A Chocolate Snack Every Japanese Kid Dreams of Winning — Meet “Choco Ball”

Over 50 Years of Sweet History

Choco Ball first appeared in Japan back in the 1960s, and it’s been a beloved chocolate snack ever since.

The package features a cute, instantly recognizable bird character named Kyoro-chan.
If you see this little bird, you know it’s Choco Ball!

Photo by JAPANESE LIFE LETTER Editorial Team

A Special Hidden Prize System

Here’s where it gets exciting:

When you open a Choco Ball box, you might find a winning mark inside the lid.

There are two types:

Gold Angel (Kin no Enzeru)
Silver Angel (Gin no Enzeru)

Rumor has it:

・Gold Angels appear in less than 0.1% of boxes (roughly 1 in 1,500)
・Silver Angels show up in about 3% of boxes (1 in 30)

Gold Angel example:

Silver Angel example:

What Happens If You Win?

If you find one Gold Angel, or collect five Silver Angels, you can exchange them for a special prize.

The prizes change over time, but as of 2025, there are two types of fun little toys available:

Kyoro Gacha Can (a mini capsule machine)

Kyoro Crane (a mini crane game)

Three Core Flavors

The standard Choco Ball flavors are:

・Peanut
・Caramel
・Strawberry

Sometimes you’ll also spot limited-edition or regional-exclusive flavors!

Buying a Little Excitement

If you ever pick up a box of Choco Ball in Japan, don’t forget to check under the lid!
(And good news—if you win, they’ll even ship the prize internationally for free.)

Who knows? You might just get lucky!

#FOOD