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is a European-style cookie manufactured and sold by Japanese confectionery maker Ishiya Co., Ltd. in
As Ishiya Co. is the official sponsor of 
In Sapporo City West Ward there is a facility named "Shiroi Koibito Park" where one can see the Shiroi Koibito production line, history of the chocolate and artwork among other things such as the Ishiya Chocolate Factory, Consadole Sapporo's training grounds, known as Miyanosawa Shiroi Koibito Football Stadium, and their clubhouse, also visitors are able to take classes in making Shiroi Kobito-style sweets. In the vicinity of the former National Route 5 on the banks of the Hassamu River and around National Route 36 there are giant billboards based on the Consadole Sapporo uniform's image.
他にもこんなにあるの？！噂の「白い恋人」のパロディ商品が多すぎてワロタ。
APPGIGA!!、2011年12月06日配信、2013年2月14日閲覧。
is a European-style cookie manufactured and sold by Japanese confectionery maker Ishiya Co., Ltd. in Sapporo
( ain, サッ・ポロ・ペッ, Satporopet, lit=Dry, Great River) is a city in Japan. It is the largest city north of Tokyo and the largest city on Hokkaido, the northernmost main island of the country. It ranks as the fifth most populous cit ...
, Hokkaido
is Japan's second largest island and comprises the largest and northernmost prefecture, making up its own region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshu; the two islands are connected by the undersea railway Seikan Tunnel.
The lar ...
. It consists of chocolate sandwiched between langue de chat. There are two main types: Shiroi Koibito White with white chocolate
White chocolate is a confectionery typically made of sugar, milk, and cocoa butter. It is pale ivory colored, and lacks many of the compounds found in milk and dark chocolates. It is solid at room temperature because the melting point of cocoa ...
in the centre and Shiroi Koibito Black with milk chocolate in the centre. The package design has a white and light blue base with a picture of Rishiri Island's Mount Rishiri
is a Quaternary stratovolcano located off the coast of Hokkaidō, Japan in the Sea of Japan. It rises out of the Sea of Japan forming Rishiri Island. Because its cone shape resembles Mount Fuji it is sometimes referred to as Rishiri Fuji. I ...
arranged in the centre.
Summary
Sales began in December 1976. The name originated one day in December while the founder was returning home after enjoying some skiing and casually remarked "It has started snowing white lovers." This is mentioned on the back of the box. The fact the products white colour is reminiscent of Hokkaido's snowy scenery and that sales are limited only to Hokkaido brought success and it gained popularity as a souvenir on business trips and holidays. At present, yearly sales have risen to around two hundred million units. Shiroi Koibito ranks second nationally insouvenir
A souvenir (), memento, keepsake, or token of remembrance is an object a person acquires for the memories the owner associates with it. A souvenir can be any object that can be collected or purchased and transported home by the traveler as a m ...
unit sales following Akafukumochi (from Mie prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu. Mie Prefecture has a population of 1,781,948 () and has a geographic area of . Mie Prefecture is bordered by Gifu Prefecture to the north, Shiga Prefecture and Kyoto Prefectur ...
). A trade journal selected "souvenirs that represent the 20th century" based on a survey and Shoroi Koibito came in first place, beating out Karashi Mentaiko in second place by a landslide. In 1986, it won first prize in Monde Selection Monde Selection is an annual non-competitive award open to food, drinks, and cosmetics products, created in 1961. It is run by the commercial company, International Institute for Quality Selections, Brussels, Belgium. Consumer products are tasted a ...
.
There is also a service to custom order Shiroi Koibito with a photographic portrait of your choosing on the package. Additionally, "Shiroi Koibito Chocolate Drink" went on sale in 1997 as a sister product.
As Ishiya Co. is the official sponsor of Consadole Sapporo
is a Japanese professional football club, which plays in the J1 League. The team is based in Sapporo, on the island of Hokkaido.
The club name of "Consadole" is made from ''consado'', a reverse of the Japanese word and the Spanish express ...
in the Japanese National Football League ( J.League) the Shiroi Koibito logo is displayed on the uniform. Depending on the year, the logo appears on the chest and also the back.
In Sapporo City West Ward there is a facility named "Shiroi Koibito Park" where one can see the Shiroi Koibito production line, history of the chocolate and artwork among other things such as the Ishiya Chocolate Factory, Consadole Sapporo's training grounds, known as Miyanosawa Shiroi Koibito Football Stadium, and their clubhouse, also visitors are able to take classes in making Shiroi Kobito-style sweets. In the vicinity of the former National Route 5 on the banks of the Hassamu River and around National Route 36 there are giant billboards based on the Consadole Sapporo uniform's image.
Punishment for falsifying best before date
In August 2007, sales were suspended as a portion of the Shiroi Koibito stock was being sold with a falsified best before date, in violation of both Food Hygiene Law and Japanese Agricultural Standard Law.Resumption of production and sales
On October 22, 2007, CEO Shunpei Shimada held a press conference, in which he officially announced that production would resume on November 15, with sales resuming on November 22. After the incident, the best before date was printed on individual packets. Sales resumed in 400 stores on November 22, but there was a flood of fans awaiting the return and every store completely sold out on the same day. Subsequent stock shortages continued, and other sweets that Ishiya had planned on resuming production of were temporarily delayed in order to cope.Derivative products
In Autumn 2003, "Shiroi Roll Cake" went on sale, at first it was only sold in Hokkaido Bussanten (food and products fair) and Shiroi Koibito Park but nationwide online sales began on March 3, 2011. In addition, sales ofbaumkuchen
Baumkuchen () is a kind of spit cake from German cuisine. It is also a popular dessert in Japan. The characteristic rings that appear in its slices resemble tree rings, and give the cake its German name, ''Baumkuchen'', which literally translat ...
with Shiroi Koibito's white chocolate kneaded into the dough "Shiroi Baum Tsumugi" commenced on December 17, 2009.
Trademark infringement lawsuit
On November 28, 2011, Ishiya suedYoshimoto Kogyo
is a major Japanese entertainment conglomerate. It was founded in 1912, Osaka, as a traditional theatre, and has since grown to be one of the most influential companies in Japan, employing most of Japan's popular owarai (comedy) talent, produci ...
for suspension of sales on the grounds of trademark infringement and under the Unfair Competition Prevention Law in relation to their imitation product "Omoshiroi Koibito" ( jp:面白い恋人, lit. "Interesting Lover") sold with similar packaging and a similar name.
A settlement between Ishiya and Yoshimoto Kogyo was reached on February 13, 2013, Yoshimoto Kogyo changed the package design, and sales were restricted to the Kansai region
The or the , lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshū. The region includes the prefectures of Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo and Shiga, often also Mie, sometimes Fukui, Tokushima and Tottori. The metropoli ...
.
Other products resembling Shiroi Koibito, "Doara no Koibito" (sold by Nagatoya Co., Ltd.) and "Nijigen no Koibito" (sold by Daito Corporation) among others, are manufactured and sold all over Japan.APPGIGA!!、2011年12月06日配信、2013年2月14日閲覧。
References
{{reflist Cookies Japanese confectionery Products introduced in 1976