Comments on: Candy Review: Asse – The Unfortunately-Named Chocolate Candy

By: Daniela B

Daniela B — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 07:41:19 +0000

Hi,

maybe the Japanese borrowed a word from German here, because in German “Ass” means “ace”, so “Asse” is “aces”. Just a thought…

RESPONSE: Good theory!
–Brian

By: Candy Addict - Collon: another poorly named foreign candy

Candy Addict - Collon: another poorly named foreign candy — Fri, 12 May 2006 02:32:18 +0000

[...] Asse [...]

By: Candy Addict - Plopp - gooey, brown, and …tasty?

Candy Addict - Plopp - gooey, brown, and …tasty? — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 23:22:57 +0000

[...] I thought Asse was the worst name for a chocolate candy, then I find this. [...]

By: nicholas stylianou

nicholas stylianou — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 16:43:14 +0000

that’s quite good, but i’ve seen funnier. theres a rolo-style sweet available in cyprus called Plop-plop and in my local specialist sweet shop here in the U.K they have a japanese sweet caled Colon, a cream filled tubular confection.

RESPONSE:I’ve heard of Colon. Haven’t heard of Plop-Plop – that’s funny. Send me some pics!!! (I still think Asse is funnier)
–Brian

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 05:31:47 +0000

“more pics of my asse” and buy asse online is the funniest thing i have ever seen. they should sell tshirts of their candy. old retro style.

RESPONSE: I thought it was pretty funny when I wote it :)
–Brian

By: Jason Truesdell

Jason Truesdell — Mon, 23 Jan 2006 17:00:09 +0000

Geert, I think the Japanese chocolate makers/marketers are more interested in creating names evocative of foreign places than concerning themselves with such trivialities as whether the name is actually apropos to the place…

ass-uh would also be hard to render in Japanese as there’s no exact equivalent sound… the Japanese pronunciation of “Ice cream” is about 7 syllables long for a similar reason.

By: geert

geert — Mon, 23 Jan 2006 14:02:29 +0000

i happen to live close to ‘asse’ in belgium, and I can assure you there is no significant chocolate activity going on there, besides the regular pralines…
The Japanese pronunciation is also quite different, the belgian city is pronounced ‘ass-uh’

By: Jason Truesdell

Jason Truesdell — Mon, 23 Jan 2006 05:47:58 +0000

The Japanese text on the package indicates the pronunciation is “ah-ssay” (the ay sound is short). Perhaps it comes from the name of the Belgian city.

On the other hand, “ah-say” with a short ay and single s is “sweat” in Japanese, so the name carries its own risks in the Japanese market.

RESPONSE: Yeah – that’s actually how I have been pronouncing it around the house. :) Hmmm….ass or sweat – not a very good choice.
–Brian