With a bright exterior and unusual menu, the world’s first official PPAP cafe opens in Tokyo tomorrow.
PPAP? That stands for Pen Pineapple Apple Pen, a music video by Japanese comedian Kosaka Daimaou’s stage character Piko Taro. It made its debut on YouTube on August 25, receiving more than 7.9 million views and 4000 comments within its first month.
There are even spin-off products including Pen Pineapple Apple Bread from a Japanese bakery in Kanagawa. Now the comedian’s management company has teamed up with the Tree Village store area at the foot of Tokyo Skytree for an official cafe.
The pop-up cafe, open until November 20, features Piko Taro surrounded by the colours of a golden pineapple, while the store sign includes images of a pen pineapple and an apple pen. The menu features items branded with the PPAP logo, including parfaits, pancakes, soft drinks, a burger, and fresh pineapple juice served inside a whole fruit. Prices range from 420 yen (US$3.99) for the tea up to 878 yen for the pineapple juice.
Most of the items include a chocolate “pen” and slices of fruit so diners can act out the song while eating. Customers can also take home a souvenir coaster with each order. There will also be branded merchandise to buy
Daimaou has meanwhile been awarded a Guinness World Record for the shortest song to appear on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts, where PPAP made its debut at number 77.
Dragon Ball
Also cashing in on Japan’s taste for the bizarre, three cafes are opening to pay tribute to anime hit Dragon Ball, which burst on to TV in Japan 30 years ago.
In a collaboration with Tower Records, three Dragon Ball cafes will be opened in Japan, serving food and drinks inspired by creator Akira Toriyama.
The cafe interiors will be decorated with art from the martial arts series, with the outlets in Tokyo’s Shibuya and Osaka’s Umeda neighbourhoods offering Vegeta Salad, Yamcha Spaghetti, and Bulma’s “I’ll Give You Romantic” Cake, all featuring character artwork. The drink menu includes beverages based on Goku’s Flying Nimbus cloud and the mystic Dragon Balls themselves, plus latte art coffee featuring Master Roshi’s insignia and the series logo.
Tokyo’s second Dragon Ball Cafe, on the swanky Omotesando avenue in Harajuku, has a different food offering such as Goku’s Finishing Technique Kaio-ken Red Curry, Majin Buu’s Turn You Into Candy Sweets Plate, Flying Nimbus Pancake and Piccolo’s Ma Junior Soda.
Customers will also receive special coasters while supplies last, plus there will be limited-edition merchandise.
