Why Do Olympic Athletes Have a Picnic on the Ice? (The “Snack Time” Strategy)

Strategy Meeting or Picnic?
Curling is called “Chess on Ice.” It is intense and intellectual. But if you watch the Japanese women’s team, you might see something strange during the 5th-end break. They sit in a circle on the ice and start… having a picnic. They eat strawberries, cheesecake, or dried fruit while chatting happily.

“Mogu Mogu Time”
In Japan, this became a social phenomenon called “Mogu Mogu Time” (Chewing/Munching Time). While other teams look serious and drink energy gels, the Japanese team (Loco Solare from Hokkaido) looks like they are at a tea party. But don’t be fooled—they are discussing high-level tactics while chewing!

The Hokkaido Connection
The team comes from Kitami, Hokkaido, a snowy region famous for delicious agriculture. The snacks they eat are often local specialties from their hometown. When they ate a specific cheesecake called “Akai Silo” on TV, it sold out instantly across Japan for months. They are accidental marketing geniuses.

The Power of Smiles
Why do they do this? Their philosophy is “Keep Smiling.” Curling matches last for 3 hours. To maintain focus, they need sugar and relaxation. Their cheerful “Sodane!” (Yeah, that’s right! in Hokkaido dialect) became the buzzword of the year in 2018.

Watch the Break
So, when watching the Winter Olympics, don’t go to the bathroom during the halftime break. Watch the Japanese bench. You might discover the next trending Japanese sweet that will disappear from shelves tomorrow!

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