Latest news with #Morinaga
SoraNews24
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
What is Japan's new 'summer matcha' ice cream flavor from confectioner Morinaga?【Taste test】
More matcha from Mow Matcha. Japan has an array of seasonal sweets flavors, and summer is no exception. Some of these are connected to produce that's in season, like watermelon and peach, while others flavors are summer favorites because of their refreshing or cooling sensations, like mint chocolate and lemon. But we were puzzled when, on our most recent dessert run, we saw that one of our options was 'summer matcha.' Matcha has become such a staple flavor of the Japanese sweets scene that it's really a year-round thing, and the green tea harvest season starts in spring. Adding to the mystery is the fact that Morinaga, the makers of the Mow brand of ice cream, are selling both the limited-time Mow Uji Matcha Summer Scent Matcha at the same time as their always-on-sale regular Mow Uji Matcha flavor. ▼ Summer matcha on the left, year-round matcha on the right. And if you're wondering about the brand's name, 'Mow,' pronounced with a long O like in 'mow the lawn,' is the onomatopoeia in Japanese for the sound of a cow mooing. So yes, we were puzzled by the unexpected appearance of 'summer matcha,' but also curious. More than anything else, we were hungry, and one of the philosophical pillars that SoraNews24 is built on is that whenever the possibility to do so arises, one should always pursue the truth by eating double desserts, so that's what we set out to do. Popping the tops off of both cups, we could see that the Summer Scent Matcha's shade of green was a touch deeper than the regular version's. We figure that's a result of how while both flavors source their matcha from the Kyoto Prefecture town of Uji, the Summer Scent boasts that its matcha comes from specialized tea merchant Marukyu Koyamaen. Grabbing two spoons, so as not to mix their flavors, we then took a taste of each… …and… …couldn't immediately tell the difference. In and of itself, this wasn't such a huge problem, since it's hard to get upset about not being able to instantly differentiate between 'delicious' and 'delicious,' which were our first impressions of both Mow matcha flavors. Still, there has to be something that's supposed to set one apart from the other, right? As is so often the case in life, it turned out that the correct course of action was to keep eating ice cream. Making our way closer to the bottom of the cups, the sadness that we now had less ice cream than we did just a few moments before was counterbalanced by the newfound knowledge that Mow's Summer Scent and regular matcha flavors are, in fact, different. The regular version, pictured above, starts with a sharper hit of green tea bitterness, and the strong matcha notes continue down to its core. After a few bites, the bitterness never disappears from your palate until sometime after you've completely finished the cup, making for a mature, soothing flavor profile. Meanwhile, the Summer Scent Matcha, while still having a properly pronounced green tea taste, is gentler. It leads with more sweet and creamy flavors, for a lighter, more refreshing effect, which meshes with the idea of making a more 'summery' matcha flavor, which Morinaga says was its goal. We don't have any equipment with which to measure whether or not the Summer Scent Matcha is actually more fragrant than the regular Mow Matcha, but with the bitterness being less insistent and attention-grabbing, we did feel like we could notice a stronger tea aroma too. Price-wise, we paid 184 yen (US$1.30) for the limited-time Mow Summer Scent Matcha and 102 yen for the regular matcha, though we found the latter at a discounted price during a multi-market grocery shopping trip, so the price differential probably isn't usually that large. To really appreciate the differences between the Summer Scent and regular Mow matcha, it's probably easiest to eat them both in the same sitting, so we recommend either saving extra room for dessert or enlisting a friend to split the two cups half-and-half with…or maybe inviting three of your friends if you want to add the two different Häagen-Dazs Japan green tea ice creams to your bill of fare as well. 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
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
The Great Parm Exhibition coming to Harajuku, Tokyo for frozen treat's 20th anniversary
What's the Parm in a little celebration? Parm, chocolate-covered ice cream bars on sticks, are often overlooked in the vast ecosystem of Japan's frozen treats. But their simplicity has served as a reliable ever-popular treat in an industry that sometimes gets unhinged with spaghetti ice pops or crab ice cream. It's just nice to know the sober deliciousness of Parm has always been around for the past 20 years. However, after 20 years of being the dignified ice cream in Japan, it's time for Parm to let its hair down and get a little funky. So, to celebrate this milestone The Great Parm Exhibition will be held from 3 to 7 July in the trendy Harajuku district of Tokyo. ▼ A map of the exhibition space Upon entering this exhibition, guests are first greeted with an introduction narrated by movie star Yutaka Takenouchi, probably best known outside of Japan for his role as the Prime Minister's aide in Shin Godzilla . He also appears in commercials for Parm. From here you can view the Parm Dissection Book, a tome that outlines the creation of Parm and gives never-before-seen insights about its design and production. After this, there is the My First Bite display where notable fans of Parm, such as Takenouchi and the head of product development for Morinaga Milk Industry shared their first times sinking their teeth into its silky smooth chocolate and ice cream. ▼ My First Bite Next up is the All of Parm section which will showcase the over 100 varieties of Parm that have been released over their 20-year history. Then it's on to the Grandeur of Happiness, where a giant monument, the size of 10,000 Parm bars, will be erected. This scale was chosen because an estimated 10,000 Parm bars are eaten every 15 minutes in Japan based on last year's sales data. From here you can enter the Chocolate Room which is designed to make it feel like you're inside a Parm bar and surrounded by smooth chocolate walls. Various displays highlight the unique qualities of this chocolate, like the Velvet Curtain that represents the coating which Morinaga refers to as Velvet Chocolate, and a giant pair of human lips that causes the chocolate to melt deliciously on contact. In the Just the Way You Are section, photos taken by fans of Parm are on display, giving a unique look at the bar seldom seen in slick advertising campaigns. Nearby is the Joy That's Supposed to Be There exhibit which simulates the happiness of finding a Parm in the freezer in three different ways. ▼ Much of the exhibition has a minimalist theme that exemplifies the simple charm of Parm. The Moment of Birth gives visitors a rare glimpse of Parm bars entering existence from the factory, just before packaging and shipping to spread joy around the country. Next to that is the Parm Garden, which is an area with Yogibo bean bag chairs that resemble Parm bars both in appearance and smooth texture. And next to that is the Trick Parm trick art area where you can take a photo as if pulling out a giant Parm from its wrapper. ▼ Parm Garden And last but certainly not least, there is a My Parm Bar experience where you can create your very own ice cream snack by dipping your frozen bar into melted chocolate and then adding up to two toppings of your choice. This can be done at no extra charge, but visitors must first take the Parm Love Test that gauges their love of Parm. And speaking of charges, admission is only 700 yen (US$5), but parts of this event will only be held as long as supplies last so you may not want to wait until the last minute of this five-day celebration of all things Parm. Take the time now to get yourself Parmed and ready. Event information The Great Parm Exhibition / 大パルム展 With Harajuku Hall Tokyo-to, Shibuya-ku, Jingumae 1-14-30, 3F 東京都渋谷区神宮前１丁目14-30 3F Event runs 3 July-7 July Hours: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Admission: 700 yen Source, images: PR Times ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Associated Press
30-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Gray and Morinaga Celebrate Major Construction Milestone
MEBANE, N.C., June 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Gray, a fully integrated design-builder specializing in end-to-end solutions in Construction, Professional Services, Specialty Equipment, and Real Estate, joined Morinaga America Foods to celebrate the topping out of the company's new North Carolina manufacturing facility. On Tuesday, the final beam was placed atop Morinaga's brownfield confectionary expansion during the ceremony. This time-honored construction tradition signifies a project reaching its structural peak. Morinaga chose Gray to provide a suite of integrated services for the unique needs of this project, including construction, engineering, and automation services. Additionally, the Gray team will procure and install process equipment for Morinaga on this project. Gray's efforts to solve Morinaga's challenges with a comprehensive package of integrated professional services ultimately led the customer to accelerate the project timeline. 'This topping out marks more than just progress, it celebrates the strength of our partnership and the shared commitment driving this project forward,' says Brett Goode, executive vice president, food & beverage market, Gray. 'It's an honor to work alongside Morinaga on a facility that will help shape the future of the confectionery market and meet growing demand in a rapidly expanding sector.' Once complete, this 130,000 s.f. expansion will support Morinaga's growing U.S. presence and increase production of HI-CHEW, one of the fasting growing non-chocolate candies in the country. The expanded facility will enable Morinaga to meet increasing customer demand, boost output capacity, and streamline operations under one roof. Once fully operational, the new facility is expected to provide more than 200 new jobs for the area. About Gray: Gray is a fully integrated design-builder delivering end-to-end solutions in construction, professional services, specialty equipment, and real estate. Since 1960, we have grown from a regional contractor to a nationally ranked leader, serving top companies in our core markets. Our comprehensive services — spanning design, engineering, construction, automation, equipment, and real estate — make us a trusted partner for every phase of a project. Whether designing and building a state-of-the-art facility, fabricating custom process equipment, or implementing advanced automation, our expertise drives innovation and value at every step. At Gray, we don't just build projects — we build lasting partnerships. For more information on Gray, visit and follow Gray on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. Media Contact: Abby Johnson Vice President, Integrated Marketing [email protected] View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Gray Construction
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How Beyoncé's Anrealage LED Dress for ‘Cowboy Carter Tour' Was Created: 35,000 Lights, Japanese Architecture Inspiration and Extensive Rehearsals
Beyoncé debuted her 'Cowboy Carter Tour' on Monday in Los Angeles, lighting up the stage with an LED dress created by Kunihiko Morinaga, the designer behind the Japanese brand Anrealage. The dress, worn during her performance of 'Daughter,' features approximately 35,000 full-color LEDs that transform continuously to match the song's progression. Morinaga, who had previously collaborated with Beyoncé during the singer's 'Renaissance' era, was invited to create the one-of-a-kind dress after presenting Anrealage's fall 2025 collection during Paris Fashion Week in March. The collection featured a similar high-tech dress that inspired Beyoncé's styling team, led by Shiona Turini. More from WWD Beyoncé and Ulta Beauty Bring 'Cowboy Carter' Experience to Stores and Create Tour-inspired Beauty Looks Cécred Hits the Road With Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter Tour, Announces Pop-up Stores Across Seven Cities Johanna Ortiz Brings a Taste of Colombia to Paris With Pop-up at Le Bon Marché 'After accepting the offer, I, along with my team, traveled back and forth between Japan and Los Angeles to design and produce an original outfit. The result was a crinoline dress made with our signature 'Led Textile,' a flexible fabric capable of displaying shifting colors, patterns and graphics like a liquid crystal screen,' Morinaga told WWD via email. The designer collaborated with Mplusplus, a Japanese design firm led by Minoru Fujimoto that integrates LEDs into textiles. Mplusplus was responsible for developing a wireless control system to program the lights' choreography. 'To ensure visibility in a stadium setting, we enlarged the graphic elements of the LED design and made fine adjustments to brightness levels up until the final stages. Because synchronization between the dress lighting and the stage lighting was crucial, we conducted extensive rehearsals to perfect the interplay between them,' the designer said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ANREALAGE (@anrealage_official) The entire production of the dress took about one-and-a-half months, including the rehearsals. 'Our team controlled the visuals in real time from offstage, syncing the design with the music as the performance unfolded,' Morinaga said. The fabric of the dress was inspired by traditional Japanese azekura storehouse architecture, combining breathability and moisture-wicking properties with a unique optical effect. 'It blocks light from the front while allowing RGB light from the back to shine through, enabling the textile itself to function as a screen,' the designer explained. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ANREALAGE (@anrealage_official) The result, as seen onstage, is a light show that begins with the dress in a red tartan pattern, transitions into a half-blue motif, and becomes entirely covered in vivid crimson sequins. The dress then morphs into a trompe-l'oeil black lace motif, followed by a dazzling gold sequin look. 'It eventually shifts into tricolor noise, evoking the American flag — red, white and blue — which then dissolves into monochrome noise. From there, stained glass motifs reminiscent of a cathedral appear and evolve rapidly, culminating in an explosion of light like bursting stars. Finally, the imagery fades into cosmic darkness, and light rains down once more as the dress reaches its climactic glow,' Morinaga said. 'It was a truly epic visual performance.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by ANREALAGE (@anrealage_official) Morinaga felt honored by seeing his creation onstage. 'At Paris Fashion Week, what we presented was a glimpse into the near future — but the moment Beyoncé wore it, it became the present. In that instant, it transcended fashion and became part of culture and history. Creating a one-of-a-kind garment that exists nowhere else in the world — that, to me, is the essence of fashion design. Beyoncé always reminds us of the true power of creation,' he said. The 'Cowboy Carter Tour' debuted at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The tour will feature 32 shows across nine cities in the U.S. and Europe, including Chicago, New Jersey, London, Paris, Houston, Las Vegas and more. View Gallery Launch Gallery: Beyoncé's Tour Outfits: From 'Cowboy Carter' to 'Dangerously in Love' and More Photos Best of WWD A Look Back at Prince William and Kate Middleton's Royal Wedding Beyoncé's Tour Outfits: From 'Cowboy Carter' to 'Dangerously in Love' and More Photos Savannah James' Style Through the Years: LeBron James' Wife's Fashion Evolution [PHOTOS]
