Hyo-chan, Soy Sauce Container

Collector's item.

Ashinano, Hitoshi. 1998. Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou. Chapter 40. Vol. 5, Page 122, Panel 4.

'Hyo-chan' is a soy sauce container that comes with Kiyo-ken's shaomai lunch packs. It is made of ceramic.

A shaomai is a Chinese-style steamed dumpling. Some Chinese people say that Japanese shaomai are far different from "genuine" Chinese ones.

Kiyo-ken is a Yokohama-based company that sells shaomai and bento lunch packs.

Some people collect Hyo-chan. Old Hyo-chan seem to be real collector's items.

Bigger Hyo-chan

This one looks similar to Ayase's ones. Mine are not rare at all, though.

Smaller Hyo-chan

Smaller ones look slightly different from Ayase's.

Shaomai Lunch Packs

Hyo-chan comes only with Kiyo-ken's shaomai lunch packs. They are not sold separately.

Cheaper shaomai lunch packs come with smaller Hyo-chan. If you want a bigger Hyo-chan, get a pack with a higher price tag.

'Mukashi nagara no Siumai 30 tsubu iri', 1000 Yen.
"30 Old-fashioned Shaomai Pack", about US$9.

'Tokusei Siumai 12 tsubu iri', 1200 Yen.
"12 Deluxe Shaomai Pack", about US$11.

Conclusion

Soy sauce is not rare in Alpha's world. Hyo-chan is.

When you visit Yokohama or Tokyo, don't forget to get a shaomai pack at one of Kiyo-ken's kiosks. I would suggest you bring your YKK book, show and tell them you need a bigger Hyo-chan, not a smaller one.

(Some of Kiyo-ken's kiosks)

Links

Hyo-chan Collecting by Hiroyuki Morita

You can learn more about Hyo-chan.

Take A Tour of Kiyoken's Yokohama Factory by Yokohama Convention & Visitors Bureau

More info on Kiyo-ken and Hyo-chan.

If You Like YKK

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