House Foods’ long-selling potato chip brand, “O’ZACK,” is releasing a long-awaited new flavor. This time, it’s the “Ginger Pork Flavor,” a recreation of “Shogayaki,” a familiar dish on dinner tables across Japan. This marks the first new specialty flavor in three years, and it will get an advance launch at 7-Eleven stores all over Japan starting December 8, 2025.
One of the great appeals of Japanese convenience stores is the frequent appearance of limited-edition or pre-release products from famous brands like this. For fans eager to be the first to try them, this “O’ZACK” news is something you won’t want to miss.
What is “Shogayaki,” the Classic Japanese Home-Cooked Meal?
For our international readers, the word “Shogayaki” might not be very familiar. Shogayaki is a quintessential Japanese home-cooked dish made by grilling pork with a sauce of grated ginger, soy sauce, and mirin (a sweet cooking wine). It’s characterized by its savory-sweet and fragrant flavor and the appetite-whetting aroma of ginger, making it an incredibly popular item on “Teishoku” (set meal) menus at restaurants.
This new flavor is an attempt to recreate this very national “mother’s home cooking” in potato chip form. It’s fascinating to think about how the umami of pork and the flavor of the ginger-infused sweet soy sauce will meld with the taste of the potato.
The Secret to O’ZACK’s Unique, Signature Texture
One of the reasons “O’ZACK” has been loved by so many since its launch in 1990 is its unique texture.
The secret lies in House Foods’ proprietary “bubbling manufacturing method.” This process causes the surface of the potato chips to puff up with bumps, creating a satisfyingly crunchy, hearty texture. The concept behind “O’ZACK” isn’t just that the taste is good, but that “even the sound is delicious.” This addictive crunch is, of course, alive and well in the new “Ginger Pork Flavor.”
The First New Flavor in 3 Years! The Story Behind the Development
Until now, “O’ZACK” has focused mainly on its classic products like “Lightly Salted” and “Seaweed Salt.” However, there have always been calls from fans for new flavors. With no new specialty varieties released since September 2022, the company decided to move forward with this new product’s development.
There’s a reason “Ginger Pork” was chosen from among numerous flavor candidates. In the history of “O’ZACK,” meat-based flavors have been particularly popular. Furthermore, in recent years, recipe searches for “Shogayaki” have been trending upward in Japan, reaffirming its high level of popularity. The development team’s hope is that a flavor familiar to so many Japanese people will encourage more customers to pick up a bag.
A Meticulously Balanced Flavor
The top priority during development was, of course, faithfully recreating the “Shogayaki-ness.” The aroma of ginger, the taste of the sweet soy sauce, and the umami of the pork. Countless prototypes were made to find the optimal balance of these elements. The goal was to create a robust flavor that makes you think, “This is Shogayaki!” from the very first bite.
For a Snack or With a Drink
While perfect as a snack for children, this “Ginger Pork Flavor,” with its robust seasoning, is also designed to be enjoyed by adults as an “Otsumami” (a snack to have with alcoholic drinks). In Japan, there is a deep-rooted culture of enjoying snacks with beer or “Chuhai” (Shochu highball), and the snack aisle at convenience stores is a treasure trove of “otsumami.” It’s the perfect item for relaxing after work or for a get-together with friends.
Product Information Summary
If you see these in a Japanese convenience store, why not pick them up? It’s a unique opportunity to experience the warmth of Japanese home cooking in the form of a simple snack.
Product Name: “O’ZACK” <Ginger Pork Flavor>
Contents: 55g
Price: Suggested retail price of 144 yen (before tax)
Release Date:
・Advance launch at 7-Eleven stores in Japan: December 8, 2025
・General release (supermarkets, etc.): January 19, 2026
Release Area: All of Japan
For more details on the product, please check the official website.
https://housefoods.jp/products/catalog/cat_1,snack,pdt,oz.html
Source: 生姜の風味をきかせた香ばしい甘醤油ダレの味わいが楽しめる「オー・ザック」＜生姜焼き味＞2025年12月8日（月）から全国のセブン-イレブンで先行発売2026年１月19日（月）から一般発売
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