By Jessica Sattell

for an American snackaholic, a trip down the snack aisle of a Japanese supermarket is like a journey through the looking glass. Exotic flavors and cute little faces stare back at you from compact and intricate packaging. It all looks so cute and so yummy, but where to start? What the heck does jyagariko mean? And why is Anpanman staring at me from the front of a package of rice crackers? Wasn’t he supposed to be made of sweet beans? It’s all so confusing — and so tantalizing — that we knew we needed an expert in cross-cultural snacking to lead us through this tasty maze. We found that person, Jessica Sattell, a woman well versed in multicultural snacking, and we made her Ibuki’s very own taste tester. Here’s what she found on a recent trip to Uwajimaya:

① Glico Pocky is Japan’s most popular and iconic snack. Somewhere between a cookie and a cracker, these highly addictive chocolate-covered sticks have been enjoyed by the Japanese since 1966. It’s only been within the past decade that they’ve become widely enjoyed on US shores. Look for them in other combinations such as white chocolate, almond, coconut and lemon chiffon.

② The Japanese take on bar snacks, Azuma Kakinotane Peanuts would be perfect accompanied by a tall glass of beer and a side of edamame. This combination of slightly spicy rice crackers with fresh salty peanuts has a subtle crunch and perfectly paired texture. Once you start eating these, you won’t be able to stop!

③ True to their name, Mr. Itou American Soft Cookies are chewy and fresh like a homemade treat. This refreshingly delicious combination made with green tea, chocolate chunks and chopped macadamia nuts is perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth. Buttery soft and three-bite sized with an ever-so-slight sweet green tea aftertaste, these are even more delicious when enjoyed with milk or coffee.

		④ Don’t be fooled by their small size. Calbee Jyagariko potato sticks, a Japanese take on the American potato chip, pack a satisfying crunch. These light, non-greasy snacks are made with real cheddar and camembert cheese and come in a small cup for an on-the-go treat. Unlike similar snacks, these actually taste like you’re eating a real potato.
		⑤ Kuriyama Anpanman Soft Senbei offers a healthy alternative to salty snacks for children. These bite-sized, easy-to-chew rice crackers have a light soy sauce flavor and come in a set of four pouches that can be easily separated and tucked into lunches or pockets for a quick nosh.
		⑥ Risuka Umaibo are giant, individually wrapped versions of puffed corn curls that explode with flavor. These Japanese convenience store staples are bound to be a hit with kids and adults alike for their sheer size and long list of flavors including cheese, curry, pickled plum and takoyaki (fried octopus).

Jessica's Crumbs of Wisdom

Japanese snack makers love to come up with seasonal and limited-edition versions of their snacks. Americans will be familiar with the Kit Kat chocolate bar. But did you know that in Japan that very chocolate bar comes in flavors such as cherry blossom, soy sauce, sports drink, apple vinegar and daigaku imo (candied sweet potato)? I’ve even tasted the last three.

Also, Japanese snacks often come in commuter-friendly sizes. It’s not hard to find snacks in stick or bar form or even stuffed into cups or small pouches for on-the-go snacking.     
Japanese snacks are also packed very differently. For example the “American” green tea and chocolate chip cookies I tried for this article were all individually wrapped!