A range of frozen confectionery that does not contain dairy products and which appears to be vegan is widely available in Japan, although some contain ingredients such as flavoring and emulsifiers which may be animal-derived or sugar that may be bone-char processed. We have listed below wherever we have information on how these ingredients were made. We have marked down cross-contamination information where available.
There are a variety of fruit bars and a handful of gelatos and creamy ice creams without listed animal ingredients, but no vegan frozen yogurt, on the mainstream market. Not all items are available year-round. Different flavors of ice candy will be available at different times of the year. The easiest to find seem to be the Akagi Gari Gari Kun Soda Popsicle and the Imuraya Adzuki Bar. More non-dairy choices are available in summer than winter. You may only be able to find one or two options at a time in your typical convenience store, although sometimes more is available.
This is an example of a typical convenience store, Family Mart’s, single-serving frozen confectionery section. Everything has dairy and sometimes additional non-vegan ingredients listed in the ingredient list, except for what is outlined in red- the Futaba Sacre White Peach, Morinaga Rich Muscat Grape Ice Box, Glico Ice Fruit, Strong series, and Akagi Gari Gari Kun Golden Pineapple Popsicle for Adults. Photo taken in April 2021.
There are also additional brands available in smaller health food shops and supermarkets such as Natural House and Bio C’ Bon as well as for online purchase.
There are very often non-vegan ingredients added such as:
• dairy products/乳製品/nyūseihin. Most frozen confectioneries in Japan contain this.
• gelatin/ゼラチン/zerachin. Sometimes used in frozen confectionery, but not as often as dairy products.
Where vegans also have to be careful is in relation to additives like:
• emulsifier (乳化剤 – nyūkazai)
• flavoring (香料 – kōryō)
Below are some examples, mostly of things that are widely available.
First let’s look at the most popular brand of popsicle in Japan.
Akagi Gari Gari Kun Popsicles are the top-selling brand of popsicle in Japan, moving about 400 million units per year, or 3-4 per person in Japan. They consist of crunchy ice particles around a center. Garigari is an onomatopoeia for hard and crunchy and also the name of the company mascot Garigari-kun, a middle schooler with short hair and big teeth. The suggested retail price is 70 yen before tax. They can be found in many convenience stores and supermarkets. The Japan Times has an interesting article about Gari Gari Kun Popsicles: Unknown overseas, Garigari-kun popsicles year-round best-sellers in Japan (English).
Some flavors have dairy (and sometimes egg) as an ingredient so are not vegan. The flavors shown below do not show any animal ingredients, including dairy or eggs, on the ingredient list.
• Akagi Gari Gari Kun Cola Popsicle/赤城乳業 ガリガリ君コーラ（棒）. Ingredients: High-fructose corn syrup, apple juice, sugar, glucose, starch syrup, liqueur, salt/flavoring, coloring agent (caramel, anthocyanin), stabilizing agent (pectin), acidulant, baking soda, sweetener (sucralose, acesulfame K), emulsifier.
Manufactured on common equipment with products containing dairy and egg.
Online purchase link: Rakuten Ichiba
• Akagi Gari Gari Kun Golden Pineapple Popsicle For Adults Multipack/赤城乳業 ガリガリ君 ゴールデンパイン（マルチ）. Ingredients: Pineapple juice, sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, starch syrup, liqueur/acidulant, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), flavoring, coloring (yellow safflower, carotenoid), sweetener (sucralose, acesulfame potassium).
Manufactured on common equipment with products containing dairy and egg.
Uses 33% golden pineapple juice. Has a finer-textured grain of ice than the typical Gari Gari Kun ice bars. The company recommends pairing it with sparkling water.
At one point, it was also available in Pokemon-themed packaging. However, as of December 2020, it is no longer shown in this packaging on the Akagi website. As of August 2021, however, it can still be purchased online.
Online purchase link: Rakuten Ichiba
Photo from website.
The following product is 55% grape juice. Uses Cabernet Sauvignon juice, also called the king of red wine grape varieties.
• Akagi Gari Gari Kun Grape Popsicle Multipack/赤城乳業 大人なガリガリ君 ぶどう（マルチ）. Ingredients: Grape juice (67% Cabernet Sauvignon juice), sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, starch syrup, apple juice, salt/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), flavoring, acidulant, sweeteners (sucralose, acesulfame K).
Product contains apple.
Manufactured on common equipment with products containing dairy and egg.
Photo from website.
• Akagi Gari Gari Kun Grapefruit Popsicle/赤城乳業 ガリガリ君 グレープフルーツ（棒）. Ingredients: High-fructose corn syrup, grapefruit juice, sugar, starch syrup, lime juice, liqueur, salt, flavoring, stabilizing agent (pectin), acidulant, sweetener (sucralose, acesulfame K), gardenia yellow pigment.
Online purchase link: Rakuten Ichiba
Photo from website.
• Akagi Gari Gari Kun Kyushu Mikan Popsicle/赤城乳業 ガリガリ君九州みかん （棒）. Ingredients: High-fructose corn syrup, mandarin juice, sugar, apple juice, salt/flavoring, stabilizing agent (pectin), acidulant, paprika pigment, sweetener (stevia).
Uses 7% mandarin juice.
Manufactured on common equipment with products containing dairy and egg.
Online purchase link: Rakuten Ichiba
Photo from website.
The following flavor uses Japanese pears.
• Akagi Gari Gari Kun Pear Popsicle/赤城乳業 ガリガリ君 梨. Ingredients: High-fructose corn syrup (domestically produced), sugar, pear juice, apple juice, starch syrup, liqueur, salt/flavoring, stabilising agent (pectin), acidity regulator, caramel colour.
Product contains apple.
Manufactured on common equipment with products containing dairy and egg.
• Akagi Gari Gari Kun Soda Popsicle/赤城乳業 ガリガリ君 ソーダ（棒） and Akagi Gari Gari Kun Soda Popsicle Multipack/赤城乳業 ガリガリ君 ソーダ（マルチ）. Ingredients: High-fructose corn syrup, sugar, apple juice, glucose, lime juice, starch syrup, liqueur, salt/flavoring, stabilising agent (pectin), acidity regulator, colouring (spirulina blue, gardenia pigment, safflower yellow pigment).
Manufactured on common equipment with products containing dairy and egg.
Online purchase link: Rakuten Ichiba
The soda flavor is also sometimes sold in packaging saying “Samurai Blue,” a catchphrase thought up by the Japanese Football Association in order to support the Japanese team. “Soda” is also written on the front of the package in English and hiragana (ソーダ) for the multipack version, but only in hiragana for the individually packaged version.
Photos from website.
• Akagi Gari Gari Kun Sumomo (Japanese Plum)/赤城乳業 ガリガリ君 すもも（棒）. Ingredients: High-fructose corn syrup (domestically produced), sugar, apple juice, starch syrup, Japanese plum puree, salt, liqueur/acidulant, stabilizing agent (pectin), flavoring, coloring agent (anthocyanin, yellow safflower).
Of the 28 specified allergens, product contains apple.
Manufactured on common equipment with products containing dairy and egg.
Photo taken in August 2022.
As of a review of the Amazon Japan website in May 2023, this item appears only to be listed as part of a set containing another non-vegan flavor.
Akagi also makes other varieties of dairy-free popsicles and ices.
This product appears to come in two different packages, but the ingredients used and allergen warnings look the same.
• Akagi Mandarin with a Kick, Multipack/赤城乳業 ガツン、と みかん（マルチ）. Ingredients: Mandarin syrup (domestically produced), mandarin juice, high-fructose corn syrup, sugar, fructose, liqueur, salt/acidulant, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), flavoring.
Manufactured on common equipment with products containing dairy and egg.
Made with 30% mandarin juice and flesh.
Online purchase link: Rakuten Ichiba
The photos were taken in a branch of 7-11 convenience store in April 2021.
This individually wrapped version has a slightly different ingredient list.
• Akagi Mandarin with a Kick/赤城乳業 ガツンと、みかん. Ingredients: Mandarin syrup (domestically produced), mandarin juice, high-fructose corn syrup, sugar, starch hydrolyzate, fructose, salt, western liquor/acidulant, stabilizer (thickening polysaccharide), flavoring.
Manufactured on common equipment with products containing dairy and egg.
Made with 40% mandarin juice and flesh.
Online purchase link: Rakuten Ichiba
Photo taken in a branch of Family Mart convenience store in August 2021.
The Rich Lemon flavor in their Shavy series is not vegan as it contains honey/ はちみつ/ hachimitsu. However, the Rich Orange flavor does not list identifiable animal ingredients.
• Akagi Shavy Rich Orange/赤城 シャビィ 濃厚オレンジ（カップ）. Ingredients: Orange juice (produced in Mexico, produced in Brazil), sugar, mandarin syrup, mandarin juice, liqueur, salt/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), acidulant, flavoring, sweetener (stevia, sucralose, acesulfame K), vegetable pigment.
Product contains orange.
Online shopping link: Yahoo Japan Shopping
• Dole Forest Fruits/Dole もりたくさんフルーツ. Contains four flavors, apple, orange, grape, and pineapple.
(Apple bars): Apple juice (manufactured in China), sugar, starch syrup, dextrin, salt/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), acidulant, flavoring, carotene pigment.
(Orange bars): Orange juice (manufactured in Brazil), sugar, starch syrup, dextrin/trehalose, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), acidulant, flavoring, paprika pigment.
(Grape bars): Grape juice (manufactured in Brazil or America), sugar, starch syrup, lemon juice, dextrin, fermented grape juice/stabilizing agents (polysaccharide thickener, cellulose), flavoring.
(Pineapple bars): Pineapple juice (manufactured in the Phillipines), sugar, dextrin, starch syrup/trehalose, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), acidulant, flavoring, gardenia pigment.
Photo taken in August 2021.
• Dole Forest Fruits with Muscat, Limited Edition/Dole もりだくさんフルーツ マスカット. Contains four flavors, apple, orange, grape, and muscat grape.
(Apple bars): Apple juice (produced in China), sugar, starch syrup, dextrin, salt/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), acidulant, flavoring, carotene pigment.
(Orange bars): Orange juice (produced in Brazil), sugar, starch syrup, dextrin/trehalose, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), acidulant, flavoring, paprika coloring.
(Grape bars): Grape juice (produced in America), sugar, starch syrup, lemon juice, dextrin, fermented grape juice/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener, cellulose), flavoring.
(Muscat grape bars): Muscat grape juice (produced in Australia), sugar, starch syrup, fermented muscat grape juice, salt/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener, cellulose), acidulant, flavoring, coloring (safflower yellow, Monascus purpureus, gardenia).
Product contains orange and apple.
All four flavors are processed on shared equipment.
Photo from website.
• Dole Grape Ice Bars/Dole グループアイスバー. Ingredients: Grape juice, starch syrup, sugar/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener, cellulose), acidulant, flavoring.
Photo from website.
• Dole Grapefruit With Peel: Fruit for Adults/Dole 大人なフルーツ 皮ごとトグレープフルーツ. Ingredients: Grapefruit juice, sugar, sweetened grapefruit peel, grapefruit pulp, fermented grapefruit juice, vegetable oil, salt/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener, agar), acidulant, emulsifier, flavoring, gardenia pigment.
Slightly bittersweet ice candy for adults.
• Family Mart Fruit Bars with Fruit Juice/ 果汁入りフルーツバー. Contains three flavors, orange, grape, and apple.
(Orange bars): Orange juice, sugar, starch syrup, acidulant, stabilising agent (polysaccharide thickener), flavoring, paprika pigment, carotene pigment.
(Grape bars): Grape juice, sugar, starch syrup, stabilising agent (polysaccharide thickener), acidulant, flavoring, grape pigment.
(Apple bars): Apple juice, sugar, starch syrup, acidulant, stabilising agent (polysaccharide thickener), flavoring, gardenia pigment.
Does not contain any of the top seven allergens. The three flavors are manufactured on the same equipment.
This product may have been replaced with the below version.
• Family Mart Fruit Bars Containing Fruit Juice/こだわりの果汁入りフルーツバー. Contains 4 flavors, satsuma mandarin, Concord grape, Aomori-grown apple, and Muscat of Alexandria grape.
(Satsuma mandarin bars): Sugar (domestically produced), concentrated mandarin juice, starch syrup/stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharide), acidulant, flavoring, paprika pigment, carotenoid pigment.
(Concord grape bars): Sugar (domestically produced), concentrated grape juice, starch syrup/stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharide), acidulant, flavoring, grape pigment.
(Aomori-grown apple bars): Sugar (domestically produced), concentrated apple juice, starch syrup/acidulant, stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharide), flavoring, gardenia pigment. Contains apple.
(Muscat of Alexandria grape bars): Sugar (domestically produced), concentrated muscat grape juice, starch syrup/stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharide), acidulant, flavoring, safflower pigment, gardenia pigment.
Of the 28 specified allergens, product contains apple.
All four flavors are produced on shared equipment.
Photos taken in August 2021.
The following frozen smoothie-like ice cream product is available in the warmer months in NewDays convenience stores. After buying it, you’re meant to add cow’s milk from a machine by the register and mix well, making it non-vegan. However, it may be possible to veganize it by adding plant milk to it at home instead.
Photos taken in May 2021.
• Fruits Frozen Fru & Fro Peach/Fruits Frozen Fru & Fro ピーチ. Ingredients: White peach flesh, sugar, powdered starch syrup/acidity regulator, sweeteners (aspartame L-phenylalanine compound, sucralose), coloring (beet red, gardenia pigment), flavoring, thickener (welan gum).
Product contains peach.
• Fruits Frozen Fru & Fro Strawberry/Fruits Frozen Fru & Fro イチゴ. Ingredients: Strawberry flesh, sugar, dextrin, powdered starch syrup/acidity regulator, sweetener (aspartame L-phenylalanine compound), flavoring.
• Futaba Sacre Orange/Futaba サクレ オレンジ. Ingredients: Orange juice (manufactured in Brazil), high-fructose corn syrup, sugar, orange sauce, fructose, dextrin, spirits, salt, western liquor/acidulant, stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharide), flavoring, sweetener (stevia), paprika pigment.
Of the 28 allergenic substances, product contains orange.
Online purchase link: Futaba Online Shop
Photo taken in a branch of Family Mart convenience store in August 2021.
• Futaba Sacre White Peach/Futaba サクレ 白桃. Ingredients: White peach syrup (white peach, sugar) (manufactured in China), high-fructose corn syrup, sugar, peach juice, fructose, dextrin, caramel sauce, spirits, western liquor, salt/acidulant, stabilizer (thickening polysaccharide), vegetable pigment, sweetener (stevia), flavoring.
Product includes peaches.
Of the 28 specified allergens, product contains peach.
Online purchase link: Futaba Online Shop
Photo taken in a branch of Family Mart convenience store in April 2021.
Unfortunately the Lemon and Apple flavors in the same series aren’t vegan. The Lemon has whey protein/乳清たん白/nyūsei tanpaku (also marked as milk components/乳成分/chichiseibun on the allergen section of the label) and the Apple has honey/はちみつ/hachimitsu. Photo taken May 2021.
For a long time, the Glico Ice Fruit, a series of round ice creams, had dairy/乳製品/nyūseihin. It was also listed as milk components/乳成分/chichiseibun on the allergy information section of the labels. As of early-mid 2021, ingredient lists for some of the flavors no longer showed dairy.
• Glico Ice Fruit, Pink Grapefruit/Glico アイスの実＜ピンクグレープフルーツ＞. Ingredients: Grapefruit juice, sugar, starch syrup, maltose, vegetable oil/acidulant, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), emulsifier, flavoring, coloring (Monascus purpureus).
Contains none of the 28 specified allergenic substances.
Products containing dairy are made on the same factory line.
• Glico Ice Fruit, Japanese Pear/Glico アイスの実＜和梨＞. Ingredients: Japanese pear juice, sugar, maltose, starch syrup, vegetable oil/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), acidulant, flavoring, emulsifier, safflower pigment.
Contains none of the 28 specified allergenic substances.
Products containing dairy are made on the same factory line.
Photos taken in a branch of Family Mart in June 2021.
• Glico Ice Fruit, Kyoho Grape/Glico アイスの実＜巨峰＞. Ingredients: Grape juice, sugar, starch syrup, maltose, vegetable oil/flavoring, stabilizer (thickening polysaccharide), emulsifier, acidulant.
Contains none of the 28 specified allergenic substances.
Products containing dairy are made on the same factory line.
Photo taken in a branch of Family Mart in August 2021.
• Glico Ice Fruit, Strong Peach/Glico アイスの実＜濃いもも＞. Ingredients: Peach juice・peach flesh, sugar, maltose, starch syrup, vegetable oil, high-fructose corn syrup/flavoring, stabilizer (polysaccharide thickener), emulsifier, acidulant.
Of the 28 specified allergens, product contains peaches.
Products containing dairy are made on the same factory line.
• Glico Ice Fruit, Strong Grape/Glico アイスの実＜濃いぶどう＞. Ingredients: Grape juice, sugar, starch syrup, maltose, vegetable oil/flavoring, stabilizer (polysaccharide thickener), emulsifier, acidulant.
Contains none of the 28 specified allergens.
Products containing dairy are made on the same factory line.
• Glico Ice Fruit, Strong Blood Orange/Glico アイスの実＜濃いブラッドオレンジ＞. Ingredients: Orange juice, sugar, maltose, starch syrup, vegetable oil/stabilizer (polysaccharide thickener), emulsifier, flavoring, acidulant, paprika pigment.
Of the 28 specified allergens, product contains orange.
Products containing dairy are made on the same factory line.
Online purchase link: Yahoo Japan Shopping (set of all 3 flavors)
• Glico Ice Fruit Strong Muscat Grape/Glico アイスの実＜濃いマスカット＞. Ingredients: Muscat grape juice, sugar, starch syrup, maltose, vegetable oil, water-soluble dietary fiber/stabilizer (polysaccharide thickener), flavoring, emulsifier, acidulant, coloring (yellow safflower, gardenia).
Contains none of the 28 specified allergens.
Products containing dairy are made on the same factory line.
Photos taken in March 2022.
• Glico Ice Fruit Strong Mikan/Glico アイスの実＜濃いみかん＞. Ingredients: Mikan juice, sugar, starch syrup, maltose, vegetable oil, water-soluble dietary fiber/flavoring, stabilizer (thickening polysaccharide), emulsifier, acidulant, carotene pigment.
Product contains orange.
Out of the 28 specified allergens, product contains orange.
Products containing dairy are made on the same factory line.
Photos taken in March 2022.
Glico also manufactures a product line called Papico, which is available in many supermarkets and some convenience stores. Some Papico flavors include dairy/乳製品/nyūseihin and/or gelatin/ゼラチン/zerachin, but the flavors listed below do not. The Glico Papico product page is here.
As of August 2021, the Glico Papico Papi Veggie Apple & Carrot was no longer viewable on the Glico website, so may have been discontinued. It was still available for online purchase.
• Glico Papico Papi Veggie Apple & Carrot/グリコ パピコ パピ べジ りんご & にんじん．Ingredients: Vegetable juice (carrot, pumpkin, yellow carrot, asparagus, red bell pepper, broccoli, kale, spinach, red cabbage, purple carrot, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, greater burdock, bok choy, Japanese mustard spinach, bell pepper, bitter gourd, watercress, lettuce, parsley), apple juice, high-fructose corn syrup, lemon juice, sugar, vegetable oil, water-soluble dietary fiber/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), emulsifier, flavoring.
Photo from website.
It appears to have been replaced with the Glico Papico Papi Veggie Mango & Carrot.
• Glico Papico Papi Veggie Mango & Carrot/グリコ パピコ パピ べジ マンゴー & にんじん．Ingredients: Vegetable juice (carrot, pumpkin, yellow carrot, asparagus, red bell pepper, broccoli, kale, spinach, red cabbage, purple carrot, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, greater burdock, bok choy, Japanese mustard spinach, bell pepper, bitter gourd, watercress, lettuce, parsley), high-fructose corn syrup, sugar, mango flesh, water-soluble dietary fiber, vegetable oil, lemon juice, apple juice/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), emulsifier.
Contains soybeans and apple.
Photo from website.
• Glico Papico Papi Veggie Kiwi & Green/グリコ パピコ パピ べジ キウイ & グリーン．Ingredients: Vegetable juice (Japanese mustard spinach, carrot, pumpkin, yellow carrot, asparagus, red pepper, broccoli, kale, spinach, red cabbage, purple carrot, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, greater burdock, bok choy, bell pepper, bitter gourd, watercress, lettuce, parsley), high-fructose corn syrup, starch syrup, apple juice, kiwi juice, vegetable oil, lemon juice/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), flavoring, emulsifier, acidulant, spirulina pigment.
Photo from website.
This product has been repackaged, shown below. The ingredient list is similar except that the position of some ingredients has changed, spirulina pigment has been removed, and dietary fiber, gardenia and yellow safflower pigments, and vitamin C have been added.
The package states that it’s made on the same line as items containing dairy.
Photos from website.
• Glico Papico Papi Veggie Tomato & Orange/グリコ パピコ パピ べジ トマト & オレンジ．Ingredients: Vegetable juice (tomato, beetroot, pumpkin, yellow carrot, asparagus, red pepper, broccoli, kale, spinach, red cabbage, purple carrot, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, greater burdock, bok choy, Japanese mustard spinach, bell pepper, bitter gourd, watercress, lettuce, parsley), orange juice/pulp, high-fructose corn syrup, sugar, vegetable oil, apple juice, water-soluble dietary fiber, lemon juice/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), emulsifier, flavoring.
Product contains orange, soybeans, and apple.
Online purchase link: Rakuten Ichiba
Photo from website.
This product has been repackaged, shown below. The ingredient list appears virtually identical except that the position in the list of the water-soluble dietary fiber and apple juice have changed, and it no longer shows flavoring as an ingredient.
The package states that it’s made on the same line as items containing dairy.
Photos from website.
• Glico Papico Mediterranean Lemon/グリコ パピコ地中海レモン. Ingredients: High-fructose corn syrup, sugar, starch syrup, lemon juice, vegetable oil, lemon peel, salt/acidulant, stabilizer (polysaccharide thickener), flavoring, emulsifier, safflower coloring.
Products containing dairy are made on the same factory line.
Contains none of the 27 specified allergens.
Photo taken July 2021 in a branch of 7-11 convenience store.
• Glico Papico Muscat of Alexandria/グリコ パピコ マスカット オブ アレキサンドリア. Ingredients: Muscat grape juice, sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, starch syrup, vegetable oil/stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharide), flavoring, acidulant, emulsifier, colorant (safflower yellow, gardenia).
Products containing dairy are made on the same factory line.
Contains none of the 28 allergenic substances.
Photo taken in a branch of Family Mart convenience store in August 2021.
• Glico Papico White Peach/グリコ パピコ 白桃. Ingredients: High-fructose corn syrup (domestically produced), peach juice, sugar, starch syrup, peach flesh, vegetable oil, high-fructose corn syrup/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), flavoring, emulsifier, acidity regulator, coloring (yellow safflower, vegetable pigment).
Product contains peach.
Products containing dairy are processed on the same line.
Limited-edition product.
Online purchase link: Rakuten
Photo taken in a branch of Lawson convenience store in May 2021.
The Glico Papico Grape/グレープ version does not list dairy or gelatin as ingredients, but it’s being sold only in a box with other, non-vegan flavors and not on its own.
Here is an example of a Papico flavor, Chocolate Coffee, that is not vegan. It contains dairy/乳製品/nyūseihin as well as gelatin/ゼラチン/zerachin. There may also be dairy in the ganache/生チョコレート/nama chocoretto, although this is not stated on the label.
The Papico Everyday Delicious Plus are not vegan either- all three flavors in the box contain dairy/乳製品/nyūseihin.
Glico Seventeen Ice is available exclusively in vending machines.
• Glico Seventeen Ice Cider Sherbet/グリコ セブンティーンアイス サイダー. Ingredients: Sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, vegetable oil, starch syrup, lemon juice, pineapple juice, glucose/flavoring, acidulant, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), emulsifier, spirulina dye.
Contains none of the 27 specified allergens.
Products containing dairy are made on the same factory line.
• Glico Seventeen Ice Satsuma Mandarin Sherbet/グリコ セブンティーンアイス 温州みかん. Ingredients: High-fructose corn syrup (domestically produced), sugar, mandarin juice, vegetable oil, starch syrup, salt/flavoring, acidulant, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), emulsifier, carotenoid pigment.
Products containing dairy are made on the same factory line.
Photo from website.
• Imuraya Adzuki Bar/井村屋 あずきバー. Ingredients: Sugar, adzuki beans, starch syrup, cornstarch (non-genetically modified), salt.
The production line also produces products containing milk components.
Online purchase link: Rakuten Ichiba
Also available in boxes of six bars.
Online purchase link: Imuraya webshop
• Imuraya Organic Adzuki Bar/井村屋 オーガニック あずきバー. Ingredients: Organic sugar, organic adzuki beans, cornstarch (non-genetically modified), salt.
Online purchase link: Imuraya webshop (10 pc)
Per Imuraya’s website, the yuzu flavor of their popular adzuki bar was first released in 2013-2014 but was brought back in 2019 due to customer request.
• Imuraya Yuzu Adzuki Bar/井村屋 ゆずあずきバー. Ingredients: Sugar (domestically produced), adzuki beans, starch syrup, fructose, yuzu juice, cornstarch, salt/acidulant, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), gardenia pigment, flavor.
Items containing milk components are produced on the same production line.
Online purchase link: Imuraya webshop
Photo from website.
This pineapple-shaped treat from the same company was found in a branch of the convenience store Lawson in May 2020.
• Imuraya Ring-Shaped Pineapple Ice Candy/井村屋 輪切りパインアイス. Ingredients: Pineapple pulp, sugar, pineapple juice, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), acidulant, flavoring, gardenia pigment.
Online purchase link: Imuraya webshop
Photo from website.
Kubota has a series of ice candy bars made from locally-grown Shikoku Prefecture fruits as well as traditional ingredients like adzuki and kokuto. They have more flavors to purchase on their website. Yuzu, Japanese bayberry, blueberry, Okinawan pineapple, Hokkaido adzuki (two types), matcha zenzai, and Okinawan brown sugar varieties are all without listed animal ingredients.
• Kubota Japanese Plum Ice Candy/久保田 南国土佐のすももアイスキャンデー. Ingredients: Japanese plums (grown in Kōchi Prefecture), sugar.
Uses Japanese plums from Tosa, Shikoku. Made with only juice, pulp and sugar.
Online purchase link: Kubota Online Shop
• Kubota Strawberry Ice Candy/久保田 苺アイスキャンデー. Ingredients: Strawberry (Kochi Prefecture), sugar.
Strawberries from Kōchi Prefecture are washed by hand, taking time and effort, and made into an ice bar with no extra additives.
Photo taken in August 2021.
Online purchase link: Kubota Online Shop
The following box of fruit bars from Lawson contains four flavors, white peach, grape, apple, and kiwi. Photos taken in May 2021.
• Lawson Fruits Ice Bar/4種の甘熟フルーツバー.
(Green kiwi bars): Kiwi juice (100% Hayward variety), sugar, starch syrup, powdered starch syrup, vegetable oil, salt/stabilizing agent (cellulose, polysaccharide thickener), coloring (gardenia, safflower yellow), emulsifier, flavoring.
(Concord grape bars): Grape juice, sugar, starch syrup, powdered starch syrup, lemon juice, fermented grape juice/stabilizing agent (cellulose, polysaccharide thickener), flavoring.
(Aomori Prefecture apple bars): Apple juice (100% Aomori prefecture apples), sugar, starch syrup, powdered starch syrup, salt/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener, cellulose), acidity regulator, flavoring, carotene color.
(White peach bars): White peach juice (100% domestic white peaches), sugar, starch syrup, glucose/stabilizer (polysaccharide thickener, cellulose), acidity regulator, flavoring.
Natural Lawson (and Lawson) convenience stores carry a house brand called Uchi Cafe (meaning At-Home Cafe). Some past flavors of the Uchi Cafe Japanese Fruits ice bars are shown here. We have looked at the ingredient list of various Uchi Cafe Japanese Fruits bars and the ingredient lists we have seen have not listed obvious animal ingredients like milk, egg, honey, or gelatin (with the exception of the Furano Melon and White Peach flavors, which contain dairy/乳製品/nyūseihin as an ingredient). Other bars under the Uchi Cafe brand may contain animal ingredients like dairy.
• Lawson Uchi Cafe Japanese Fruits Amaou Strawberry/ローソン ウチカフェ 日本のフルーツ あまおういちご. Ingredients: Strawberry juice (domestically produced), high-fructose corn syrup, sugar, starch syrup, powdered starch syrup, fructose, liquor, cornstarch/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), coloring (anthocyanin, safflower yellow), flavoring, acidulant.
Photo taken in May 2021.
• Lawson Uchi Cafe Japanese Fruits Iyokan from Ehime Prefecture & Hyuganatsu from Miyazaki Prefecture/ローソン ウチカフェ 日本のフルーツ 愛媛県産伊予柑＆宮崎県産日向夏. Ingredients: Iyokan juice (domestically produced), Hyuganatsu juice (domestically produced), sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, starch syrup, fructose, corn starch/stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharide), flavoring, coloring (safflower yellow, carotenoid), acidity regulator.
Manufactured on common equipment with items containing dairy and egg.
Photo taken in May 2021.
The following flavor was seen in both Natural Lawson & regular Lawson convenience stores in August 2021.
• Lawson Uchi Cafe Japanese Fruits Kiyomi & Lemon/ローソン ウチカフェ 日本のフルーツ 清見&レモン. Ingredients: Kiyomi juice (kiyomi (Hiroshima Prefecture)), sugar, lemon juice, starch syrup, sweetened lemon peel, fructose, salt/stabilizer (thickening polysaccharide), acidulant, emulsifier, flavoring (orange-derived), gardenia pigment.
Of the 28 specified allergens, product contains orange.
Photo taken in August 2021.
• Lawson Uchi Cafe Japanese Fruits Fuji Apple/ローソン ウチカフェ 日本のフルーツ ふじりんご. Ingredients: Apple juice (domestically manufactured), sugar, processed apple product, apple sauce, powdered starch syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, fructose, cornstarch, liqueur/sorbitol, stabilizing agents (polysaccharide thickener, processed starch), acidulant, flavoring, colorant (safflower yellow), calcium lactate.
Product contains apple.
• Lawson Uchi Cafe Japanese Fruits Kyoho Grape & Shine Muscat/ローソン ウチカフェ 日本のフルーツ 巨峰＆シャインマスカット. Ingredients: Grape juice (domestically produced), sugar, starch syrup, grape puree, high-fructose corn syrup, fructose, vegetable oil, liquor, cornstarch/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), fruit pigment, flavoring, acidulant, emulsifier.
The Lawson Uchi Cafe Japanese Fruits Furano Melon/ローソン ウチカフェ 日本のフルーツ 富良野メロン is not vegan as it contains dairy/乳製品/nyūseihin as an ingredient.
Photo taken in May 2021.
• Lawson Uchi Cafe Japanese Fruits Sato Nishiki Cherry/ローソン ウチカフェ 日本のフルーツ 佐藤錦. Ingredients: Cherry juice (domestically produced), sugar, cherry purée, apple juice, high-fructose corn syrup, starch syrup, fructose, raspberry juice, cherry blossom syrup (blended sugar high fructose corn syrup, cherry blossom extract), corn starch, spirits/stabilizer (thickening polysaccharides), flavoring, coloring (yellow safflower, carotenoid pigment), acidulant.
Product contains apples.
Photo taken in June 2021.
The Shekwasha flavor was seen in both Lawson and Natural Lawson convenience stores in August 2021.
• Lawson Uchi Cafe Japanese Fruits Shekwasha/ローソン ウチカフェ 日本のフルーツ シークワーサー. Ingredients: Shekwasha juice, sugar, starch syrup, fructose, salt/stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharide, agar), acidulant, emulsifier, flavoring (derived from orange).
Of the 27 allergenic substances, product contains orange.
Uses shekwasha juice from Okinawa. Contains 33% shekwasha juice.
The Lawson Uchi Cafe Japanese Fruits White Peach/ローソン ウチカフェ 日本のフルーツ 白桃 is not vegan as it contains dairy/乳製品/nyūseihin as an ingredient.
Photo taken in August 2021.
Lotte tends to produce a few ice cream and gelato flavors every year that may be vegan. This Lotte Coolish Green vanilla says “plant milk used” on the front in Japanese, 植物性ミルク使用．
• Lotte Coolish Green Vanilla/ロッテ クーリッシュグリーン バニラ．Ingredients: Sugar (domestically produced), soymilk (contains soybeans), vegetable oil, glucose, starch syrup, fructose, pea protein, roasted sugar syrup, soy sauce (contains wheat), salt, dietary fiber/emulsifier, trehalose, flavoring, stabilizer (thickening polysaccharide).
Out of the 28 specified allergens, product contains wheat and soybeans.
Online purchase link: Lotte Online Shop
Photos taken in March 2022.
Some of the Lotte gelatos have dairy and/or eggs, but they most recently had a Fuji apple gelato listed on their website that didn’t have any dairy, egg, milk, honey or gelatin in the ingredient list.
• Lotte Gelato Marche Fuji Apple/ロッテ ジェラートマルシェ ふじりんご. Ingredients: Apple juice (100% Fuji apples), starch syrup, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, vegetable oil/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), acidulant, flavoring, emulsifier.
One or two of the Soh flavors a year tend to not show obvious animal ingredients on the ingredient list, although the rest have dairy.
• Lotte Soh Frozen Mandarin/ロッテ 爽 冷凍みかん. Ingredients: Sugar (manufactured in Japan), processed mandarin oranges (mandarin oranges in syrup, sugar), mandarin orange juice, starch syrup, corn syrup, vegetable oil, dietary fiber, salt/acidifier, stabilizer (polysaccharide thickener, cellulose), emulsifier, calcium lactate, flavoring, paprika color.
Contains none of the 28 specified allergenic substances.
Photos taken July 2022 in a branch of Family Mart convenience store.
• Lotte Soh Sweet Pear/ロッテ 爽 甘熟梨. Ingredients: Sugar (domestically produced), pear juice, starch syrup, processed pear (pear, sugar), vegetable oil, fructose, pear pulp, salt/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener, cellulose), acidulant, emulsifier, colorant (caramel, safflower yellow), flavoring.
Contains none of the 28 specified allergenic substances.
Photos taken August 2021 in a branch of Lawson convenience store.
• Lotte Soh Whole Squeezed Lemonade/ロッテ爽 丸搾りレモネード. Ingredients: Sugar (domestically produced), starch syrup, lemon juice, vegetable oil, fructose, salt/stabilizing agents (thickening polysaccharide, cellulose), emulsifier, safflower pigment, flavoring, acidulant.
Photo taken in June 2021.
Per an article (English) in LiveKindly in November 2018, the Japanese company Morinaga has agreed to cease all animal testing not required by law.
• Morinaga Ice Box, Grapefruit/森永アイスボックス、グレープフルーツ. Ingredients: Grapefruit juice (manufactured in Israel), high-fructose corn syrup, salt/flavoring, acidulant, sweeteners (sucralose, acesulfame K), vitamin C, sodium polyphosphate, carotenoid pigment.
Contains none of the 28 specified allergenic substances.
Items containing egg and dairy are manufactured using common equipment.
Online purchase link: Amazon Japan
Photo taken in August 2021.
• Morinaga Rich Kyoho Grape Ice Box/森永アイスボックス濃い果実氷＜巨峰＞. Ingredients: Grape juice (64% Kyoho grape)/flavoring, acidulant, sweetener (sucralose), silicone.
Contains none of the 27 specified allergens.
Manufactured on common equipment with items containing dairy and egg.
Photo taken in a branch of Lawson in June 2021.
• Morinaga Rich Muscat Grape Ice Box/森永アイスボックス濃い果実氷＜マスカット＞. Ingredients: Muscat grape juice/flavoring, acidulant, sweetener (aspartame/L-phenylalanine compound, sucralose), sodium polyphosphate.
Contains none of the 27 specified allergens.
Manufactured on common equipment with items containing dairy and egg.
The following frozen smoothie-like product is available from Family Mart in limited quantities (and may not be available at all stores), according to the Family Mart website. After buying it, you’re meant to add cow’s milk from a machine by the register and mix well, making it non-vegan. However, it may be possible to veganize it by adding plant milk to it at home instead.
• Morinaga Ramune Soda Frappe/Morinaga ラムネ ソーダフラッペ. Ingredients: Starch syrup (domestically produced), sugar, ramune candy, high-fructose corn syrup, apple juice, lime juice, pineapple juice, glucose, vegetable oil, liqueur, salt/acidulant, flavoring, coloring (spirulina blue, safflower yellow, gardenia, caramel), emulsifier, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), calcium chloride.
Of the 28 allergenic substances, product contains apple.
Made on shared equipment with items containing milk and eggs.
Photo taken in August 2021 in a branch of Family Mart.
• SEIKA Ripened Banana Fruit Gelato Bar/SEIKA フルーツジェラートバー 甘熟バナナ. Ingredients: Banana juice/banana flesh, starch syrup, banana sauce, sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, vegetable oil, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener, modified starch), flavoring, emulsifier, acidulant, coloring agent (safflower yellow pigment), antioxidant (vitamin C).
Product is produced on the same line as items containing milk, egg, and peanuts.
These bars can be found at the convenience store 7-11.
Some items in the individually wrapped 100％ fruits ice bar series had obviously non-vegan ingredient(s) listed in the ingredient list, but the 100% Apple Ice Bar shown below did not.
• Seven & I Premium 100% Apple Ice Bar/フルーツアイスバー果汁100%アップル. Ingredients: Apple juice (manufactured in Chile), sugar, vegetable oil/stabilizing agents (polysaccharide thickener, agar), acidulant, emulsifier, safflower pigment, flavoring.
Product contains apple.
Photo taken August 2021 in a branch of 7-11 convenience store.
• Seven & I Premium Fruit Ice Bars/セブンプレミアム4種のフルーツバー. Contains four flavors, Kyoho grape, white peach, Satsuma mandarin, and Muscat grape.
(Kyoho grape bars): Grape juice, high-fructose corn syrup, starch syrup, sugar/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), acidulant, flavoring.
(White peach bars): Peach juice, starch syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, sugar/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), acidulant, flavoring, coloring (vegetable pigment, safflower yellow).
Product contains peaches.
(Satsuma mandarin bars): Mandarin juice, high-fructose corn syrup, sugar, starch syrup/acidulant, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), flavoring, carotenoid pigment.
(Muscat grape bars): Grape juice, high-fructose corn syrup, sugar, starch syrup/acidulant, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), flavoring, coloring (safflower yellow, gardenia).
It may have been replaced with the following version.
• Seven & I Premium Fruit Ice Bars/セブンプレミアム4種のフルーツバー. Contains four flavors, Satsuma mandarin, Sicilian lemon, muscat, and white peach.
(Satsuma mandarin bars): Mandarin juice, high-fructose corn syrup, sugar, starch syrup/acidulant, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), flavoring, carotenoid pigment.
(Sicilian lemon bars): Sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, starch syrup, lemon juice, lemon paste/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), flavoring, coloring (safflower yellow, fruit pigment), acidulant.
(Muscat bars): Grape juice, sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, starch syrup/acidulant, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), flavoring, coloring (safflower yellow, gardenia).
(White peach bars): Peach juice, starch syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, sugar/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), acidulant, flavoring, coloring (vegetable pigment, safflower yellow).
Product contains peaches.
All four flavors manufactured on common equipment, so the flavors may mix with each other.
Products containing dairy manufactured on common equipment.
Photos taken at a branch of the convenience store 7-11 in April 2021.
This mandarin orange-flavored shaved ice was seen in a branch of 7-11 convenience store in July 2021.
• Seven & I Premium Mandarin Orange-Flavored Shaved Ice/Seven & I Premium 温州みかん氷. Ingredients: Pickled mandarin syrup (mandarin, sugar) (manufactured in China), high-fructose corn syrup, mandarin juice, sugar/acidulant, stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharide), flavoring, sweetener (sucralose), paprika pigment.
Product contains orange.
The factory produces items containing eggs, milk components, and wheat.
Topvalu is an Aeon house brand found at their eponymous supermarkets and other stores with an Aeon tie-in.
• Topvalu Rich Japanese Apple Ice Candy Bar/トップバリュ 濃厚な味わいの アイスバー 国産りんご. Ingredients: Apple juice (apple (domestically produced)), sugar, starch syrup, dextrin, high fructose corn syrup/trehalose, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), flavoring, acidulant, seasoning (amino acids, etc.), safflower pigment, antioxidant (vitamin C).
Photo from website.
• Topvalu Rich Mango Ice Candy Bar/トップバリュ 濃厚な味わいの アイスバー マンゴー. Ingredients: Mango puree (Alphonso mango (India)), sugar, starch syrup, dextrin, high-fructose corn syrup/trehalose, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), acidulant, flavoring.
The older packaging is shown below. The ingredient list doesn’t say where the Alphonso mangoes are from, but other than that, the ingredient list looks identical to the newer version.
• Topvalu Rich Tangerine Ice Candy Bar/トップバリュ 濃厚な味わいの アイスバー 温州みかん. Ingredients: Tangerine juice (tangerine (domestically produced)), sugar, starch syrup, dextrin, high-fructose corn syrup/trehalose, processed starch, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), flavoring, acidulant, seasoning (amino acid, etc.).
NON-DAIRY ICE CREAMS
In general, non-dairy, plant-milk based ice creams can be found in local or regional natural food shops such as Natural House, Kodawariya and Bio C’ Bon.
Arctic Zero is reported to be carried at HealthyTOKYO restaurant in Haneda airport (before security) and at National Azabu supermarket in Hiroo, Tokyo.
Arctic Zero non-dairy ice cream is based on fava beans, not soy or coconut, and is 40 calories per cup, sweetened with a fruit (monk fruit) and very low amounts of sugar, in chocolate and vanilla maple flavors. Vegan and gluten-free. It is available in two flavors, Chocolate and Vanilla Maple. The Salted Caramel flavor is not currently sold in Japan.
• Arctic Zero Chocolate. Ingredients: Water, cane sugar, oligosaccharide, fava bean powder, cocoa powder, salt, thickener (polysaccharide thickener), flavoring.
• Arctic Zero Vanilla Maple. Ingredients: Water, cane sugar, oligosaccharide, fava bean powder, salt, thickener (polysaccharide thickener), flavoring.
Online purchase link: HealthyTOKYO website (English)
Photo courtesy of HealthyTOKYO.
The Chateraise (English-language link) cake shop chain, originally from Yamanashi Prefecture, has a set of four soy ice creams meant for allergy sufferers (however their cake for allergen sufferers contains gelatin). They don’t use milk and eggs (or flour) in this ice cream.
• Chateraise Delicious Ice Creams without Milk, Eggs and Flour/シャトレーゼ 乳と卵と小麦粉を使用していないおいしいアイス. Ingredients: Soymilk (soybeans (not genetically modified), starch syrup, sugar, powdered starch syrup, vegetable oil, salt, starch, mochi flour, agar-agar, glucomannan, emulsifier, stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharide), flavoring.
From autotranslate from their website: “The production line for this product also manufactures products using milk, eggs, and wheat, but we ship them after allergen inspection.”
Online purchase link: Chateraise Online Shop
Photos from website.
The Iceplantze Monaka and Mochi Desserts have been seen in Natural Lawson (not regular Lawson) convenience stores, and can also be ordered online. Photos taken in May 2021 in a branch of Natural Lawson.
The Iceplantze Monaka are both marked vegan in English on the front of the packages. They’re also described as plant-based/プラントベース on the Iceplantze website’s product pages.
• Iceplantze Monaka Dessert, Soymilk & Choconuts/豆乳&チョコナッツ. Ingredients: Soymilk (includes soybeans: not genetically modified) (domestically produced), non-centrifugal sugar, starch syrup, monaka (includes wheat), roasted hazelnuts, cocoa mass, cocoa powder, maltodextrin, vegetable oil, inulin (dietary fiber), salt/processed starch, emulsifier, flavoring, stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharides).
Product contains wheat and soybeans.
Products containing milk components are manufactured on shared equipment.
Online purchase link: Daiichi Syokuhin website, Rakuten Ichiba
The following item is annin tofu flavored.
• Iceplantze Monaka Dessert, Soymilk & Almond Jelly/豆乳&杏仁豆腐. Ingredients: Soymilk (includes soybeans: not genetically modified) (domestically produced), non-centrifugal sugar, apricot sauce (apricot, sugar, starch syrup), monaka (includes wheat), starch syrup, vegetable oil, inulin (dietary fiber), apricot kernel processed product, salt/processed starch, emulsifier, stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharide), flavoring, acidity regulator.
Product contains wheat and soybeans.
Products containing milk components are manufactured on shared equipment.
Online purchase links: Daiichi Syokuhin website, Rakuten Ichiba
The Iceplantze Mochi Desserts don’t have a vegan label, but they’re described as being plant-based/プラントベース on the Iceplantze website’s product pages. Both flavors are free of dairy, gluten, artificial sweeteners, and artificial colorings.
The Soymilk & Yuzu flavor doesn’t contain any yuzu juice, but does contain yuzu peel.
• Iceplantze Mochi Dessert, Soymilk & Yuzu. Ingredients: Malt sugar (domestically produced), soymilk (contains soybeans), yuzu sauce (yuzu peel, sugar), mochi flour, starch syrup, non-centrifugal sugar, vegetable oil, inulin (dietary fiber), sugar, cornstarch, salt/trehalose, emulsifier, stabilizer (thickening polysaccharide), flavoring.
Product contains soybeans.
Products containing milk components and almonds are manufactured on shared equipment.
Online purchase link: Daiichi Syokuhin website, Rakuten Ichiba
• Iceplantze Mochi Dessert, Almond Milk & Raspberry. Ingredients: Malt sugar (domestically produced), starch syrup, raspberry sauce (starch syrup, raspberry, sugar), mochi flour, non-centrifugal sugar, almond milk, vegetable oil, inulin (dietary fiber), sugar, cornstarch, caramel sauce (sugar), salt/trehalose, emulsifier, stabilizer (thickening polysaccharide), flavoring, acidulant, pH adjusting agent, thickener (gellan).
Product contains almonds.
Products containing milk components and soybeans are manufactured on shared equipment.
Online purchase link: Daiichi Syokuhin website, Rakuten Ichiba
The Mine Soy Gelato is vegan friendly (ビーガン対応) according to the product page on the Bio Floresta website. It can be found in some natural food markets or online (Amazon or the Bio Floresta website).
Online purchase link: Bio Floresta
There are also a few choices, Kracie and Topvalu, that can be found nationwide in regular grocery stores. Topvalu is carried in Aeon and Aeon-affiliated stores.
These three flavors of the Kracie ice cream were confirmed by the Vegana No Japão blog (now defunct) not to use animal ingredients and not to use bone char to produce the white sugar.
• Kracie Soy Vanilla ice cream/クラシエ ソイバニラ. Ingredients: Soymilk (including soybeans), starch syrup, sugar, melon juice, vegetable oil, starch hydrolyzate, mirin, salt/emulsifier, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), flavoring, trehalose.
Product contains soybeans.
Online purchase link: Yozeph Online
• Kracie Soy Chocolate ice cream/クラシエ ソイチョコ. Ingredients: Soymilk (including soybeans), starch syrup, sugar, vegetable oil, cacao mass, cocoa powder, salt/emulsifier, flavoring, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), trehalose.
Product contains soybeans.
Online purchase link: Yahoo Japan Shopping
• Kracie Soy Strawberry ice cream/クラシエ ソイイチゴ. Ingredients: Soymilk (including soybeans), starch syrup, sugar, strawberry pulp, vegetable oil, high-fructose corn syrup, salt/flavoring (apple origin), acidulant, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), coloring agent (Monascus purpureus), emulsifier.
Product contains soybeans and apple.
Online purchase link: Rakuten
The Soy Latte flavor occasionally appears in stores.
• Kracie Soy Latte ice cream/クラシエ ソイラテ. Ingredients: Soymilk (domestically produced), starch syrup, sugar, vegetable oil, starch hydrolyzate, coffee, salt/emulsifier, flavoring, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), trehalose.
Product contains soybeans.
There is also another Kracie product which sometimes appears on the market that is meant to be a frozen version of doufuhua, a Chinese tofu pudding.
• Kracie Frozen Mango Tofu Pudding/クラシエ 冷豆花 マンゴー. Ingredients: Starch syrup (domestically produced), soymilk, sugar, mango flesh, vegetable oil, high-fructose corn syrup, starch hydrolyzate, salt/stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), emulsifier, coloring agent (yellow safflower, carotenoid pigment, Monascus purpurea), flavoring, acidulant, calcium lactate, antioxidant (vitamin C).
Products containing dairy are manufactured using common equipment.
Photo from website.
Topvalu (Aeon house brand) sold an almond-based ice cream, however as of March 2021 it does not seem to be on the Aeon website anymore and may have been discontinued. It was confirmed by the Vegana No Japão blog (now defunct) that the emulsifier is of plant origin and the ingredients do not contain gluten.
In addition, the blog Sushivoyage reports that there are no animal ingredients used in the product and that the sugar is not cow bone char filtered but that palm oil is used.
• Topvalu Almond ice cream Ingredients: Almond processed product, starch syrup, sugar, vegetable oil, almond paste, salt/emulsifier, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), flavoring.
Product contains soybeans.
• Topvalu Almond Chocolate ice cream Ingredients: Almond processed product, starch syrup, sugar, vegetable oil, cacao mass, almond paste, cocoa powder, salt/emulsifier, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), flavoring.
Product contains soybeans.
• Topvalu Almond Maple Vanilla ice cream Ingredients: Almond processed product, starch syrup, sugar, vegetable oil, maple syrup, caramel sauce (sugar), salt / stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), emulsifier, flavoring, trehalose.
Product contains soybeans.
ONLINE
If stores near you don’t carry non-dairy ice creams, it’s also possible to order from smaller brands online. A few examples of these types of products are shown below.
Hayama Ice (company name Beat Ice) was started in 2018 as a way for the company owner to say thank you to all the people she’s met since moving to Hayama, a small town by the beach in the Shonan area of Japan. The ice creams are marked “vegan” in Japanese on the package (ヴィーガン). A spicy and gingery Almond Milk Chai flavor, a fruity and complex Coconut Amazake flavor, and special versions of the Coconut Amazake flavor made with rice from various rice terraces around Japan are available. The products are available at some restaurants. Follow the company’s Facebook to find out where.
Online purchase link: Beat Ice website
• Hayama Ice Almond Milk Chai ice cream. Ingredients: Almond milk, cane sugar, black tea, glucose, dietary fiber (inulin), konjac flour, ginger (from Hayama), cinnamon, cardamom.
• Hayama Ice Coconut Amazake ice cream. Ingredients: Rice malt, rice, coconut milk, soymilk, cane sugar, glucose, dietary fiber (inulin), konjac flour.
• Rice Terraces Around Japan ice cream. Ingredients: Rice malt, rice, coconut milk, soymilk, cane sugar, glucose, dietary fiber (inulin), konjac flour.
Items containing dairy and egg are manufactured on the same production line.
K and Son’s has a variety of soymilk ice creams available for purchase online.
• K and Son’s Plant-Based 100% Organic Soymilk Ice Cream/K and Son’s Ice オーガニック 豆乳 アイスクリーム
Online purchase link: Amazon Japan
FRUITS
They aren’t exactly ice creams, but whole frozen mandarins are also available in some convenience stores, especially in summer.
• Hatchando Peeled Mandarin/八ちゃん堂 むかんみかん. Ingredients: Mandarin (domestically grown).
Online purchase link: Rakuten Ichiba
Second photo taken in August 2021.
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