# Marketing Food with Anime Japan Uses Cute Manga Characters to Sell Rice By Going Like Sixty | Published 2009-03-11 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/japan-branding-manga-characters-to-sell-rice References: [dannychoo](http://www.dannychoo.com/detail/mac/eng/image/15732/Japanese%20Rice.html) & [gigazine.net](http://gigazine.net/index.php?/news/comments/20090309_reitaisai_rice/) It seems Japan uses manga cartoons to sell just about anything -- including food! My good friend Danny Choo is traveling again, but before he left he served up a nice bowl of Manga packaged rice. This proves how the colorful cartoon characters are so pervasive in the land of the rising sun. The one kilo package was decorated in illustrations by Tsudotei. As it says on his website, (Google translation) “The taste is confident! With a beautiful bag, I want to taste the delicious AKITAKOMACHI. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.8/10 - Popularity: 67% | Activity: 40% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Branding](https://www.trendhunter.com/branding) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Using Manga Characters in Food Marketing:** Opportunity for companies to leverage the popularity of manga cartoons to promote and sell food products. - **Cross-promotion Between Anime and Food Brands:** Potential for collaboration between anime and food industries to create unique and engaging marketing campaigns. - **Bringing Characters to Life Through Packaging:** Innovative packaging designs that feature manga illustrations can enhance the appeal of food products and create a memorable customer experience. ### Who This Affects Most - **Food and Beverage:** Opportunity for food and beverage companies to incorporate manga characters into their marketing strategies, attracting a wider customer base. - **Entertainment:** Anime studios and production companies can explore partnerships with food brands to expand their reach and generate additional revenue streams. - **Packaging Design:** Packaging design agencies can tap into the trend of using manga illustrations to create unique and eye-catching packaging designs for food products. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Anime-Inspired Restaurant Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wcdonalds-1.md) - [Anime Restaurant Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wcdonalds.md) - [Cartoon-Themed Kitchen Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yoshinoya-at-home-campaign.md) - [Anime-Themed Sake Cans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/moyashimon.md) - [Anime QSR Collaborations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/attack-on-titan-1.md) - [Anime-Inspired Kitchen Appliances](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/naruto-rice-cooker.md) - [Japanese Illustration-Inspired Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mofusand-1.md) - [Interactive Panda Cookies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/panda-oreos.md) - [Limited-Edition Regional-Specific Snack Boxes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/snackventure-box.md)