PBJ Inc is releasing a line of halal-certified skincare products, “Momo Hime,” approved by the Japan Islamic Trust, on March 3 in Japan and abroad.
Having the 80 years of experience running a fruit and vegetable retailer, PBJ has for many years focused on the effects of the peach for health and beauty. “Momo Hime,” which means Peach Princess, features a soothing peach aroma. PBJ said it will make women feel relaxed as the peach extract maximizes its moisturizing and antibacterial effects.
The idea of developing halal skincare products came from the experience of the company’s representative, Mieko Kobayashi. While she lived in several countries, she knew that many Muslim women wanted to use Japanese cosmetics at a reasonable price and, more importantly, those should be halal-certified.
All “Momo Hime” products are free from pork and alcohol-derived ingredients, which are prohibited in Islam. The factory complies strictly with the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law, the Product Liability Law, the GMP standard, and ISO 9001 in Japan. In addition, all products, including their containers and packaging boxes, are 100% made in Japan.
“Momo Hime” is launched with three skincare products, and more lineups will be added this year.
Peach Foaming Face Wash (100g) 1,780 yen Peach Moisture Lotion (150ml) 1,980 yen Peach Moisture Gel Cream (30g) 1,980 yen (the prices exclude consumption tax)
The purchase can be made through PBJ’s website (Japanese/English) and at Muslim-friendly beauty salons and stores. The expansion of the retail outlet to hotels, duty-free shops, and souvenir stores to target inbound tourists is also in the works, with exports to Singapore, Thailand, and Middle Eastern countries to be added in the near future.
© Value Press
23 Comments
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Tony Alderman
More pandering.
bass4funk
I agree, more pandering.
NZ2011
free market and all.. and meh non-alcohol no big deal but why not just say that.. but don't like the sneak of non-sense religious laws making their way into products taking away my choice to choose things where animal cruelty may be an issue for example.
shonanbb
Kosher Momo Skin Cream coming next.
nath
What?! That's what literally every marketing group and/or company does. Have you never heard the term 'target market' or 'target demographic'? It's the group that is being catered to.
But of course, with bigots, that only becomes a problem when the target demographic is Muslims.
It doesn't mean that. Because you can just go ahead and not buy it, and then you don't have to pay for it. So it's all good!
It doesn't. This company has chosen to do so because they think that's how they can make profits. AKA capitalism.
nath
No big deal. Just business cashing in on a growing and as yet not covered market.. Not pandering but Capitalism at work.
Akula
Can't say I like this at all, but willing seller, willing buyer I suppose.
Islam however is a cult, and we should be very careful about pandering to it.
Nessie
Not true. There are anti-semites who make a fuss.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koshertax(antisemitic_canard)
Strangerland wrote:
Strangerland has it exactly right.
There are all sorts of labels for all sorts of irrationalities. Yes, it IS pandering to irrationality, but so what? That's what marketing is. This perfume will make you look like Penelope Cruz. Those Uniqlo sweats will make you look like Meisa Kuroki. That sports drink has ions. Ions! (Everything has ions, dummies.)
If Japanese companies can make a buck off of Muslim irrationality and the customer is satisfied, then what's the fuss? No haram, no foul. Don't like it? Don't buy it.
nath
No such thing. Capitalism is never pandering, it's self-serving.
PTownsend
Ah, so you must work for government. No one who works in the private sector would write that.
nath
Who is pandering? This is capitalism.
nath
There Re 3 major religions based on the SANE Sctiptures namrl the OLD Testament. Yet they claim their God is different. Those religions are Judaism,Christianity and Islam.
Of course open to proof to the contrary.
Islam is oracticed by 1.6 Billion people which is not a small Market.
Recall when businesses realised what gays had lots of money and started courting the Pink Dollar.
Tessa
Speaking as a woman with a great interest in beauty products, I can say this: give the women what they want! Or else!
bass4funk
That's a good thing.
nath
Only if the customer is Muslim.
BNlightened
"Kosher Momo Skin Cream coming next."
Funny how you mention that, since in the US, for example, more than 400,000 products (four hundred thousand products) are certified! and labeled "kashrut" (i.e. certified Kosher)....and absolutely NOBODY makes a stink about it.
Haven't you ever seen those "U" or "K" inside the circle/star on the labels of products? They're everywhere! But when "halal" gets brought up....watch out! It becomes "pandering."
Chris Larter
If halal certified didn't mean paying so Muslim guy to pretend he knows what he's doing it would all be good!!
Why does anything need to be certified by a religious group? If it states that no pork or alcohol products have been used then that should be it!!
Soon we will be paying extra to have things PETA certified too....
bass4funk
Free market, to anyone that can make a buck, but to cater to a certain group, ridiculous!
WilliB
Ots ME:
Firstly, I wonder why you are sure those scriptures are "sane". Secondly, islam has most certainly nothing do with the Old Testament; it claims that only the Koran stories are true and the th Old Testament is falsified. And Christianity, of course, has the NEW testament, but I would assume you know that.
bass4funk
It's capitalism and pandering at the same time. Capitalism and pandering at the same time
coskuri
It's the same for everybody. The stuff is made of chemicals (I would not want on my skin) but the standard version is already vegan, kosher, hallal, you name it. They just have to print different packages for each market.
Price pretax and without delivery and import fees... Reasonable for some, surely.
katsu78
I wondered how long it would take for the JT crowd to start reflexively hating just because this article mentions Muslims. I was impressed the hate didn't start immediately, and held out hope that maybe for once the user base would be civil. Ah well.
Pandering is a nice, succinct way of saying, "I'm angry they didn't make a product exclusively focusing my desires! How dare capitalists acknowledge that there are people in the world with money other than me!"