SHIROI KOBITO

It was only appropriate to re-watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on the flight. I was going to Hokkaidō, Home of Shiroi Koibito!

You see that logo at every turn and every corner.

It isn’t merely a factory ok? It’s like a castle.

Just like how Charlie Bucket loves his chocolates, my life isn’t complete without Shiroi Koibito, and perhaps a pilgrimage to the Park. There was no Willy Wonka by my side. And the Oompa-Loompas were substituted with cute Japanese girls who handed out a complimentary piece of that divine white chocolate biscuit to each visitor.

I don’t dream of inheriting the Park. Can I work there, perhaps? The quality control department needs someone with discerning taste buds like mine! Hahaha. And I promise to be good. I won’t turn into a giant blueberry or get thrown down the rubbish chute by intelligent squirrels.

Just this image alone makes me very very very excited.

Above pic from Wikipedia.

The people behind Shiroi Koibito are brilliant. You put an EXCLUSIVE stamp on your product instantly when you refuse to set up sales counters overseas. Is that why Bengawan Solo declined franchise opportunities despite an insane volume of pandan cakes sold annually?

SAPPORO BEER

I’m not a fan of beer, but I am (usually) fascinated with marketing tales. It’s rather interesting to look at the packaging decisions and advertising gimmicks done over the years.

Did you know that Sapporo had a branch right here? That was during the Japanese occupation, when we were renamed Syonan-to.

I didn’t find out why they had a single star in their logo. The bar at the museum was a perfect setting for some communist gathering, in my humble opinion.

ROYCE’

I caved on the last day, after repeatedly seeing print and banner ads for a week.

I still prefer my Shiroi Koibito.