KALDI is selling an Advent calendar filled with soup instead of candy this year, and another new one hides a different card game behind each door. According to Rocket News, both items had already become 売り切れ (urikire, sold out) or 欠品 (keppin, out of stock) online as of November 8, 2026.
Christmas items have already started appearing in 店頭 (tentou, in-store sales areas) at KALDI, where Advent calendars are a familiar seasonal product. These calendars count down the days to Christmas, with one small door to open each day, usually revealing sweets. This year, though, Rocket News picked out two unusual new arrivals from the many options on sale.
Two unusual Advent calendars at KALDI
The first is the スープブックカレンダー (suupu bukku karendaa, Soup Book Calendar), priced at 1,533 yen. While candy-filled calendars are the 主流 (shuryuu, mainstream) at KALDI, this one contains 粉末 (funmatsu, powdered) soup instead.
Inside are four kinds of soup: onion, Chinese-style, consomme, and corn. The idea is simple: open one door each day and drink one cup ながら you wait for Christmas. Because it is a powdered type and you only need to add hot water, it is easy to 持ち歩く (mochiaruku, carry around) and drink in different places.
With 24 packets for 1,533 yen, Rocket News calculated that each one comes to about 64 yen. The writer also noted that salty items seem to be in demand, since the product was already sold out online.
The second new item is the カウントダウンカードゲーム (kauntodaun kaado geemu, Countdown Card Game), priced at 1,555 yen. It looks like a game console, and when you cut open the top section, small pouches inside appear in a nostalgic Game Boy style.
Opening one pouch reveals both a snack and a card game. The sample shown included a maze, and the writer guessed the difficulty would suit children from kindergarten to the lower elementary grades. Other activities include coloring pages, spot-the-difference puzzles, and connect-the-dots, for a total of 24 card games.
As game companions, the calendar also includes ramune and chocolate, plus flavored milk mixes in strawberry and caramel. Rocket News described it as a new idea for a KALDI Advent calendar and suggested it could become popular without being especially 高価 (kouka, expensive).
Online stock is already disappearing
Even though early November can feel too soon for Christmas shopping, many KALDI calendars were already selling out online. The two featured products were both unavailable online at the time of writing on November 8, 2026.
Shoppers may still find them in physical stores, where the selection remains 豊富 (houfu, plentiful). For anyone hoping to buy an Advent calendar, the writer recommends checking stores rather than relying on the online shop. KALDI also carries lower-priced options starting in the 500-yen range, which helps soften the image of Advent calendars as something always expensive.
Learn Japanese from This Article
Vocabulary
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 店頭 | tentou | storefront; in-store sales floor |
| 豊富 | houfu | abundant; plentiful |
| 主流 | shuryuu | mainstream; the common type |
| 粉末 | funmatsu | powder; powdered |
| 持ち歩く | mochiaruku | to carry around |
| 売り切れ | urikire | sold out |
| 欠品 | keppin | out of stock; unavailable |
| 高価 | kouka | expensive; high-priced |
Grammar Spotlight
〜ながら
Pattern: Verb stem + ながら Meaning: while doing; during the action of
From the article: 毎日1杯ずつスープを飲みながらクリスマスを心待ちにできるってわけ！ Mainichi ippai zutsu suupu o nominagara kurisumasu o kokoromachi ni dekiru tte wake! “You can look forward to Christmas while drinking one cup of soup each day!”
Example: 音楽を聞きながら宿題をします。 Ongaku o kikinagara shukudai o shimasu. “I do my homework while listening to music.”
Example: 電車に乗りながら日本語の単語を覚えます。 Densha ni norinagara nihongo no tango o oboemasu. “I study Japanese vocabulary while riding the train.”
Use 〜ながら when two actions happen at the same time, especially when one is the main action and the other happens alongside it.
〜だけだから
Pattern: Verb dictionary form + だけだから Meaning: because all you have to do is...; since it's just a matter of...
From the article: 粉末タイプでお湯を注ぐだけだから、場所を問わずに持ち歩いて飲むことができるのもいい。 Funmatsu taipu de oyu o sosogu dake dakara, basho o towazu ni mochiaruite nomu koto ga dekiru no mo ii. “It’s nice that, since it’s a powdered type and all you do is add hot water, you can carry it around and drink it anywhere.”
Example: この料理は温めるだけだから、忙しい日に便利です。 Kono ryouri wa atatameru dake dakara, isogashii hi ni benri desu. “This dish is convenient on busy days because all you have to do is heat it up.”
Example: 名前を書くだけだから、すぐに申し込めます。 Namae o kaku dake dakara, sugu ni moushikomemasu. “You can sign up right away because all you have to do is write your name.”
This pattern often appears when something is easy, simple, or convenient.
Useful Expressions
クリスマスの気配が近づいてきている Kurisumasu no kehai ga chikazuite kite iru “You can feel Christmas getting closer.”
心待ちにする Kokoromachi ni suru “To look forward to something eagerly.”
変わり種 Kawaridane “An unusual type; something out of the ordinary.”
Continue Learning
- Writing Practice: Crafting Initial Paragraphs: Want to use 〜ながら from this article yourself? Our Writing Practice: Crafting Initial Paragraphs lesson covers it.
- Numbers and Counters: Contextual Counting Systems: Ready to dive deeper? Our lesson on Numbers and Counters: Contextual Counting Systems will help you master these concepts.
これからもよろしくお願いします。 Kore kara mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.