The following list of 10 weird Japanese Pepsi variations is a submission for the July 2011 Japan Blog Matsuri.

1. Pepsi Ice Cucumber 「ペプシアイスキューカンバー」

Limited edition green, cucumber-flavored Pepsi sold in Japan in summer 2007. There were no cucumber involved to actually make it, just a combination of artificial flavors to achieve “the refreshing taste of a fresh cucumber”.

2. Pepsi Shiso 「ペプシしそ」

Limited edition green shiso-flavored soda introduced in Japan during summer 2009. Shiso is the Japanese name for perilla. The perilla herb is sometimes known as purple mint, Japanese basil or or wild coleus.

Image source: tokyobling

3. Pepsi Azuki 「ペプシあずき」

An azuki bean-flavored limited edition Pepsi released in Japan on October 20, 2009. Azuki beans are red beans used in sweet meals, snacks and dishes in Japan.

Image source: flickr

4. Pepsi Baobab 「ペプシバオバブ」

A baobab tree fruit-flavored limited Edition Pepsi released in Japan on May 25, 2010 described to have a citrus taste. The baobab tree is a strange looking tree that grows in low-lying areas in Africa and Australia.

Image source: flickr

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My very first apartment in the Land of the Rising Sun was affectionately known as “Funky Town”. When I first arrived in Japan my company had allocated me a modest monthly allowance to cover property rental and furniture. I was excited to get out there and get my pad sorted, but before heading off on a spending spree I fired off a question to my manager to get the low-down on what expenses the accommodation budget would cover. The response was that I could spend the amount on anything that I wanted, and as a demonstration of the broadness of the scope, by way of example my manager said that if I wanted to I could spend the whole amount on prostitutes each month and sleep in the gutter just as long as I got receipts from the prostitutes.

Armed with this directive, and being a single guy, I rented an unfurnished apato in a cool part of town. The only furniture that I bought was a one-seater leather recliner, a big arse TV. Oh, and a bed. I used the remaining amount of the budget on essentials like black lights, strobe lights and lava lamps. For the complete effect, I plastered my ceiling with a constellation of those tacky glow-in-the-dark self-adhesive stars and planets. Thus, “Funky Town” was born. A bachelor stronghold and popular party pad.

When it came time to tie one on in celebration (or is that commiseration?) of a buddy’s pending nuptials, “Funky Town” was nominated as the starting point for the festivities of the evening. We decided to kick-start the night with a few looseners at “Funky Town” before moving onto further debauchery in what was being touted as a surrogate bachelor party (or stag, buck or bull party depending where you are from). Given that the number one rule at a bachelor party is to humiliate the bachelor, our man Nick was requested to be attired in a Pink Power Ranger outfit for the duration of the evening. Like a champ, Nick, without argument, donned the garb and everyone queued for a photo with Mr Pink.

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The February 2011 edition of the Japan Blog Matsuri brings to you eighteen fantastic submissions from around the blogosphere presenting to you articles related to the theme “Famous Japanese Events”. Participants were asked to tell us about a current or historical notable occurrence related to Japan. The possibilities were endless. It could have been a current event, a recreational event, an historical event, a religious event, a sporting event, a cultural event, an entertainment event, a political event, a social event. The event did not necessarily have to occur in Japan but it must have been related to Japan.

There’s something here for everyone, so take a swig of your sake, swallow down your sushi and enjoy the ride.

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