This is my tale of woe.
Once upon a time, Kellogg’s imported Froot Loops to Japan. They called it Unicorn Froot Loops, but it was the same thing.
It was a magical time, with every grocery store’s otherwise incredibly dull cereal aisle (you have a choice between Frosted flakes, corn flakes, and granola) lit up by the Unicorn Froot Loops’ magical glow.
But then, one day, they vanished from the shelves.
Poof!
Gone, without a trace.
Unfortunately, this happens all the time in Japan.
This is a nation that seems to have a zeal for introducing a food product, leaving it in the market for a few months, then taking it away. I try not to get attached to anything, or to snap it up as much as I can while it’s there and horde it like I’m a dragon guarding treasure.
I should’ve learned this lesson of impermanence at least ten years ago when, for some reason, the grocery store Seiyu had Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups just there, on their shelves.
I still remember observing them on the shelves and thinking, “I can grab those anytime now.”
And then, they disappeared.
I should have learned from that mistake.
But I didn’t.
Time and time again I’ve been met with disappointment. Whether it’s Honey Nut Cheerios suddenly vanishing from Costco here or Annie’s macaroni and cheese being a product the store’s employees have suddenly “never heard of” weeks after promising me the food would always be there, I have been living a life of disappointment when it comes to imported food.
I know there are some naysayers out there who are probably shaking their heads at this post, thinking, “But you live in Japan! Eat what they do.”
To them, I say, “You must not know what it’s like to live abroad.”
There’s a reason there are places in America like “Little Italy” or “Chinatown.” That reason, I think, is people who live abroad feel the profound loss that comes from not being able to readily have the food they grew up eating. Food is a huge part of one’s culture, and suddenly being denied it can be tough. So, people band together and make places that offer that comfort food.
There are American restaurants here, which help, but when it comes to snacks and such, those can be really hard to find.
I like a lot of Japanese food, but I miss American food, even though I know it’s mostly snacks and junk food.
So if Kellogg’s is reading this, please bring back those Unicorn Froot Loops.