We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Tobacco marketing in Japan is amazing.
We’ve covered offerings from Camel, Lucky Strike and Kent, but the attraction there was purely about marketing. Kool has upped the ante with great marketing on top of the strangest product modification we’ve ever seen. The Kool Boost cigarettes were just released in July and are being sold with a free match case in a plastic ball to promote the “powerball” within.
While Kent’s earlier promotion with their Mintek menthol seam looks pretty cool visually, when you squeeze the Kool Boost filter you literally burst the powerball, releasing its (rather strong) menthol goodness as outlined in the above diagram. We opened one up to see what it looked like (see below), and they weren’t kidding.
Stuff like this goes over well in Japan, particularly when tobacco is sold in creative packaging, however wasteful it may be. The plastic balls themselves were all piled into a big bin like in a children’s ball pit at Chuck E. Cheese, so at first I thought they were toys. However, what raises the ire of nanny-staters abroad is simply creative marketing in Japan.
Michael is CEO and Co-Founder of the 
Uuggghh!! EVerything on this website makes me 1)scared for the future 2) so glad I’m american and not Japanese. They live in a complete consumer fantasy world devoid of nature. I guess New York city is it’s counterpoint, but uuugghhh! to live in Tokyo would be a nightmare. I hope I die before i ever have to live in a place/culture like that.
i live in japan, and i love these. they are so effing good.
tobacco….cigarettes KILL!!!!!!!!!
Dear sheryl,
You are truly the epitome of American ignorance. You give other Americans (like myself) a bad rap.
Devoid of nature?!?! Please sweety, your comments are such that you are devoid of cultural understanding and comprehension.
Don’t worry, you won’t have to ever come to Japan since you are your kind are not really welcome.
Enjoy your comatose life and road to obesity.
I brought back 10 packs of these on my last trip to Japan (I go every couple months – lived there for 9 years). This is by far the most interesting marketing gimmick that I’ve seen with cigarettes. But after smoking a pack a day after the release, I have to say the ‘boost’ is amazing.
Definitely a must-try for menthol smokers in Japan, and I hope to god that they bring these over to North America so I don’t have to cry when I run out of tasty Japanese cigarettes and have to revert to gross domestic menthol blends.
Sheryl,
New York city is it’s counterpoint? Your ignorance is extra-ordinary.
Wake up to reality.
See below:
im·be·cile (ĭm’bə-sĭl, -səl) n.
A stupid or silly person; a dolt.
A person whose mental acumen is well below par.
A person of moderate to severe mental retardation having a mental age of from three to seven years and generally being capable of some degree of communication and performance of simple tasks under supervision. The term belongs to a classification system no longer in use and is now considered offensive.
I tried them at a rave in philadelphia. they were awesome.
The packaging looks really cool! I’m writing a report on current trends in tobacco in clubs/bars/restaurants. Does anyone know if it they are sold in these environments anywhere in the world? Or maybe if they are promoted really interestingly in these places? Any venue names would be really useful – thanks!
My name is John i live on okinawa island in japan and all i have to say is these kool boosts hgit super hard normally i have to smoke 2 marlboro menthols one after another just to get the rush i need but with these boosts i get that grat minty taste and a great buzz from them…thanx
where can i buy these in the u.s.
These look fuckin’awesome, can u get them in the U.S.?
Yuuumm, I would kill to try that, it looks so good. And Sheryl, I actually get your point on how they’re doing bad for the environment and blah blah blah but Japan is still an amazing culture and you shouldn’t be so ignorant with your beliefs.
Hey i go to Japan for snowboarding from New Zealand. I smoke Boost and its sooo good. But now i am back home and i dont think my Girlfriend (still in Japan now) can send them to me down under.
Can you buy these online anywhere?
they are so the best cigarette on the market!!!
I smoke these cigarettes, and they give me an amazing high. I don’t give a damn what anyone says, smoking makes you feel better, keeps your weight down, and it gets you more chicks. I’m proud to be a smoker, I’m sick of all the prejudice against us, and I’m never, ever going to quit smoking.
All the stuff about smoking killing you is nothing but a bunch of liberal congress B.S. And besides, I’m too tough to care.
Where an you buy these on line i’ve looked every where and can’ find them anywhere. My friend brought them down fom japan to hawaii and it was sensational
I don’t think that a warning label is put on anything over there. These power balls are powerfully giving the consumers of the powerball
tobacco related illnesses.I would never want to live in that place. Just the thoughts of living over there makes sick. It gets in your lungs, skin, hair, teeth become discolored, finger nails turn yellow. Then you die.
well… Manya…
you could go get hit by a car while i stand on the side and smoke my cigarette… i’ll laugh because Karma’s a bitch
Well, they just released something like it in america, it is called Camel Crush. pretty good, hal menthol half non..
you can get them in the us. they are not KOOL though
search up “camel crush’
A buddy of mine works at a bar over hear in dallas and he gets a buttload of camel crush packs for free their efin awsome!!!!
they have these in america now.
except they are by camel.
These cigarettes are banging. I love them they taste really good and you can still feel that cool menthol after the cigarettes gone. I’m heartbroken they don’t sell them in the U.S. How can I go back to the menthols here?
Camel crush can’t touch these cool bursts it’s a completely different experience!
a japanese friend gave me some of this at a party!
they’re so freaking awesome!! Now I need mooooar
camel and kool are both owned by R.J. Reynolds so it stands to reason they are the same filter and shouldn’t taste any different or have a different experience. But since I smoke both brands and have yet to try the kool boosts, the only conceivable difference is the kool boost is already menthol without the boost filter and once popped it makes it that much stronger. Crushes just give you the option of menthol or non-menthol. Either way I switched from FK’s to Crushes
“Where” ! can I purchase the Kool Boost out here ? Since they have passed this FSC law. Which means fire safety cigarette. They suck to say the least. And they constantly burn out. I( want my menthol back please
i love this
i can’t buy here in tw
its superrrrrrrrrrrrr good!!!
Tried these last night and they were so AWESOME! Way better than camel crushes. Crushes are camel lights with the ball while the boosts are already menthol cigs! BOOSTS are WWAAYY BETTERR! Bring these to Hawaii Please!
wow its like the camel menthol cool burst! anyways i love japan. i mean who wouldn’t want to live there. I also have a jap/korean girlfriend ahaha man there HOTTTTTTT!!! one day i hope to take my jap/korean/cambodian/thai son to go visit one of his many cultures!
I got a pack of Camel Menthol’s last night with the cool burst bead in the but of the cigarette. They are so amazing, especially because I use to smoke Marlboro reds. Camel Menthols are the same as the ones up above.
I’ve heard wonders of the cigarettes in China and japan. I’ve heard they’re alot smoother over there. In the u.s, a 27 buzz is good but you can feel the additives; american spirits are aight tho, love em.
do they have these in northern indiana area or just japan
Your product modification is really very awesome and attractive these modifications are increased the marketing sale rates and also help in internet marketing.