Twentythree

Chunky by name, but hopefully not by nature. 

On 11 May, Starbucks Japan released two brand new limited-edition drinks – the Chunky Strawberry Milk and the Strawberry Chocolate Frappuccino. According to the chain, these new beverages are improved versions of past popular releases, so our resident Starbucks pro taster K. Masami decided to try both of them to see if they really did taste better than the originals.

Starting with the Chunky Strawberry Milk (620 yen [US$3.95]), which appears to be an evolved version of “THE Strawberry Milk“, released in May last year, Masami didn’t see any big difference in appearance. Like last year, there was plenty of strawberry pulp at the bottom of the cup, with milk making up the bulk of the drink.

▼ So how would it taste?

Upon taking a sip, Masami couldn’t believe the difference in taste. What stood out immediately to her was the texture, which was way better than the previous version, as it had been blended in such a way that the milk felt smooth and airy, making the pulp feel even pulpier by comparison.

It was so light and airy that Masami wished there was more milk, but the balance with the strawberries was so perfect she couldn’t complain. It was fruity, milky and so much richer than the original that it seemed like a totally different drink.

▼ The Chunky Milk was so good she now wondered if the Frappuccino (745 yen) could meet the high standard that had been set.

It certainly ticked all the boxes in the looks department, with a beautiful appearance that showed off the chocolate, milk and strawberry components. According to Starbucks, this is like a customised version of last year’s THE Strawberry Frappuccino, which Masami had fallen head over heels for, so expectations were high for this beverage.

▼ What makes this year’s version significantly different is the addition of chocolate chips throughout the drink and chocolate sauce on top.

Masami remembered that this type of customisation had been dubbed “the Apollo” by fans last year, as it was said to taste exactly like Japan’s extremely popular chocolate-and-strawberry Apollo chocolates. When she took a sip, she had to agree that it did have that same type of double-barrel flavour, but with the richness of milk bringing everything together in a way that was absolutely delectable.

The sweetly tart strawberries combined perfectly with the milk for refreshing mouthfuls of flavour while the chocolate chips stepped in to provide a moreish crunch, creating a truly satisfying drink. She would happily drink this one all year long, but sadly, like THE Chunky Milk, it will only be on the menu for a limited time while stocks are available.

According to Masami, these are two drinks that are well worth the calories, but with strawberries in the mix, you won’t have to feel too guilty about the indulgence. And they’ll taste even better if you pick up one of the new matching Starbucks gel nail sets that are designed to pair with them.

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Hopefully new policies will keep Chiikawa figures out of scalpers’ hands so they can find their ways to fans instead.

McDonald’s Japan is getting ready to release its Chiikawa Happy Meals this week, featuring figures of the cast of the quirkily cute anime/character merch franchise dressed up in the burger chain’s uniforms. As a matter of fact, there’s so much fun that the Chiikawa Happy Meals will be a two-round release, with Chiikawa, Hachiware, Kuri-Manju, and Rakko showing up between March 15 and 28, and Usagi, Momonga, Shisa, and Furuhonya having their shift from May 29 to June 11.

Unfortunately, it’s not just Chiikawa fans who are very, very excited about this, but also scalpers. As McDonald’s Japan has become increasingly involved in promotions with pop culture franchises with huge followings, its Happy Meal toys have become prime targets for resellers. Not only does their bulk-buying mean that the items are often gone before fans (or parents in the case of kids too young to make McDonald’s runs on their own), can get them, scalpers often leave behind piles of trash, either on McDonald’s counters or on the streets outside the restaurants, since they have no interest in the food that comes as the part of the Happy Meals.

With littering and food waste both things that polite Japanese society has very little tolerance for, plus the loss in fun for fans, McDonald’s has been facing growing criticism and pressure to do something about the situation. For the upcoming Chiikawa Happy Meals, sales on the first day of each round (May 15 and 29) will be limited to customers using the McDonald’s Japan app, capped at four Happy Meals per time block (morning and afternoon/night), and orders must be placed or picked up in-store (i.e. no delivery orders). From May 16 to 28, and again from May 30 to June 11, there will be a limit of four Happy Meal orders per customer per transaction, and while the official McDonald’s delivery service can be used, no Happy Meal delivery orders can be placed through third-party providers (such as Uber Eats).

ハッピーセット®「ちいかわ」は、5/15(金)から販売いたします。

販売方法や購入場所の詳細はこちら→ https://t.co/hNQlp38LD4 pic.twitter.com/5dDd7vDwLR

— マクドナルド (@McDonaldsJapan) May 8, 2026

These countermeasures are largely similar to the ones McDonald’s put in place for its Sanrio Happy Meals back in September, which came on the heels of frustration about scalpers for its Pokémon card Happy Meals and the cancellation of planned One Piece Happy Meals. However, while these policies make things comparatively more difficult for scalpers, they’re still things that determined resellers can get around by putting in more time and legwork, something many are willing to do if there’s money to be made. This time around, though, there’s another squeeze being put on aspiring scalpers, as even if they can secure a supply of McDonald’s Chiikawa figures, they’ve lost one of their favorite places to try to flip fan items.

Online marketplace Mercari may have only been launched in 2013, but it’s now Japan’s largest site for buying and selling second-hand goods, especially for anime, manga, and other fan culture merch. Mercari has put out a statement, though, saying that it will not be allowing listings for McDonald’s new Chiikawa Happy Meal figures, and that not only will such listings be removed, sellers may have their accounts banned as well for violating the policy.

Mercari is careful not to explicitly acknowledge its indirect role in the appearance of swarms of scalpers at McDonald’s, instead saying that it is prohibiting sales of the new Happy Meal figures because it “cannot guarantee a safe and secure trading environment,” and it’s also not prohibiting the sale of older Happy Meal toys on its site. The company also hasn’t gone so far as to say that sales of the new Chiikawa figures will be permanently banned, but it does say that the prohibition will be continued for as long as it feels unable to provide a safe and secure trading environment for the items.

Though Mercari says one of its goals for this stance is to protect users from slander or defamatory statements, it’s hard to imagine that the company isn’t also thinking about its image. As instances of blatant, rampant scalping have become more common, the public at large has become exasperated at the greed and inconsiderateness on display. The fact that Mercari benefits by such behavior every time it serves as the middleman on a resale and gets its cut is something people are well aware of, so it wouldn’t be a shock if the company’s higher-ups see the ban on new Chiikawa Happy Meal toys as a way to do a little damage control.

Of course, Mercari is not the only avenue for selling second-hand fan merch in Japan, but it is the largest and easiest to access by nature of its online status, and thus offers the quickest way to reach a large pool of potential buyers, giving sellers leverage with which to set higher sales prices.

However, by not making the ban permanent, Mercari is setting up a sort of test of patience, wherein scalpers will need to speculate as to whether or not the ban will ever be lifted, whether there will still be significant demand for the items once they become sellable, and if that eventual payoff will be large enough to justify sitting on their resale inventory in the meantime. So no, this won’t completely solve the problem, but given how scalpers are generally making their money by chasing after the newest trend, hopefully the indefinite time lag between when they can buy the Chiikawa figures and when they can sell them will keep scalpers from seeing them as such desirable targets.

Source: McDonald’s Japan, Oricon News via Livedoor News
Top image: Twitter/@McDonaldsJapan
Insert image: McDonald’s Japan
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This year’s immersive lights display takes inspiration from the atmosphere of a Japanese summer festival with firework and firefly designs.

Every year since 2014, Japanese digital art company Naked, Inc. has held a Tokyo Tower City Light Fantasia event at the popular Tokyo landmark. This year’s version, subtitled ~Summer Landscape 2026~, will be held from May 11 through September 6.

The heart of the display is a lights show on the second floor of the Tower’s Main Deck observation level, which is located 150 meters (492 feet) in the air. This show combines the nighttime city view with projection mapping and unique light configurations for a fully immersive experience designed to evoke the feel of a Japanese summer festival. Along with the vibrant firework projections on the windows, floor gobo lights will create fireworks patterns on the floor and small yellow laser lights will mimic the movements of glowing fireflies.

▼ A sneak peek of the immersive lights experience

Furthermore, following the spectacular Sakura Candle Monument from the Tower’s Spring Concerto event, a new summer-themed candle structure made from bamboo and driftwood will be on display in the center of the event space from June 19 through September 6.

As a sweet bonus, there’s no extra charge for accessing the Summer Landscape 2026 event other than the standard admission fee to the Tower’s Main Deck. The event’s daily times vary by date and are as listed below:
● May 11-June 7: 7 p.m.-10:50 p.m.
● June 8-July 12 7: 7:30 p.m.-10:50 p.m.
● July 13-August 16: 7 p.m.-10:50 p.m.
● August 17-September 6: 6:30 p.m.-10:50 p.m.

While you’re in the Tower, we also feel obligated to caution you not to accidentally slip into a fantasy world and become a protagonist of a magical girl anime.

Source, images: PR Times
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Make that “drinkable curry pizza.”

In Japan, you can find some rather eyebrow-raising pizza toppings. We’re not just talking about putting traditional Japanese ingredients, like teriyaki chicken or spicy cod roe, on a pie either, but also Western elements that usually aren’t considered pizza topping candidates outside Japan, such as sliced potatoes and mayonnaise.

So the options really are wide open for Pizza Hut Japan when it wants to get creative, and right now it’s doing so with its newest innovation: Japanese curry pizza.

But while this is certainly an intriguing idea, it might not be quite as random as it initially sounds. While Japanese-style curry is usually eaten over rice, Japanese bakeries sell various kinds of curry-filled breads too. And while the exact type of roux is different, Indian curry is also popular in Japan, especially when served with naan flatbread. Adding cheese to Japanese-style curry is also a pretty common choice, and giving pizza a little extra spice to its flavor profile is also something Japanese foodies often do, with many pizza places offering Tabasco sauce as one of their on-table condiments,

So taking all that into consideration, maybe curry pizza isn’t such a crazy concept after all. Arguably the biggest hurdle Pizza Hut’s curry pizza will have to clear is that the cheese used for it is Gouda, which tends to have a more pronounced aroma and sharper flavor than the mozzarella most closely associated with pizza or the cheddar-like sliced cheese that’s the go-to choice for cheese curry dishes.

Perhaps because of that, Pizza Hut is offering alternatives to diving head-first into its new menu item. While you can get a whole medium-size curry pizza for 2,230 yen (US$14.50), you can also get a personal-sized version for just 700 yen as set with a side of French fries or a 990-yen curry pizza/French fries/fried chicken set.

Officially, Pizza Hut is calling it the Nomeru Pizza Cheese Curry, or “Drinkable Cheese Curry Pizza,” referencing the creamy, melty texture of the toppings. It’s on sale now, and will be available until June 15.

Source, images: PR Times
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Cheap eats are getting harder to find in Tokyo, but these tips from a local will guide you to some hidden gems.

If you’ve ever thought to use AI when looking for somewhere to eat in Japan, it doesn’t always produce the best results. Not only will it sometimes direct you to restaurants that might be closed down, it doesn’t always have the most-up-to-date information when it comes to prices, and that can be especially unhelpful when you’re looking for a “One Coin” meal, as we often are.

These “One Coin” meals refer to lunches that don’t go over 500 yen (US$3.20), Japan’s largest denomination coin, and while they used to be widely available throughout the country, rising prices these days are making them harder to find. So what’s the best course of action when you want to find a “One Coin” meal? You ditch the machine and ask a local with experience, which for us is our reporter Yuichiro Wasai, who knows all the nooks and crannies of the food scene in Tokyo, particularly around Shinjuku, where our office is located.

Today, he’s introducing us to his top three places to eat lunch under 500 yen in Shinjuku, with one proviso – that he excludes Saizeriya, which is one of the best, and perhaps most well-knwon places to get a cheap feed.

So, let’s take a wander with Yuichiro, our local cheap eats guide for the day, whose first stop on the tour is the third place spot…

▼ … Kanoya.

Located about 10 seconds on foot from the southeast exit of JR Shinjuku Station, this branch of the popular noodle chain is particularly popular with workers looking for a cheap lunch. Prices are surprisingly cheap for such a central location, with a variety of options under 500 yen, such as Kake Udon or Kake Soba for 360 yen, Tanuki Udon or Soba for 420 yen, and Tsukimi Udon or Soba for 420 yen.

▼ Tsukimi (moon-viewing) noodles are so-called as they contain egg, which is said to resemble the full moon.

While the low prices might be more in line with what you’d expect at a standing soba noodle shop, this store provides seating, which is a nice bonus. Out of all the three restaurants in his list, Kanoya is the one Yuicihiro visits the most, but he’s put it in third place as there are two others that pip it at the post.

▼ In second place… Kameya.

Just as impressive as the aforementioned Kanoya, and with a similar-sounding name, this branch of Kameya in Shinjuku is slightly more touristy, due to its location in Omoide Yokocho, a popular tourist spot.

The cute exterior has many people stopping to take photos of the store as they pass through the tiny alleyway, but you really should stop here for a feed, as it ticks all the boxes of “cheap, delicious, and fast” that are so important to time-pressed diners on a budget. To give you an idea of the menu and prices, there’s Kake Udon or Soba for 390 yen, Kitsune Udon or Soba for 450 yen, and Egg Udon or Soba for 460 yen.

These prices don’t seem like they’re from 2026, nor do they seem like the prices you’d expect at a store so close to Shinjuku Station. To top it all off, this branch is open 24 hours, so you can stop by for breakfast, lunch or even a late meal after a night of drinking.

▼ The noodles here are great value for money, but you’ll want to keep in mind that, like Kanoya, this branch only accepts cash payments.

So which restaurant tops the list in first place?

▼ The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Cafeteria.

This cafeteria is designed to serve the many employees who work inside the government building, but it’s also open to the general public, making it a hidden gem for those who know how to find it.

Located on the 32nd floor, the cafeteria has stunning panoramic views of Tokyo, so it’s truly baffling that they offer a menu with a variety of dishes under 500 yen, such as Zaru Soba or Udon for 460 yen, Kitsune Soba or Udon for 480 yen, and Soy Sauce Ramen for 500 yen.

▼ The menu at the ticket machines is displayed in both Japanese and English.

▼ Zaru soba is one of Yuichiro’s highly recommended dishes here, particularly in the warmer months, when cold noodles really hit the spot.

Although the Shinjuku Ward Office also has a cafeteria that’s open to the public, in terms of the view, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building’s cafeteria is by far the best.

▼ The prices are low but the views are top-class.

▼ If you have a slightly bigger budget, you can enjoy set meals in the 700-900 yen range.

The daily special on this particular day was the Pork Fillet Cutlet with Sesame Sauce Set Meal (970 yen), which was great value.

▼ It’s amazing that you can get a pork cutlet with so many side dishes for only 970 yen.

If you do visit the cafeteria, it’s recommended that you avoid peak lunch hours, when it’s crowded with employees who are given priority service, due to their limited time for lunch breaks. Visiting during off-peak times means you’ll have more seating options and more of a chance for a window seat, where you can linger for a while and enjoy the view.

Tokyo’s food scene is ever-changing, so these prices are current as of this writing. With operating costs continually rising, we’re not sure how much longer these prices will be available, so now’s the time to enjoy a One Coin meal in Shinjuku while you can, and there are a few other hidden places in Tokyo still holding strong with meals under 500 yen.

Restaurant information 

Kanoya Shinjuku Southeast Exit Store /
Address: Tokyo-to, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku 3-36-2, Shinjuku Kirin Building 1F
Hours: 7:30 a.m.-11:00 p.m.

Kameya Shinjuku Store/
Address: Tokyo-to, Shinjuku-ku, Nishi-Shinjuku 1-2-10, (inside Omoide Yokocho)
Open 24 hours
Closed  Sundays

Staff Cafeteria, 32nd Floor, First Main Building
Address: Tokyo-to, Shinjuku-ku, Nishi-Shinjuku 2-8-1
Hours: 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. (lunch); 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (cafe menu)
Closed on days when the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is closed.

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The poor man’s Dr Pepper might not be so poor after all. 

Have you ever heard of a soft drink called Mr Popper? Here in Japan, it’s a drink that’s currently enjoying cult status after becoming a hot topic on social media, where people have been pointing out its similarities to Dr Pepper, in taste as well as looks.

▼ That’s because Mr Popper is actually a Dr Pepper knock-off brand, and it can be found at the Yamaya liquor chain.

When we visited to try the drink, it was so popular that it had completely sold out, with staff saying they weren’t sure when they would be getting more in stock. After several more attempts, and with our thirst for it growing every time, the situation remained unchanged, until one day, a month later…

▼… there it was!

Sitting on the shelf were one-litre (33.8-ounce) bottles of the stuff, priced at 149 yen (US$0.95) each and advertised with the slogan “An addictive refreshing sensation!” Buying any three of the sodas in the range (which includes a root beer that looks suspiciously like A&W) costs 429 yen, which works out to be 144 yen per bottle.

Taking a look at the back of the Mr Popper revealed it was an original creation by Fuji Canning Company, which plans, develops, and sells its own brand of soft drinks.

We picked up a Mr Popper and a Dr Pepper to compare them back in the office.

The colours and fonts, as well as the logo design, are undeniably similar.

Taking a peek at the back of the Dr Pepper revealed it was made by Coca-Cola Japan.

After admiring the similarities in appearance, it was time to test the flavour. We started by pouring the Dr Pepper into a glass, where we immediately noticed it had a minimal amount of foam, suggesting that the carbonation was a little weak.

When we poured ourselves a glass of Dr Pepper, however, a well-formed foam appeared.

Lining them up side by side, the difference became even clearer, with the bubbles significantly weaker in Mr Popper, indicating there would likely be a big difference in the drinking experience.

Our reporter Mr Sato was the first to try them, starting with the Dr Pepper, so he could get a feel for the taste. When he took a sip, a strong fruity flavor spread throughout his palate, along with a stimulating burst of carbonation. That was when he remembered that Dr Pepper is characterized by a stronger sweetness compared to Coca-Cola and Pepsi. So how was the Mr Popper by comparison?

“It’s incredibly similar to Dr Pepper. I don’t usually drink cola, so even if the contents of the two were swapped, I wouldn’t notice – I’d definitely fail if this were a blind taste test”

Fellow reporter and avid Coca-Cola drinker Takamichi Furusawa also tried them out, and he said:

“These are quite similar. Because it’s not so sweet, Mr Popper feels more refreshing .”

Finally, our reporter P.K. Sanjun, who often drinks Dr Pepper on overseas trips, also took a taste, saying:

“Wow, these aren’t just brothers – they’re more like twins.”  

All three of our reporters were surprised by how similar the flavours were, saying the taste was pretty much identical. It’s no wonder everyone on social media has been raving about Mr Popper – it may look like a cheap knockoff but it satisfies a thirst for Dr Pepper, which is particularly handy in a country where Dr Pepper can be incredibly hard to find.

Related: Yamaya Liquor Store, Fuji Canning Co., Ltd.
Photos ©SoraNews24
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Match your nail art to your favourite drink with this surprising new release. 

Starbucks is known for unusual, Japan-exclusive releases, but these new items tend to cover drinks and related drinkware and accessories. Now, the chain has surprised fans by branching out with a new, never-before-seen product: gel nail stickers.

Before we take a look at that exciting product, the chain wants us to know that it’s also giving us two new “chunky” drinks, so we’ll have something to enjoy with our nails.

▼ The first new beverage is the Chunky Strawberry Milk (Tall size only, 609 yen [US$3.89] for takeout, 620 yen dine-in).

According to Starbucks, this is an evolved version of last year’s popular THE Strawberry Milk, with added strawberry pulp for even more fruity flavour. It’s a gently sweet strawberry milk that allows you to enjoy a generous amount of chunky strawberry pulp. In addition to its light mouthfeel, thanks to the airy blend of milk, this drink features a contrasting layer of strawberry and milk, with its appearance transforming into a soft pink hue when mixed.

▼ Strawberry Chocolate Frappuccino (Tall size only, 732 yen takeout; 745 yen dine-in)

This Frappuccino combines the sweet and tart flavour of strawberries with the richness of milk and chocolate, while crunchy chocolate chips provide a satisfying textural contrast in between. The combination is balanced in such a way to bring out the best in both the strawberry and the chocolate, creating a delicious Frappuccino with well-rounded flavours.

Now it’s time to explore the new nail stickers, which have been created in collaboration with “self-gel” nail brand Ohora. This brand seeks to “find beauty in everyday life,” bringing small moments of joy to their customers, and there are three varieties available, each with a special connection to Starbucks.

▼ Strawberry Milk

As you may have guessed, this set celebrates the new chunky strawberry beverages, with matching milk-and-berry hues and tiny stickers with Starbucks motifs to offset them.

▼ Double Tall Latte

This design expresses the soft gradation of milk and espresso in a latte, with smooth, blended brown tones adorned with delicate motifs reminiscent of latte art. According to Starbucks, this allows you to “enjoy the expression of a single cup unfolding within your fingertips”.

▼ Starbucks Green

This set is a celebration of Starbucks’ signature green, combined with accents that evoke the chain’s cups and the messages that appear on them.

▼ Priced at 2,750 yen each, these self-gel nail sets are a clever way to accessorise your look with your favourite Starbucks beverage.

▼ These Insta-worthy nails will look great on social media too.

The nail sets will be sold exclusively at the official online store from 6:00 a.m. on 11 May, while the new drinks will be available at Starbucks stores around Japan that same day, or 8 May for Starbucks Rewards members. As always, these unique releases will only be available for a limited time.

Source, images: Press release
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