In METAL GEAR SOLID Δ: SNAKE EATER (the remake of Metal Gear Solid 3), you can find a food item called CalorieMate.
If you are not from Japan, you may think: “Is this a military ration? A cookie? A bug in the game?”
Actually, CalorieMate is a real product, and almost every Japanese person knows it.
What is CalorieMate?
CalorieMate is a nutritional food made by Otsuka Pharmaceutical since 1983.
It looks like a simple biscuit bar, and the taste is… well, not amazing, but not bad.
- Flavors: Cheese, Chocolate, Fruit, Maple
- Price: About 200–300 yen (around 2 USD) for one box (4 bars)
- Purpose: Easy way to get calories and vitamins when you are busy
So, it is not junk food, but also not a delicious treat. It is in the middle.
Study snack for exam students
Here is the cultural part. In Japan, the university entrance exam is a very big life event.
Many high school students study all night, eating CalorieMate for quick energy.
The company also makes famous TV commercials every exam season, showing students working hard and eating CalorieMate.
Because of this, in Japan, CalorieMate has the image of a “power-up snack” for serious times.
Why does it heal so much stamina in the game?
This is why, in Metal Gear Solid 3, CalorieMate recovers a lot of stamina.
It is a small cultural joke: Japanese players immediately understand it, but foreign players may be confused.
Summary
CalorieMate is:
- Taste: simple, okay but not amazing
- Price: cheap
- Function: quick nutrition
- Image: food for “important battles” in life
So, next time you find CalorieMate in the game, you can think:
“Ah, this is the power of Japanese exam students!”
