I drink C.C. Lemon a few times a week; it’s my favorite mass-market soda in Japan.
Today, I did a double-take, walking backwards a few steps to see a variant in the vending machine. I bought it instantly and held it in my hand looking at the first two familiar kanji in the name.「南国フレーバーミックス」
I learned directional kanji at different times.「東」(east) was first, because it’s in 「東京」(Tōkyō). I probably saw「北」(north) at a train station, as in「北口」(north exit). Then「南」(south) from the fami’s car navigation system.「西」(west) when I was at Ryōgoku Kokugikan.「国」(country) is in most country names, except「日本」(Japan). For example, the United States is「米国」(rice country), though「アメリカ」(America) is more common.
So, I know what「南国」(south country / southern) means! In the context of Japan—where the southern part of the country is tropical—I figure that makes this a tropical mix!
Don’t be impressed. Everyone regardless of language would instantly understand it’s tropical from the design alone.
But this is my favorite part of learning just a little kanji. When I see them in sequence, I can almost decipher the meaning, even if I don’t know how to say it aloud.