Japan’s iconic snack ice pops raise price by $0.30; company president leads staff in apology ad

▲ Japan’s iconic snack ice pop “GariGari-kun.” (Photo / Screenshot from Youtube)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

A recent advertisement in Japan has sparked conversation both domestically and internationally. The country’s beloved national snack ice pop “GariGari-kun” had kept its price steady at 60 yen for 25 years, but starting April 1, the price rose to 70 yen.To apologize for the 10-yen (about NT$2.89) price hike, the president of Akagi Nyugyo Co., Ltd.—the company that sells the product—led all employees in filming an apology ad.Although it aired only on April 1 and 2 nationwide, the video quickly went viral among internet users, with many commenting, “Now that’s a company with a conscience!”

GariGari-kun (tentatively translated as “Crunchy-Crunchy”) is a quintessential Japanese summer ice pop, first launched in 1981 with an initial price of 50 yen. It was then raised to 60 yen in 1991 and remained unchanged for the next 25 years. However, this year, Akagi Nyugyo announced that from April, the price of GariGari-kun would go up by 10 yen. The announcement drew mixed reactions, and in response to customer feedback, the company president led 100 employees in filming an apology commercial for the price increase.

▲ The president led all staff in filming an apology ad over the 10-yen price hike. (Photo / Screenshot from Youtube)

The ad contains no dialogue. It begins with a close-up of the president before slowly zooming out to reveal all the employees standing neatly in formation, set to the background music of the classic Showa-era song “Price Hike.” When the caption “60→70” appears, all employees bow deeply at 90 degrees in unison. The simple visuals left a deep impression on viewers.

Many viewers praised the video overwhelmingly: “This is what a company with a conscience looks like!” “I don’t know why, but I cried,” “Only in Japan would they apologize to customers for a price hike,” and “I’ll keep buying them even if they go up to 100 yen.”

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