Japan is a master in practical design – check out this creative packaging from onigiri wrappers to origami KitKat bags
Japan is famous for its time-saving innovations and offbeat products, but it’s not only what’s in the box that’s inventive. In Japan, the package can be as creative as its contents.
Packaging here goes beyond just protecting and covering your items. Containers and wrappers have been designed solely with the user in mind, helping make your life easier, more convenient, and a bit more fun. There’s even an annual competition for new packaging designs.
It’s true that there’s a lot of unnecessary plastic used in packaging in Japan, but big brands are making efforts to reduce plastic waste by switching to eco-friendly alternatives. And that’s just the start. From built-in strainers for your instant noodles to those iconic onigiri rice ball wrappers, here’s some of the most ingenious packaging you’ll find in Japan.
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Onigiri wrappers have come a long way – convenience stores like 7-Eleven and FamilyMart even use eco-friendly plastic packaging for their rice balls now. But what makes the humble onigiri wrapper one of our favourites is that the nori seaweed layer is wrapped separately from the rice ball, keeping it crisp and fresh until you’re ready to eat it. Just be sure to follow the numbers on the packaging to unwrap it properly.
These nifty bottles are mostly used for soy sauce and other liquid condiments, which can lose their flavour if they’re exposed to the air for too long. The trick here is that the sauce in the bottle is inside a smaller airtight container, and you need to squeeze it to open up the airlock and pour your sauce. Another bonus: no more spills if you accidentally knock the bottle over.
This is the kind of handy time-saver you might not even know about until someone points it out. Located on the bottom of a Japanese pudding container, this little tab lets you dispense the pudding in one smooth motion, without having to dig it out or ruin its pretty shape. Just snap the tab and the pudding will fall out into your bowl.
In an effort to reduce plastic waste, KitKat has gone eco-friendly by offering fun-size bars in paper bags. But don’t throw away the packaging – the bags double as origami paper. What better way to practice folding paper cranes than while you’ve got chocolate handy to motivate you?
Not all instant noodles in Japan are cups of ramen. These tasty yakisoba noodles are cooked in hot water, drained, and then mixed with flavouring. But you don’t need to pull out any kitchen equipment to prep them. The package features a built-in water strainer in the corner that lets you pour out the hot water before mixing in the flavouring packets.
Have you ever noticed the little notch on milk cartons in Japan? It's there to help people with a visual impairment differentiate whole milk from skim milk and other dairy products that come in cartons. It also marks the side of the carton that's opposite the opening, so if you’re ever in doubt about which side you’re meant to pour your milk from, now you know.
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