限定版 Limited Edition

Gentēban (限定版) is the Japanese word for limited edition, pictured is the limited edition beer can from Asahi celebrating spring and the blooming sakura trees. Recently a Japanese acquaintance told me that if a product - any product - is offered as a limited edition item, then Japanese are sure to go to great lengths to acquire it. For instance, when a long queue blocks the tiny isles of the store you are trying to quickly traverse to catch your train, then a limited edition item is sure to blame. Many items also have very seasonal offerings, such as this beer can, so if you desire foods, items, or products that could be seemingly seasonally related, or more important limited edition, then you better join the queue now or you risk becoming the fellow that missed out!

♪♫ These Are a Few of My Favorite♪. . .

It's the bubbles of nothing that make it really something. This is one of my favorite chocolate junk food indulgences from across the pond (Great Britain) however this is its Japanese cousin complete with a flavor twist. The Aero bar is Nestlé Japan's lesser loved child compared to the oft-manipulated Kit Kat but take notice that the Aero bar also has many limited edition Japanese only flavors. This fellow is light and fluffy green tea chocolate bubbles surrounded by milk chocolate. Next, everyone loves free stuff yes? How about as an incentive to purchase one brand of bottled water over another? Because that is what retail companies really bank on in the Japanese market overflowing with consumer choice. I have already talked about the Japanese love of limited edition merchandise, add to that a powerful drive to own brand name merchandise and the powerful force of retail incentive collaboration is born. These are Vittel (x) Converse "chuck taylor" Pepsi (x) Le Creuset Stoneware freebie cellphone charms that are literally dangled from the 500ml bottles. So cute how could you resist?