"Caal" Shock!

A Japanese snack Caal（カール）has been loved since its debut in 1968 but from this August, it will be sold only in western Japan. It is made from corn and the name comes from its curly figure.                                                                                                                                      

This is shocking news for many including me. I remember I used to buy it for school excursions.

According to the maker, Meiji, it is mainly due to declining sales of Caal since the 1990s as potato chips have taken over it.                                                                                                                                                   

Anyway, I feel relieved to know Meiji will continue to sell Caal in Saga after August.

My favorite flavor is usuaji (うすあじ) flavored with konbu, a kind of kelp, which is used to make dashi broth. That's why many Japanese like this flavor.

One key to Caal's nationwide popularity is a promoting character, Caal Ojisan (カールおじさん). He is a farmer who enjoys a relaxed life in a village. Though the maker doesn't run TV commercials of Caal anymore, he appeared in old ones with a theme song.

The song ends: いいもんだなぁ、ふるさとは～♬　

 Ii monda-na, furusato wa.→ My hometown is really nice.

And the commercial ends: それにつけてもおやつはカール♪

Soreni tsuketemo oyatsu wa Caal. → Whatever it is, the snack is Caal.

Yesterday, I went to the drugstore and only was able to buy this (see the picture above). Other kinds of Caal were all sold out.

If you visit eastern Japan such as Tokyo, it will be a rare chance to eat this widely loved snack:)