Tokyo International News Agency

Calbee’s potato chip packaging has recently captured massive attention on Japanese social media. In an effort to balance product visibility with cost reduction, the snack giant introduced a "one-sided color" design (full color on the front, black-and-white on the back). Online, this distinctive packaging immediately triggered nostalgia, with a classic character name trending as users pointed out the resemblance. Flashy in the front, plain in the back: The "Binbocchama" style The buzz began when users noticed the new package design. While the front retains its vibrant, eye-catching colors, the back is printed in a simple, monochrome layout. Social media users quickly compared this "luxurious front, austere back" aesthetic to "Taizo Binbo" (commonly known as "Binbocchama"), a character from the popular late 1980s and 90s manga and anime series Obocchama-kun . Binbocchama is famous for his bizarre fashion: from the front, he appears to be ...

Kagome Co., Ltd. announced on May 14 that it will begin updating the outer packaging design of its flagship product, "Kagome Tomato Ketchup," starting in late May. This decision stems from difficulties in procuring printing ink—particularly the white base ink—as the supply of naphtha becomes increasingly unstable due to heightening tensions in the Middle East. The redesign affects three product sizes: 500g, 300g, and 180g. While the current packaging features numerous printed tomato illustrations, the new version significantly reduces the printed area, making the outer bag largely transparent. The company clarified that there are no changes to the quality of the squeeze tube or its contents, emphasizing a transition to a simple design with high visibility. This movement toward packaging simplification is gaining momentum across the Japanese food industry. A similar shift by snack giant Calbee, which recently released potato chips in minimalist black-and-white packaging, drew ...