Taking candy from strangers!
It’s an Osaka thing & so is Pine Ame

There’s one candy in particular you need to know when you’re in Osaka—Pine Ame!

Anyone who grew up in Osaka will instantly recognize these pineapple flavored candies. And when you look closely at the shape of these bright yellow candies, they will instantly remind you of pineapple slices. Right down to the ridges, they are so realistic-looking and cute.

[CONTENTS]

• Candy communication
• Osaka ladies—the obachan
• Let me introduce you to Pine Ame-kun!
• Over-performing on social media
• And that’s not all!
• August 8th is Pine Ame Day!

◎Candy communication

The origins of candy, run pretty deep, with evidence that it already existed during the Nara period (710–794). In the Edo period (1603–1868), Osaka became known as the Nation’s Kitchen because so much foodstuff, including sugar, was traded through Osaka. Therefore candy manufacturers here were able to procure the raw materials they needed quickly and candy-making flourished.

It’s also interesting to note that candy is called ame-chan in Osaka. That endearing “chan” suffix makes it sound like candy is a near and dear close friend. It’s great for striking up a conversation, restaurants offer them at the end of a meal to freshen up your mouth, and taxi drivers pass them out to customers. It goes without saying that chatty Osaka people love to use it as a communication tool.

◎Osaka ladies—the obachan

There’s a well-known stereotype about older women, also called obachan, in Osaka—and really Kansai as a whole—that they carry candy around with them. And they frequently offer it to strangers. Some people say they always have candy to use it as a lozenge, others say it’s a valuable communication tool because they like chatting up people in the park and at the station.

Either way, it’s true. One survey conducted in Osaka found that about 60 of 100 women were carrying candy with them. You can buy a whole bag at the ¥100 store so they’re pretty ubiquitous and easy to carry in your bag or pocket.

And among all the different candies and flavors, Pine Ame remains a crowd favorite. Not just the ladies, but young people all across Japan love Pine Ame. They’re sweet, but tart, and oh so delicious!

◎Let me introduce you to Pine Ame-kun!

This cute character is one of Osaka Bob’s friends and another local mascot. He’s been featured on our social media accounts before. But he’s been around much longer than Osaka Bob.
Pine Ame has actually been on the market for over 70 years! The packaging design has changed over time. It’s pretty interesting to see the evolution of this famous candy.

The evolution of Pine Ame candy

Pine Ame is made by a company right here in Osaka. Their corporate headquarters are in Tennoji and the company name is actually Pine Co., LTD. How cute!

◎Over-performing on social media

Pine Ame-kun has a strong presence on social media and sends out interesting posts on a daily basis. Just look at their twitter profile. This candy maker has over 150,000 followers.

Don’t let the spelling fool you… Their handle really is @pain_ame, not because it’s a painful candy, but phonetically transcribing the Japanese characters turns pine into pain. This is not a typo!

Twitter @pain_ame
Tweets by pain_ame

◎And that’s not all!

The Pine Ame flavor is so popular, it has inspired so many other products that use the same design, flavor, or aroma profile. From ice cream to cocktails to bubble bath, there really is a huge lineup. There are even Pine Ame socks!

Collaboration between Fueki & Pine Ame

〈(Product details here) https://www.pine.co.jp/secret/collaboration/

Pine Ame products are usually bright yellow and they smell great. Use the link above to browse the selection of Pine Ame products available. Did I mention they make a Pine Ame dish soap?

◎August 8th is Pine Ame Day!

Summer is such a great time to get a little pineapple flavor, but that’s not the only reason Pine Ame Day is in August. Apparently this 8/8 is Pine Ame’s anniversary.
That and the date has 4 circles, so that is essentially 4 pieces of Pine Ame lined up in number formation. Easy to remember, isn’t it?

They also have this slogan that they used in the ’50’s that says something like “When you look through a pine ame candy, what you see on the other side is the future.” That really gets me every time.
Today, and tomorrow, and for the last 70 years, Pine Ame has been delivering juicy flavor and a little pep to mouths all over the country.

https://www.pine.co.jp/

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【OSAKA TRIVIA】One of Japan’s most unique places, Osaka has plenty of interesting trivia