generic Hi-Chew bids farewell to its green apple flavor after 40 years
Morinaga, the company behind the popular Japanese candy Hi-Chew, announced on Tuesday that its iconic green apple flavor would be retiring.
The 12-piece green apple Hi-Chew pack was first introduced in 1982, and after 40 years will be retired due to Morinaga's focus on new flavor lineups and varieties. Production for solo packs of the green apple flavor will conclude at the end of August, according to the company.
To bid a proper farewell, Morinaga released a series of animated goodbye videos where the green apple flavor receives a chance to say its farewells to fans and coworkers, including the strawberry flavor, as “Auld Lang Syne” plays in the background.
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Japanese voice actor Tomokazu Sugita, who has done character voices for “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” and “Gintama,” portrays Green Apple.
In the video, Green Apple breaks the news to Strawberry, who breaks down in tears. A humorous moment shows a zoom-in on Strawberry as she states out loud: “Ahh, it’s just Green Apple that’s getting retired. Good. Hahaha!”
Another video shows Green Apple asking his junior coworker Aoringo, a green apple flavor in the spinoff line Umai-Chew, the difference between the two. Aoringo explains that unlike Green Apple, he is made of “a crisp outer layer” and “my flavor is all like ‘heeyyyy’ in your mouth.”
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The final video shows Green Apple tearing up as it addresses viewers directly, thanking its fans for enjoying the flavor.
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“And so, everyone, the time has come to say goodbye. I, Green Apple, am being retired. Thank you, thank you so much for these 40 yea-,” Green Apple says before being cut off.
In the background, a mother tells her son to pick out a Hi-Chew flavor, who then picks up Green Apple as the candy screams.
Although the green apple-only 12-piece pack will no longer be available, the flavor will still be available in assorted-flavor packs mixed with grape and strawberry pieces.
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