Okay, so first I need to clarify: I did not drink prior to or after consuming this drink, and therefore did not get hungover, and therefore did not actually need to take this. I had purchased this tiny aluminum bottle thinking it was the Japanese version of a 5-Hour Energy shot (that only costs about $1.20), and only after some research did I discover that it’s a supposed hangover cure.
So yes, Ukon no Chikara, which literally means “turmeric power” is one of the many brands of supposed hangover cure drinks. Often found in convenience stores (“konbinis”) like 7-Eleven or Family Mart next to the refrigerated alcohol and sodas, these small shots of liquid contain ingredients that are believed to help break down alcohol in the liver in ways that reduce the toxins that lead to symptoms of a hangover. Ukon no Chikara contains turmeric, an orange-colored, ginger-like plant that is said to aid in digestion. Fans of Terrace House might recognize the name Hepalyse, which is another product that contains not only turmeric, but beef liver extract! Apparently, Japanese hangover cures are a $178 million industry, completely based on anecdotal evidence.
Thankfully, Ukon no Chikara had a fairly mild taste that’s hard to describe, but far better than the syrupy-sweet bitterness of 5-Hour Energy shots that I first thought I was drinking. I still had to stop by a coffee shop later that day to get some real chikara, but perhaps my liver has cool superpowers now.
