highlighted 47 unique goods from around the country, one for each prefecture. The winners have been announced, and the White Rabbit of Inaba from Tottori Prefecture has won first place, receiving more than 60,000 votes.

 

A music video-style web commercial featuring the winning product is now being produced to support the shop and particular region of Tottori. The music will be performed by electro-pop group Frasco.

In Japan, the rabbit is known for bringing good fortune, and has been a beloved symbol since ancient times.  The white rabbit in particular, featured in the local Izumo myth ‘The White Rabbit of Inaba,’ plays a major role in connecting the characters Onamuchi-no-kami and Princess Yakami. In 1968, the famous confectionery ‘White Rabbit of Inaba’ was created in the hopes of bringing good luck to those visiting the area.

 

Much like how an indie music group has a small group of hardcore fans but may not be well-known outside of small circles, these indie souvenirs are popular with locals, but may not be known to those outside the community. On the official website, fans can see their favorite treats displayed on what looks like album covers as an homage to this fitting comparison.

 

On social media, there was incredible support for the project from all kinds of people: those who made the souvenirs in the first place, those who love their local area, and those who were seeing these treats for the first time and dying to try them.

 

Which of the 47 souvenirs would you be most happy to receive?