Plant-based Panda Shaved Ice, with WWF Japan pledge!

Oizumi Kojo Inc., or OKS Company, has launched a 100 percent plant-based Panda Shaved Ice menu across its two direct retail venues, BROOKS GREENLIT CAFE in Tokyo and 1110 CAFE/BAKERY in Saitama Prefecture. The limited edition summer offering marks Japan’s first summer in 54 years without giant pandas following their return from Ueno Zoo.

The new dessert range presents a fully plant-based alternative to traditional dairy shaved ice, which helps customers introduce positive environmental action into their daily lifestyle habits. The base ice is crafted using oat milk, beet sugar, and vanilla extract, decorated with mango, strawberry, blueberry, and plant-based dark chocolate to recreate panda facial features. Variants feature layered fruit and fermented rice smoothies, including a pitaya smoothie at the Minami-Aoyama location, and a tropical mango smoothie at the Kawaguchi location. Oat milk was chosen as the primary base to accommodate dietary allergies and complement the natural fruit flavours.

OKS includes a direct financial contribution to environmental preservation, pledging two percent of all Panda Shaved Ice sales to the World Wide Fund for Nature Japan (WWF Japan). The funding will support biodiversity protection and climate mitigation activities led by the international conservation organisation. OKS also worked with WWF Japan to review ingredient supply chains and serving materials, verifying that no high-risk environmental commodities were used in production.

Kantaro Oizumi, Representative Director of Oizumi Kojo Inc., sees that lowering psychological barriers surrounding environmental action lets customers integrate sustainability into enjoyable dining experiences. Cafe staff reported positive customer feedback with the taste and presentation, highlighting that purchasing the dessert contribute to social and environmental causes without sacrificing quality.