Limited Edition 260,000 Won 'Choco Song-i Earphones'... Sold Out in Japan Within 10 Minutes

Limited to 3,500 units... About 260,000 KRW
Equipped with automatic translation in 144 languages
Some say "Children may swallow due to snack-like shape"

Japanese local media, including Nippon Television, reported on the 27th that wireless earphones shaped like the Japanese snack 'Kinoko no Yama,' considered the original version of Korea's snack 'Choco Songyi,' sold out within 10 minutes of release.

Wireless earphones nicknamed 'Choco Song-i,' inspired by the Japanese snack Kinoko no Yama
[Photo by ANN News Japan]

Japanese food company Meiji released a limited quantity of 3,500 wireless earphones modeled after the popular snack 'Kinoko no Yama' starting at noon on the 26th. Although the product was launched at a high price of 29,800 yen (approximately 260,000 KRW) including tax, it reportedly sold out within 10 minutes of release. On local Japanese social media (SNS), reactions such as "I waited to buy it but failed" and "Sold out in just 10 minutes" poured in.

Kinoko no Yama is a snack released by Orion in 1984, considered the original version of Korea's Choco Songyi. The Japanese food company Meiji launched it in the 1970s, and it has been loved by the Japanese public for many years.

This limited edition product is a realization of the 'Kinoko no Yama wireless earphones' image that Meiji showcased last July on its official SNS under the theme of 'unlikely miscellaneous goods.' At that time, Meiji presented virtual images of wireless earphones closely resembling Choco Songyi and a case image that faithfully reproduced the packaging of the actual Kinoko no Yama snack box. Although this product was only a virtual image and not officially released then, the cute design sparked explosive reactions not only in Japan but also in Korea, leading to numerous requests for its release.

Responding to consumer enthusiasm, Meiji developed and released the limited edition after seven months of development. Like regular wireless earphones, the product can be used for listening to music or making regular calls. It also features a simultaneous automatic translation function that provides real-time translation for 74 languages and 70 dialect accents worldwide. Weatherly Japan, responsible for the earphone-type real-time AI translator 'Woask,' cooperated in the development and production of this product.

However, concerns were raised upon release that the earphones, shaped exactly like the snack, might be mistaken by children for food and actually eaten or swallowed. Since wireless earphones have become widespread, incidents of swallowing them have frequently occurred, and there is a concern that the Choco Songyi shape could increase the likelihood of children mistaking them for snacks, potentially leading to more accidents.