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?
Information
Japan’s Indie Souvenir Contest
Official Site: https://jp-news.mercari.com/localmitsukete/miyage/
RELATED ENTRIES
-
The luxury hotel Grand Hyatt Tokyo will offer Easter sweets and baked goods at the on-site Fiorentina Pastry Boutique from April 1 until Easter, April 17, to celebrate the arrival of spring. Easter Egg Macaroon
Easter Cookies with Icing Easter Lollipop Easter Bunny Brioche This year, in addition to the new Easter Bunny and Easter egg macaroons, cookies with icing, lollipop chocolates, brioche in the shape of the Easter Bunny, and other sweets and bakery items will be available. Don’t miss it! Information
Fiorentina Pastry Boutique
Available: April 1 – April 17, 2022
Location: Grand Hyatt Tokyo
Official Site: https://www.tokyo.grand.hyatt.co.jp/restaurants/
-
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. Information
Fresh Gateau Chocolate & Strawberries featuring Mei Strawberries
Price: ¥3,510 (Tax Included)
Release Date:Online Store/LINE Preorders: December 24, 2021~
Yoyogi Ueno Store: January 15, 2022
Sales Period: Until the End of February 2022
LINE: https://page.line.me/yrn4346m?openQrModal=trueOfficial Site: http://mini-mal.tokyo
-
Disney SWEETS COLLECTION by Tokyo Banana, a joint confectionery shop between GRAPESTONE and Tokyo Banana, released its new Mickey & Friends collection on Thursday.
Tokyo Banana Mickey & Friends Collection | ¥1,300 (Tax Included)
Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto join hands in a heart-warming new collection of Tokyo Banana, a cream-filled sponge cake and the official souvenir sweet of Tokyo's official souvenir sweet: Tokyo Banana.Mickey & Friends arrive in all the colours of the rainbow
The colourful packaging features the Disney group of best friends including Mickey, who loves his friends, his girlfriend Minnie, the anger-prone Donald, stylish Daisy, silly Goofy, and trusty Pluto.Six cute patterns decorate the sponge cakes
There are six super cute Mickey & Friends designs you could get in your Tokyo Banana, and each one is random. They are filled with chocolate banana-flavoured custard cream. Collect all the postcards
All boxes of these treats come with two of eight possible postcard designs which you can use for sending to someone or even as room decoration. © Disney Information
Mickey & Friends Tokyo Banana
Released: June 3, 2021
Where: Tokyo Banana stores
Tokyo Banana Official Website: https://www.tokyobanana.jp/disney/index.html
-
The Pokémon Tokyo Banana confection series launched its first two products that it ever released at Yume Town, Yume City, LEC, and Yume Mart branches in the South-west most part of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu on May 14.
Pikachu Tokyo Banana (Banana Flavour) | Includes 2 | ¥292 (Tax Included)
Eevee Tokyo Banana (Caramel) | Includes 2 | ¥292 (Tax Included)
Heart-shaped tail ends
Six different packaging designs each for Pikachu and Eevee
Tokyo Banana are popular cream-filled cakes and are the official souvenir sweet of Tokyo. The Pokémon series turns these fluffy treats into cute confections for you to enjoy with your favourite Pokémon during snack time. Pikachu was the first to enter the Pokémon Tokyo Banana series who was turned into a banana custard cream-filled sponge cake. The second was Eevee with the fluffy sponge a delicious caramel macchiato flavour and filled with sweet banana custard cream The confections are both branded with adorable heart-shaped tails, and each comes with one of six possible packaging designs. ©2021 Pokémon. ©1995-2021 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc. ポケットモンスター・ポケモン・Pokémonは任天堂・クリーチャーズ・ゲームフリークの登録商標です。Information
Pikachu & Eevee Tokyo Banana
Released: May 14, 2021 (Available while supplies last)
Locations: Yume Town / Yume City / LEC / Yume Mart (Select branches not participating)
Official Website: https://www.tokyobanana.jp/products/banana_pokemon.html -
Kyoto makeup brand Yojiya is now selling its own collection of snacks and drinks which it released via its website last week.
Yojiya Matcha Sandwich Cookies | ¥1,400 (Tax Included)
Yojiya Cafe Latte Chocolate Cookies | ¥1,350 (Tax Included)
Yojiya Matcha Milk | ¥950 (Tax Included)
Yojiya's snack line-up is made with the idea of being able to enjoy high-quality food products at home. Their collection includes crunchy matcha and cafe latte cookies along with matcha milk, the latter of which is made with famous Uji matcha from Uji, Kyoto. Perfect for a tea/coffee break or as a souvenir. -
Sablé MICHELLE opened its first Tokyo branch inside Seibu Ikebukuro last Friday to serve up their cute and colourful baked treats for the people of Japan's capital.
Voyage Sablé New York
Voyage Sablé Netherlands
Voyage Sablé Hawaii
Voyage Sablé Tokyo
Voyage Sablé Gift (Contains 3)
Voyage Sablé Air Male (Box of 6)
Cake Sablé Tin (Small Size)
Cake Sablé Bag Type (Contains 2)
Fleur Sandwich Sablé (Contains 4)
Fleur Sandwich Sablé Bag Type (Contains 2)
Information
Sablé MICHELLE Seibu Ikebukuro
Grand Opening: March 12, 2021
Official Website: https://www.sogo-seibu.jp/ikebukuro/