Previously, we’ve covered Ronald McDonald, Colonel Sanders, Hello Kitty, and Mickey Mouse, but today we’re going to delve into food items being parodied. Things like the image above, which are just a little too sexy creepy to eat. Really, it looks like it should be called SM&M. Why do you think he’s showing his pinky like that? That’s the Japanese hand-symbol for boyfriend!
There’s a longstanding obsession and devotion to food in Japan, so it’s only natural that food gets some attention. Here we go!
Hopefully this makes you feel guilty the next time you eat M&M’s. Poor Yellow M&M. It looks like his boyfriend is abandoning him.
You’ve never experienced creepy baby mayonnaise if you’ve never been to Japan (something worth trying!). The image above refers to Kewpie Mayonnaise, probably the most popular brand of mayonnaise in Japan, which is made a bit differently from American Mayo (I think it tastes much better than the stuff we have).
Japanese mayonnaise is typically made with apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar and a small amount of MSG, which gives it a different flavor profile from mayonnaise made from distilled vinegar. It is most often sold in soft plastic squeeze bottles. Its texture is thinner than most Western commercial mayonnaise. A variety containing karashi (Japanese mustard) is also common [source]
If you’re interested in more Japanese mayonnaise related things, check out Kewpie’s own English propaganda page, or take a look at this all-mayonnaise restaurant. Or, why not watch this Tarako dance (which includes the Kewpie baby).
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAtBNOKT8jM]
I feel like there’s a Broadway play in it for those girls.
Sad Mr. Pepsi Blue. Didn’t sell too hot anywhere. That’s probably because they used Blue-1 to color it (somewhat controversial coloring banned in several countries), not to mention it tasted like liquefied berry flavored cotton candy.
Another version of Pepsi Blue that I remember is “Pepsi Blue: Hawaii.” This added some pineapply taste to the already nasty berry flavor. I’m sure you can guess how well that did. Kind of makes me think “Nuca-Cola Quantum” from Fallout 3.
Then, last but not least, there’s this Pocky guy. This one’s my favorite, by far. Definitely a very “Japanese” sense of humor. I think Pocky is pretty well known in America, though feel free to prove me wrong. Basically, they are bready cookie sticks that are 75% covered in chocolate (or various other flavors). My favorite is “Man Pocky,” because, you know, women can’t handle that manly (more bitter chocolate) taste. Oh Japan.
So, if you want to see more defiled food, check out these links:
The next part of this article will be about parodied American Children Shows, and will come in the next 12 hours! If you want to get updated every time another part to this series comes out, please subscribe to our RSS Feed. Or, if you like e-mails, you can get an e-mail every time we update as well by going here. See you with another “character parody” article soon!