Mixed Juice Day (Mikkusu Jūsu no Hi)

What Is Mixed Juice Day?

Every year on March 9, Japan celebrates "Mixed Juice Day," established by Ookini Coffee Co., Ltd., which runs coffee shops in Osaka, and registered with the Japan Anniversary Association in 2017. The date comes from a wordplay on "mi (3) kku (9) su" ("mix"), and also from "ōkini = thank you = san-kyū (39)." The aim is to promote the "Ookini! Mixed Juice Project," spreading Osaka's "energy drink," mixed juice, around the world and making everyone smile.

Born From Osaka's Café Culture

Kansai-style mixed juice spread along with Osaka's café culture.

• Born in Shinsekai: The drink is said to have originated at a fruit shop founded in 1948 in Jan-Jan Yokocho, in Osaka's Shinsekai district. In 1960 the shop became the café "Sennariya Coffee," known as the birthplace of mixed juice.
• Classic ingredients: It is typically made by blending fruits such as peaches, mandarins, bananas, pineapple and apples with milk. Each café has its own recipe and flavor.

Fun Facts About Mixed Juice

• Can't be called "juice" in a can: Under Japan's labeling rules, packaged drinks can only be called "juice" if they are 100% fruit juice, so milk-based mixed juice sold in containers uses other names — one canned product is playfully called "Mikkuchu Jūchu."
• The role of ice: Many shops add a bit of ice when blending, giving the drink a refreshingly cold, milkshake-like texture when served.
• A regional difference: Outside the Kinki (Kansai) region, "mixed juice" usually means a blend of fruit juices, but in Kinki it typically refers to fruit blended with milk.
• An evolving classic: Newer versions made with soy milk, almond milk, or superfoods have appeared, drawing renewed interest from younger generations.
• A different taste every time: Since the flavor depends on whatever seasonal fruit is on hand, homemade mixed juice always offers a unique "one-of-a-kind" taste experience.

A Refreshing Harmony for Body and Mind

Mixed Juice Day celebrates the "harmony" created when different individual flavors blend together. Just as the sweetness of banana, the tang of citrus, and the gentle creaminess of milk come together as one, our everyday lives also become richer and more layered when different elements mix. On March 9, why not whip up a glass packed with your favorite fruits, refresh your whole body, and enjoy a moment filled with smiles?

Ideas for Enjoying Mixed Juice Day

• Blend your favorite fruits with milk at home to find your own "perfect golden ratio" mixed juice
• Visit a retro café and enjoy a professionally made, rich mixed juice while soaking in the relaxed atmosphere
• In a nod to the date's wordplay with "39" (sounding like "thank you"), express gratitude to the shop staff who serve you great drinks, or to the farmers who grow the fruit
• Host a "mixed juice party" with friends or family, where everyone brings their favorite fruit and shares the results together

A Mix of Talents Creates the Best Harmony

March 9 is a day when your many different talents come together to create something new and valuable. Just as individual experiences blend into a flavor that's uniquely yours, may today be a satisfying, refreshing, and wonderfully "fruity" day for you!