Why Are Sakuma Drops and Japanese Candies So Loved?
Nearly every adult in Japan grew up enjoying Sakuma Drops or a variation of the sweet. This nostalgic Japanese hard candy has thrilled people with its fruity flavors and signature tin can packaging for over a century.
Discover what makes Samuka Drops special and how the candy gained global fame through anime. We’ve got a lot to unpack in this post. Enjoy!
What Is a Sakuma Drop?
Sakuma Drops is a Japanese hard candy brand made with fruit flavors. The current company making the candy was founded by former employees of Sakuma Seika, which split into two brands with similar names.
Today, Sakuma Seika and their hard candy, which was called “Sakuma’s Drops,” are no more, leaving the entire market to Sakuma Drops, which is owned by Sakuma Candy.
Unique Features of Sakuma Drops
The candy has a fruity taste and is made in a large variety of flavors, including strawberry, lemon, pineapple, grape, melon, and orange. Each piece of Sakuma Drops is a transparent, colored, and hard candy.
Bokksu is not responsible for the accuracy of the products’ nutritional or allergen information. Warning: California’s Proposition 65 may be in effect. For more information,visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. Some Bokksu Market products are produced overseas and may have a Production Date printed on the packaging, rather than a Best Buy Date as is standard in North America. If your product appears expired, do not be alarmed! This is most likely the Production Date. All items have been double checked to ensure they are not expired and safe to eat.
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Classic Sakuma Drops are mainly sold in green tin cans. However, more modern versions of the candy are sold in bags similar to those used for chips.
Besides its unique taste, Sakuma Drops has an iconic appeal in Japan that is unrivalled by other confectionery products. This is due to its status as an indigenous candy brand. Traditional Japanese candy-making techniques are still employed when crafting the product. The brand also has a deep connection to modern pop culture, particularly anime.
Sakuma Drops and Nostalgia
Sakuma Drops has been around since 1908 and is one of the oldest surviving confectionery products in the country. It has definitely leveraged nostalgia to appeal to consumers in Japan who remember enjoying the sweets in their childhood. Through this nostalgia, Sakuma Drops has been able to maintain relevance in a Japanese market that includes the likes of Hi-Chew, Kit Kat, and Peko-chan.
The Unique Taste of Sakuma Drops
Unlike other candies that try hard to innovate their flavors, Sakuma Drops have always been simple. They offer a wide selection of sweet and tangy fruit flavors, creating classic tastes that have remained unchanged for decades. The best part is that fans of the sweet seem to love its flavor simplicity and consistency.
The following are some of the classic flavors of the candy. By keeping them simple, our taste buds are allowed the freedom to associate each flavor with a nostalgic experience.
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Lemon: This zesty and tangy flavor will remind you of summer and the refreshing beverages you enjoyed during outdoor events.
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Apple: It holds the sweet and tart taste of nature’s appetizer that we’ve all enjoyed before meals.
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Strawberry: You get the classic summer sweetness of the refreshing fruit, which is a staple in Japan.
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Orange: This citrusy flavor offers a refreshing experience, thanks to its aromatic zing.
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Pineapple: The exotic flavor that will remind you of those tropical getaways you crave.
Sakuma Drops in Grave of the Fireflies
While Sakuma Drops have been popular in Japan for nearly a century, the candy did not gain international fame until it appeared in a 1988 anime movie created by Studio Ghibli and titled Grave of the Fireflies. The candy did not just make a fleeting cameo in the film but actually grabbed the spotlight. Here’s how (spoiler alert if you haven’t seen the movie):
Plot and Storyline
Grave of the Fireflies is a semi-autobiographical movie that follows the tragic story of two siblings, Seita and Setsuko. Seita, a young boy, is the older brother to Setsuko, a four-year-old girl. Their home in Kobe is destroyed by a bombing attack, and their mother dies from injuries sustained.
The two children have to survive a world torn apart by raging war. After getting maltreated by an aunt, Seita and Setsuko leave her home to fend for themselves. They experience a great deal of hunger and suffering. Setsuko’s only source of comfort and sometimes food is her red tin can of Sakuma Drops.
Due to a lack of money, resources, and food, Setsuko would eventually die of malnutrition. A few weeks later, Seita dies of starvation. Their spirits reunite in the afterlife, where they eventually live without suffering.
Role of Sakuma Drops
In the movie, the can of Sakuma Drops is both a symbol of hope and loss. The only time Setsuko feels any form of childlike happiness is when she eats a piece of candy from the tin. However, every sweet she eats brings the can closer to emptiness. Eventually she eats the last candy in it, and that marks the beginning of the end for the children.
Global Reception
Even today, Grave of the Fireflies is considered one of the best movies created by Studio Ghibli, Japan’s most famous animation studio. The movie did not only receive critical acclaim but also shot Sakuma Drops into the international limelight.
It also sparked talks about the symbolism of the candy in the film and in real life. When Sakuma’s Drops, the sister company known for its red tin can, shut down in January 2023, while the green tin can company survived, people drew comparisons with the tragic story of Grave of the Fireflies.
What Candy Is Japan Famous For?
Japan is notorious for having an insane amount of candy options, and as you can imagine, the competition between confectionery brands is insane. Among household name brands like Ramune Candy, Peko-chan Lollipops, and Matcha Kit Kats that are loved worldwide, one candy brand stands out from all others and is arguably the most popular candy to come out of the country. We’re talking about Hi-Chew!
Bokksu is not responsible for the accuracy of the products’ nutritional or allergen information. Warning: California’s Proposition 65 may be in effect. For more information,visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. Some Bokksu Market products are produced overseas and may have a Production Date printed on the packaging, rather than a Best Buy Date as is standard in North America. If your product appears expired, do not be alarmed! This is most likely the Production Date. All items have been double checked to ensure they are not expired and safe to eat.
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Morinaga’s grape flavor Hi-Chew is arguably the most famous Japanese candy in the world. Like Sakuma Drops, it’s also a fruit candy; however, as the name suggests, it’s incredibly soft and chewy. Hi-Chew is sold in retail stores all over the world, including the United States. The iconic grape flavor is the most popular version. Other famous options are green apple, mango, and strawberry.
Exploring Hard Candies in Japan
Japan has had a long-standing love for hard candies. So, Sakuma Drops has more than its fair share of competitors. They all offer a wide variety of flavors, including traditional ones like yuzu, plum, and sakura.
The first appearance of hard candy in Japan was in the Nara Period (710–794). Japan’s first ever emperor, Emperor Jinmu, was responsible for making hard candy for his people. The sweet would only become available to the public in the Edo Period (1603-1868).
Let’s explore the traditional hard candies in Japan.
Konpeito
Konpeito is a star-shaped hard candy made by coating a core of grain sugar with sweetened syrup. It was introduced to Japan in the 16th century by Portuguese traders. Traditional versions of the candy are simple and made from just sugar. However, the modern varieties are flavored with fruits. Konpeito are often given as gifts to guests and as offerings during traditional celebrations.
Kyoame
This traditional hand-made candy originated in Uji, Kyoto. Its production involves boiling sugar into a soft paste, flavoring this paste with fruit juice or tea, kneading the paste into the desired shape, and cutting it into pieces.
Amezaiku
These too are handmade, but they take the form of life-like sculptures of animals. Only a few craftsmen in Japan have the skills necessary to create beautiful designs of amezaiku. They have to craft the designs in a matter of minutes with only their hands, scissors, and tweezers. This traditional craft artistry began in the Heian Period (794-1185), when candies were used as offerings in temples.
The Most Popular Candies in Japan Today
Let’s explore top-selling candies in Japan, including classic treats and modern innovations.
Chewy Gummies
Also known as gummy candies or jelly sweets, these sets of candies are known for their soft texture and high gelatin content. Top Japanese brands that are famous for their gummies include Morinaga Hi-Chew, Meiji Fruit Gummy Candy, and UHA Mikakuto Puchao.
Hard Candies
These are staple treats in Japan. Sakuma Drops, Kawaguchi Awawa Soda, and Senjaku Assort are prominent examples.
Milk Candies
These types of candies are flavored with milk and cream. Their texture tends to fall somewhere between hard and soft. Brands known for their milk candies include Milkita Creamy Candy and Milky Peko-Chan Candy.
Bokksu is not responsible for the accuracy of the products’ nutritional or allergen information. Warning: California’s Proposition 65 may be in effect. For more information,visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. Some Bokksu Market products are produced overseas and may have a Production Date printed on the packaging, rather than a Best Buy Date as is standard in North America. If your product appears expired, do not be alarmed! This is most likely the Production Date. All items have been double checked to ensure they are not expired and safe to eat.
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Ramune candies
Ramune candy comes in tablet form and offers the taste of delicious Japanese soda. Lotte and Morinaga are two manufacturers with a history of making ramune candies.
Chocolate bars
Whether white, dark, plain, or flavored, Japanese Kit Kat, Glico, Meiji, and many other top brands have got you covered with infinite options.
Fruity Candies That Define Japanese Sweets
Fruit-flavored candies are popular in Japan because they capture authentic fruit tastes. In a country that prioritizes natural ingredients, fruit juice and extracts are the best way to add sweet, tart, or tangy flavors to candy.
Sakuma Drops at Bokksu Market
Sakuma Candy Drops Assort is available on Bokksu Market, offering an authentic taste of Japan’s candy history from 1908. This assortment contains a variety of fruit flavors, such as melon, strawberry, apple, and pineapple.
Bokksu is not responsible for the accuracy of the products’ nutritional or allergen information. Warning: California’s Proposition 65 may be in effect. For more information,visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. Some Bokksu Market products are produced overseas and may have a Production Date printed on the packaging, rather than a Best Buy Date as is standard in North America. If your product appears expired, do not be alarmed! This is most likely the Production Date. All items have been double checked to ensure they are not expired and safe to eat.
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How Japanese Candies Blend Tradition with Innovation
Japanese confectioners merge classic recipes with new flavors to keep their sweets exciting and appealing to a global audience. They tend to rely heavily on fresh fruits and seasonal produce like sweet potatoes and chestnuts.
Why Asian Candies Are Popular Worldwide
The unique flavors and fun textures of Asian candies have made them popular outside the continent. Japan isn’t the only option available to you. You can also get regional hits from countries like Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.
Explore Bokksu Market’s selection of Japanese and Asian candies today. We offer the perfect blend of tradition and modern flavors. Fill up your cart, add shipping information, and we’ll deliver anywhere in the U.S.
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