Japan Does it Again

Hey Bahston: nothing’s bettah than a wicked cold beeh, right? (Okay, I’m, done.) Spring and summer weather bring backyard barbecues, trips to the beach and poolside soirees, all of which are incomplete without some ice cold brewskis. Beer companies and inventors alike have been trying to solve the problem of warm beer for decades with insulated bottles and cans, frosted mugs, and a variety of other items. However, leave it to the Japanese to develop a better solution to our warm weather woes.

Kirin, Japan’s largest beer maker, recently introduced its frozen beer foam, Ichiban Shibori Frozen Draft, a soft-serve-like froth that insulates beer, keeping it cold for a half hour. The best part about the innovative foam is that, because it’s made of beer, it doesn’t water down your drink like ice cubes. It also gives the bevvy a creamier taste and texture.

Unfortunately for us beer-guzzling Americans, it will take a trip overseas to have a taste — for now, at least. Until then, crack open a cold one and don’t forget the coozy!

Posted by Erin

Image source Kirin via Gizmag.com

Hello Kitty x Hooters

Image via Eater

When I was a little girl, I loved Hello Kitty. Hell, I still love Hello Kitty. She’s just so cute and cool — and I’m not the only one who thinks so, as evidenced by the hundreds of Hello Kitty collaborations between different brands and companies over the years. For example, Hello Kitty x MAC in 2009. Even three years ago, I remember all the hype and anticipation surrounding the release of the Hello Kitty line amongst ‘tweens, teens and adults. I didn’t even wear make up and I still blew $30 on a tube of Hello Kitty adorned lip stick I probably only ever used twice.

So while I can definitely understand the appeal of a Hello Kitty collaboration, one that I can honestly say I never saw coming was Hello Kitty x Hooters. Yes, you read that right. Who would’ve thunk? Only the Japanese, of course!

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Hooters Tokyo is offering free Hello Kitty commemorative pins  to the first 1,000 people in the door. But wait, there’s more!  To top it off, they’re also selling ice cream sundae parfaits, calling them “Volcanos of Love.” Because nothing puts you in the mood for romance like Hello Kitty, Hooters and ice cream sundaes?

Posted by Sue

Abercrombie & Fitch: The Underbelly

There’s something about walking into an Abercrombie & Fitch store that leaves a bad taste in my mouth; a taste that slightly resembles a potent cocktail of the date rape drug, Keystone Light and a foolish sense of belonging. Not just a clothing brand, Abercrombie professes to be a lifestyle of inherent preppiness, capricious coed mingling and mischievous homoeroticism. Basically, the American Dream — plus or minus a few $70 “distressed” (read: falling apart) t-shirts.

Recently, the Abercrombie brand expanded its misguided bravado into Japan’s Ginza District. And here’s a shocker: the Japanese aren’t fans either. Apparently charging double the US prices, greeting customers in English and staffing no “authentic” Japanese salespeople does not a successful business make. Though, when you’ve got a shoddy business model to work from (aka one whose success is on a rapid decline on its home turf), can you really be expected to do well abroad?

Full Disclosure: I worked at Abercrombie for about a month in college, where we were actually told to ignore customers who asked for help and berate older people who wanted us to turn down the music. True story.

Posted by Amelia