Celebrate 'Japan Mela' @ Big Bazaar

• Come and experience Mini Japan in select Big Bazaar stores
• Taste Japanese Fast Food from 25th November – 31st December

Starting 25th November to 31st December, Big Bazaar, India's largest hypermarket chain, will host the ‘Japan Mela’ in association with Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO). Through this initiative, Big Bazaar aims to make the Indian consumer taste Japanese fast food and its flavour in its stores. The ‘Japan Mela’ would be exclusively in select Big Bazaar stores of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai & Bangalore.

During this month-long ‘Japan Mela’, Big Bazaar will organize dry and wet sampling of products for the consumers. Big Bazaar would showcase a host of appetizing Japanese products like Calbee Prawn Crackers, Hao Hao Instant Noodles (ACECOOK), Miso Soup (Hanamaruki), Frozen Products (Nissui) and Soy Sauces (Kikkoman). Besides food, the mela also encompasses non-food product categories such as personal care, stationery and household items which include LipIce (Rohto Pharma), GATSBY (Mandom), PENTEL (Indo Japan Pen), Dentalpro (JACKS) and Bigen (HOYU), Tension Pole-Curtain Rod (TOSO).

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Damodar Mall, Director Food Strategy, Future Group, said, “We at Big Bazaar always come up with new and innovative, quality offerings. We are indeed privileged to have partnered with JETRO, a government organization that strives to promote mutual trade and investment between Japan and rest of the world. Taking this partnership ahead, we are celebrating ‘Japan Mela’ wherein the ambience in our stores has been designed on the lines of a Mela, inducing the Indian customer to sample and taste the traditional food items of Japan under a single roof. We are confident that this partnership will go a long way and look forward to such initiatives in future also.”

Mr. Naoyuki Maekawa, Director General of JETRO Mumbai, said, “Through this Mela, we aim to introduce Japanese products to all Indian customers which is synonymous with seasonality of food, quality of ingredients, new technologies, good design and presentation. We are delighted to have partnered with Big Bazaar and Food Bazaar for the same.”

A brief note on each product is mentioned below –

1. Hao Hao and Oh! Ricey – Consists of a variety of instant noodles which is delicious in taste and easy-to-cook in both options - vegetarian and non-vegetarian. The flavors in non-vegetarian are chicken, shrimp and onion fried and Oh! Ricey and the option in vegetarian is Hao Hao Vegetarian. The vegetarian items are equally delicious in taste and known to be suitable for people on diet and contain no cholesterol.

Manufactured by ACECOOK VIETNAM JSC, the No. 1 company in Vietnamese domestic market, having track record of selling 2.8 billion meals per year, in the instant noodles market of Vietnam, the company is consistently expanding its presence across the globe.

2. Calbee Prawn Cracker - Known to have been made in 1964, the Japanese fell in love with the high nutritional value and flavor of Calbee prawn crackers, which are so good that you just can't put them down. Calbee prawn crackers recreate the delicious flavor of prawn tempura and have become everyone’s favorite Japanese snack of today. The flavours are Original, BBQ, Wasabi and Black Pepper.

Developed by Calbee Foods Co., Ltd., the company has been developing products where extensive emphasis is laid on people’s health thereby using wholesome natural ingredients.

3. Hanamaruki Miso Soup – Miso is a brewed food prepared by fermenting soya beans, rice and edible salt. Soya beans are a source of important protein and considered to be very healthy as it contains low calorie. It has a higher shelf life and can be preserved as long as 6 months in room temperature. The varieties launched include Miso Soup Ginger and Miso Soup Japanese Mixed Chili Pepper. This traditional Japanese food Miso Soup can be easily enjoyed by pouring hot water into it. The spicy taste can be created by adding the typical spice called Japanese mixed chilli pepper.

This product is produced by Hanamaruki who as a company brings value to the customers by sticking to quality raw-material and manufacturing process. Apart from a safe and reliable product using the traditional technology and modern science for making miso, the company brings value to the customer by providing and creating products and services. The factory is situated in the Ina city of Nagano.

4. Kikkoman Soy Sauce - The items launched include Kikoman Soy Sauce and Teriyaki Roasted Garlic. Teriyaki Roasted Garlic is a simple mixture of soy sauce and mirin, a Japanese sweet cooking wine. The sweet-savory flavor of teriyaki sauce mixed with roasted garlic creates this robust sauce and can be used as a quick-and-easy stir-fry sauce with vegetables or to season fried rice.

Kikkoman is a soy sauce manufacturer established in Japan back in the 1600’s. It is said to be one of the oldest companies in the world. Today, Kikkoman has become a leading manufacturer of soy sauce and soy related products in the world.

5. Frozen Products (Nissui) – Founded in 1908, Nissui, today has a host of products, a few of which are launched in the ‘Japan Mela’. The launched products can be used as a snack. The Green Soya Beans Edamame can be defrosted/thawed and be had as a snack. Assorted Vegetable Side dishes, available in 6 varieties are Kidney beans in a seasame seed dressing, braised burdock roots and Japanese mustard spinach simmered in seaweed stock, Boiled hijiki sea vegetables, Boiled dried raddish and Boiled deep fried tofu and vegetables.

Non-food products include -

1. Lip Cream from LipIce- This product has been tailored to the Indian market. You can enjoy different fruit flavor (Strawberry, Blueberry and Orange) and suitable shade of sheer pink. Mentholatum is No.1 lip care brand in Japan.

ROHTO – Founded by Shigeru Sano in 1927 with the motto ‘Engaging ourselves in manufacturing and sales while praying for the health and happiness of everyone who uses our products’, the company has worked on the research and development to provide customers with excellent safety oral care products. It produces superior oral care products based on the multitude of clinical studies and a wealth of data, as well as detailed research studies. The India office has been incorporated in September 2010 and will be selling the skin care products from the month of November.

2. Pens from PENTEL – Having "Spirit of Wonder" as corporate statement, Pentel Co., Ltd. is devoted to making writing materials which consumers all over the world can use with joy. PENTEL is the only company in the field of stationary manufacturing that has been awarded with the Deming Prize for recognition of the highest standard of quality. PENTEL is devoted to making environment friendly “Recycolgy” products. In India, the company has formed a joint venture company called INDO JAPAN PEN MFG.CO. PVT.LTD.

3. GATSBY Water Gloss by GATSBY is Japan’s No. 1 men's' grooming brand GATSBY which is launched in the ‘Japan Mela’.

Manufactured by Mandom, GATSBY, the flagship men's' brand has been recognized as the top brand in Asia for its' unique and high quality product with yearly shipment of 500 million pieces.

4. BIGEN Hair Colour – Bigen Speedy Hair Colour Conditioner and Bigen Powder Hair Colour, Hair Colour products are introduced in ‘Japan Mela’. Manufactured by HOYU CO., LTD., the company is involved in offering quality hair color products under its brand name Bigen in the international market including India.

5. Dentalpro -Toothbrush from JACKS – Launches the variants in Japan Mela – Black Toothbrush Compact SOFT, Bristlecompound Platinum colloid Ceramics, Interdental Brush Size1(SSS), FRESH Ultraslim toothbrush and FRESH Mcut toothbrush.

Jacks produces superior oral care products based on the multitude of clinical studies and a wealth of data, as well as the detailed study of appropriate brushing intensity and the friction balance when using a toothbrush.

6. Curtain Rail from TOSO – Manufactured by TOSO, a world leader in the development, manufacture and marketing of premium interior Décor products, this product can be used for a window of about 70~120 cm or an entrance and no nails or screws have been used but it is tightened by the strength of a spring and fixed to a pole. Curtains, laundry or clothing can be hung.