In a local Tokyo konbini, the snack aisle buzzes with excitement as adults and children alike marvel at an array of sour candies lining the store shelves. To my right, a middle-aged office worker picks up a packet of fettuccine-shaped gummies, adding them to his cart, which holds a single onigiri and bottled coffee. To my left, a young girl grabs packets of ume and peach-flavored gummies before rushing over to her mother, who happily inspects her daughter’s bounty. I soon follow suit and, with sticky fingers, reach for all the candies that have caught my eye: super lemon sour suckers, pink lemonade gushers, muscat gummies and soda-flavored hard candies. My measly basket is filled with nothing but candy, earning a few snide looks from my cashier. But I don’t mind. I’m a grown adult on vacat

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