Department store operators and confectionery makers are trying to ride the wave of the Valentine’s Day-related shopping binge in Japan by offering products and services featuring experiences, highly valued by consumers these days.
The Matsuya Ginza department store, run by Matsuya, is selling chocolate containing pismaniye, a traditional Turkish dessert made of fine strands. The chocolate, named Angel Hair Chocolate, sells for ¥3,240 per piece.
Due to the unique fluffy appearance and light texture, the product has already gone viral on social media. “I hope people will be surprised,” said Sho Koizumi, a Matsuya Ginza buyer.
Tobu Department Store’s flagship store in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district has tripled the number of sweets available in its eat-in space from last year, offering around 30 options.
In some Takashimaya outlets, renowned patissiers prepare sweets, including parfaits, for customers to eat. From Feb. 8 to 14, the Matsuya Ginza store will serve a course meal using cacao.
Meanwhile, confectionery-makers are trying to take advantage of strong demand for chocolate bars from those who make sweets as Valentine’s Day gifts.
Lotte is selling a limited edition of its classic Ghana chocolate bars, colored pink with strawberry powder, for around ¥248.
Meiji has begun a campaign that gives away a special set of chocolate molds in the shapes of popular Sanrio characters to each buyer of three Meiji chocolate bars.
AloJapan.com