Pocari Sweat

nihongo|Pocari Sweat|ポカリスエット|"Pokari Suetto" is a popular Japanese soft drink and sports drink, manufactured by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.. It was first sold in 1980.

Pocari Sweat is a mild-tasting, relatively light sweet drink and advertises itself as an "Ion supply drink." Ingredients [http://www.pocarisweat.com.ph/about.aspx] listed are water, sugar, flavourings, acids, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium lactate and magnesium carbonate. It is sold in liquid form, in aluminium cans and plastic bottles, and also in powder form.

The drink is also produced and distributed in other regional countries, such as China, Egypt, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. In addition the drink can be obtained in the ethnic Asian areas of many cities around the world. The "Arctic Shatter" variety of Powerade-brand sports drink very closely resembles it, in both color and flavor.

Curious name

The reference to the bodily fluid resulting from perspiration in the name of the beverage tends to have a certain offputting or humorous connotation for native English speakers. However, the name was chosen by the manufacturers originally for the purpose of marketing the product as a sports drink in Japan, where people generally do not mentally translate names appearing in English and are therefore not bothered by the connotation. It was largely derived from the notion of what it is intended to supply to the drinker: all of the nutrients and electrolytes lost when sweating (the first part of the name, Pocari, means "like a cloud floating in the sky" or "a situation in which a cloud is floating in the sky" in Japanese, and has a connotation of lightness, buoyancy, and ease). "Sweat" was apparently intended to suggest diligence and its fruits—the idea intending to connote to the user that Pocari Sweat works to make one feel fresh and relaxed. However, some Japanese apparently drop "Sweat" from the name in common usage. [http://www1.sphere.ne.jp/mucci/mono/pocarie.htm Just 'Pocari' for short]

In culture

* The arcade game "Golden Axe" featured a parody of Pocari Sweat. In the ending sequence when the characters run through the town, a variety of parody shops can be seen in the background, most notably a large "Hokari Sweat" sign (It should be noted, though, that the Japanese katakana for nihongo|Po|ポ looks identical for the character nihongo|Ho|ホ except for the dakuten).
* A sixpack of Pocari Sweat can be seen in the family kitchen in the movie "Back to the Future Part II" (set in the year 2015), humorously implying the drink has become a mainstream product in the United States.
* The manga "Slam Dunk" (by Takehiko Inoue) also features its characters drinking Pocari Sweat throughout the manga.
* Another manga, "Crimson Hero" (by Mitsuba Takanashi), features Nobara buying Pocari Sweat and sharing it with Tomoyo's ex-boyfriend, Haibuki.
* The members the high school track team featured the series "Suzuka" by Kouji Seo often drink Pocari Sweat during and after practice.
* The vice-captain in the manga "Battle Club" (by Yuji Shiozaki) is obsessed with Pocari and always has Tomako get it for her.
* In the cyberpunk novel "Idoru" (by William Gibson), the character Gomi Boy drinks Pocari Sweat. When the character Chia sees him drinking it, she wonders to herself what a Pocari is.
* In the seventh volume of the manga "Wild Act" by Rie Takada, the main character Yuniko has a drink called "Poccari Sweet".
* Wu Chun from the Taiwanese drama version of Hanazakarino Kimitachihe drinks Pocari Sweat.
* In the final episode of the anime version of "Lucky Star" (Episode 24), a bottle of Pocari Sweat is set on the stage before the dance rehearsal.
* In the anime version of "Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge", also known as "The Wallflower", the vending machine in episode 10 is shown to have "Poccari Sweet."
* Mentioned a few times throughout the many adventures of Billy Chaka (journalist for the popular magazine Youth in Asia).
* Players of the tennis team Seigaku in the manga The Prince of Tennis are shown drinking Pocari Sweat.
* The film "Tropic Thunder" features a fictional energy drink called "Booty Sweat".

References

See also

* Aquarius (the archrival manufactured by The Coca-Cola Company)
* Calpis
* Oronamin C Drink
* Engrish
* foreign branding
* Cloud Nine (a term which has some similar connotations in English to "pocari" in Japanese, except that the idea in English is more of joy than of relief or calmness)

External links

* [http://www.otsuka.co.jp/product/pocarisweat/ Otsuka's Pocari Sweat Site]
* [http://www.waterlanders.com/ Pocari Sweat Site - The Waterlanders]
* [http://www.pocarisweat.hk/ Pocari Sweat (Hong Kong)]
* [http://pocarisweat.co.kr/ Pocari Sweat (Korean)]
* [http://www.pocarisweat.com.ph/ Pocari Sweat (Philippine English)]