A must-see for the Showa generation! Nostalgic popular snacks from the old days
The snacks you ate as a kid are the kind you never forget, even after you grow up.
That said, the reality is that many of them have been discontinued and are things you’ll never encounter again.
For those who want to recapture that nostalgic feeling, even just in spirit!
In this article, we’ll introduce nostalgic snacks that were popular in the Showa era, so be sure to check them out!
We’ve gathered snacks that will make you blurt out “So nostalgic!”—from ones you can no longer find to those that have survived in updated forms.
Feel free to use this as a conversation starter with friends from your generation.
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A must-see for the Showa generation! Nostalgic popular snacks from the past (1–10)
Please stamp it!
When it comes to fun chocolate snacks from the Showa era, this one stands out: “Hanko Kudasai!!,” released by Kanebo Foods in 1980.
As the name suggests, it was a chocolate treat shaped like a personal seal stamp.
The chocolate had surnames engraved on it—astonishingly, there were 108 varieties! Many people probably enjoyed eating them while searching for their own family name.
The TV commercial that claimed, “If you’ve got a calculator, a watch, and a hanko, you’re already an adult,” was also memorable.
There was also a sister product made with strawberry chocolate called “Ohenji Kudasai” (“Please Reply”).
Baby Star Ramen
Baby Star Ramen, which started as a product made from fragments of instant ramen once sold by Matsuda Sangyo Co., Ltd.
Many people from the Showa generation probably remember often buying it at candy shops when they were kids.
Its crispy texture and roasted flavor are irresistibly addictive.
The standard lineup includes Savory Salt and Chicken flavors, and there are many variations released as limited-time or collaboration items.
It’s a super long-selling snack that’s beloved not only by the Showa generation, but also by children of the Heisei and Reiwa eras.
Poporon
Are you familiar with Poporon, the cute, rounded-looking candy? Poporon was a popular snack released by Meiji Seika in 1976 and produced until 2015.
It was a bite-sized mini cream puff with chocolate cream inside.
Each piece was just the right size, so you’d find yourself popping them into your mouth and, before you knew it, you’d eaten a lot—many of you can probably relate! The choux pastry was delightfully crisp, and the cream had just the right sweetness.
It was adored not only by children but also by adults.
And who could forget the catchy commercial jingle, “Hazunde Poporon~”?
A Must-See for the Showa Generation! Nostalgic Popular Snacks from the Past (11–20)
Pickup
Pickup, a snack born from Meiji in 1970.
Many of you probably ate it as kids, right? This snack was known for its mysterious texture that seemed to disappear the moment it hit your mouth.
There was the cheese flavor in a light blue package and the consommé flavor in a yellow package.
Both were so tasty it was hard to choose which one to buy.
Unfortunately, Pickup was discontinued in 2017 and can no longer be found today.
I miss that nostalgic texture… I hope it makes a comeback someday!
Morocco Fruit Yogurt
Morocco Fruit Yogurt is a dessert you eat by scooping it with a wooden spoon, much like yogurt.
It’s a creamy treat with a cute elephant illustration and a distinctive shape, and it’s one of the classic items at traditional candy shops.
It’s sold in small containers, and part of the fun used to be eating it bit by bit with the included wooden spoon.
But in response to comments like “I want to eat more!” and “I want to spread it on bread and eat until I’m full,” they even released a jumbo version that’s 11 times the regular size.
It’s a long-selling product loved by kids today as well!
Mr. Suzuki, Mr. Sato
Suzuki-kun and Sato-kun from S&B Foods, whose product names make a huge impact.
The boxes feature illustrated characters of Suzuki-kun and Sato-kun, and some of you might remember them from the commercials.
The snack itself was a net-shaped cracker: Suzuki-kun was sold in a salty flavor, and Sato-kun in a cheese flavor.
It’s amusing that they used some of the most common Japanese surnames as product names.
The snacks were apparently very popular among kids at the time, and later, Tanaka-kun (consommé flavor) and Yamamoto-san (salad flavor) were also released!
choco flakes
Choco Flakes are crispy cornflakes coated in chocolate.
Chances are you’ve eaten them at least once.
When they first went on sale, they were sold in boxes, but later switched to bags and became a beloved snack for many people.
However, production and sales actually ended in 2019.
One reason given was that the chocolate could get on your hands and make it hard to use a smartphone—sign of the times, isn’t it? Since then, improved versions and successor products have been released, so if you spot them, be sure to give them a try!