FG Mints Sharpening Japan Up

[Mulboyne]

Kyodo Via Yahoo: Belgian breath mint maker Frisk wins Japanese award

Whenever you pop into convenience stores or supermarkets in Japan, you can easily find white plastic boxes of "Frisk" -- the breath mint that "sharpens you up" -- by the cashier. But not many consumers know that these small white mints that pack a powerful punch are made in Belgium and hold a dominant -- almost a 50 percent -- share in the 24 billion yen breath mint market in Japan...Frisk...sells 75 million boxes of the breath mint in Japan a year -- or 2.4 containers per second -- reflecting the company's massive growth in Japan since it began selling products here in 1993 in partnership with Kanebo...more...

Frisk Japanese Site featuring the Frisk MP3 player campaign (previously posted by emperor)
JETRO Frisk Presentation PDF

[kamome]

Frisk was my favorite brand in Japan. It's the only thing that can equate to Altoids. Hmmm, maybe this is a good poll topic.

[FG Lurker]

I used to be a big Frisk fan, but there is better out now... Specifically these. The black ones with the fire on them, called "Dry Hard" for some unknown reason. 100yen for 50 (roughly half the price of Frisk) but double the strength. One of these is easily two Frisk... They also have some caffeine in them although probably not enough to have much effect. But damn they are good!!

[Mulboyne]

My parents, taking to Tokyo like ducks to water, thought Frisk was a great discovery and were slightly disappointed that the mints turned out to be Belgian. They aren't available in many London stores so there is a standing order out for a box whenever I'm in Japan. Added to a list already including Almond Pocky.

I should check out Asahi's Mintia next time. I don't care for those Listerine strips that have been popping up of late.

[kamome]

Japan's a great market for breath mints and anything else that might cure stank-salaryman-after-hours-dragon-breath.

FG Thread: Japanese Bad Breath, what is the cause?

[FG Lurker]

I should check out Asahi's Mintia next time.

Highly recommended! I send my father a 10-pack of these once in awhile, he loves em. They can buy Frisk at nearly any shop at home too.

I'm not sure about Kanto, but in Kansai the best place to find the "Dry Hard" Mintia is in AM/PM conbinis. Sometimes I see them elsewhere, but basically every AM/PM shop seems to have them.

[GuyJean]

Like Mintia. Love Frisk.. I discovered another brand that's really good:

http://www.dobrezdravi.cz/en_products_mints.html

Got these free after a beer festival in Kanagawa.. Yummy, effective, and healthy:

The oral cavity and throat are gently and effectively disinfected by the natural curative essential oils and extracts. The essential oils freshen your breath, disinfect the mouth thus reducing oral inflammations and gum bleeding.

Sounds yummy, doesn't it?

GJ