Adapting to Suit Local Tastes

They say that to be successful internationally, you should consider altering your product to suit local tastes if possible. I went grocery shopping today and found two great examples of this idea, and in the spirit of adventure, I decided to try them. The cantaloupe-flavored KitKat wasn't too bad. It had a sweet, slight melon flavor to it. KitKats are continuously changing flavors over here. I have seen chestnut, green tea, strawberry, peach, white chocolate, red bean, cherry blossom, and probably a few others that I have forgotten. They are good, but the American in me is still a fan of the original. As for the "Ice cucumber" Pepsi in the photo, I can't say the same. I really tried hard, but I could only finish half of the bottle. It tasted a bit like Pepsi Clear from a few years ago, with a strong cucumber after-taste. I'm assuming this is a local market product; I can't see there being a strong demand for vegetable-flavored sodas in the States.

Also, here is a little garden walk of my neighborhood. Summer is here, but it hasn't gotten too hot yet. Although grass is a pretty foreign thing in my neighborhood, the people seem to be flower fanatics! There is an older man who I often see pruning his bonsai trees/flowers. This is one of my favorites.

Hydrangeas are also extremely popular in Japan and are just starting to bloom. They seem to be everywhere, and it is hard to believe that these blooming beauties are a sign of the impending rainy season in a sense.