My Lover is a Pocky Flavor! – Japanese Snack Turns Into Cute Boys

The famous Japanese chocolate snack Pocky, produced by Glico, started a new campaign on 26 December 2017 called Koibito wa Pocky -Love with Pocky-. A first video with ‘how to’ instructions has been released on YouTube.

During the campaign, users only have to download the AR App ‘aug!’ and scan the Pocky box to have one of the five different characters appear. They will talk to the user as if they are the user’s boyfriend.

The different Pocky-flavor-turned-characters are voiced by popular voice actors Yuma Uchida, Takahiro Sakurai, Junichi Suwabe, Yuki Kaji, and Takuya Eguchi.

The Anthropomorphic Pockys

From left: Kokoro Furuichi (VA: Yuki Kaji), Tsugihiko Kyougoku (VA: Takahiro Sakurai), Koichiro Akazawa (VA: Yuma Uchida), Nami Shiroyama (VA: Junichi Suwabe), Kohei Mondo (VA: Takuya Eguchi)

Yuma Uchida is known for voicing Kaoru Sakuraba in Idolmaster Side M and will voice the Pocky Chocolate character and Takahiro Sakurai, also known for voicing Osomatsu Matsuno from Mr. Osomatsu, will voice the Thin Pocky Chocolate character. Junichi Suwabe, who many know for being Victor in Yuri on Ice! is the voice of Pocky Milk Chocolate, and Kaji Yuki (voice of Eren in Attack on Titan) will voice the Pocky Strawberry character. Last but not least, Takuya Eguchi, who is known for Asemu Asuno in Mobile Suit Gundam AGE Asemu Arc is voicing the Pocky Almond character.

Depending on the time of day you scan the package, the character will let your heart beat faster with a sudden love confession, make you want to do the ‘Sharehappi’ together or tell you other things. If you manage to do it at exactly 11:11, you will even get to hear a special recording!

From here on, you will find messages to Pocky fans from the five voice actors!

Comment from Yuma Uchida

I think everybody knows this, but Pocky are really delicious. Even right now I am talking while eating Pocky… I am sorry for my bad manners. [laugh] I did the Sharehappi while recording my lines for Akazawa, so I would be happy if you could enjoy this delicious and sweet memory of mine doubly as much. Everybody, let’s enjoy eating Pocky together!

Comment from Takahiro Sakurai

I personally love Pocky. The pretzel part is really good and I have always liked snacks on a stick. When I buy Pocky, I always go for the ultra-thin ones so to be assigned to voice the character of them makes me really happy. I actually would love to advise you “Don’t buy anything but the ultra-thin ones!” but that wouldn’t be right. [laugh] Please enjoy the characteristics of all the characters while snacking away on Pocky and spend a wonderful winter!

Comment from Junichi Suwabe

I hope you enjoy a sweet time with the Pocky and the guys with their different characters. Let’s have a relaxing time.

Comment from Yuki Kaji

I am also a Pocky fan and I have fond memories of sometimes buying the strawberry Pocky as a treat to myself in high school, so I am happy to voice Kokoro-kun. I also think it is great, because like this, new Pocky fans will be born, so please recommend it to your family and friends.

Comment from Takuya Eguchi

This is about the familiar Pocky we enjoy eating so much, but I think it would be great if you could do it while also enjoying the voices of the characters. I will also use the app and listen to the voices of the other members, so I think it is fun to do it like that, isn’t it? Experience it enjoyably with your ears and tongue.

From January 2018, the new ad by Sandaime J Soul Brothers, who currently are the Pocky representatives, will be released and will feature the theme ‘love’. After that a real-time ‘Koibito wa Pocky’-voting will be held in February through the survey function on the messenger app ‘LINE’.