A Brief History of Glico, Creator of Pocky

Ezaki Glico kept Glico-Caramel and their cheerful racer as the face of the company for many years. In 1935, the neon Glico Running Man was set up along the Dōtonbori Canal in Osaka. It remained in place for fifty three years, until in 1998 it was updated with the billboard that stands there today. Countless other bright and flashy billboards have been erected in Dōtonbori over the years. They – and the Glico Running Man – have become a symbol of the city and one of Osaka’s most visited tourist destinations.

One snack would soon surpass Glico-Caramel in domestic popularity and international fame: Pocky. The chocolate covered pretzel sticks hit the market in 1966, and just five years later the first new flavor (almond) was added. Pocky is sold in several countries around the world, sometimes under a different name. Nevertheless, some of Pocky’s most sought after products are those region-specific, only-in-Japan flavors, like tangerine, red bean and melon.