Twentythree

Forget sweet sandos, 7-Eleven wants us to explore the world of sweet burgers.

7-Eleven Japan is famous for its sweet sandwiches, commonly filled with fruit and cream, but now the chain is shaking up the convenience store scene by bringing out a new sweet burger. Called “Rare Cheese & Almond with Orange Peel Sweets Burger”, or “Brioche with Cheese Cream, Almond & Orange Peel” in English, this new treat was released on 23 June and is already creating a buzz online, so we picked one up at our nearest branch to see if it was worth the hype.

The burger looked even sweeter in person, and kind of reminiscent of a maritozzo, a sweet brioche-style Italian bun filled with a generous amount of whipped cream that previously took Japan by storm.

▼ 7-Eleven even tried to bring the craze back by releasing a maritozzo in January this year.

Sadly, the passion for maritozzo failed to reignite, and less than six months later, the “Sweets Burger” appeared. Whether by design or coincidence, this new creation does seem to hold its own place in the convenience store world, being distinct from a maritozzo and unlike any other treat we’ve seen at 7-Eleven before.

After taking it out of its packaging, we marvelled at the pink hue of the buns, which were reminiscent of the chain’s recently released fruit sando and chocolate chip sandwiches, which feature pink-coloured bread.

▼ 7-Eleven seems to have developed a fondness for pink bread this year.

Measuring around 7 centimetres (2.8 inches) in diameter and 6 centimetres in height, it’s on the small side for a sweet bun, especially given the 313 yen (US$2.15) price point, but the tiny size only adds to its cuteness.

Slicing it in half for a closer inspection of the cross section, we were impressed to see that the almond and orange peel pieces extended all the way through the cream, promising to deliver a satisfying eating experience from start to finish.

It also became clear that this was definitely different to a maritozzo – instead of containing whipped cream, this brioche had a firm, Australia-sourced cream cheese centre. It was the most unusual “patty” we’d ever seen, and biting into it , it was one of the tastiest too, with the almonds and candied orange peel adding extra depth to the rich, creamy flavour while providing a light finish on the tongue.

The smooth, melt-in-the-mouth texture of the cream cheese patty was made even more satisfying with the chewy contrast of the brioche buns.

The only problem was, the burger was so delicious we couldn’t get enough of it, and after finishing one we had to resist the urge to race out and buy more of them.

This is definitely one of the most unusual finds you’ll come across in a Japanese convenience store right now, but stocks are limited and likely to sell out so be sure to get in quick to try it while you can. And while you’re there, don’t forget to wash it all down with another viral find, the super creamy iced latte.

Images©SoraNews24
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Beautiful soft cloth versions of iconic Ghibli scenes warm the heart and inspire the spirit.

Though they’ve come around to the idea of using more digital effects in some of their recent productions, Studio Ghibli is still strongly associated with producing animation via classical techniques. But while it would be cool to own a strip of film from one of Ghibli’s anime movies, such a collectible wouldn’t be a very practical item, nor would it be the kind of thing you’d feel secure carrying around with while out and about in your daily life.

However, if you’d like a nod to Ghibli’s cinematic legacy that’s cool to look at and useful to have on you, specialty shop Donguri Kyowakoku has a line of very cool “film mini towels.”

▼ Don’t try bending an actual Ghibli film strip like this!

Each towel features an iconic piece of character artwork from one of Ghibli’s masterpieces, but rendered in soft, moisture-absorbent fabric, and with patterns along two edges simulating film perforations.

The towels also feature iconic lines of dialogue from their respective anime, but with a bit of a twist. Each line is written in English, and some of the renderings might differ slightly from those used in official English-language overseas releases of the films.

▼ Laputa/Castle in the Sky’s spell of destruction has been romanized several different ways over the years, but Donguri Kyowakoku’s towel goes with “Balus!”

▼ Porco’s English is a little shaky here, but just because a pig’s got to fly doesn’t mean he’s got to use proper grammar.

The complete line consists of eight designs, one each for My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Laputa, Porco Rosso, Whisper of the Heart, and Howl’s Moving Castle.

Unfortunately, the Howl’s design is currently sold out, but the remaining seven are all available, and with four of them (Princess Mononoke, Porco Rosso, Kiki’s, and Laputa) having only recently been restocked, hopefully it won’t be too long until Howl is back in the fold too.

Despite the “mini towel” name, each towel is 25 centimeters (9.8 inches) square, making them a handy size as a hand towel or handkerchief, the latter of which is something very nice to have in your bag during Japan’s hot and humid summer. They’re all priced at 880 yen and can be ordered through the Donguri Kyowakoku online shop here.

Source: Donguri Kyowakoku
Top image: Donguri Kyowakoku
Insert images: Donguri Kyowakoku (1, 2)
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Two star brands join forces to celebrate the Japanese festival of star-crossed lovers.

Stars have a special significance in Japan at the start of summer, as the Tanabata Festival is celebrated on 7 July. This annual festival marks the mythical reunion of celestial lovers Orihime (represented by the real star Vega) and Hikoboshi (represented by real star Altair), who were separated and forced to reside on opposite sides of the Milky Way by Orihime’s father, the King of Heaven, as punishment for neglecting their duties. According to the myth, the two lovers are now permitted to meet only on the seventh night of the seventh month of every year.

This celestial love story been passed down through the generations in Japan, permeating the public consciousness and sprinkling it with a touch of mystery and romance at this time of year. It’s also a prime opportunity for a certain star-associated coffeehouse chain to do something special for customers, and this year Starbucks is doing just that with a new limited-edition collection at its Reserve Roastery Tokyo branch, which is known for its star logo.

▼ Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo

Image©SoraNews24

Like the meeting of star-crossed lovers at the centre of the Tanabata festival, the Reserve Roastery will be joining forces with another starry brand, Converse Tokyo, to produce the special collection in honour of Tanabata. Converse Tokyo is a Japanese lifestyle brand created by Converse Japan to produce clothing, accessories and lifestyle products that feature the brand’s iconic star motif in cool and contemporary ways.

Based around the concept of “Go Out with Iced Coffee”, the range covers 10 items with the theme of heading out into the city or nature with an iced coffee in hand. With cool hues, metallic textures and designs inspired by Tanabata and the streets around the Meguro River, where the Roastery is located, the collection aims to add a stylish, starry flair to summer outings.

▼ The first item in the lineup is the Converse Tokyo Stainless Steel City Bottle (532 millilitres [18 ounces]), which is priced at 6,000 yen (US$37).

Made for enjoying iced coffee on the go, this large-capacity bottle features a wide opening for easy cleaning and a street-inspired graphic based on the area around the Meguro River.

▼ Next up is the Converse Tokyo Mesh Pocket Black Nylon Backpack (22,000 yen).

This stylish backpack features a front mesh pocket with a tag showcasing the same artwork as the bottle, and a roomy design that makes it ideally suited for a range of outings, from casual city walks to outdoor events.

▼ Converse Tokyo 2-Way Shopping Tote Bag (15,500 yen)

This tote comes in a choice of two colourways – Silver and Beige (above), which pairs a latte-inspired brown lining with a metallic exterior, and Navy (below), which combines a blue-grey lining with a more subdued exterior.

With a star motif on the front and an embossed Starbucks Reserve logo on the back, the bags can be carried by hand or worn over the shoulder using the included strap.

▼ Converse Tokyo Twill Navy Cap (8,500 yen)

This cap will complete your summer look while also providing you with protection from the sun’s scorching rays. The star on the front represents the Starbucks Reserve brand, while the star on the side is the logo for Converse Tokyo.

▼ Converse Tokyo Packable Black Safari Hat (8,500 yen)

Designed for both everyday outings and outdoor adventures, this hat can be folded down to a compact size and it comes with a chin strap that can be converted into a shoulder strap for easy carrying.

Rounding out the collection are a couple of hand towels, in blue or navy (3,000 yen), both of which are tagged with the same artwork as the stainless steel bottle…

 …and the Converse Tokyo Star Pouch, in silver or navy (8,500 yen each), which is handy for holding small items like earphones and can be attached to a bag using the included carabiner.

With so many different products to choose from, this range is a great choice for fans looking for a unique Tokyo souvenir or a gift for someone special. Everything in the collection has been beautifully designed, reflecting the quality and attention to detail of the two brands behind it, and it will be available from 3 July at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo and the official Starbucks online store, while stocks last.

Store information
Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo / スターバックス リザーブ ロースタリー東京
Address: Tokyo-to, Meguro-ku, Aobadai 2-19-23
東京都目黒区青葉台2丁目19-23
Open 7 a.m.-11 p.m.
Website

Source, images: Press release unless otherwise stated
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Looks like someone told Hello Kitty and friends how to get (how to get) to Sesame Street.

We recently took a look at the results of this year’s Sanrio Character Ranking election, in which fans from around the world cast their votes to determine the cutest stars in Japan’s most prominent kawaii character community. But while it has dozens upon dozens of adorable icons, the company is always happy to collaborate with characters from outside the Sanrio family too, and their latest partner is Sesame Street!

Specifically, it’s Sesame Street Market, Japan’s Sesame Street specialty store and cafe, that Sanrio is collaborating with. Each side is contributing four characters to the crossover merch and food line, with the parings being Elmo and Hello Kitty, Cookie Monster and Cinnamaroll, Big Bird and Pompompurin, and Oscar and Pochacco.

▼ There’s an argument to be made that Badtz-Maru is the Sanrio character with a personality closest to Oscar’s, but that doesn’t mean they’d necessarily become friends.

The designs are divided into two motifs, starting with plushies in which the Sesame Street characters are wearing Sanrio headgear. Pictured above are the plushie charms (3,520 yen [US$22] each), which can be clipped to your bag if you’re headed out together for the day. The same design also shows up in plushie pins (1,650 yen)…

…and zippered pouches (3.850 yen), which can be used for holding cosmetics, small devices, and other sundry items that you want to keep not only organized, but organized in a cute way.

Rounding out the plushie collection are pass cases (2,970) for keeping tap-and-go rail passes, like JR’s Suica.

Switching gears to the illustrated items, each pair has their own tote bag (3,520 yen), with the two characters hanging out together.

The drawings are also featured on T-shirts (5,940 yen) with some ‘80s retro vibes to them…

…and, finally, stickers (660 yen each).

As mentioned above, Sesame Street Market is a combination shop and cafe, and so Sanrio is also getting in on the sweets action with “collaboration donuts” (690 yen).

Each donut comes with a heart-shaped dropper filled with extra sauce to drizzle on for a decadently gooey treat.

Beverages can also be purchased with special Sesame Street/Sanrio drink sleeves.

Everything goes on sale July 2, and while you’ll need to make your way to a physical Sesame Street Market cafe for the sweets and drink sleeves, the other items will also be available through the chain’s online store here.

Related: Sesame Street Market official website, online store
Source: PR Times
Top image: PR Times
Insert images: PR Times, Sesame Street Market
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Amongst all the viral convenience store food finds, this is a hidden gem.

7-Eleven Japan is known for many things, like coffees, sandwiches and smoothies, but one thing you might not know about the chain is it does a mean burrito. First launched in 1983, 7-Eleven’s burrito range has been a bestseller for more than 40 years, and now there’s a new Mexican-inspired flavour with a hot and spicy kick that’s said to be great for summer.

Called “Tacos Meat Salsa Cheese”, or “Pork Taco Meat & Cheese” to use its English name, the new burrito was released on 10 June. Keen to find out if it really was as good as online commenters have been saying, we picked one up and followed the instructions to open the bag slightly and microwave it for one minute at 500 watts before eating.

After heating it up, we took the burrito out of the bag and admired the convenience of the paper sleeve it was housed in. This is one of those small details that make the range so popular, as the sleeve protects your fingers from mess and heat, creating a more enjoyable eating experience.

Taking a bite, we found that the tortilla immediately stood out on the palette, with a soft and slightly chewy texture. What really surprised us, though, was the taste of the filling, with the spicy taco meat delivering a pleasant kick, while the tomato added a hint of sweetness and tanginess to the mix. It was a bold, flavourful combination, beautifully brought together with a good amount of melted cheese, which added a rich, creamy texture to help dial back the heat just enough to make each bite an indulgently pleasant one.

Since burritos originated in Mexico, it’s no surprise that taco meat and salsa make for a great filling. Having eaten our fair share of 7-Eleven burritos over the years, though, we used to think the classic Ham & Cheese filling was the best in the range, but this new flavour might have just knocked it off the top spot. The heat is fairly mild, leaving just a gentle tingle on the tongue so it’s spicy enough without being overwhelming, giving it wide-ranging appeal.

Priced at 311 yen (US$2.10), the Burrito Taco Meat Salsa Cheese is a spicy burrito that’s perfect for summer, and it’s a lot less divisive than the matcha burrito released at 7-Eleven last year.

Photos ©SoraNews24
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