Awarise

Posted on March 30, 2016 | Last updated February 12, 2025

Awarise
Awarise is an energy drink that became a hot topic as the “Awa Odori-specialized energy drink” from Tokushima. My impression right after its release was that the concept was solid, and it felt like exactly what I had been waiting for! (●´ω｀●)
The can design and concept really reflect the love for Tokushima, but the big question is—how does it taste? Here’s my review of Awarise.

Awarise

Manufacturer	San mac
Country of Origin	Japan
Price	150 JPY
Flavor	Citrus fruit
Total rating	★★★★★

Author information Author: Energy Drink-kun

In 2001, while living in the United States, I encountered energy drinks through the dance scene and was deeply impressed. After returning to Japan, I found that energy drinks were considered novelty beverages, so I established a comprehensive website in 2013 to share the true appeal of energy drinks. As an energy drink enthusiast, I began drinking them seriously again, collecting over 7,000 varieties of energy drinks from various countries. I am also active as a critic and expert, receiving media interviews.

Flavor of Awarise

When you open the can, a strong citrus aroma, like yuzu, immediately bursts out. It’s the exact refreshing scent of yuzu, so it feels as though the fruit itself has been concentrated and packed into the can. The yuzu flavor promises a satisfying experience even before drinking it ((o(´∀｀)o))

Awarise
When poured into a glass, the color is a cloudy, deep yellow, with the strength of the fragrance reflected in the rich color.

When tasting it, the strong acidity of citrus fruits like yuzu and sudachi stands out. The strength of this acidity is close to that of lemon-flavored vitamin C drinks in bottles.

The yuzu scent that wafts through the nose doesn’t only carry the fresh fruit flavor, but also hints of bitterness and astringency from the peel. These flavors are released together, which far exceeds the image you might have for just 1% fruit juice. Despite the fruit juice content being just 1%, the flavor feels like a satisfying juice due to the peel sensation blending with the fragrance.

As a representative of satisfying fruit-flavored energy drinks, I believe that if the "Juice Monster" series had a yuzu flavor, it could be made exactly like Awarise at a high level.

Among recent domestic energy drinks, Awarise is by far the most delicious ( ´∀｀)b Good!

Energy Ingredients of Awarise

Caffeine 80mg, Arginine 300mg – these are standard levels.

I’m not a fan of discussing trace ingredients as if they drastically affect the energy drink’s effect, but if the goal is to maximize the concept of the Awa Odori-specialized energy drink, it might have been interesting to add amino acids like BCAA along with arginine to enhance endurance and reduce fatigue.

For example, it could have been marketed as something to boost energy before participating in the Awa Odori or to refresh afterward with the citrusy yuzu flavor. Adding just a bit of these ingredients might have changed the overall impression of the drink.

The inclusion of Tokushima-grown yuzu juice is fantastic. It's a collaboration of Tokushima’s Awa Odori, the local yuzu, and the energy drink – a perfect three-way partnership. If anything, I’d love to see even more fruit juice added to make it even more "Tokushima"-flavored.

Design of Awarise

Awarise
When I saw the press release when Awarise was launched, I was really drawn to this design. While the narrow target of being “for Awa Odori” might make it seem gimmicky, the concept and content are surprisingly solid, so I didn’t see it as just a gimmick at all.

The glossy silver with blue "Awa Rise" text is cool, and when you say “Awarise” in an English-style pronunciation, it somehow sounds fitting (*´艸｀*)

Awarise
The silhouette of the dancer (I’ll intentionally call them a dancer! lol) on the design blends perfectly into the shiny silver without sticking out too much. If it had been more pronounced, it could have been seen as tacky, but in this case, it doesn’t overpower the design, even though it’s for a specialized product (^_^;)

On the side of the can, there’s the phrase "Let’s dance until morning! Let’s dance together!" – it’s unclear whether this is serious or just part of the gimmick, lol. Small English text filling in the gaps encourages both the dancers and the spectators to enjoy dancing wildly, and it does an excellent job of representing the local culture and community. I definitely felt like this was exactly what I had been waiting for when I held it in my hands (ｕ_ｕ*)

Awarise
On the back, there’s information about Awa Odori and Awarise. It’s written sincerely, but it’s also easy to take it as a fun gimmick. It’s really well done.

Awarise
Lastly, the pull tab is the standard silver tab. If it had been blue, the same as the Awarise logo color… It’s clear that a lot of thought went into the design, so if they’d paid attention to the pull tab too, it would’ve been a great touch! Energy drink enthusiasts would’ve loved it, I think, lol.