Japan has many fun festivals and days to honor events and products. Today, Nov 11, the Japanese population commemorates the one and only Pocky and Pretz Day. Yes, it is the very day to celebrate and appreciate the delicious chocolate-covered cookie sticks we all love to savor and share with our friends and family.
The celebratory day was planned as a marketing event 17 years ago by Ezaki Glico, a major snack company, as the long, thin cookie sticks resemble the repeated number one in the numerical date. According to an NBC News interview, Akitoshi Oku, the company president, started this event to thank Pocky fans. Now a national phenomenon every year, Glico encourages Pocky lovers around the country to continue sharing fun and smiles with Pocky through their campaign “Share Happiness.”
So how do Japanese people celebrate this day? It’s simple. They buy boxes and boxes of Pocky or Pretz to give to their friends and family, accompanied by a short thank you message on the box. This is especially popular among students and women, as the snack is not only mouthwateringly delicious, but also affordable and portable. Supermarkets and university convenience stores put up Pocky stick balloons all around the shelves, and in many cases, sell them for less than 100 yen. Glico also encourages people to submit their photos with Pocky and friends to spread unity and their love for the snack.
Japan’s most loved chocolate covered cookie stick is celebrated not only in Japan, but also in the U.S. More and more companies and celebrities collaborate with Glico. Why not go for a conbini run today to buy a box (or boxes) of Pocky and share some happiness with your friends and family?
© Japan Today
