As you all know I am a sucker for Japanese candy.
Disclaimer: We were sent a package from Candy Japan in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was obtained for writing this post. All thoughts and opinions are those of myself and those in my household. As always our opinions, likes and dislikes may very well vary wildly from your own.
So of course I jumped upon hearing about Candy Japan and just couldn’t imagine NOT giving them a shot! An assortment of Japanese Candy, straight from Japan? Things that would be hard or nearly impossible to get where I am in Northern Idaho? No brainer!
Candy Japan is a twice monthly subscription service that sends you along a package of 2-6 different types of Japanese candy each mailing. For $25 dollars a month you’ll get two special deliveries straight from Japan of a random assortment of candies. Some of which you would never have expected to even be a candy! We were sent three candies, and it just so happens I haven’t tried two of the three.
An Pan Man Sucker:
Now, it’s hard to have six people review one sucker, but I’ve tried this sucker before (a penpal I had a few years back actually send me one!)
Overall I would give this candy a 3/5. Here are our thoughts! Overall the kids really loved the sucker, while Cid and I were so/so about it.
Kisa – It’s okay, not my favorite but not terrible.
Cid – Weird..
Kat – Tastes like the chocolate that use on pocky, so it’s good.
Sisi – Hmm, it’s good, and the design is cute. I ate his eyebrows off!
Var – It’s better than any other one, so far.
Lisi – I want to eat more!
This Japanese candy is a Sakura Mochi (that’s what the writing says btw) with a chocolate bottom. It’s a mochi center in a Sakura flavored pink candy with a thin chocolate bottom.
Overall I would give this a 4/5 for myself. Lisi and Kat didn’t really like it at all, but that’s okay. 🙂
Sakura Mochi:
Kisa – It’s interesting, I like Mochi icecream but I agree this is like a vanilla gummy bear.
Cid – Odd flavor combination but really good.
Kat – It’s okay, it’s a bit too chewy.
Sisi – It tastes like a vanilla gummy bear
Var – It’s delicious.
Lisi – 🙁 It doesn’t taste as good as I thought.
Now this is one interesting candy! It’s actually a DIY “candy” making his. This one makes a candy version of the Japanese food Takoyaki. Yes… octopus balls. No, not THAT kind! It’s a dough ball with squid pieces inside. I’ve never had the chance to do one of these awesome Japanese DIY treat kits!
This one in particular is actually interesting, as it is meant to taste like the food instead of just being sweet like a candy! Why??
Because. Japan! That’s why.
Thus why I have said “candy” above. Yes, this little thing here is meant to taste like your eating a real Takoyaki, and yes.. I have to admit I was a little nervous.
Now then, the kit comes with the above materials. The black stray is cut into 5 total pieces. You have four packets of things you need, a toothpick and the cute little scoopy shovel! The red pack is the octopus ‘gummy’ pieces, the orange is the batter, brown is sauce, and blue is tangy mayo. Yes… I’m serious.
Now, because this comes directly from Japan, meant for the Japanese the instructions are fully in Japanese. Thankfully though between what Japanese I can read, as well as the pictures as simplicity of the instructions I had no problem making these. You can still VERY easily make this if you cannot read Japanese as youtube is LOADED with videos on how to do so. 🙂
Here is what the Octopus meat looks like when it is all mixed up. It smelled super tangy/spicy! So I was getting a little worried. I forgot to take pictures of the rest of the steps but really this was the most interesting part. Then pushing some of the above pink stuff into the little octopus leg molds (two different shapes) to make the pieces.
After microwaving these at 40% power for 40 seconds (Japanese Microwaves aren’t as strong as my american one!) you flip them over, cover with sauce and squeeze on the mayo. 
Then you… you… try them out! Hahaha, I love real Takoyaki! But I was scared of a little microwave ‘candy’ kit of Takoyaki. I don’t know why!
I would give this one a 5/5 for me and probably a 10/5 for Kat. She loved these the absolute most out of all of us!!
Popin’ Cookin’ Takoyaki DIY Kit:
Kisa – I was surprised this tastes good!! I like real Takoyaki, and wasn’t sure a little kit would be any good, everything smelled so strange and spicy! But so delicious! 😀
Cid – I’ve never tasted the real thing, but this is good.
Kat – Oh my god! These are delicious, I’m gonna steal another one, can I steal another one? Please? (Note: Out of 8, Kat ate 5!)
Sisi – These are good!
Lisi and Var were too afraid to try this, and then Lisi regretted it considering how much the rest of us (especcially Kat as you can tell above!) loved these. I will have to get another kit (or two, because I am sure Kat wants one all for her!) just so we can try next time.
Over all such an awesome experience to try some new things from Japan that I am not sure I would have tried otherwise. If you want to try something new and explore some of what Japan is about, I would highly suggest at least trying one month of Candy Japan!
Would you try any of the candies above? Which do you think sounds the best?
I would love to try the octopus balls. Let me know when you are making an order.
The actual ones, or the ‘candy’ kit ones? 😉
I heard candy from Japan was insanely delicious! I can’t wait to try some. I’m glad you liked them!
Aly Mashrah recently posted…Spring Cleaning My Healthy Home with Ology
Lots of them I have had are really good! Some are a little… strange, but I do like most I’ve had! 😀
Awesome! I don’t know if I’ve ever had candy from Japan, but I love pretty much all candy, so this is great!
Lolli @ Better in Bulk recently posted…Pumpkin Strawberry Doughnuts Recipe
This Is AWESOME I Must Make With The Kids Thank You
lisa jones recently posted…Buy One Dozen Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Get One Dozen FREE 4/28 ONLY!
Never seen about this but i would make it a try. these candies seems to be odd
The Takoyaki would be the most odd to me in this case, ^_^ lots of Japanese candy is delicious and I love them. 😀 I wish I could get my hands on every awesome flavor of KitKat they have in Japan, I would LOVE to review those!
This looks like a lot of fun. I’ve never had Japanese candy before.
Sounds like a great service. My daughter would love it.
Mistee Dawn recently posted…Rainbow Braid Rubber Bands – 2400 piece Creativity Loom Refill Set Review.
I love candy and especially a lot of things out of Japan (huge anime fanatic.) Problem is that if I buy this, my son might get to it before me… lol
Nile recently posted…A Theme Is What You Make of It
Guess you’ll need two! I know how that goes, we don’t have an Asian food market in town, but we do about 45 minutes from here. Every time I go the kids request snacks! 😉
What is your favorite anime??? Have you ever gone to an Anime Convention??
Packages like this are SO much fun! I love candy and love to try it from other countries. I would love to try this, thanks for sharing.
Now you have me wanting to go and try a bunch too. They’re so cute and kinda like little toys!
Liz Mays recently posted…Brancott Estate Flight Song Wine – Light Wine with Full Flavor #FlightSong
My grandmother use to buy us these candy making kits all the time growing up. Definitely hold special memories.
Ashley M recently posted…14 Movie Classics to Share with Your Kids
I have never had Japanese candy, that I can remember. I love how you get everyone’s opinion on it.
Kecia recently posted…6 Summer Must Haves for Kids
What a fun thing to review. I am not a big candy eater, but I do love some good chocolate. My kids however would be all over this! Ha ha!
Heather recently posted…Why Should I Use Green Carpet Cleaners?
Wow. It seems like a fun kit.
Debi recently posted…How School Dolls Can Encourage Imagination
Okay, I REALLY, REALLY want to try the Takoyaki! I think it’s cool that you put it together yourself, and the flavors just sound interesting.
That packaging looks really fun! I wonder how it tastes.
Amber NElson recently posted…10 Celebrities Who Have Run Marathons
I love takoyaki too, the real one of course, but the candy one looks interesting. Japan as a lot of interesting candies.
Jhady recently posted…Happy Resurrection Day
Sounds like you had fun trying these out! They look really delicious and sound like it, too. I would like to try them out myself also!
Joanna Sormunen recently posted…On Top – Photo Challenge
Then something like Candy Japan would be great for you. Considering you can try all sorts of awesome things that would be a bit random. I love random surprise boxes though. 😀
Aww… they look yummy and I cant get them here in India 🙁
Payal Bansal recently posted…Symptoms of Dry Eye and Home cure for Dry Eyes with Home Remedies
Candy Japan ships world wide, so they’d be able to deliver to you! 😀
I never had any candy from japan..i love to try some!
rocky recently posted…Comment on Save on Your Favorite Fragrance by Joanna Sormunen
Japanese candy! Who can say no to that! 😉 Are you planing to review some more candy?
If I get the chance, yes! Though maybe I should review some of the kids’ favorites that we get from the local Asian markets!
I have never had any candy from Japan. Thank you for sharing,