Candy can sometimes plop into your lap from the strangest places. A recent trip to a comic book convention netted me a couple of new action figures, a new doll, and a piece of Japanese hard candy courtesy of my obsession with the anime series Bleach. This box is an example of shokugan, a nifty little term which blends the Japanese kanji characters for “food” and “toy”. Yes, these are toys that come with candy. Or candy that comes with a toy, depending on your point of view.
As you might have figured, the candy definitely takes second-place to the toy. Like the slab of rock-hard bubble gum that used to be packed in with baseball cards, this Japanese candy was…meh. It resembled an Alka-Seltzer in size and shape, and like a knock-off U.S. Smartie in flavor and texture. I think the candy couldn’t really decide on what flavor it wanted to be. I caught hints of apple, citrus, mint, and I think bubblegum too. Remember that scene in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory where Violet chews on that three-course meal gum and describes everything she tastes? It was like that, except I didn’t blow up like a blueberry afterwards. Pleasant enough, but nothing special. At least the toy is pretty nifty.
You can get shokugan for most of the popular cartoon shows in Japan, and even shows like Star Trek are represented. Want miniature replicas of food? Those come in shokugan form too. Guitars? Why not? Just keep in mind that these things are mostly candy for the eyes, not the palate.
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omg i love bleach and it comes with a shokugan, that is so cool!! i want one!!
actually I think that the candies are pretty yummy especially the smaller toys that come with smaller candies in little ball shapes which pretty much taste the same for the most part, but to me they taste better than smarties.