When its hot outside we look for any and every way we can possibly cool down; such as jumping into a swimming pool, or downing cup after cup of ice cold drinks. Even though Summer may be over and the weather may be cooling down, there seems to be one particular drink that both Japanese guys and girls along with anime fans can’t seem to get enough of. In the anime known as Dagashi Kashi, Hotaru was seen near the end of the opening drinking this well-known soft drink. What is it you ask? It is the Summertime drink straight outta Japan known as…Ramune.

What is it about this carbonated drink that has made it so famous? Could it have something to do with the person who introduced it to Japan back in Meiji Period? (Alexander Cameron Sim, by the way.) There are several theories about the origin of how Ramune came to be such a popular item, but 140+ years later it’s still popular both in and outside of Japan. For those who are just seeing it for the very first time, Ramune can be picked out from the design of its bottle; called a codd-neck bottle. (Thanks, Hiram Codd!) Because Ramune has been given the nickname “marble soda” due to the fact that there’s a small marble sealed within the bottle, you have to open it a little differently than your average soda. There’s a small device that allows you to push the marble inward using a little force (or course), and BAM! You’re ready to enjoy the sweet flavor of Ramune.

There are about 37 different flavors of Ramune; such as Blue Raspberry, Cherry, Orange, Melon, Grape, Coconut, Pineapple, Strawberry, and so much more. Nowadays you rarely see the codd-neck bottle design for soda (other than it being used for Ramune), but if you ever find yourself on the hunt for a Summer drink or a drink for any season, give Ramune a try! You’ll find this drink in just about any supermarket in Japan, as well as a select few in North America; by way of Wegmans and other family-owned stores. If you live in the UK you also might find it over there as well.

Ramune can be categorized as the Japanese version of Sprite due to its sweet lemon-lime flavor found in the original. It’s one of those kind of drinks that you can enjoy anytime; especially if you’re watching anime or reading manga, then it just might enhance the otaku experience. So if you were given the chance to try Ramune for the first time, would you? Let us know in the comments down below!

That will wrap up this filler post for the time being, but we’ll be returning with some new and exciting ones in October of next week! Until then my friends, if life gives you lemons, drink Ramune! 😉