Top Japanese Snacks to Enjoy While Watching the Olympics

The Tokyo Olympics kicked off on Friday with a subdued opening ceremony designed to set the tone for the event. A smaller Parade of Nations paraded before vacant seats, and a moment of silence was held for those lost in the past year, reflecting the ongoing pandemic. The rocky journey to Tokyo 2020 has brought to light persistent issues within the Olympics that often overshadow tales of athletic achievement. For every athlete who overcomes challenges to compete, there are others whose access and support have been limited. Amidst shiny new venues, many local residents have been displaced by the rapid developments in the host city.

My father participated in the track and field events at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, so I grew up captivated by the stories of the games. Even as I approach this year's Olympics with a bit more realism, I still admire the dedication and journey athletes undertake: years of commitment and sacrifice for one moment in front of a global audience.

This year in Tokyo, the stands are largely empty, prompting me to seek alternative ways to support these incredible athletes. As someone who writes a snacks-focused newsletter, I naturally turned to food for inspiration. Snacking is a perfect tribute to Tokyo, the heart of a vibrant snack culture. Choosing just one Japanese treat can feel daunting, much like navigating the NBC Olympics broadcast schedule. My solution is to sample as many as possible. Here are some of my top snack picks, paired with recommended sports—an excellent way to celebrate the athletes of Tokyo 2020. Enjoy your snacks!

Kabaya Pureal Gummy White Peach

Best Paired with Trampoline Gymnastics

Gummy candies can often surprise you with their flavor rather than texture. These squares feature fluffy, opaque gummy mixed with smaller, flavorful translucent pieces. The white peach flavor is aromatic and subtly floral, avoiding any overly sweet notes. The vibrant taste will lift your taste buds almost as high as the gymnasts performing midair routines.

Kit Kat Whole Grain Biscuit

Best Paired with Individual Dressage

Japanese Kit Kats are renowned for their creativity, featuring flavors inspired by local ingredients like sake, adzuki beans, and the now-common matcha, available at Asian markets and international grocery aisles. This particular Kit Kat introduces whole-grain flour for a distinctive texture. Just as the elegant dressage horses exemplify grace, whole grains like oats provide health benefits—even in a candy bar.

Coolish Melon Soda

Best Paired with Surfing Shortboard

At the core of Japan’s snack culture are konbini, convenience stores such as Lawson and 7/11. Designed for customers on the go, their product packaging captures that vibrant energy. Coolish shakes come in pouches that soften in your hands to achieve the perfect creamy texture—no cup or straw needed. Flavors range from traditional vanilla and Belgian chocolate to melon soda float. While these can be hard to find in the U.S., Klondike has recently introduced pouch shakes that aim to replicate the experience. After all, if you can brave the ocean's depths with just a wetsuit and surfboard, you certainly don’t need a bowl and spoon for your frozen treats.

Morinaga Ramune Candy Energy Drink Flavor

Best Paired with Skateboarding Park

If you enjoy ramune sodas—the ones sealed with a marble in a glass bottle—then this candy bearing the same name will delight you. These small pressed-sugar candies are reminiscent of Smarties or Sweetarts, featuring a fizzy kick. While they taste fantastic, a candy marketed as an energy drink without any actual energy feels a bit like the promotional hype surrounding skateboarding's Olympic debut in a country that often discourages public skateboarding.

Black Thunder Fermented Butter

Best Paired with Sport Climbing Bouldering

The Black Thunder bar began as an underdog from a small candy maker and has since soared in popularity to become one of Japan's most iconic treats. Its success is simple: it’s incredibly delicious. Combining puffed rice and cookie bits with rich chocolate, each bite offers a unique experience that’s always satisfying. This special edition features cultured butter for a delightful salty-sweet twist, celebrating the French-inspired pastry scene in Japan. If I were to scale a mountain without safety gear, I’d wish for the ground beneath to be made of cookie crumbles and puffed rice, as I'm not the best with heights.

Tohato Potessel

Best Paired with Canoe Slalom

While it may seem extravagant to create a potato-themed chip, these require far less effort than making traditional Hasselback potatoes yet pack just as much flavor (even if their shape resembles an accordion more than an elegantly sliced potato). Each chip is meticulously crafted to deliver flavor swiftly, much like a canoe navigating through slalom gates.

Pretz Salty Lemon

Best Paired with Fencing Individual Sabre

Lemon and salt is a beloved summer flavor in Japan, appearing in both sweet and savory dishes. Pretz are the savory counterparts to Pocky, and these delicate, thin sticks pack more flavor than their small size suggests. Take one, shout “En garde!” and challenge a fellow snacker to a duel.

Calbee Grill-A-Corn Mala Spice

Best Paired with Cycling Track Sprint

Imagine removing the cheesy powder from Cheetos and using their signature crunch as a base for new flavors—that’s what you get with the Calbee Grill-A-Corn series. The mala spice flavor stands out, offering a gentle warmth that sneaks up on you until you realize you’ve devoured an entire bag and your mouth is ablaze. The crunch propels you forward like a bike accelerating on the track—unstoppable.

Kameda Kaki No Tane Ume Shiso

Best Paired with 4x100 Track Relay

These small rice crackers, reminiscent of persimmon seeds, are paired with unsalted peanuts, creating a simple yet satisfying snack that’s affordable and addictive. They’re so iconic that Starbucks even crafted a special-edition Frappuccino to celebrate them. While the individual components may seem alike, each plays a unique role in this snack's success, much like the runners in a relay team.

Boss Coffee Rainbow Mountain Blend

Best Paired with Rugby Sevens

Given the time zone differences between Japan and the U.S., many high-profile events will air at inconvenient hours for sleep. This canned coffee, a staple from Japanese vending machines, offers a quick boost of energy. Enjoy it cold or warm it up by placing the can in a heat-proof container and covering it with hot water. It’s robust and adaptable, much like a rugby team pushing for a try.

Calpis Concentrate

Ideal for Pairing with Boxing

Calpis (or Calpico) concentrate is my go-to for crafting both non-alcoholic and spirited drinks at home. This sweet, fermented yogurt syrup is reminiscent of Yakult and pairs wonderfully with seltzer, fruit juice, or soju. While it features limited-edition fruit flavors like grape and orange, the original remains my favorite due to its adaptability. It’s a true champion, regardless of how you enjoy it.

Mitsuya Cider

Best Paired with 3m Springboard Diving

Surprisingly, this cider contains no apples. Sipping Mitsuya is like gulping ginger ale at cruising altitude on a flight; its flavor is a delightful mix of a soda fountain Sprite and citrusy seltzer. It’s crisp and light, leaving you longing for it daily. Much like a skilled dive, it makes little splash, but that subtlety is where the true artistry lies.

Pocari Sweat

Best Paired with Modern Pentathlon

Despite its name, Pocari Sweat is a straightforward sports drink. Its subtle grapefruit flavor comes with a hint of salt, designed to replenish the electrolytes you lose while sweating. While I can’t confirm its claims, I can attest that Pocari Sweat is the ideal refreshment for a muggy summer day when Gatorade feels overly sweet. It’s perfect for those competing in a sport that demands every athletic talent available.

Folu Akinkuotu is a home cook and the author of Unsnackable, a weekly newsletter exploring the highs and lows of elusive international treats. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter as she seeks the perfect balance of selfies and snacks.