Category Archives: San-X

Japan Envy: Rilakkuma Hot Cake Kit Kats

I haven’t done my Japan Envy column in a while and have gained a few new followers around the new year (thanks to all of you!), so just a quick recap: Japan Envy is my (ir)regular column where I talk about cool things/happenings that are only available in Japan that make me jealous or pine for the days when I used to live there. You can head here or click the “Japan Envy” tag at the end of this post to view previous entries in the series!

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Anyone familiar with Japan has probably heard about how the nation is famous for its wide variety of flavored Kit Kats. They’ve got everything from regional specialties, such as yuzu and pepper Kit Kats from Nagoya, to limited editions and seasonal flavors. Why these are only available in Japan and why other nations have caught on to this ingenious idea? We may never know, but foreigners have been fascinated with Japan’s unique take on the humble Kit Kat since its inception. You can even find a Japanese Kit Kat episode on NPR (complete with tastings and audio!), and at least two blogs dedicated entirely to cataloging the huge range of flavors available.

I bet you’re wondering what flavors I’ve tried, eh? Well, I’ve sampled everything from ginger ale to jasmine tea Kit Kats, but I still have a long way to go if I ever hope to live my dream of being the ultimate Kit Kat connoisseur (one of my many aspirations). Currently, I’ve got my eye on a very particular Kit Kat, one that combines my love of flavored Kit Kats with another one of my favorite things: the adorable teddy bear who loves to relax known as Rilakkuma.

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What flavor are these Kit Kats? None other than Rilakkuma’s favorite snack, the humble pancake (or “hot cake,” as they’re known in Japan). I, for one, imagine this Kit Kat tastes pretty darn good! If you’re wondering why the box is a strange shape, that’s because it’s not simply a regular Kit Kat bar, but rather 12 individually-wrapped mini Kit Kats (Japan loves miniature things).

If you’re interested in trying some Japanese Kit Kats yourself without having to pay for the plane ticket, you can go to JBox to grab a few interesting flavors such as green tea, wasabi, and black honey (now that sounds good!). What flavor would you be most interested to try?

Japan Envy: The America Edition! Celebrating ShopKawaii.com

I know the whole point of these “Japan Envy” pieces is for me to share things from Japan that aren’t readily available to the rest of us, but I’d like today to highlight a wonderful US-based retailer that specializes in cute Japanese goods.

The one time I visited Pittsburgh, PA (to look at colleges, actually), my mom and I stumbled upon a store called Kawaii Gifts. In their relatively small space they managed to stock all manner of cute Japanese stationary, plush, accessories, and homewares, most of which I had never seen before, even online. Though I spent a reasonable amount when I was in their physical location, over the years I’ve become a dedicated patron of their extensive online store Shop Kawaii.

Not only do they carry all manner of character goods from brands such as San-X, Sanrio, Kamio, and more, but they are also priced extremely reasonably for an import store. With every order I’ve placed, I’ve always received a freebie of some sort, such as a pencil, sticker sheet, or a pin made by the store themselves out of old, unused stationary. There’s nothing like free things to make me a happy patron!

Here are a few items I’m drooling over right now:

I absolutely love Kamio’s Fairy Tale World series! This notebook‘s pages have various designs, too!

The only thing I love more than Kamio’s general Fairy Tale series is their Alice in Wonderland series! This bag is perfect, and I just so happen to be in the market for a bag with a zipper closure.

I’m not too sure how I feel about San-X’s newest character, Iiwaken. His name is a play on the Japanese phrase “ii wa” meaning “that’s good” and “shiba-ken,” which refers to the type of dog, Shiba (or Shiba Inu). He’s a good dog, get it? Aha… Ok, that’s your Japanese lesson for today! 

Anyway, as I was saying, I’m not sure how I feel about him, but there’s something oddly appealing about that notepad and the dogs’ little white butts. 
No post detailing my love for cute Japanese things would be complete without mention of San-X’s Rilakkuma, a bear who loves relaxing above all else. I absolutely love this guy, but I’m not sure I need these in my life:

I suppose if I played golf, Rilakkuma golf toppers would be high on my list of things to buy, but as it stands, I’m not a golfer, so the novelty of these is lost on me. If you’re wondering, I’d probably choose the pink and white one, even though the dark brown Rilakkuma is generally my favorite of the three characters.

With that said, I seriously suggest checking out Shop Kawaii if you’re at all interested in these type of products. They’re a great store with an awesome selection and even more amazing customer service. I’m sure I’ll be using them as my source for cute Japanese goods for many years to come.