[ ...we now return to "Why Amanda Rocks & She Found In Japan," already in progress: ]

Now, I realize that it's probably not too hard to get ahold of this stuff at Japanese-themed ethnic grocery stores in pretty much any urban center, but it's still (totally) sweet to have a pack that came from its motherland not as a faceless member of a retail box destined for a dusty, unclean-feeling shelf under the lazily-contemptuous eye of a shopkeeper, but as an individual bundle, selected specifically by a considerate soul to cater to my undeserving face and overdeveloped oral fixation. Did I mention it was caffeinated?

Behold the wonder of the crazy symbols gracing the peculiarly-appealing packaging.

Note not only the odd number of sticks (nine?) but also the "Hi Technical Excellent Taste And Flavor." I mentioned it was caffeinated, right? I haven't looked, but I'd be willing to wager that ThinkGeek sells it for sharply-inflated prices (a la Suncoast's exploitative vending of Pocky).

Anyone know how caffeinated it actually is?

Music: Fountains Of Wayne's "Maureen," a simplistic little gem from their new B-Side compilation.