Pocky Day _ November 11, Website, App, Game - Discussions

What Is Pocky Day?

Pocky Day is a yearly celebration in Japan held on November 11. It is officially called Pocky & Pretz Day, and it is run by Ezaki Glico, the company that makes Pocky. On this day, people buy boxes of the thin chocolate-covered biscuit sticks, gift them to friends, and post photos of the sticks lined up like the number eleven. The next Pocky Day is Wednesday, November 11, 2027.

The idea is simple and fun. The date 11/11 is made of four ones, and each one looks like a Pocky stick standing upright. That little visual joke turned into one of Japan's most loved snack days.

Quick Facts

• Date: November 11, every year
• Official name: Pocky & Pretz Day
• Started: 1999 (Heisei 11 in the Japanese calendar)
• Maker: Ezaki Glico
• What people do: gift Pocky, share stick photos, join Glico campaigns
• Next celebration: November 11, 2027

Why November 11?

Write the date out: 11/11. Now look at those four ones. Each slim "1" looks just like a Pocky or Pretz stick. That is the whole reason for the date, and it is why the day could only ever land on November 11.

The year mattered too. Glico started the celebration in 1999, which was Heisei 11 in Japan. So the launch year itself had an 11 in it: Heisei 11, November 11. You can read the full story in our post on the history of Pocky Day and why it began in 1999.

The History Behind the Day

Pocky itself is much older than the celebration. Glico first sold Pocky in 1966, and the skinny chocolate-dipped sticks quickly became a staple snack across Japan. Pretz, the savoury sibling, joined the family and shares the same stick shape.

By the late 1990s the 11/11 idea was too good to waste. Glico made it official in 1999, and the Japanese Anniversary Association recognised the date. Since then the day has grown every year. Convenience stores stack Pocky displays in early November, special gift packs appear, and social media fills with stick photos, towers and little games played with the sticks.

The celebration has also spread outside Japan. Fans in other countries now mark November 11 with their own Pocky gifts and photos, and Glico runs campaigns in several markets at the same time.

How People Celebrate Pocky Day

There is no strict rulebook. Most people keep it light and playful:

• Gifting: friends, classmates and coworkers swap boxes of Pocky, often picking a flavour the other person has never tried.
• Photos: people line sticks up as 11:11, build small towers, or snap the classic photo of two people sharing one stick.
• The Pocky game: two people nibble the same stick from opposite ends. It is a party staple in Japan and shows up in plenty of dramas and anime.
• Campaigns: Glico runs special promotions around the day, with prizes, themed packaging and limited flavours that only appear for a short run.
• School and office fun: clubs and teams use the day as an excuse for a snack break and group photos.

Popular Pocky Flavours

The classic chocolate Pocky is still the best seller, and it is the box most people picture first. Strawberry is the sweet pink favourite, easy to spot in gift photos. Matcha brings a gentle green-tea flavour that visitors love to take home from Japan. Almond Crush coats the stick in chocolate and crushed almonds for extra crunch.

Around Pocky Day, Glico also releases seasonal limited editions. These change every year, which is half the fun — fans hunt for the new flavour before it sells out. If you are picking a gift box, our list of the best Pocky flavours to gift on Pocky Day breaks down which ones suit which kind of snack fan.

Pocky Day vs Pepero Day

South Korea celebrates Pepero Day on the very same date, November 11, with Pepero sticks made by Lotte. The two days look similar from the outside — same date, same stick shape, same gifting habit — but they grew up separately in two different countries, with different brands, different stories and different flavours. We compare them side by side in Pocky Day vs Pepero Day, including how each one started.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Pocky Day 2027?

Pocky Day falls on November 11 every year, so the next one is Wednesday, November 11, 2027.

Who created Pocky Day?

Ezaki Glico, the maker of Pocky and Pretz, created the day. It was first celebrated in 1999.

Why does 11/11 look like Pocky?

The date is written with four ones, and each "1" looks like a single slim Pocky stick. That resemblance is the heart of the celebration.

Is Pocky Day only celebrated in Japan?

It started in Japan, but fans in many countries now join in, and Glico promotes the day in overseas markets too.

What is the difference between Pocky and Pretz?

Pocky is sweet, usually dipped in chocolate or a flavoured coating. Pretz is savoury, baked with flavours like salad, tomato and pizza. Both share the same stick shape, so both share the day.

Pocky Day Around the World

Pocky is sold in many countries, often under the same name, so the November 11 habit travels well. In parts of Asia, convenience stores run their own Pocky Day displays. In North America and Europe, Japanese grocery shops and anime fan communities mark the date with gift swaps and photo posts. Glico's overseas offices have joined in too, with social campaigns that invite fans everywhere to share their stick photos on the same day.

The fun part is how local each version feels. The snack is the same, the date is the same, but the flavour picks, the gift style and the jokes change from place to place. A matcha box in Tokyo, a strawberry box in Bangkok, an Almond Crush box in London — one small tradition, many accents.

New to Pocky Day? Start Simple

You do not need a plan. Buy one box for a friend and one for yourself, hand theirs over on November 11, and take a photo of the sticks lined up as 11:11. That is the whole tradition in miniature. If you enjoy it, next year you can hunt for a limited flavour or try the Pocky game at a party. Small, sweet and easy to repeat — that is exactly why the day has lasted since 1999.

Mark Your Calendar

Pocky Day is a small celebration with a simple charm: a date that looks like the snack itself. Whether you gift a box, try a limited flavour, or just share a stick photo on November 11, you are part of a tradition that has run since 1999. See you on November 11, 2027.