Visited the Red Bull Japan headquarters for the Summer Edition Tropic Party

Arriving at the Red Bull Japan Headquarters for the First Time

I can see the tall white building housing Red Bull Japan. It's just past 7 PM, and the building is lit up as it’s getting dark. I wonder if we go in through there? As I get closer...

Hmm? It looks like this entrance on the first floor isn’t the one we’re using today. There’s a studio in the far left corner, and it looks like it’s being used effectively. The entrance is quite open and stylish, with a high ceiling.
If you go further right, there’s an elevator that takes you to the 5th floor...

Upon arriving on the 5th floor, I was given a Summer Edition neck strap with my name, "Energy Drink Man," printed on it.

It was really nice that they made individual ones for everyone (ｕ_ｕ*)
Everyone here is definitely a Red Bull fan, so I think this was the first emotional moment for many of us!

Unexpectedly Encountering a Red Bull Girl at the Headquarters

And, though it was a bit sudden, I didn’t get to take any photos, but I was given a Summer Edition 185 by the cute Red Bull Girl, along with a message strap that’s typically given during Red Bull’s sampling events.
On the day I first visited the Red Bull Japan headquarters, I received a sampling product from a Red Bull Girl for the first time, which was a personally delightful experience (*´艸｀*)

I’ve never actually come across sampling events with any other brands, so it was a pleasant surprise. Hopefully, I'll run into one again soon!

Red Bull and the Promotion of the Summer Edition

Before the party began, we were led into a theater room with a screen, where we waited for the event to start.

The room was pretty dark, and a continuous loop of Red Bull videos was playing. The agile event hosts connected the atmosphere, while more Red Bull Friends participants kept arriving. Before going, I wondered what kind of crowd would gather, but there were mostly normal people, with some photo-worthy ladies mixed in. It wasn’t the typical “Red Bull party vibe,” and seemed like a gathering of true fans.

When the event started, we heard about Red Bull’s global history, product concepts, and some behind-the-scenes stories about the development of the Summer Edition.

We got to see how quickly Red Bull spread from Austria, how it expanded to different countries, and its journey in Japan, all visually shown on the screen. Reflecting on my own experiences in America, I enjoyed this enlightenment session while listening to the explanation. It was a nice time for growing the fan base, though it was a more serious segment amidst the party vibe.

Then, the development of the Summer Edition was discussed. As I mentioned in the review of the Japan version of Red Bull Summer Edition, the taste differs from the American version. The main difference is that it’s closer to a flavor inspired by Japanese fruits like mikan and yuzu, created to appeal to the Japanese palate.

I immediately recognized this difference when I tasted it after receiving it at the entrance.

Additionally, someone appeared to make cocktails, and 10 lucky participants were selected to create their own cocktails. Unfortunately, I didn’t make the cut, but I won a Red Bull DVD after progressing through a quiz and rock-paper-scissors challenge!

It wasn’t about the contents, but it was memorable to have won it within the Red Bull community, and I was very happy.

Relaxing with Red Bull Summer Edition Cocktails

We then moved to the main floor and took our time sipping on Red Bull Summer Edition cocktails.

It was a really fulfilling experience. I thought cocktails were just a mix of Red Bull and alcohol, but there were many thoughtful additions like aroma and fruits, and they weren’t just hastily put together. The cocktails made by the professionals were definitely delicious.

The Red Bull lounge had high ceilings and was spacious.

When everyone had gathered, it was time to raise our glasses!

Next to the bar area, there were snacks and small fruits, and I couldn’t resist the shrimp tempura with special tartar sauce, so I had two pieces!

I enjoyed about 6 Red Bull Summer Edition servings: 3 cocktails, 2 cans of 250ml, and the first 185ml can. Maybe I drank a little too much...

Since all the cocktails used Summer Edition, they had tropical fruit flavors. The aroma additions were especially effective, and I really enjoyed the cocktail segment. This party was perfect for those who want to learn more about mixing drinks.

Also, the Summer Edition flavor is just too good, and I realized this after drinking 6 cans.

By the way, there were some REDBULLETIN magazines available for free, and everyone grabbed a handful. I mean, it’s a nice souvenir, right?

The DJ at the Red Bull lounge played music all evening, but it wasn’t too loud and chaotic, which I personally appreciated.

The Red Bull Friends were all chatting, taking photos in front of the Summer Edition coolers, talking to Red Bull staff, and enjoying the Summer Edition cocktails. I think everyone had a great time.

As Energy Drink Man, I really appreciated the relaxed vibe. It's a bit tedious when there are endless activities, so I liked how the event flowed. However, I think more displays or video screenings about Red Bull’s past activities could have made the experience even better for fans. I hope future events will have more of that “free-spirited” informative atmosphere.

Chatting with the Red Bull Team

I had a brief chat with some of the Red Bull team. I wasn’t expecting much, but I did mention that I hope they’ll make the Edition flavors a regular thing.
I also got to ask about Red Bull’s collaboration between the Austrian headquarters and Japan, as well as the expansion in America. I can’t share everything here, but I did finally get answers to some questions I had about Red Bull in the U.S.
Even though there was only a limited amount of information we could discuss, it’s amazing how many things come up just through casual conversation. No need to ask specific questions when everything just connects naturally.
The staff was sober, but I thought it might be fun to have a drink and chat next time.
Anyway, the people I interacted with were all very kind.

Filling Out a Survey and Receiving Souvenirs Before Heading Home

Finally, I filled out the survey for the event _〆(・ω・｀ )ｶｷｶｷ
I apologize for my messy handwriting, but I had a lot to say on the form! I definitely want to participate again if there’s another event.

Also, I received a souvenir from Red Bull Friends that attended. It was the same as the Summer Edition 185ml two-can box set given to 500 winners in another promotional campaign. The label was clean, without a name sticker on it.

I also received a Tropic USB drive with Red Bull footage. I also brought home the Infinity neck strap I was wearing, and the DVD I won from rock-paper-scissors!

Since this was the first event for Red Bull Friends, I’m sure the team worked hard to organize everything. I’m really happy I could participate, and I hope there will be more events in the future where fans can connect with each other. (●´ω｀●)