The Maker Speaks
Garigari-kun
Made by Humor and Sincerity of Akagi Milk
Made by Humor and Sincerity of Akagi Milk
Hello, everyone. Today, I'm picking up "Garigari-kun." As you know, it's a popular ice cream product by Akagi Milk in Saitama, Japan.
Have you ever heard their company policy? That's "Let's Play." It correctly tells us why they produced "Garigari-kun," because the ice cream had some unique flavors like corn potage for a limited while. They surely have humor but are not playing. The popular one was never made by play.
In 1981, the "Garigari-kun" were publicly launched first. Now, how did they go in the 1970's? In 1970's, oil crisis attacked Japan twice, which truly tortured most of Japan manufacturers including Akagi Milk. Therefore, they couldn't help raising the price of all their products.
However, the market didn't accept their measure. Oil crisis also distressed the general families and then, people almost couldn't support the raised price.
Akagi Milk had to fight with their back to the wall. A straight choice between two things; the price cut or making a new hit. Taking the former must absolutely have broken themselves down, they had to choose the later.
"What should we do for making a new hit?" desperately thought by them. Akagi Milk was originally established as a flavored ice maker. An idea had come. "How about the flavored ice with a stick like ice pop?"
It was realized and launched for a trial in 1980. As you know, it is the predecessor of "Garigari-kun." It's said that the prototype called a party of objections like "broken on the way of transport" and "the stick leaves the flavored ice in a pack." I agree with them.
Akagi Milk didn't give up, however. Giving up never causes recovery of the lost support in the market. They thoroughly improved the prototypes many times. Finally, they could produce the complete flavored ice with a stick. It was named as "Garigari-kun" and went out in 1981.
Manufacturing the "Garigari-kun" in their factory
It's slowly been supported in the market, helped by some factors like the spread of convenience stores. "Garigari-kun" made a big hit as sold 100 million copies a year in 2000. By their sincerity, they got back the support over the years. They say it sold over 400 million copies a year in 2013. Nobody can deny that it has already become a representative of Japan ice cream.
Have you ever heard their company policy? That's "Let's Play." It correctly tells us why they produced "Garigari-kun," because the ice cream had some unique flavors like corn potage for a limited while. They surely have humor but are not playing. The popular one was never made by play.
In 1981, the "Garigari-kun" were publicly launched first. Now, how did they go in the 1970's? In 1970's, oil crisis attacked Japan twice, which truly tortured most of Japan manufacturers including Akagi Milk. Therefore, they couldn't help raising the price of all their products.
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"Garigari-kun" in 1981 |
Akagi Milk had to fight with their back to the wall. A straight choice between two things; the price cut or making a new hit. Taking the former must absolutely have broken themselves down, they had to choose the later.
"What should we do for making a new hit?" desperately thought by them. Akagi Milk was originally established as a flavored ice maker. An idea had come. "How about the flavored ice with a stick like ice pop?"
It was realized and launched for a trial in 1980. As you know, it is the predecessor of "Garigari-kun." It's said that the prototype called a party of objections like "broken on the way of transport" and "the stick leaves the flavored ice in a pack." I agree with them.
Akagi Milk didn't give up, however. Giving up never causes recovery of the lost support in the market. They thoroughly improved the prototypes many times. Finally, they could produce the complete flavored ice with a stick. It was named as "Garigari-kun" and went out in 1981.
Manufacturing the "Garigari-kun" in their factory
It's slowly been supported in the market, helped by some factors like the spread of convenience stores. "Garigari-kun" made a big hit as sold 100 million copies a year in 2000. By their sincerity, they got back the support over the years. They say it sold over 400 million copies a year in 2013. Nobody can deny that it has already become a representative of Japan ice cream.
※Photos by Akagi Milk Inc.
・Akagi Milk Official Website (Japanese)
