Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on March 2010

Photo by Kohji Shiiki

“In the light of the moon a little egg lay on a leaf.” So begins Eric Carle’s famed picture book The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which has been translated into over 50 languages and has proved just as popular in Japan as in the US. And with all the eating going on in the story, it’s no surprise that Sunkus (www.circleksunkus.jp) created a snack to celebrate the book’s 40th anniversary. The Hara-Peko Aomushi Ehon Pan (¥150) is a long breadstick filled with apple, pear, plum, strawberry and orange jam—all the fruits that the hungry caterpillar munches on in the story. Considering the flavor extremes to which many conbini snacks go, we can only be grateful they stopped there—on Day 6 of his culinary journey, the little fellow consumes chocolate cake, pickles, Swiss cheese, salami and a lollipop.

Available at Sunkus stores nationwide