Latest news with #BlackThunder
Japan Today
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Can we tell the difference between Black Thunder and Black Thunder Excellent chocolate bars?
By SoraNews24 Black Thunder chocolate bars are a great choice when you need a sugar boost that you can discretely keep in your bag or pocket if it isn't too hot out. That may also have been why our writer Snufkin found herself at the Black Thunder section of a 7-Eleven. However, it was here that she found a Black Thunder unlike any other. These surprisingly delicious little bars occasionally come in 'Premium' flavors, but this was even beyond that… It was Black Thunder Excellent. You don't see many products with 'Excellent' in the name, probably because it doesn't really leave any room for improved versions in the future. Nevertheless, Black Thunder has dared to dream and released this version of the classic chocolate flavor for more than twice the price of a regular Black Thunder bar. Considering a regular bar is only about 35 yen, the Black Thunder Excellent still isn't terribly expensive at 95 yen each at 7-Eleven stores where they're exclusively sold. In front of the box holding the Black Thunder Excellent bars was a challenge: 'Can you tell the difference?' This is because these excellent bars are made mostly in the same way as regular ones, but with high-quality cocoa beans for what they call a 'rich and luxurious absolute chocolate sensation.' Snufkin fancies herself a Black Thunder aficionado and was certainly up for the challenge of distinguishing gourmet bars from regular ones, so she picked up one of each and took them home. She decided to start with a visual inspection and the moment she opened the wrapper of the Black Thunder Excellent, she was hit with a scent unlike any Black Thunder she ever had before. It was like chocolate with a high cocoa content. The rich cocoa could be seen in the bar as well with a darker and denser appearance. On the surface, it might look like the regular bar has more cookie crunches in it, but checking inside they seemed about the same, it was just that the Excellent bar had thicker chocolate over top. Snufkin chose the regular Black Thunder to start with and was filled with the comforting feeling of its familiar chocolatey flavor and crumbly texture. With that out of the way, it was time to partake of the Black Thunder Excellent. Taking a bite there was no question this bar was built different, but surprisingly she felt the original Black Thunder was more delicious the moment it touches the tongue with its strong sweetness. When she first bit into Black Thunder Excellent she momentarily thought it didn't taste like anything. However, that was Black Thunder Excellent's gambit. It starts off weak and takes its time as the rich cocoa aroma gradually fills the mouth. It's a fragrance so fine that it doesn't need the simple sweetness of sugar to delight the taste buds. Its texture was a little harder too, but that had more to do with the higher chocolate content than the cookies. In conclusion, the sign's doubt that everyone would be able to tell the difference turned out to be unnecessary, because it was all too easy to do so. Black Thunder Excellent reminded Snufkin of those fancy chocolates found in department store food sections and for just 95 yen, that's a pretty sweet deal on some not-so-sweet chocolate. Photos ©SoraNews24 Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- Black Thunder grab event in Tokyo gets you a fistful of chocolate bars for less than 30 cents -- Krispy Kreme releases Pac-Man doughnuts in Japan… but are they any good? -- Sliced Black Thunder: A chocolate bar for toast External Link © SoraNews24
SoraNews24
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Can we tell the difference between Black Thunder and Black Thunder Excellent chocolate bars?
It doesn't get any better than this Black Thunder. Being the hard-hitting reporters we are and constantly on the go covering Pac-Man's visit to Krispy Kreme and buying five large fries from McDonald's for research, we often have to eat as we move. I'm probably not alone when I say Black Thunder chocolate bars are a great choice when you need a sugar boost that you can discretely keep in your bag or pocket if it isn't too hot out. That may also have been why our writer Snufkin found herself at the Black Thunder section of a 7-Eleven. However, it was here that she found a Black Thunder unlike any other. These surprisingly delicious little bars occasionally come in 'Premium' flavors, but this was even beyond that… It was Black Thunder Excellent! You don't see many products with 'Excellent' in the name, probably because it doesn't really leave any room for improved versions in the future. Nevertheless, Black Thunder has dared to dream and released this version of the classic chocolate flavor for more than twice the price of a regular Black Thunder bar. Considering a regular bar is only about 35 yen, the Black Thunder Excellent still isn't terribly expensive at 95 yen ($0.65) each at 7-Eleven stores where they're exclusively sold. In front of the box holding the Black Thunder Excellent bars was a challenge: 'Can you tell the difference?' This is because these excellent bars are made mostly in the same way as regular ones, but with high-quality cocoa beans for what they call a 'rich and luxurious absolute chocolate sensation.' Snufkin fancies herself a Black Thunder aficionado and was certainly up for the challenge of distinguishing gourmet bars from regular ones, so she picked up one of each and took them home. She decided to start with a visual inspection and the moment she opened the wrapper of the Black Thunder Excellent, she was hit with a scent unlike any Black Thunder she ever had before. It was like chocolate with a high cocoa content. The rich cocoa could be seen in the bar as well with a darker and denser appearance. On the surface, it might look like the regular bar has more cookie crunches in it, but checking inside they seemed about the same, it was just that the Excellent bar had thicker chocolate over top. Snufkin chose the regular Black Thunder to start with and was filled with the comforting feeling of its familiar chocolatey flavor and crumbly texture. With that out of the way, it was time to partake of the Black Thunder Excellent. Taking a bite there was no question this bar was built different, but surprisingly she felt the original Black Thunder was more delicious the moment it touches the tongue with its strong sweetness. When she first bit into Black Thunder Excellent she momentarily thought it didn't taste like anything. However, that was Black Thunder Excellent's gambit. It starts off weak and takes its time as the rich cocoa aroma gradually fills the mouth. It's a fragrance so fine that it doesn't need the simple sweetness of sugar to delight the taste buds. Its texture was a little harder too, but that had more to do with the higher chocolate content than the cookies. In conclusion, the sign's doubt that everyone would be able to tell the difference turned out to be unnecessary, because it was all too easy to do so. Black Thunder Excellent reminded Snufkin of those fancy chocolates found in department store food sections and for just 95 yen, that's a pretty sweet deal on some not-so-sweet chocolate. Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
SoraNews24
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Can Japan's favorite cheap chocolate also be a good craft beer? Taste-testing Black Thunder Stout
Black Thunder chocolate goes into every can, but does that mean this brew comes out tasty? No matter how old you are, visiting a chocolate factory will make you feel like a kid again. That was something our ace reporter Mr. Sato experienced first hand on his recent trip to the Black Thunder factory in the town of Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, where they make Japan's favorite brand of incredibly cheap, but also incredibly delicious, chocolate. ▼ Black Thunder, the chocolate that delights taste buds even if it sometimes breaks hearts But while Mr. Sato's inner child was squealing with glee as he participated in the factory's souvenir shop activity that lets you stuff as many chocolate bars as you can inside a bag in three minutes, his inner adult couldn't help feeling drawn to… …the Black Thunder chocolate beer?!? Yes, they do sell beer at the Black Thunder factory, and yes, it's really made from Black Thunder. Specifically, it's made using the leftover pieces of chocolate that are broken off when the bars are formed, so as you crack open a can of Black Thunder Stout you can pat yourself on the back for doing your part to reduce food waste. Though Black Thunder is famous for its low price, Black Thunder Stout is just a tad on the expensive side at 755 yen (US$5.20) a can. That's still an affordable luxury, though, and not a shocking price for a craft beer in today's marketplace. The beer is produced by Kagawa Prefecture-based brewer Setouchi Beer for Toyohashi craft beer company THC Craft, with the blessing of Black Thunder maker Yuraku Confectionary Company, and uses barley malt imported from the U.K. and Germany. ▼ The label, with an illustrated redhead in a tiger-stripe outfit, is clearly taking some design cues from manga artist Rumiko Takahashi, creator of Inuyasha , Ranma 1/2 , and Urusei Yatsura , whose female lead is fond of tiger-print attire herself. But with Black Thunder being a chocolate with a pronounced sweetness, Mr. Sato wondered, and also sort of worried, that Black Thunder Stout would be a sugary-tasting beer. He felt a little better after asking the store staff about its flavor and a clerk told him that the beer, which has a five-percent alcohol content, isn't particularly sweet, and instead has an enjoyable bitterness to it. Convinced, Mr. Sato bought a can and took it home for taste-testing. As soon as he started pouring, Mr. Sato noticed the fine fizziness of the head, and since he likes his stouts to have this kind of creamy top, his expectations immediately rose like the foam in his glass. Mr. Sato wasn't just pouring the can into a glass for the visual inspection, though. During the brewing process, the sugars in the chocolate pieces play a role in the fermentation process, and the resulting beer retains some of that sweet aroma. It's most noticeable with a wide-brimmed drinking vessel, and the brewers recommend a wine glass, but since Mr. Sato doesn't have one he instead used the widest-opening cup he could find in his kitchen. Sure enough, he could detect a gentle, enticing sweetness as he took a sniff before he took a sip. And when he did take that sip? It was excellent. Gently pushing through the top layer of soft, creamy foam, he found a robust bitterness that gives the beer a sense of psychological weight. But the bitter notes weren't alone in the rich flavor profile, as they were accompanied by sensations of coffee. Surprisingly, there was no candy-like sweetness, but the flavor ends with a faint lingering chocolatey impression that tickles the nose and entices you into another sip. Flavorful but mellow, Mr. Sato likens the Black Thunder Stout to a glass of fine wine or whiskey, something to take your time with and thoroughly enjoy. Sadly, while Black Thunder is available in pretty much every convenience store in Japan, Black Thunder Stout is harder to find, though it's sometimes available for online order through local products e-shop Toyohashi Tsushin here. However, even Black Thunder chocolate wasn't an overnight success story, and at one point early in its history was even temporarily taken off the market because of low sales before word of mouth made it the phenomenal hit it is today, so maybe we'll see Black Thunder follow a similar path. Related: Black Thunder factory official website Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
Nikkei Asia
4 days ago
- Business
- Nikkei Asia
Black Thunder snack maker targets sweet-toothed tourists with factory trips
NAGOYA, Japan -- The maker of Japan's popular Black Thunder chocolate bar is aiming to lure sweet-toothed tourists and other guests to a visitor center at its new $70 million plant, offering a behind-the-scenes peek into the creation of the beloved confectionery. Essentially a mixture of crunchy cookie pieces covered in smooth chocolate, the Black Thunder is a common snack in the East Asian country, where it can be found on the shelves of supermarkets, convenience stores and train station kiosks. Indeed, one piece of research showed it was the most popular product in the nation's chocolate market in 2023 in terms of sales volumes.
SoraNews24
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Mr. Sato visited Black Thunder's new factory, but was mostly captivated by their sukajan jackets
He went for the chocolate and came back as part of the brand. There are many delectable treats to be found in Japan, from the cheap to the more unusual, but a popular chocolate snack is Black Thunder. Developed by Yuraku Confectionery in Toyohashi, Aichi, in 1994, it quickly became a beloved product nationwide, often working in collaboration with other companies to create a food mash-up, like this year's dessert range at Sushiro. Now, this month will see the introduction of the first-ever factory tour, at the Black Thunder Waku-zaku Factory in Toyohashi on May 27. Our ace Japanese-language reporter Mr. Sato joined the media preview, expecting to be treated to a tour of the production process, but was instead thunderstruck when he laid eyes on the jackets worn by the employees, deciding he must have one at all costs. The day started off like any other press event: Mr. Sato arrived at Shinjohara Station (the nearest station), and while it was possible to walk there in about 25 minutes, he opted to take the provided shuttle bus. Expecting a minibus to pull up, he was a little surprised to discover a full-sized tour bus: it appeared that Yuraku had pulled out all of the stops for the sake of good coverage; their confidence in the new factory was overflowing. A short bus ride later, Mr. Sato arrived at the Yuraku Confectionery Toyohashi Dream Factory. The company's store that sits next door to the factory is closed to the public until May 27, but Mr. Sato got a sneak peek later on in the day. The event opened with a greeting from President Tatsunobu Kawai, who explained that from their initial idea to expand and revamp the factory in 2023 for Black Thunder's 30th anniversary the following year, it took two years to complete the entire renewal and open up the Black Thunder Waku-zaku Factory. Not content with just creating a viewing area, Yuraku decided to take things a little bigger in the hopes of giving new energy to the Tokai-Mikawa region where the product was born, and opted to build an interactive entertainment facility. It's a respectable goal, without a doubt, but for Mr. Sato… he simply couldn't tear his eyes away from the president's jacket. ▼ 'It's so cool… is it a sukajan? A leather jacket?' A sukajan is a type of embroidered satin jacket that was originally designed to be a souvenir. The president's jacket, Mr. Sato later learned, was in fact a leather sukajan that was the only one of its kind in the world. The speech soon ended, forcing Mr. Sato to tear his eyes away from the leather sukajan and pay attention to the following speaker. Next up was Hiro Maki from the Management Quality Department, who oversees the facility, to give a general explanation of the work done throughout the renewal. The main feature, the factory tour corridor, is divided into nine areas. From there, visitors can watch the production process up close and learn the secrets to Black Thunder's deliciousness. They've even included a section with immersive projection mapping, allowing guests to experience the process from the perspective of the ingredients that go into making Black Thunder. However… ▼ '…his jacket is also super cool.' Mr. Sato was left pondering whether that jacket was only for employees, as he would love to get his hands on one if he could. He is, after all, one of our most fashionable reporters, so it's no surprise that he's taken by the trendy-looking clothes. The speeches ended with a ceremony that appointed Black Thunder as a tourism ambassador to Toyohashi. While usually referred to as 'ambassadors,' Black Thunder gets a special privilege in being able to be known as an 'amba-thunder.' With the formalities completed, it was time to explore and Mr. Sato headed straight for the company store. Upon entering the first thing to catch his eye was… A sofa that looks just like Black Thunder. Mr. Sato decided then and there that his house was in need of a new sofa, but to his dismay, the sofa was not for sale. With about 80 different items in stock, the store feels like it has something for everyone. There's naturally many chocolate products, but it's the merchandise where the store really shines. And there it was! The jacket that Hiro was wearing is for sale. On the left side of the chest is 'BT' for 'Black Thunder,' and on the right, two lightning bolts. 'So stylish…' The embroidery on the back is great too, having a perfectly subdued design to not detract from the rest of the jacket. The center is a map of Japan, with Tokyo (where the headquarters in Kodaima is located), Sapporo (another factory), and Toyohashi are all marked. Adding the little Japanese flairs of a hawk and Mt. Fuji is a nice touch, but the pièce de résistance is the design of a thunder god, which would traditionally be riding a cloud, but is instead riding a Black Thunder. Mr. Sato was in love with the quirkiness of the embroidery. The only thing that stood between Mr. Sato and a new jacket was the price. It was bound to be expensive, so Mr. Sato briefly contemplated going for a T-shirt instead. He cast his eyes over to the shelf where the jackets were located and scanned the price: 21,000 yen (US$145.95) for a large size. That's… pretty expensive. He hadn't anticipated spending so much while he was on the trip, but… he really wanted that jacket. Like… really, really wanted it. Just in case, Mr. Sato slipped it on to see how he looked, and he loved it even more. Wearing the jacket just felt so right; he bought it instantly. Being the only place where it is being sold, the option of not buying one wasn't really an option at all. The regret would be too much to bear. With a sukajan of his very own, there was no other choice for his next goal: he approached that person… ▼ Who happened to be busy with filming for a television interview. Mr. Sato: 'E-excuse me, President… I'm Sato from Sora News.' President Kawai: 'Ah, thank you for coming today.' Mr. Sato: 'I bought the sukajan.' President Kawai: 'Thank you. It suits you a lot.' Mr. Sato: 'Thank you. Would you take a photo together with me?' President Kawai: 'Of course!' Mr. Sato: 'Awesome!' Successfully achieving his goal of getting a photo with the president wearing matching jackets, Mr. Sato felt he could end the day feeling completely satisfied. Until he realized that he had completely forgotten to take a look at the rest of the facility. Along with the 80 types of Black Thunder products in the store, there are also region-exclusive flavors that are usually only sold in specific areas in Japan, like… ▼ …ice cream, and frozen cakes. There's even Black Thunder Stout, a beer made using leftover bits of Black Thunder. Of course the main feature of the store, something that gets everyone pumped up, is the stuff-in-as-much-as-you-possibly-can event, and Black Thunder is no stranger to chocolate-grabbing events, having run a slightly different version for Valentine's Day earlier in the year. The store plans to run the event 13 times a day, and you need to purchase a ticket at the register in advance, with each turn costing 1,100 yen. If the tickets run out, then you're out of luck and can only forlornly watch from the sidelines as other guests pack chocolate into bags by the fistful. The rules are simple: within three minutes, you need to put as many Black Thunders as you can into the designated bag. You can overfill as long as you can lift it and hold it steady for five seconds without anything falling. If you can manage that, you get to keep it all. The bag, though, is surprisingly small and doesn't stretch, so excess force could result in tearing the bag. Everyone there gave it a try, with each person using their own different techniques. There was even one person stacking them like Jenga blocks, resulting in quite a good haul. For Mr. Sato, he came away with a grand total of 37 chocolate bars. With one bar costing around 40 yen (US$0.28), that's about 1,480 yen, making it a total of 380 yen worth of free chocolate. Not too shabby, but it seems that the average number was over 40, and there was even someone who got up to 50 bars. Of course, the store is not the only attraction at Black Thunder Waku-zaku Factory. Along the 71.5-meter (234.6-foot) observation corridor, visitors can watch all nine stages of the production process. There are machines that cut the chocolate bars 864 times per minute, slicing them in a satisfying and mesmerizing way. That naturally means that the factory can produce 864 Black Thunder bars every minute, resulting in a yearly production capacity of 252 million bars. There are also photo spots to discover, where Mr. Sato was able to join Hiro for another sukajan shot. Black Thunder Waku-zaku Factory is set to be a popular tourist destination in Toyohashi, where fans of sukajan can pick up their own factory-exclusive jacket and other Black Thunder-based goods, as well as finally being able to see the production process behind one of Japan's beloved chocolate bars for free. But, seriously, when you see that jacket for yourself, any resistance may be futile. Location information Black Thunder Waku-zaku Factory / ブラックサンダーワクザクファクトリー Address: Aichi-ken, Toyohashi-shi, Hara-cho, Zosha-88, Yuraku Seika Kabushikigaisha 愛知県豊橋市原町蔵社88 有楽製菓株式会社 Open: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (shop only; viewing corridor requires advance booking through their website) Website Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
