House Foods Group has begun limited-quantity sales of the 2025 harvest of its mildly sweet, tear-free onion, “Smile Ball.” Through online sales and availability at supermarkets, as well as menu offerings at delicatessens and salad bowl specialty shops, the company aims to bring the appeal of “Smile Ball” to a wider audience.
“Smile Ball” is an onion with almost no pungency that can be enjoyed raw. It can be chopped without causing eye irritation, making for a comfortable cooking experience. Since there is no need to soak it in water, its natural nutrients can be consumed in full. First launched in 2015, “Smile Ball” achieved its highest-ever shipment volume in 2024.
Online, the onions are sold in 2 kg and 5 kg packages on Rakuten and Amazon. In stores, they are available at select supermarkets in Hokkaido and the Tokyo metropolitan area, sold as two L-size onions or three M-size onions per pack. The expected pre-tax retail price at supermarkets is 278 to 298 yen for either package type.
To allow customers to easily enjoy the deliciousness of raw “Smile Ball,” various menu offerings will feature the onion. Prepared food shops “Nihon no Sarada Itohan” and “Green Gourmet” will sell “Smile Ball” for a limited time through January 21, 2026. Additional menu items featuring the onion will also appear at salad bowl specialty stores and restaurants.
