RAIZIN PROTO TYPE

Posted on February 2, 2016 | Last updated February 12, 2025

RAIZIN PROTO TYPE (Prototype)
A new flavor was released by Taisho Pharmaceutical's RAIZIN in 2016! Following the announcement in the news, the next week saw the release of the "RAIZIN Bonus Pack," which includes both RAIZIN and RAIZIN Prototype as a set.
This time, I will be reviewing the RAIZIN Prototype, which was sold as a limited-time product before its official release.

RAIZIN PROTO TYPE

Manufacturer	Taisho seiyaku
Country of Origin	Japan
Price	190 JPY
Flavor
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 RAIZIN PROTO TYPE (Prototype)

When I first glanced at the ingredients, I saw ginger extract listed, and I immediately thought, "Here we go again with the spicy ones..." which was a bit of a letdown.

However, when I opened the can and checked the scent, I could detect a slight ginger-like spicy aroma, but it was much milder than I had imagined.

By the way, when I opened a regular RAIZIN to compare, the smell was definitely stronger. From the scent alone, it was clear that the prototype was very different from the original RAIZIN.

RAIZIN PROTO TYPE (Prototype)
When I took a sip... ( ﾟдﾟ)ﾊｯ! The ginger flavor was almost nonexistent. I'm particularly sensitive to spicy ingredients, but I couldn't feel any heat at all!

What I first noticed when tasting the prototype was the sweetness. It was incredibly sweet. There was no chemical taste that you might typically expect from an energy drink; instead, it was a smooth, fruity sweetness as the main flavor.

It vaguely reminded me of the sweet taste of syrup I used to drink as a kid. Hmm, maybe that's where the chemical taste is hiding? Since there is no bitterness, the chemical flavor might be subtly subdued.

The aftertaste leaves a sweet residue, and the aroma lingers gently. It also has a "Mogu-Mogu" texture similar to Monster Energy, leaving a rich aftertaste. This combination of aroma and the bold sweetness gives it quite a satisfying drink.

Energy Ingredients of RAIZIN PROTO TYPE

There is no listed caffeine amount, and when I inquired, they mentioned that it hasn't been announced yet. If it's the same as the original RAIZIN, it should be 80mg. The original doesn't list it on the can, so it would be nice if they included this information.

Ginger extract and spice extracts are included, though obviously in smaller amounts than the original. It seems like there are also more sweeteners. It might be a bit too sweet, but without this level of sweetness, I probably wouldn't be able to drink it (^_^;)

Comparison between RAIZIN and RAIZIN PROTO TYPE

RAIZIN PROTO TYPE (Prototype)
Since the bonus pack included one of each, I decided to do a taste comparison. The colors are almost identical, and it's hard to tell which is which.

However, once you bring the glasses close, you can clearly tell which one is the prototype by the scent alone. The ginger smell from the original RAIZIN is much stronger (ヽ´ω`).

There was no need to compare further since the spiciness and aroma were so different (^_^;)
The sweetness in the prototype feels like an enhancement of the already sweeter version from the rebranding of RAIZIN Japan by Taisho Pharmaceutical. On the other hand, the spice level has been drastically reduced, leaving it with less of a punch.

Ultimately, the key characteristic is its sweetness, but the RAIZIN "signature" has been almost entirely lost. With this flavor, they could have just released a completely different product. That said, creating a series based on different spice levels could also be interesting!

RAIZIN PROTO TYPE (Prototype)
However, when I drink the original RAIZIN, my stomach starts to feel a little tingling...

RAIZIN PROTO TYPE (Prototype)
If I had to choose between the two, I would definitely go for the prototype. The official release date is still undecided, and they have only vaguely hinted that it might be released after the bonus pack sells out. It would be interesting if the design changes when it's officially released ((o(´∀｀)o))

Future Developments of RAIZIN PROTO TYPE

The prototype, which was released as part of a limited-time bonus pack, will likely be officially launched at some point, though the exact timing is still uncertain.

RAIZIN PROTO TYPE (Prototype)
One thing that has caught many people's attention is the codename "GW" on the front of the can. When I first saw it, I thought it could be something like Golden Week or Ginger Water, but...

I predict it could be "RAIZIN Green Wing"! The green color of the "RAIZIN PROTO TYPE" text seems to tie into this idea. Additionally, I think there could be two more flavors: "RAIZIN Blue Wing" and "RAIZIN Red Wing."

...I wrote this like a prophecy, but the truth is I just happened to find these three names that have been trademarked (^_^;)
And from there, I concluded that the codename "GW" probably stands for "Green Wing." If the prototype is one of these early releases, then there's a high chance that the RAIZIN series will expand further. I have no idea if this will happen, though!

Energy drink enthusiasts like me might be the only ones who notice these things! When I saw this, I felt that there are actually a lot of things being prepared behind the scenes, and it made me a little more excited about RAIZIN's potential future! I'm looking forward to their future promotions ((o(´∀｀)o))