It’s time to take another look at the really cool merchandise available in Starbucks in Japan. Thanks to the amazing Noboru Sakamoto, I again have the chance to show off the super cool merchandise items available only in Japan and to point out the curious “Iced Via” being sold there. Starbucks is selling an “unsweetened” Iced Via. As far as I can tell, it is the normal Via in slightly larger packaging.
It is a little strange to me that Starbucks Japan gets an unsweetened Via. I have no idea why. Though in the box of goodies from Japan, I found myself the most entertained by the green coffee stirrer. What a cute little novelty item! I love the cup on top of it. I had to make a couple of different guesses what this funny green stick object was – Having ruled out ‘Starbucks version of Harry Potter wand,’ I settled on ‘coffee stirrer.’ I really wish they would sell these little green sticks here in the United States. It’s the kind of thing that would be a hit because of its simplicity yet novelty.
The pictures below include a comparison of the normal Via Ready Brew side by side with the Japan version and the U.S. Iced Via Ready Brew. What is the story behind the Japanese version of Iced Via?
Many thank yous to Molly of Seattle Custom Framing for giving me a hand with these photos. If you need something framed in Seattle, go see Molly!
What do you think of the Iced Via or any of these really cool items? I want to point out that even the box that the items came in was really cool – had its own attached brown elastic band, and writing down the side of it.
(The previous blog post on merchandise from Japan included an adorable Via Ready Brew Bearista Bear! Previous blog post: Japan has all the cool Via Ready Brew schwag)
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
Nob is AMAZING! I can just say the same…he is such an awesome guy!
I also got the stirring stuff which I first wondered what it was…:D
I love the Japanese merch…so colorful, so crazy…I would NEVER find something like this in German Starbucks stores.
Nob, you can be lucky to have this incredible marketing of Starbucks Japan.
I just may have to pick up some Via before my next road trip!
I love that little coffee stirrer, too. Maybe they’re just testing them out over there and we’ll eventually see them here in the US?
Also, when I get goodie boxes like this, I find it amazing when some companies really go all out when doing the packaging and presentation as well. It’s one thing to get a box filled with freebies to try out, but it’s completely another when the whole thing comes together and creates a “feel good feeling” from the get-go.
I love the cute merchandise! Hopefully the sticks will show up over here. Thanks Nob & Melody for sharing!
What neat merchandise! Are all the SB stores in Japan company owned or franchised out like the one in Belgium? I can’t remember what was said about that. In any case, the stores in the USA should look at the merchandise offered in Japan and bring it in.
I think “Starbucks version of Harry Potter wand” sound more fun, but I guess I’ll believe coffee stirrer too. :p
I might be tempted to buy Iced Via here if it were unsweetened. If I’m drinking plain coffee, i’d prefer it black or sweetened and flavored at the same time.
I love the box! I know that’s weird right? But, I like the idea of having a decorative Starbucks box to give gifts in in addition to the bag and tissue paper. I do like the stirrer too…it is definitely not a splash stick just because of the size, I think.
I really wonder what difference (even a micro difference) there is between Japan Iced VIA and their regular VIA. It seems like there would have to be something if they can market them separately. Of course my degree is not in marketing, so I am certainly not the expert. Though it seems there would have to be something different other than the packaging otherwise I guess it would simply be just to appeal to different tastes and increase sales.
AH! I WANT that stirrer! It’s fantastic! Also totally loving the tumbler. It’s too bad I am not going to Japan anywhere in the near future. :-\
@Haley – that’s funny – I noticed the box too. I even thought “Look, Melody got a Starbucks-bento box full of Starbucks goodies!”
Ready to drink habits are truly unique both country to country, and even regionally within countries (just think about sweet tea in the South here in the US, that drink is pretty foreign to the rest of us). I used to know a person who worked for a vending machine manufacturer, they made 80% of their stock for Japan, as the variety of what they would actually dispense from their boxes was amazing. But there were a few things (coffee among them) that seemed to stay very stable, and served in a specific manor. So the fact that they would usually drink unsweetened iced coffee there primarily doesn’t really surprise me. Personally, that’s how I’d prefer to drink my iced coffee as well!
thats pretty cool coffee swag, why not here?
Wow, they just came out a couple of weeks ago and you already have them! I like the stirrer, too. Have you seen the colorful coasters? Maybe they have them in the US, too. They’re pretty cute. I got a yellow one for my desk at work because in the afternoon heat my frappuccino sweats all over the place
I love how cute everything is! and the gift box is great, i wish they came to the US for the holidays
Everyone wants “difference”, I think.
So, I wait for release of “U.S. Iced Via Ready Brew” in Japan. Not Japan domestic market products. LOL
Starbucks coffee Japan Ltd must give consumers a right of the choice.
Japan version is limited sale until the end of next month. The store managers estimate that will be sold out in the middle of next month.
@Sebastian, I think that your country’s Starbucks stores are artistic.
@Melody, I like your expression. “Starbucks version of Harry Potter wand”.
How many magic did you acquire? Magic to get parking at 15th Ave anytime? Haha
Hi Melody! Just came across your site!
I’m over in Singapore for the summer, and they, too, have all sorts of cute products… although I’m incredibly envious of your new wand! Haven’t seen anything like that over here, though maybe this will motivate me to look around more.
How’s the drink variety over there? Do they have anything super unique/different?
Great post and pics! I tried the Iced Via but for me, it is just too sweet! An unsweetened Iced Via sounds good!
I like our iced Via, but I, too, think they kinda overdid it with the sugar.
And that wand is awesome. Wave it over your drink and say, “Magnum Coffea Excelsior!” or something similar before you sip.
I too like the ‘trinket factor’ of the coffee stirrer and the box. It is always fun to me, that little stuff.
It is odd they would make an unsweetened for ICED VIA…… as someone wrote, (Hayley?) it must be different than the regular, right? Anyway, cool stuff for sure!
I find it interesting that the japanese iced via packaging uses check-marks instead of X’s in the “Refreshing Iced Coffee Anywhere” boxes. I am assuming this was changed for cultural reasons, anybody know for sure?
I want to gooooooooo!!!
uh-oh! I wrote a comment earlier and thought it posted, but ??? where?
@Dest
I didn’t notice the difference, how interesting! I think here in Japan an x-mark refers to ‘no,’ as in ‘no, it isn’t refreshing’ etc. We even call those boxes ‘check-box!’
what? now it’s there??? is this my pc????
Denise – It’s not your computer. I was stunned that your post got caught in my spam filter. That happens once in a blue moon. But it sat in there until I rescued it and ‘published’ so it finally appeared much after you wrote it.
And speaking of spam, this is really spammy of me, but fast company is looking for the most influential person on line – Here’s my link – http://fcinf.com/v/av3g – Find out how influential you are (sign up).
This is some really cool merchandise, especially the little green stirrer.
It’s always interesting to me how brands that we think of as global, mechanized chains actually have tons of really neat regional varieties. Your blog shows off plenty of these from all around the world: it’s a great read!
As a non-coffee-drinker, I’m actually surprised that the American version is sweetened whether you like it or not.
I generally think of coffee as unsweet. And my understanding is that the Japanese are less fond of sweet drinks than Americans, so I’m not too surprised that there’s an unsweetened version.
Just got back from Japan!! Great pics.
Thanks Melody! (And Nob!) So fun to see all these different goodies. I have to say I’m not a huge fan of the iced via. It seemed ok on first sip…but I took some (along w/ some italian) on a little trip this month…and it actually tastes kind of stale to me. I dunno. I don’t really find that to be true of regular via.
oh and that wand is awesome!
And I too love how the packaging was superb! Why don’t we have awesome boxes like that?!
I would definitely try the unsweetened Iced VIA. Meanwhile, I just stick with the good old normal VIA and pour iced water in it.