Latest news with #PocariSweat
SoraNews24
4 days ago
- Business
- SoraNews24
Crane games in Japanese convenience stores getting more and more popular, especially with tourists
Popularity with customers, including foreign tourists, leads to chain hitting crane game target months ahead of schedule. Up through the early '90s, it was pretty normal for convenience stores in America to have an arcade video game cabinet or two in the corner for customers to drop a few quarters into. Here in Japan, though, despite, or perhaps because of, the rich arcade culture, arcade games have never had a presence at major convenience store chains. However, these days you're more and more likely to see a different form of coin-operated entertainment at one chain: crane games. Back in 2022, the manager of a branch of Lawson, one of Japan's big-three convenience store chains, approached the head office to discuss the idea that customers might be interested in not only purchasing items at the store, but spending on experiences as well. This got the wheels turning to start installing crane games inside Lawson stores, chosen for being an easily accessible form of fun with an affordable price point that are popular with people across a wide variety of ages and other demographics. ▼ Crane games inside a Lawson branch The cabinets are more compact than the full-size ones found in dedicated arcades/game centers, and in some two different gameplay areas may be operated by the same controls, with the player pressing an arrow-shaped button at the start to select which prizes they're trying for. The prizes tend to be compact too, but are generally plushies and figures of popular characters, like the ones from One Piece , Dragon Quest , and the Super Mario franchise seen above. After starting out in Japan's central Kiki region in 2022, Lawson has continued to expand its crane game operations. A year ago, when the machines were in 623 branches nationwide, Lawson said it wanted them in 1,000 by the end of 2025, and it's actually hit that milestone before we're even done with summer, as there are now 1,109 Lawson branches with in-store crane games. With a price of 100 yen (US$0.68), Lawson isn't getting rich off single plays. Really, though, the greater benefit to the chain is bringing in extra foot traffic. While convenience stores in Japan do try to differentiate from one another with their private-brand items, there's a lot of overlap between chains too, often with little to no difference in prices, as manufacturers in Japan have a strong say in what retailers charge for their products. If Lawson can earn a spot in people's minds as 'the convenience store with the fun crane games,' though, at least some of the people coming in to try their luck will also happen to be thirsty or hungry, and since they're already inside a Lawson, they may as well pick up a bottle of Pocari Sweat or a box of shape-trademarked Pocky there too, right? Of course, Lawson wouldn't be installing more crane games unless people were enjoying playing them, and the company says they're particularly popular in branches in sightseeing areas and that foreign tourists have been especially enamored by them, and the chain is now looking into creating Lawson-exclusive prizes to stock them with. There doesn't currently appear to be any complete list of crane game-equipped branches or way to search for them through the chain's official website, but Lawson says it plans to continue adding them to more of its stores. Source: Narinari, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Lawson Top image ©SoraNews24 Insert image: PR Times ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Metropolis Japan
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metropolis Japan
Hokusai to Pocari Sweat: Japanese Aesthetic of 'Transparency'
"Toumeikan" is symbolized by water and made visible by the color blue By What is Toumeikan? These are compliments in Japanese—odd ones, maybe. Toumeikan (透明感), directly translated as 'sense of transparency,' is a common phrase used to praise someone's… well, transparent beauty. Transparent, like water: clear, cool, fresh, light, reflective and pure. But what exactly does it mean to look transparent? There is a common Japanese phrase, mizu-moshitataru ii otoko —literally, 'a man so handsome, water drips from him' (more commonly, though not exclusively, used for men). Originally describing 'hot' kabuki actors in the Edo period, it evokes the image of youthful and dewy-skinned beauty. Today, it's used more broadly to describe fresh-faced heartthrobs, but the water imagery lingers. Water and toumeikan are aesthetic ideals in Japan, not only for the way you look but also for art and its philosophy. This topic, after all, is as deep as the Mariana Trench. To wade into why water and toumeikan carry such weight in Japanese aesthetic ideals, we have to talk about Pocari Sweat ads, vaporwave, Shinto rituals and ukiyo-e. Toumeikan in a Bottle? The Pocari Sweat Aesthetic Cosmetic brands might tell you that toumeikan is about sheer makeup and luminous skin. Skin so dewy it could be described as mizu-moshitataru, like freshly picked fruits still beaded with moisture. Or they might claim it can be achieved by incorporating cool-toned colors like blue. But toumeikan isn't just about appearance. It's a funiki, a vibe, an aura, an atmosphere. A sense of freshness and purity, like water itself. When I try to explain the aesthetic ideal of toumeikan, I often point to an unlikely cultural symbol: Pocari Sweat. Yes, the electrolyte drink. Pocari Sweat commercials are widely recognized in Japan as embodying toumeikan, and have developed something of a cult following. Often filmed with soft, blue Fuji-film hues, they feature wind, light and lots of water, usually against a backdrop of high school students running on rooftops, drinking Pocari after practice or staring into the blue sky. It's a visual shorthand for seishun —a word that literally means 'blue spring,' but culturally refers to the period and feeling of youth. For many English speakers, the word 'sweat' on a drink label can feel off-putting. However, in this seishun imagery, they run, they sweat, but it's not sticky or gross. It is a kind of refreshing sweat that runs down your cheeks like morning dew. As the phrase mizu-mo-shitataru suggests, it's a poetic compliment. The actors in these commercials are almost always fresh-faced newcomers—so much so that landing a Pocari ad is seen as a kind of a rite of passage for rising stars, known in Japanese as touryumon, a term drawn from the Chinese legend of koi that swim upstream and leap over a waterfall to become dragons. It might seem strange for an electrolyte drink to carry this much aesthetic weight. A Western equivalent might be Fiji Water in vaporware, a retro-futurist internet aesthetic rooted in 80s and 90s remix culture, with heavy influence from Japanese media like city pop and anime. Fiji Water became an unexpected 'water' icon, appearing alongside Roman busts, Windows 95 logos and Japanese text. Vaporwave also uses water imagery for its surreal and relaxing feel: tropical pools, mall fountains, light reflecting on smooth surfaces. Interestingly, since the genre often repurposes Japanese ads and packaging, Pocari Sweat has also appeared in vaporware. Originally launched in the 1980s, Pocari Sweat struggled at first. However, the brand invested heavily in advertising, not just to promote the product name or ingredients; but to sell a sekaikan: a visual world and mood, much like a perfume ad. This aesthetic vision made waves, entering the high-speed landscape of Japan's bubble economy to become a Japanese summer staple. A distilled memory of 80s and 90s youth, summer humidity and glistening blue skies. The Pocari girl, mid-run, cheeks shimmering with sweat, settled into the collective aesthetic subconscious, just as Coca-Cola became a symbol of vintage Americana. Beyond its hydrating, watery freshness, Pocari Sweat became an icon of Japanese youth and the 'good old days,' serving as a reference point for toumeikan in both the domestic imagery of seishun and the Western internet's borrowed nostalgia. And in Japan, a drink bottle becoming a style accessory isn't as strange as it sounds. At one point, girls began repurposing Evian bottle labels as smartphone case inserts—not for hydration, but for their clear, watery funiki. Shinto Purity and the Japanese Aesthetic of Water Touimeikan, water and Japanese aesthetics go deep into history, far beyond the bubble era of the 1980s and 90s. It goes way back. In Shinto, the indigenous faith of Japan, water plays a central role. After all, Shinto is a religion of purity. It teaches that humans are born 'pure,' and that kegare (impurity) is something picked up through daily life, just like dust and dirt you collect on your body and clothes as you go about your day outside. Fortunately, impurity isn't permanent. Wash it off, and you return to your pure state. At the entrance of every shrine, visitors perform a ritual hand-washing at the chozuya, a stone basin filled with flowing water. It's a quiet, reflective act meant to cleanse the hands and mouth, washing away spiritual impurities before approaching the divine. In addition to purity, Shinto, like many animistic beliefs, emphasizes nature and living in harmony with powerful natural forces. Flowing water, rivers and waterfalls are especially sacred, believed to cleanse both body and spirit. Because purification and nature go hand in hand, some practitioners continue to perform takigyo today, standing beneath a waterfall to wash away spiritual impurities. Clear water is pure in itself, and capable of purifying other things. Of course, Gen Zs slipping Evian bottle labels into their phone cases probably aren't thinking about waterfall purification rituals. But Shinto values do seep into everyday life and what we consider 'ordinary' Japanese culture. The obsessive handwashing and gargling many Japanese kids are taught from an early age— the idea that you do this combo the moment you come home, before you touch anything or… breathe? The preference for nighttime bathing, to wash off the outside world's kegare before entering the sacred space of the home? All of it stems from, or is at least influenced by, Shinto. So it's no surprise that visual ideals would flow with the same tide. In a culture where water purifies, transparency becomes beauty. Water is a visualization of purity, and toumeikan is an articulation of its aesthetic appeal. Visualizing Water in Art Through Blue Water represents purity, but it also reflects Japan's favorite philosophy: impermanence. It's fluid, never still. And it constantly transforms: into ice, snow and vapor, surrounding our lives in countless forms, just as it does around the world. Water can also be powerful. The tsunami, a terrifying force of nature, has been etched into Japanese memory for centuries, passed down through generations as both fear and a lesson. And yet, the same combination of water and geological activity gave rise to one of Japan's greatest gifts: the onsen. Unsurprisingly, water appears again and again in Japanese art. The most internationally recognized ukiyo-e print, Hokusai's 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa' from Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, has become an icon of Japanese visual culture. This iconic work might never have existed without the then newly invented color: bero-ai (lit. Berlin Indigo), also known in English as Prussian blue. This synthetic dye, imported from Prussia via the Dutch in the 1780s, changed ukiyo-e forever. Before this, ukiyo-e artists used a cultivar of Asiatic dayflower for blue, but it faded quickly and turned yellow over time. The more stable Japanese indigo dried down muted, dark, and warm-toned—lacking clarity—and its gritty texture made it unsuitable for smooth gradients. Bero-ai, on the other hand, was cool-toned, vibrant and worked like a miracle. It was water-soluble, making it ideal for bokashi-zuri (a gradient shading technique). Even when dry, it retained luminosity and clarity. For the first time, artists could render water with brightness and depth—the toumeikan they so often pursued. The ripple effect of this blue craze created a new trend: aizuri-e, prints created entirely in shades of Prussian blue. By layering and using noutan (gradations of light and dark), artists could express depth and transparency with a single color. The same bold blue was an unusual choice for Pocari Sweat at the time, as blue wasn't considered appetizing for food or drink. Much like Hokusai choosing Prussian blue to evoke the depth of the ocean, Pocari Sweat embraced the association with water and refreshment. While transparency isn't a color, you can visualize the lack thereof. Maybe this has all been a roundabout way of saying, 'water and toumeikan are aesthetic ideals in Japan,' but still waters do run deep. From the ukiyo-e waves to the dew-like sweat in a Pocari ad, toumeikan isn't something you can bottle. But we keep finding new ways to show what it feels like.
Metropolis Japan
04-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Metropolis Japan
Summer Survival Products in Japan 2025
It's time to upgrade your summer strategy for staying cool and hydrated By Jessie Carbutt Summer wind chimes. Summer scenery in Japan. Accessories to heal the summer heat. When Tokyo starts to feel like a subtropical soup, it's time to upgrade your summer strategy for staying cool and hydrated. Whether you're commuting, festival-hopping, or simply trying not to melt in your sleep, here's your go-to list of 2025's best summer survival products in Japan that I've suffered in Japan's Augusts for, so you don't have to. G-Zero Lightweight Parasol – From Tokyu Hands, Built to Last Hands down the best parasols. The G-Zero is ultra-light, ultra-UV-blocking, and ultra-tiny. It fits into even my smallest summer bags without weighing me down, and it's engineered to not flip or break (I've had mine for five years—still perfect). This Tokyu Hands exclusive is like carrying your own portable patch of shade. Where to buy: Tokyu Hands Price: ¥3,850 UNIQLO & MUJI Summer Tees Sweat. Patches. I cannot deal. When I first arrived in Japan, I noticed that I was always the only one on the train with sweat patches. Literally no one else had them. Turns out you just need cotton you can trust, and both UNIQLO and MUJI deliver. Their summer lines feature breathable cotton or AIRism blends that wick away sweat without leaving stains or patches. Minimalist, soft, and odor-resistant. Where to buy: Tokyu Hands, UNIQLO, Muji Price: ¥2,000+ Disposable Cooling Sheets Pop into any convenience store or pharmacy and you'll find racks of cooling wipes—the secret weapon of salarymen, cyclists and anyone braving Tokyo trains. The best brands (according to me): GATSBY Ice-Type, Biore SaraSara and Sea Breeze. These sheets are like menthol shots for your skin. Keep them chilled in the fridge for maximum effect. Where to buy: Any drugstore or combini Price: ¥500 Freeze Your Combini Drink Grab a bottle of Pocari Sweat or mugicha, or electrolyte jelly pouches from 7-Eleven or Lawson, throw it in your freezer, and take it to go. Some combini's even sell them frozen. It thaws into a cold, slushy heaven. Where to buy: Any drugstore or combini Price: ¥100 – ¥300 Nitori's Cooling Bedding Nitori's N-Cool Series includes cooling pillows, mattress pads, and bedsheets designed to wick heat and stay chill against your skin. The 2025 models have added moisture absorption and anti-odor tech. Realistically, I feel it's mostly a placebo effect that I'm feeling cooler using them, but it's certainly better than regular bedding or a thick duvet. Where to buy: Nitori Price: ¥1,990+ Cooling Spray Mists Pocket-sized bottles that spritz a menthol mist on your skin or clothes. Try the Shoshugen Cool Spray or Biore Cooling Mist for a mid-day reset. Where to buy: Tomod's, Matsumoto Kiyoshi Price: ¥764 Furin Japanese Wind Chimes Not a physical cooling tool, but a psychologically cooling effect for your brain. The soft tinkling sound evokes breezes and creates a calm, cooler-feeling environment. Hang by a window or balcony to get those mood-based chill points. Daiso has cheap ones that make great souvenirs for friends, too. Where to buy: Daiso Price: ¥1,500+ Portable Fan – The MVP of Every Japanese Summer If there's one thing I refuse to leave home without between July and September, it's a rechargeable portable fan. Whether I'm waiting on a platform with no breeze in sight or standing in a festival crowd, this little lifesaver gives instant relief. Look for ones with adjustable speed settings and a neck strap (trust me). Some even double as power banks. I've dropped mine about five times and it's still spinning strong.
Time Out
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The Pocari Sweat Run Fest 2025 opens for registration
The Pocari Sweat Run Fest is back for its 2025 edition! More than just a race, this annual event features sports games, workshops, live music, and more. Spots fill up fast every year, so if you're up for the challenge, here's everything you need to know about the Pocari Sweat Run Fest 2025. When is the Pocari Sweat Run Fest 2025 happening? The Pocar Sweat Run Fest 2025 is back on November 30, 2025, from 6.45am to 4.30pm at the Charles K. Kao Auditorium in the Hong Kong Science Park. Registration details for the Pocari Sweat Run Fest 2025 Registration for the Pocari Sweat Run Fest 2025 is now open, but spots are limited. Here's what to know: Pocari Sweat Run Fest 2025 race categories The Pocari Sweat Run Fest 2025 has five racing categories: 10km Go Run Individual Run 5km Go Run Individual Run 3km Go Run Individual Run 3km Go Fun Obstacle Run (non-race) Pocari Sweat Run Fest 2025 application fee The application fee for each race is $350, or $300 for those who apply on or before July 14 to enjoy early bird prices. Pocari Sweat Run Fest 2025 race start times The starting times for each race category at the Pocari Sweat Run Fest 2025 will vary, though hours are currently tentative. Visit the event's official website for the most updated times. 10km Go Run Individual Run: 7.45am / 9.15am 5km Go Run Individual Run: 7.55am / 9.25am 3km Go Run Individual Run: 10.45am / 11am / 11.15am 3km Go Fun Obstacle Run (non-race): 12nn / 2.29pm Pocari Sweat Run Fest 2025 race pack Each participant in the races will receive an event race pack, which includes: Pocari Sweat x Asics running jersey x 1 Pocari Sweat x Asics finishing towel x 1 Pocari Sweat x Asics headband x 1 Pocari Sweat tote bag x 1 Pocari Sweat finisher medal Kkbox 1-month standard music service x 1 Salonsip gel-patch x 1 Pocari Sweat 66g powder x 1 Dronamin C drink x 1 skin wash and skin lotion trial pack x 1 Soyjoy soy bar (random flavour) x 1 The first 1,000 people who participated in last year's race sign up for the 2025 race will also receive an exclusive Pocari Sweat keychain. Pocari Sweat Run Fest 2025 events and activities Apart from the races, Pocari Sweat Run Fest is known for offering a range of fun events and activities every year. If running's not for you, join in on one of their sports challenge games, or sign up for their Light Sweating workshops. The yoga and pilates classes will be led by the 2025 yoga ambassadors of Ion Water and Pure Yoga, while the trampoline classes will be taught by FxJump from Fitness Expert Studio. $160 / one session $300 / two sessions $420 / three sessions Participants who have successfully enrolled in the Pocari Sweat Run Fest 2025 races can also sign up for pre-event running classes, where coaches will offer professional training for runners on things ranging from basic concepts and breathing to warm-ups and running posture. Hue Dining and Ink Cafe are closing down at the end of June
Tokyo Weekender
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Tokyo Weekender
Brace Yourself: Tokyo Hits 30 Degrees for the First Time in 2025
Foreshadowing another long, scorching summer, temperatures reached 30 degrees Celsius in central Tokyo for the first time this year on Tuesday. Officials are urging caution against heatstroke, advising air conditioner use and frequent water intake as our bodies aren't yet accustomed to the heat. In some landlocked areas, such as Yamanashi Prefecture's Otsuki city, the temperature surpassed 34 degrees Celsius. As we head into summer early this year in Japan, here are a few tips on how to survive and enjoy the season. List of Contents: 1. Stay Hydrated Constantly 2. Clothing and Accessories 3. Seek Shade and Air-Conditioned Spaces 4. Check Out Japanese Cooling Gadgets 5. Understanding Heatstroke Related Posts 1. Stay Hydrated Constantly Drink plenty of fluids: Don't wait until you're thirsty. Water, mugicha (barley tea, often served cold and caffeine-free), Pocari Sweat, Aquarius and other electrolyte-rich sports drinks are great options. Consider cooling foods: Enjoy seasonal dishes like kakigori (shaved ice), hiyashi chuka (chilled ramen), somen (thin cold noodles) and unagi (grilled eel, believed to boost stamina). 2. Clothing and Accessories Choose light, breathable fabrics: Opt for cotton, linen or advanced moisture-wicking materials such as Uniqlo's AIRism. Wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing: These items reflect sunlight and allow air circulation. Carry a small towel or handkerchief: Either can be used to wipe away sweat. 3. Seek Shade and Air-Conditioned Spaces Get a UV-blocking parasol or hat: Many Japanese people use parasols for sun protection. Plan activities for cooler times: Schedule outdoor excursions for early mornings or evenings. Utilize indoor spaces: Japanese cities have many air-conditioned places, such as department stores, convenience stores, cafés, museums and even extensive underground malls where you can escape the midday heat. Use the Dry Mode feature on your air conditioner: It reduces humidity without drastically lowering the temperature. 4. Check Out Japanese Cooling Gadgets Portable fans: Handheld battery-operated or USB fans are incredibly popular and effective. Cooling towels and scarves: These stay cool when wet and can be draped around your neck. Cooling body wipes and sprays: These are available at drugstores and convenience stores. Cooling neck rings and gel packs: Targeting major blood vessels, these rings and packs will help you cool down. 5. Understanding Heatstroke Symptoms: Some of the main symptoms are fatigue, dizziness, headaches, excessive sweating and nausea. In severe cases, a high body temperature, seizures or loss of consciousness can occur. If you experience symptoms: Immediately move to a cool place with shade or go inside and make sure the air conditioner is on. Remove excess clothing, cool the body with water or ice and replenish fluids and salt. If symptoms are severe: call an ambulance (119 in Japan) immediately. Related Posts A Complete Guide to Japanese Sunscreens: The Best Products to Survive the Summer Staying Cool this Summer: Japanese Higasa 5 Japanese Products To Save You From The Summer Heat
