Hata Kosen Ramune Original, the Japanese soda sealed with a glass marble in a codd-neck bottle, for sushi counters, festivals and gift boxes.
You can tell a ramune bottle from across the room: a pinched glass neck holding a glass marble, a pink-and-white wrapped cap, and a pale blue label with the drink name brushed in bold red Japanese script. The maker, Hata Kosen, prints its name in small capitals along the base of the label, and its brand artwork carries the line happiness just for you in blue. As general background, ramune was introduced in Kobe in 1884 as a carbonated lemonade by Alexander Cameron Sim, that the name comes from the English word lemonade, and the Codd-neck bottle seals with a marble held against a rubber ring. Opening it is half the fun: press the marble down with the little plastic opener and it drops into the neck with a pop. Commonly, Japanese restaurants and sushi counters chill it for diners, Asian grocers stock it beside snacks, and families add bottles to Eid and birthday gift boxes. Festival stalls sell it over crushed ice. The bottle itself is the attraction for many diners, so it typically sells best where people can see it. Keep the bottles upright and cool so the marble seal stays tight until opening day.
