In honor of Children's Day, I decided to review a candy I normally would never buy because it's sold with the kids' candies, a section which includes things like Ultraman gummies and Hello Kitty lollipops, invariably displayed from around knee height down. But within the enormous bag of snacks I won at the sushi party, I found this: Chocoball Apple Pie, which promises, "It's like having a piece of apple pie with vanilla ice cream..." above a very-'50s picture of apple pie a la mode. I was intrigued.

I had seen the line of Chocoball products before, but never trusted it enough to try it. I blame the mascot, a big-beaked bird named Kyorochan. For some reason I cannot currently explain, I just didn't like her face, which always looked a bit smug to me. Why should a wing-less, flight-less, scarf-bedecked bird look so smug? I thought. But now I understand. It's because she has invented a chocoball candy that's like having a piece of apple pie with vanilla ice cream. It's pretty incredible, actually. In a tiny ball of white-chocolate-covered crunch are the subtle tastes of apple, cinnamon and vanilla, neither too sweet nor artificial, with the crunchy center providing a sort of pie crust sensation. It even smells like apple pie. Kyorochan, I salute you.

Once again, Japan has provided me with a bizarre, Wonka-esque candy experience, but this time it is actually good, a realization of all the candy fantasies I had while reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when I was a kid. From now on, I might have to start getting eye-level with the kids' candies more often.