Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on May 2013

You can’t tell his age with that mask on, but Ultraman is turning 50. Still, his appeal to children is to be further cemented by a collaboration with Akagi Nyugyo Corporation’s ice popsicle character Gari-Gari-kun—the one with the beads of sweat and toothy grin. The limited-release-only Rich! Strawberry Au Lait and Jelly (¥126) is on sale at conbini around the land and comes in three different wrappers featuring Ultraman, Ultra Seven and Ultraman Zero. Look out for the kanji 当り(atari) which means you have won an exclusive Gari-Gari x Ultraman T-shirt (S/M/L/XL). Other wacky Gari-Gari-kun flavors out at the moment include spring-like honey and lemon squash, and hard-to-comprehend corn potage.