The Cow
A Japanese snack with biscuit sticks and dipping frosting, made by Meiji Seika since 1979.
Yan Yan (ヤンヤンつけボー, Yan Yan Tsukebō) is a Japanese snack food made by Meiji Seika since 1979. It comes in a package with two compartments. One side has biscuit sticks (which can be sometimes called cracker sticks), the other side has chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, or yogurt flavored frosting used for dipping. The sticks themselves may also be flavored. Some Yan Yan products are sold in rectangular containers with 9 sticks and dip. There is also a new version which includes two flavored dips. In 1982, British company KP Snacks began licensing Yan Yan for UK markets releasing it under the name Choc Dips.
- Species
- Bovine
- Role
- Recurring Background Entity / Silent Witness
- Affiliation
- Independent / Neutral
- First Appearance
- Early episodes (specific episode number varies by fan compilation)
- Status
- Alive
- Personality Trait
- Stoic and Unflappable
Lore & Background
Yan Yan was introduced by Meiji Seika in 1979. The sticks were once plain, but Meiji later printed pictures of various animals on them with quotes relating to that animal. The quotes are in English, but often appear unorthodox to native English speakers. Some of the animal-related quotes relate not to facts about the animals, but instead to the noise the animal makes, which is printed in a Japanese-influenced English dialect. Examples include Chicken: Kokekokko and Cow: Muuuuu. There are also two "golden" non-animal quotes: Golden Egg and Golden Log. In 1982, British company KP Snacks began licensing Yan Yan for UK markets releasing it under the name Choc Dips.
In Their Own Story
Yan Yan comes in a variety of flavors. This includes vanilla sticks with chocolate, strawberry, mango, purple yam, vanilla cream, and the newest, hazelnut, or chocolate sticks with vanilla cream. Some Yan Yan products are sold in rectangular containers with 9 sticks and dip. There is also a new version which includes two flavored dips. Similar snacks include Pocky, which has thinner sticks pre-dipped in cream and comes in a much wider variety of flavors such as green tea cream or honey-flavored cream. Yan Yan is dipped by the consumer themselves, and comes in a more limited assortment of flavors. Meiji also produces another snack called Hello Panda, a panda-shaped biscuit with either chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, or matcha (green tea) flavored fillings. Yan Yan is also similar to the American snack Dunk-a-roos. Nutella has a similar snack called Nutella & Go that includes breadsticks or pretzels for dipping into their signature hazelnut spread. It has similar packaging to Yan Yan, but Yan Yan is significantly taller while Nutella & Go is wider.
Reader's Guide
Yan Yan is a snack food that comes in a package with two compartments: one side has biscuit sticks (which can be sometimes called cracker sticks), the other side has chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, or yogurt flavored frosting used for dipping. The sticks themselves may also be flavored. Some Yan Yan products are sold in rectangular containers with 9 sticks and dip. There is also a new version which includes two flavored dips. Flavors include vanilla sticks with chocolate, strawberry, mango, purple yam, vanilla cream, and the newest, hazelnut, or chocolate sticks with vanilla cream. The sticks were once plain, but Meiji later printed pictures of various animals on them with quotes relating to that animal. The quotes are in English, but often appear unorthodox to native English speakers. Some of the animal-related quotes relate not to facts about the animals, but instead to the noise the animal makes, which is printed in a Japanese-influenced English dialect. Examples include Chicken: Kokekokko and Cow: Muuuuu. There are also two "golden" non-animal quotes: Golden Egg and Golden Log.
Did You Know?
- Yan Yan has been made by Meiji Seika since 1979.
- In 1982, British company KP Snacks began licensing Yan Yan for UK markets under the name Choc Dips.
- The sticks once had pictures of animals printed on them, with quotes like 'Kokekokko' for Chicken and 'Muuuuu' for Cow.
- There are two 'golden' non-animal quotes: Golden Egg and Golden Log.
- Yan Yan is similar to Pocky, but Pocky sticks are pre-dipped and come in a wider variety of flavors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is The Cow in Beware of Chicken?
The Cow is a silent, stoic bovine figure that appears throughout the series as a recurring background entity. Unlike the frantic protagonist, this character remains calm and unflappable amidst the surreal chaos.
What role does The Cow play in the story?
Rather than acting as an antagonist or hero, The Cow serves primarily as a silent witness to the absurdity surrounding it. Its presence provides a grounding contrast to the aggressive energy of the title character.
Does The Cow have any special powers?
The Cow possesses no active supernatural abilities or combat skills within the canon. Its only 'power' is its unwavering composure and ability to remain unaffected by the madness around it.
Why is The Cow considered important to the series?
This character is vital because it highlights the absurdity of the world by maintaining a sense of normalcy in pastoral or domestic settings. Its silence emphasizes the noise and unpredictability of the other characters' actions.
What happens to The Cow at the end of the story?
The Cow remains alive throughout the series, continuing its role as a neutral observer without suffering a tragic fate. It simply persists as a steady presence while the chaotic events unfold around it.
More in Characters
Elsewhere in the Beware of Chicken universe
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