Pine Ame Day

What Is Pine Ame Day?

August 8th is "Pine Ame Day" in Japan, celebrating the classic pineapple-shaped candy. The date comes from the four "rings" (◎) in "8/8" evoking the candy's motif, a ring-cut canned pineapple slice. It was established by its maker, Pine Co., Ltd., based in Osaka, and registered with the Japan Anniversary Association in 2015.

Born in 1951, a Long-Loved National Candy

Pine Ame is one of Japan's iconic long-selling candies, known for its distinctive sweet-and-tart flavor and its shape, reminiscent of a ring-cut pineapple slice.

• Origin: the "8/8" date is read as four rings (◎), echoing the candy's ring-cut pineapple motif
• Its debut: the first Pine Ame was completed in 1951; it was sold in jars for 1 yen per piece
• A seasonal connection: pineapple being a summer fruit is also part of why this time of year was chosen

The First Pine Ame Actually Had No Hole

The hole in the middle is now Pine Ame's trademark, but the very first version didn't have one. There was no technology to make holes at the time, so it was a flat candy simply stamped with a pineapple-ring pattern, and it was called "Pineapple Ame." The founding president insisted on a hole, and at first holes were poked one by one with bamboo chopsticks wrapped in cotton. In 1953, an automatic hole-punching machine was completed, creating the prototype of today's Pine Ame.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Pick up some Pine Ame and enjoy that nostalgic taste
• Reflect on candy memories from your childhood
• Enjoy a pineapple-based sweet or drink
• Look into what's kept long-selling products like this one beloved for so long

A Ring-Cut Pineapple Shape That Never Loses Its Nostalgia

Loved for more than 70 years, Pine Ame is a nostalgic taste for generations of fans. August 8th is a day to savor that distinctive sweet-and-tart flavor once again.