Pocky
From Free net encyclopedia
Image:Pocky logo.gif Pocky (Japanese: ポッキー, pokkii) is a snack food produced by the Ezaki Glico Company of Japan. "Pocky" is pronounced like "pokki" IPA: /pow:ki/ however most Americans mispronounce it as a rhyme with "hockey". The classic form of Pocky was first sold in 1965, under the name "Chocoteck", and consists of a biscuit stick coated with chocolate. Pocky was an instant hit among Japanese teenagers, and brought in sales of 30 billion yen in its first two years. The name was changed to "Pocky", after the Japanese onomatopoeia for the sound Pocky makes when bitten, pokkin (ポッキン). The original was followed by "Almond Pocky" in 1971, with an almond coating, and "Strawberry Pocky" in 1977. Today, the product line includes such variations as milk, mousse, green tea and coconut flavored coatings, and themed products such as "Decorer Pocky", with colorful decorative stripes in the coating, and "Men's Pocky", a dark (bittersweet) chocolate and "mature" version.
Pocky is very popular in Japan. In bars, it is sometimes served in a glass of ice water. It also has a significant presence in other East Asian countries such as Korea. In Europe, Pocky is renamed Mikado after the game Mikado. In the United States and Canada, Pocky can be found in Asian groceries and the international section of most large supermarkets, as well as Wal-Mart Supercenters.
Outside of Japan, Pocky is fairly popular among Japanophiles and otaku (anime fans). Its constant association with the Engrish phenomenon and the oddness of some of its versions (like the "Men's Pocky" bittersweet flavor), as well as the several Pocky parodies seen on many anime/manga series, contribute to the snack's reputation.
Pocky is not a vegetarian food; the shortening with which it is made is hydrogenated fish oil.
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Pocky Flavors
Pocky can be found in dozens of varieties. The most popular flavors include Chocolate, Strawberry and Almond. Some of the more unusual flavors include the seasonal flavors of Honey (spring) and Kiwi Mango (summer). There is also the bittersweet version of chocolate Pocky called Men's Pocky. There are also regional flavors of Pocky such as Grape (Nagano), Yubari Melon (Hokkaido), Giant Mikan (lemony, sold in Kyushu), Powdered Tea Azuki Bean (Kyoto), Kobe Wine (Kobe). There are also such flavors as Banana, Coffee, Caramel, Marble Royal Milk Tea, Melon, and Pumpkin.
Some other unique Pocky flavors include Black Sesame and Green Tea, two popular Asian cuisine items cleverly incorporated into a delicious Pocky stick!
Pronunciation
In Japanese, Pocky is pronounced in a way that rhymes with the Japanese transliteration of "hockey" (Japanese hokkii, compare pokkii). Something like 'pokey' with the k slightly lengthened or rested upon. There is a geminate consonant between the po and the ky, which is indicated by a small 'tsu' kana.
References to Pocky in popular culture
- In the popular anime and manga Onegai Teacher, a parody of Pocky called "Pochy" in a box design closely resembling that of Pocky appeared numerous times as Mizuho Kazami's favourite snack.
- In the popular anime and manga X/1999, a parody of Pocky called "Pooky" in a box design closely resembling that of Pocky appeared. Also in the same series Yuzuriha Nekoi can be seen eating a variation called "Rocky"
- In the popular anime and manga Gravitation, strawberry Pocky is Shuichi's favorite snack.
- VG Cats resident Japanophile, Ternaldo, loves Pocky. [1]
- Penny Arcade character Johnathan Gabriel is a hardcore Pocky addict. Inducing states of widely ranged emotion from anger to hysteria. [2]
- In manga Dramacon Christie is seen buying a parody of Pocky called "Pawky".
- Vulcan 3000 from Zatch Bell (aka ¨Konjiki no Gash Bell!!¨) is a toy robot made for Zatch (Gash) by Kiyomaro (Kiyo) from a Pocky box.
- Superchunk, an American indie rock band, named one of its albums No Pocky for Kitty.
- In the anime "Cardcaptor Sakura", the guardian of the clow, Kero, is seen eating pocky.
- The online comic strip Applegeeks recently ran a comic named "Box of Pocky," where the character Hawk, imitating Forrest Gump, said, "You know, they say life is like a box of Men's Pocky... you never know when your robot girlfriend will get kidnapped."