All Aboard The Choco-Choo-Choo!

[Oaledonia]

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/wonka-would-approve-japan-kitkat-bars-train-tickets-n134866

In Japan, KitKat bars just got a whole lot sweeter.

The popular chocolate bars can now be used as train tickets for those traveling on the Sanriku Railway network starting this month, according to a press release from Nestlé S.A. The promotion will last through the end of May 2015.

So, for those who don't know, the Sanriku Railway is one of the most heavily used railways in the Iwate Prefecture, and was also the first PPP (Public–private partnership) railroads in Japan. The entire idea of using KitKat bars as train tickets stems from Operation: Tomodachi in 2011, when Nestle heard that chocolate bars where being distributed to help boost morale. The deal is set to last until 2015 and uses specially marked bars to donate money to survivors.

What say you, NSG: Do you think that Nestle should extend the deal further? Is chocolate going to replace train tickets? Personally, I think that Nestle Japan should open the bar internationally to open support to the survivors of the tsunami.

[Reploid Productions]

What say you, NSG: Do you think that Nestle should extend the deal further? Is chocolate going to replace train tickets? Personally, I think that Nestle Japan should open the bar internationally to open support to the survivors of the tsunami.

If the promotion does well enough, sure, extending it would probably be a great idea. I doubt chocolate is going to replace conventional tickets though. But it's a neat promotional tool and I could see other companies possibly experimenting with variations on the idea.

And damnit, Nestle needs to bring some of the other flavors out to the US! Have you ever tried the green tea KitKats?! They are awesome, but if I want any I gotta shlep to the nearest Marukai (about an hour from here if the traffic gods are merciful) and hope that they have some in stock!

[Oaledonia]

I doubt chocolate is going to replace conventional tickets though.

It was a joke

But I thought that it was a nice, heartwarming gesture in a period of this year marked with troubling times and turbulence, so I posted it here

[Xixuan]

This is glorious. Forget train tickets, hell forget the dollar, KitKats should become the new global reserve currency.

[Death Metal]

Only in Americ-wait...

[Gigaverse]

This is glorious. Forget train tickets, hell forget the dollar, KitKats should become the new global reserve currency.

But... but...

Not even Japan replaced its currency yet!

[Thafoo]

I can't think of Nestle without thinking of how child slave labour in the Ivory Coast is where they get most of their cacao, though! D:

[Xixuan]

Only in Americ-wait...

Have you ever had a Japanese KitKat? They're a little...different.

And Japan does love its KitKats:

[Oaledonia]

I can't think of Nestle without thinking of how child slave labour in the Ivory Coast is where they get most of their cacao, though! D:

Now the balance of nature is preserved.

[Vetaz]

What happens if your chocolate melts?

[Death Metal]

Only in Americ-wait...

Have you ever had a Japanese KitKat? They're a little...different.

And Japan does love its KitKats:

I haven't had one, but I'm aware of them and their popularity.

I was just riffing because the idea of food used as currency sounds like something an American would do. Or at least someone in Florida.

[Xixuan]

I can't think of Nestle without thinking of how child slave labour in the Ivory Coast is where they get most of their cacao, though! D:

Oh don't be such a hipster. It'll just make you unhappy. Be an Weeaboo instead!! Did you know that in Japan they have Hello Kitty KitKats?! TOTEMO KAWAII DESU NE!!! ^.^

[Dracoria]

What happens if your chocolate melts?

The sugar wafers within still retain some of their value.

[Thafoo]

I can't think of Nestle without thinking of how child slave labour in the Ivory Coast is where they get most of their cacao, though! D:

Oh don't be such a hipster. It'll just make you unhappy. Be an Weeaboo instead!! Did you know that in Japan they have Hello Kitty KitKats?! TOTEMO KAWAII DESU NE!!! ^.^

In Japan, they also have fucking Japanese Giant Hornets.

Those things make it difficult to fucking sleep at night.

[Xixuan]

Have you ever had a Japanese KitKat? They're a little...different.

And Japan does love its KitKats:

I haven't had one, but I'm aware of them and their popularity.

I was just riffing because the idea of food used as currency sounds like something an American would do. Or at least someone in Florida.

Yes, definitely in Florida. They' have the monopoly on weirdness, at least on this side of the Pacific.

[Dracoria]

Oh don't be such a hipster. It'll just make you unhappy. Be an Weeaboo instead!! Did you know that in Japan they have Hello Kitty KitKats?! TOTEMO KAWAII DESU NE!!! ^.^

In Japan, they also have fucking Japanese Giant Hornets.

Those things make it difficult to fucking sleep at night.

Japanese honey bees fight back against those hornets by covering them in a thick layer of angry bees and vibrating to raise their internal temperatures until the hornet drops dead. Just imagine your blankie is made up of stalwart, protective Japanese honeybees and they're smothering you with their love.

[Death Metal]

I can't think of Nestle without thinking of how child slave labour in the Ivory Coast is where they get most of their cacao, though! D:

Oh don't be such a hipster. It'll just make you unhappy. Be an Weeaboo instead!! Did you know that in Japan they have Hello Kitty KitKats?! TOTEMO KAWAII DESU NE!!! ^.^

We don't even get crazy flavors of Pocky here in the US though. I mean, we have other flavors, just nothing that would make you go "wtf".

Oh, and fish and prawn flavored potato chips, but those come from Thailand, I think.

[Thafoo]

In Japan, they also have fucking Japanese Giant Hornets.

Those things make it difficult to fucking sleep at night.

Japanese honey bees fight back against those hornets by covering them in a thick layer of angry bees and vibrating to raise their internal temperatures until the hornet drops dead. Just imagine your blankie is made up of stalwart, protective Japanese honeybees and they're smothering you with their love.

Bees are cool. They only sting you when it's necessary and are damn sure you threaten a hive in their little bee mind, and they know it's sacrificial. But wasps? Fuck them and their willy-nilly-stingy habits.

[Thafoo]

Oh don't be such a hipster. It'll just make you unhappy. Be an Weeaboo instead!! Did you know that in Japan they have Hello Kitty KitKats?! TOTEMO KAWAII DESU NE!!! ^.^

We don't even get crazy flavors of Pocky here in the US though. I mean, we have other flavors, just nothing that would make you go "wtf".

Oh, and fish and prawn flavored potato chips, but those come from Thailand, I think.

The Oriental store down the street has a Pocky flavour pack sometimes for sale that has such savoury flavours as Toothpaste and Plastic.

Yes. Plastic.

[Shie]

Chocolate replacing train tickets is fine as long as nobody eats the stuff.

[Dracoria]

Japanese honey bees fight back against those hornets by covering them in a thick layer of angry bees and vibrating to raise their internal temperatures until the hornet drops dead. Just imagine your blankie is made up of stalwart, protective Japanese honeybees and they're smothering you with their love.

Bees are cool. They only sting you when it's necessary and are damn sure you threaten a hive in their little bee mind, and they know it's sacrificial. But wasps? Fuck them and their willy-nilly-stingy habits.

Exactly. Imagining the blanket is a protective layer of vibrating little honeybees ready to cook any of those nasty wasps that get close to you is sure to help you sleep better.

[Dracoria]

Chocolate replacing train tickets is fine as long as nobody eats the stuff.

Do you have a problem with chocolate?

[Thafoo]

Chocolate replacing train tickets is fine as long as nobody eats the stuff.

That's akin to dangling fat in front of a cat's nose on a treadmill that isn't moving.

[Death Metal]

Yes, definitely in Florida. They' have the monopoly on weirdness, at least on this side of the Pacific.

Of course we do. What do you expect, we have more rain than anyone in the US and call ourselves the Sunshine State.

[Xixuan]

Chocolate replacing train tickets is fine as long as nobody eats the stuff.

I would think that's one of the primary perks of being a conductor under the new system.

Really, if you couldn't eat the tickets, why on earth would you want that job?