Conbini Boys-logo

Conbini Boys

Arts & Culture Podcasts

Mike and Matt dive into their passion - Japan’s convenience stores, known as conbini. From canned coffee to fried chicken to seasonal one-offs, we’ll be hitting you with the biggest news across the conbini landscape. conbiniboys.substack.com

Location:

United States

Description:

Mike and Matt dive into their passion - Japan’s convenience stores, known as conbini. From canned coffee to fried chicken to seasonal one-offs, we’ll be hitting you with the biggest news across the conbini landscape. conbiniboys.substack.com

Language:

English


Episodes
Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Shrinkflation? Skimpflation?

4/24/2024
Back after a long break! In this week’s episode we discuss: 🐥 Shrunken quantities and skimped qualities 🐥 Daily Yamazaki’s great UI renewal 🐥 The legend of Egashira 2:50 🐥 Ever increasing “sticks” of stuff Watch the episode on YouTube Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

Duration:00:47:01

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Taking a Dip in the Oden Tank

11/29/2023
In this week’s episode we discuss: 🐥 Oden and its mysteries 🐥 Tomato lemonade 🐥 Butter ramen 🐥 Cheese and cod fish sticks Watch the episode on YouTube Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

Duration:00:56:09

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Beat the Heat with Daily Yamazaki

8/23/2023
In this week’s episode we discuss: 🐥 Daily Yamazaki’s plan to cure natsubate 🐥 How never to eat a Famichiki 🐥 Pretzels 🐥 The return of Pierre Hermes Watch the episode on YouTube Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

Duration:00:44:19

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Natsu Matsuri

8/10/2023
In this week’s episode we discuss: 🐥 Summer Festivals (Natsu Matsuri) in Japan (and at Ministop) 🐥 An (abnormally?) large Famichiki 🐥 The ongoing evolution of the Pizza Chip flavor 🐥 An unreal banana bread offering from Daily Yamazaki Watch the episode on YouTube Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

Duration:00:38:22

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Natto Apocalypse at FamilyMart

7/12/2023
In this week’s episode we discuss: 🐥 Natto Day at FamilyMart 🐥 Fish nuggets at Lawson 🐥 Flavorless? Candy 🐥 Double cheesecake at Lawson Watch the episode on YouTube Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

Duration:00:43:19

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Black Thunder!

6/28/2023
In this week’s episode we discuss: 🐥 Black Thunder - one of Japan’s greatest chocolate snacks 🐥 Mini-chikis? 🐥 A rare dual winner/loser out of Daily Yamazaki 🐥 Yet another extraordinary dessert from Lawson Watch the episode on YouTube Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

Duration:00:42:38

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Welcoming Summer in Okinawa

6/14/2023
In this week’s episode we discuss: 🐥 Ministop’s Ode to Okinawa Campaign 🐥 Karapeño Nanachiki from 7-11 🐥 Nagano Grape Ice Cream from Ministop 🐥 A Very Weird Corn Bread from FamilyMart Watch the episode on YouTube Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

Duration:00:42:32

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

The Legend of the Conbini Boys: Tears of the Chiki

5/24/2023
In this week’s episode we discuss: 🐥 Lawson’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom campaign 🐥 The most chikis we’ve ever seen in one week 🐥 Ever increasing abstractions of pizza 🐥 Regulating your body temperature with inarizushi and zarusoba Watch the episode on YouTube Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

Duration:00:45:15

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Celebrating 50 Years of 7-11

5/10/2023
In this week’s episode we discuss: 🐥 7-11’s 50th anniversary and stories history 🐥 Yuzu Kosho Famichiki 🐥 Lawson’s attempt at a bagel 🐥 Giant eclairs Because I am an idiot, I messed up my audio. I used an AI tool to correct it, which did a swell job. But it’s not as good as should be. Watch the episode on YouTube Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

Duration:00:41:14

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

ConbiniGPT

5/4/2023
This week, we decided to let AI to do our work for us. We asked ChatGPT to generate a script for an episode, and were really impressed with it came up with. Follow us on Twitter Check out the Newsletter Watch us on YouTube Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

Duration:00:31:19

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Mother's Day with the Conbini

4/19/2023
After a long break we’re back talking conbini. We review Mother’s Day catalogs, celebrate 20 years of cheese Karaage-kun at Lawson, and look at a stale hot dog at FamilyMart. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/conbiniboys Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaSPvGGbEW7VKQ8Y4MTPBoQ Subscribe to our newsletter: https://conbiniboys.substack.com Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

Duration:00:29:06

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

The Lost Episode

4/12/2023
This week, we take a look at a lost episode. We recorded this one a month or two ago, but couldn't get it out until now. Who knows what we talked about? Something about 4 billion Karaage-kun sold? Sour cream and onion Famichiki? No one knows, but I'm sure it was pretty cool. Follow us on Twitter Check out the Newsletter Watch us on YouTube Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

Duration:00:29:46

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

6X Seaweed and Flameball Pandas

2/17/2023
In this week’s episode we take a look at a bonanza of seasoning and dorodoro ramen at Lawson. Mike issues a warning about spread of the Sugoonigiri and reviews the entire Juicy Asia lineup at McDonald’s. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/conbiniboys Watch us on YouTube: Read our newsletter: https://conbiniboys.substack.com Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

Duration:00:40:31

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Mystery Fried Chicken

1/25/2023
This week, we take a look at an exciting campaign out of Family Mart featuring nazo – that is – mysterious fried chicken. Each region of Japan will have its contender, and the champion will see a nationwide release. We talk about some other mysterious items such as bonjiiri yakitori, Sugo-Oni, and drinkable slime, and then Matt and Mike try to decide if smoked sausage is an acceptable flavor for chicken. Follow us on Twitter Check out the Newsletter Watch us on YouTube Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

Duration:00:34:56

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Crowning the Conbini World Cup Champion

1/14/2023
In this week’s episode, we celebrate the ConbinI World Cup champion and review some of the tournament’s surprising outcomes. We take a look at 3 new chikis, pull back the curtain on a dirty diaper from 7-11, and Mike has a hot take on the Yuzu Kosho Famichiki. Join dumb conversations on Twitter: https://twitter.com/conbiniboys Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@conbiniboys3092/featured Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

Duration:00:34:45

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Conbini World Cup: Round 1, Pretty Much Done

12/22/2022
This week we check in on the first round of the Conbini World Cup. We pick up a couple of matches that stood out to us, including a few shockers that left us both speechless. Then, Matt introduces us to an amazing roast beef sandwich chain. Follow us on Twitter Check out the Newsletter Watch us on YouTube Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

Duration:00:32:01

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

100 Episodes!

12/7/2022
This week, we celebrate our 100th episode by taking a walk down memory lane and looking back on some of our favorite episodes throughout the years. Then, Matt has a big announcement concerning the return of the much loved conbini tournament. Follow us on Twitter Check out the Newsletter Watch us on YouTube Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

Duration:00:32:46

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Conbini Christmas Preview

11/16/2022
In this week’s episode we preview Christmas lineups from the Big Three Conbini. We announce the start of bone season. Mike promotes Mabo tofu and Matt finds one of the strangest conbini items to date. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/conbiniboys Subscribe to our newsletter: https://conbiniboys.substack.com Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

Duration:00:41:28

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

How Much Cheese is Too Much Cheese?

11/13/2022
This week, we’re taking a look at a cheese campaign coming out of Lawson. Will it live up to the legendary Nice Cheese Grand Prix of yore? We’ll have to see. We talk soups and burgers, and on the topic of burgers, Matt relays his experience with an amazing new burger out of Shake Shack. Watch us on YouTube Check out the Newsletter See dumb stuff on Twitter Buy us a Chiki Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

Duration:00:33:44

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Finding Love in a Conbini Haul

11/2/2022
In this week’s episode, we offer more love advice by sharing how to spot THE ONE based on conbini hauls. We take a look at pizza karagekun, Matt questions Monster energy drink rehab-flavor, and Mike hunts for the curry L-Chiki. Subscribe to the Conbini Boys newsletter: https://conbiniboys.substack.com See dumb stuff like this on Twitter Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

Duration:00:33:16