Pre-sale of “Neko Karikari” for humans at Famima.I asked the developer why it was made

Cats are now the number one pet owned by Japanese people. In the 2021 survey by the “Pet Food Association of Japan”, dogs (7,106,000) were suppressed and ranked first (8,946,000).

According to Professor Emeritus Katsuhiro Miyamoto of Kansai University, the total economic effect of cats is 2,082.4 billion yen (2020), and the economic effect “nekonomics” produced by cats can be said to be a large market. The classic cat food is “crispy”.

Did you know that Family Mart has been selling crispy for humans since February 7th?

Cat crunchy “taste” for humans

“Kanro Neko Karikari for Humans” costs 172 yen (tax included) and comes with 9 capsules. The package describes it as a crunchy candy with a “sweet and salty fish caramelized flavor”. In other words, it means “a different product with the image of a cat’s crunchy”. what does it taste like?

When you buy it and try it, the moment you put it in your mouth, you can smell the seafood. It’s like “salted caramel with dried bonito flavor,” and it has a mysterious taste that mixes the flavor and saltiness of dried bonito with the sweetness of caramel. The more you chew it, the more salty it becomes.

When I asked Kanro, the manufacturer, why he planned “Neko Karikari for Humans,” he replied,

“In response to the topic of ‘Cat Day’ on February 22nd, we developed this product with the hope that cat lovers will be able to experience the feelings of cats.”

came back with an answer. Also, regarding the reaction and sales,

“Sales exceeded our target, and I think that is the result of everyone, including everyone, talking about it.

Regarding the product, we received comments such as, ‘I’m glad I got to feel like a cat,’ and ‘I was surprised to find that it tasted more like a fish than I expected.'”

And it seems that there was a certain response.

Kanro, the manufacturer, commented on the future of product development as follows.

“From now on, we would like to develop products that will surprise and delight our customers, with the top priority being to make them delicious as sweets.”