A notorious South Korean drink made a brief appearance at Osaka Expo. I say “brief” because the barley beverage has now been yanked. And it’s all due to the company’s ties to the controversial church at the center of the assassination of ex-Prime Minister Abe Shinzō.
McCol reappears – and disappears once again – from Japan
After a rough start, Osaka Expo is currently in full swing on the manmade island of Yumeshima. The World Pavilion, with over 158 countries and territories in attendance, is the centerpiece of the Expo – an opportunity to sample cultural experiences and cuisines from the world over.
Except, now, for one drink.
The controversy centers around McCol (メッコール; Korean: 맥콜), a carbonated barley drink from South Korea. The beverage isn’t new to Japan; it used to be sold in various areas of the country. At one time, its manufacturer ran an ad on Japanese airwaves featuring K-pop legend Cho Yong-pil in a 30-second spot that’s a bold rip-off of A-ha’s “Take On Me.”
メッコール・テレビCM(日本・幻想編30秒ver)
奇跡の飲料「メッコール」のCMです。
While some enjoy the drink, others malign it as one of the most awful things they’ve ever imbibed. Twelve years ago, Japanese YouTube sensation Hikakin did a reaction video that labeled the drink “the world’s worst cola.” (Hikakin ended up liking it, saying it was closer to coffee than cola.)
世界一マズいコーラ『メッコール』!
評価、チャンネル登録お願いします☆彡 ◆新チャンネルヒカキンブログ↓ https://www.youtube.com/user/hikakinblog ◆ツイッター↓ http://twitter.com/HikakinBeatbox ◆ヒカキンのオススメ商品や使用機材↓ http://amzn.to/ZW7X6A ◆ホームページ↓ http://www.hikakintv.com/ ◆フェイスブック↓ http://www.facebook.com/HIKAKIN
However, its existence at Osaka Expo sparked an online backlash. That’s because McCol’s manufacturer is Ilhwa, a company that’s 90% controlled by the Unification Church.
Ramifications of one of the most successful assassinations in history
The Unification Church was created in 1954 by Sun Myung Moon, who styled himself the second coming of Jesus Christ. The religious cult is known for its mass weddings and its hard-right politics, including hateful anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. (Moon once wrote that homosexuals were “dirty dung-eating dogs.”)
The Church also had its hooks deep into Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), using its influence to sway Japanese politics against liberal reforms such as marriage equality. However, Japan’s relatively low press freedom kept stories in the mainstream media about the ties between the two under wraps for years.
Planning a trip to Japan? Get an authentic, interpreted experience from Unseen Japan Tours and see a side of the country others miss!

"Noah [at Unseen Japan] put together an itinerary that didn’t lock us in and we could travel at our own pace. In Tokyo, he guided us personally on a walking tour. Overall, he made our Japan trip an experience not to forget." - Kate and Simon S., Australia

See a side of Tokyo that other tourists can't. Book a tour with Unseen Japan Tours - we'll tailor your trip to your interests and guide you through experiences usually closed off to non-Japanese speakers.


Want more news and views from Japan? Donate $5/month ($60 one-time donation) to the Unseen Japan Journalism Fund to join Unseen Japan Insider. You'll get our Insider newsletter with more news and deep dives, a chance to get your burning Japan questions answered, and a voice in our future editorial direction.
That changed after an assassin who said his mother had been defrauded by the Church killed former Prime Minister Abe Shinzō with a homemade shotgun. That sparked a rapid investigation into the Church’s ties to the LDP and into its business practices. As a result, the Church is officially being dissolved as a financial entity in the nation.
Opinions of the Church in Japan remain largely negative thanks to the scandal.
The cans are being pulled
The existence of McCol isn’t some nefarious plot by the Unification Church, however. According to Josei Jishin, it was sold by Kanryū Starworld at its K-POP SHOP. Kanryū is a Japan-based company specializing in goods related to Korean musical artists.
When contacted by the paper, company officials said they weren’t aware of the drink’s ties to the Unification Church. They said the company will stop selling the drink at Osaka Expo immediately.
Why this page doesn't look like crap
You may notice a few things about this page. First, it’s mostly content – not ads. Second, this article was written by a human, not a plagiaristic Turing machine.
Unseen Japan is a collective of independent authors. We work hard to keep our content free of intrusive ads and AI slop.
Help us keep it that way. Donate to the Unseen Japan Journalism Fund to support our work. Regular donors will receive Insider, our paid newsletter with weekly bonus content about Japan. Plus, your contribution will help us produce more content like this.
What to read next

False Claim of “Muslim Lunches” Makes Japan’s Kitakyushu a Hate Target
No, the city of Kitakyushu isn’t offering “Muslim lunches” to students. Other schools in Japan, however, have – and with heartwarming results.

Tokyo Court: Company President’s Harassment Led to Employee’s Suicide
The woman, an employee of cosmetics maker D-Up, said the company’s president called her a “stray dog” before putting her on leave.

Fear of a Black Japan: A “Hometown” Program With Africa Sparks Racist Protests
A simple misunderstanding led some Japanese citizens to protest an initiative they worry will lead to a flood of African immigrants.
Sources
《大阪・関西万博》会場内で“旧統一教会系企業”が製造する炭酸飲料を販売→SNSで物議…万博協会は「店舗は認識していなかった」と回答、販売停止へ. Josei Jishin