The new super hero of konbini

My poor boyfriend features in this week’s column and I am eternally grateful for having someone like him who not only puts up with me, but also puts up with the fact that I often include anecdotes from real life here and on my blog.

On a bus trip the other day I interrogated him about his visits to konbini [コンビニ] and what he eats from them. That was difficult because he really doesn’t eat much from them. His konbini staple is packets of salad, which he eats with chopsticks.

“I suppose that wouldn’t really interest your readers, would it?” he asked me.

Maybe not, but the story about you telling me this might, I thought, filing it away for future reference.

After some more thought, I said, “What would interest people though is your obsession with juice.”

To say he likes juice is a major understatement. He is a juice monster. He prefers to refer to himself as “Juicy Man,” but to me that has sexual connotations that are best left out of GetHiroshima articles/posts. Family friendly here people!

Open his fridge on any day and you will find orange, two types of mango (who knows why!), guava and a mixed blend.

He doesn’t just drink this at breakfast. He is constantly chugging it throughout the day. And it doesn’t end there. Not only does he drink it at nearly every meal (and in between times too), he will get up at night and unlike normal people who drink water, drink juice straight from the container/carton.

Then he comes back in, lies down next to me and kisses me, tasting like lychee-flavoured juice or perhaps kiwi. Oh, I didn’t mention those two types. Yes, see, juice monster. I’m never sure what to expect. Keeps it interesting.

Anyway, this week I asked him if he was A. willing to let me write about him here and B. willing to drink copious amounts of different types of juices in order to give me his honest, juice connoisseur opinion. He said I sold it well and he was definitely up for the challenge.

Excellent.

So, here is his konbini juice top three. I would have asked him to do his least favourite three, but he’s the type of person who would say, “Why would I want to review something I don’t like?” True, very true.

Coming in at Number 1… Lawson’s Green Smoothie.

green-smoothie

Let me just point out this is also from the ‘Natural’ Lawson’s brand. I can’t say I’ve tried it, nor am I sure I want to as anything that looks that disgusting… I mean, healthy, always strikes me as something that doesn’t taste particularly good. It kind of reminds me of something I would vomit up after a huge night out. My boyfriend assures me, however, that it’s delicious and that I have to try it. Maybe someone else can taste-test it for me and then advise me… I’m not sure I trust his judgement on this one! 🙂

Second on the list is the Shine and Shine juice range from Family Mart. They come in a range of flavours as you can see and for those people who like to see the floaty bits of real fruit, you are in luck. They’re also rather large, so perfect for a meal supplement (i.e. breakfast) if you’re in a hurry.

shineandshinefamilymart

Finally, in third place, the good old low calories nashi-mizu [なし水] ‘Pear Water’ from Seven-Eleven. I love how it only contains 1% fruit. To me that basically means, why bother if you’re looking for something fruity, but I can’t judge as I’m addicted to the Lipton’s Pineapple Tea which is basically tea and very little pineapple.

pearwater

Well that rounds up Mr. Super Juicy Man’s favourite juices, but let me say, he was just getting started. He could go on and on and on about juice. Luckily for you guys, it’s only me that has to listen to that. I wouldn’t inflict that kind of pain on anyone!

Hopefully he’s still talking to me after this week’s post! I’ll be sure to let you know either way.

See you again next week!

Jade Brischke

Jade first visited Hiroshima with a group of her students from Australia and after falling in love with the city, vowed that one day she would return to live and work. It seems dreams really do come true! When she's not writing she's out and about with her camera, walking and exploring the streets or some may say, wandering aimlessly. She, however, doesn't believe any wandering is aimless. Jade blogs regularly at jackcrispy.com.