Take no Ko no Sato VS Kinoko no Yama

Which chocolatey biscuit do you like? Are you a Take no Ko no Sato-fan or a Kinoko no Yama-fan? Which is best? There can be only one!

Kinoko no Yama are a chocolate-covered mushroom shaped biscuit. Take no Ko no Sato are a chocolate-covered bamboo-shoot-shaped biscuit. Bamboo shoots are boiled, cooked, marinated and eaten as tasty vegetables in Japan (and other parts of Asia). They are often eaten mixed with rice or in salads. Super yummy!

The "Which is best?" debate surprises me about Japan. These two mini-snacks (made by the same company, this is important) have a strange mystical power. People in Japan usually avoid conflict but this one snack changes people. I am surprised by how openly and powerfully people speak about these little biscuits.

People in Japan often avoid eye-contact, talk indirectly, rarely say "you", but when you mention these little snacks something changes. People get so excited debating the chocolate cover, biscuit ratio and flavour of these biscuits. I have lived here for nearly 5 years and it still shocks me.

Remember that they are made by the same company? They are virtually identical in my eyes. And here is my question, is this deliberate? Did Meiji (the company than makes them) create this competition? Is it their plan? Do they want you to buy two packs because you have to compare them? Did they deliberately make two biscuits just a little bit different? But just different enough to create a favourite?

Here is the thing though, if you eat them, you will have a favourite... Although they are the same, you will pick one you like more. Which do you like?!

As for me? I like....