Minor Energy Drinks in Japan

Posted on July 22, 2022 | Last updated February 10, 2025

Rare Energy Drinks Sold in Japan But Rarely Seen in Stores

This is a summary of rare energy drinks sold in Japan that are hardly seen in stores. In many cases, these products struggle to secure sales channels and have difficulty finding retailers to carry them.

Because they are minor, many energy drinks have been discontinued over time. Here, I’ll summarize products that are extremely hard to find in stores.

Additionally, I’ll provide a brief explanation of energy drinks that were once released and might have been considered "minor," but in reality, weren’t quite as minor as they were thought to be.

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.

Energy Drinks That Have Been Sold for a Long Time Yet Are Still Considered Minor

GO & FUN Energy Drink

GO & FUN Energy Drink
This energy drink brand, GO & FUN Energy Drink, originates from Italy. It has a strong green tea catechin flavor and a fruity taste, making for a unique flavor experience. Personally, I quite like the taste.

It has been sold in Japan for a long time, even using soccer players for promotion, and releasing collaboration cans with Evangelion and Hatsune Miku. It seems to be active in the racing industry as well, but you rarely see the product itself. Depending on the store, it can sometimes be found in shops like Don Quijote, which carry large amounts of energy drinks.

That said, it has become one of the minor energy drinks that is now rarely seen.

Infinity Energy Drink Plus 10

Infinity Energy Drink Plus 10
This is an energy drink released by Japan Beer. It has a mild, classic flavor that is appealing to a wide audience. I’ve only seen it in stores once. It seems there are very few stores that sell it. The price is quite high at 250 yen, so even if you find it, it’s difficult to justify a repeat purchase.

It’s so minor that many people might not even know it exists.

Explosion Energy Drink

Explosion Energy Drink
This energy drink comes from the famous protein brand, Explosion. It seems to have already been discontinued. With its rich, classic flavor, it delivers a strong punch of flavor.

The ingredients are among the top in Japan, developed by a powerlifting champion, making it a serious energy drink. There was nothing like it, not just in Japan but even worldwide. This is a great example of an energy drink made seriously by competitors. The components are made with highly safe ingredients, and personally, I highly rated the trustworthiness of the creators.

While the product seemed to be sold through various channels, it was too expensive, and likely failed to gain enough repeat customers, causing it to fade away. Ultimately, it was sold through official online stores before disappearing. It’s a shame that this world-class energy drink was left as a minor product.

Energy Drinks That Are Often Considered Minor But Aren’t Really Minor

Many energy drinks that were introduced in internet articles about minor energy drinks aren't actually that minor.

During the first energy drink boom, new energy drinks were released almost every week, and it was a crazy time. In many cases, these drinks were often available in convenience stores, so they were not hard to find and weren't the type of drinks that you would struggle to find.

For example, energy drinks like "Enemania", "Beast Eye", and "Hacco" were available in convenience stores during that time.

Due to their somewhat uncool vibe, they were often thought of as minor, and of course, they could never become major brands. However, since there are much more minor products out there, it’s not right to include these among them.

I’d classify energy drinks that you don’t normally see in everyday life but have been on sale for a reasonable amount of time as minor energy drinks.