Japanese convenience stores certainly live up to their name, providing services beyond consumables that include concert ticket pick-up, shipping, and even paying your bills. They can be a treasure trove for limited edition goods, however, and this often extends to the hot food section, which can offer delights such as curry flavored fried chicken and big American dogs (what they call corn dogs). What seems to sell fastest, although, are the nikuman, or steamed pork buns. Normally, a blend of meat, onions, and spice are encased in soft doughy buns, but there are also variations of pizza and red bean paste. For limited edition campaigns, they even release special versions such as this delicious custard pudding steamed bun.

Now, to mark the 25th anniversary of everyone's favorite pink hero Kirby, Lawson convenience stores in Japan are releasing a lineup of celebratory goods, highlighted by these impossibly adorable fluffy Kirby steamed buns.

While the bouncy pink exterior might lead you to believe these buns are of the dessert variety, their advertised flavor is "Maximum Chicken Tomato", meaning the Chinese-style steamed buns are filled with juicy chicken and tomato sauce. Isn't that a bit of a predicament? Whenever you gather up the courage to bite into this cutesy Kirby bun, you'll be devastated to see his bloody innards spill out! Although Lawson is tying them into Kirby's absorption powers by saying that if you eat them on a cold day, your health will be restored.

The buns will be available aw Lawson Convenience stores starting November 21st (183 yen) for a limited time, and come in the two expressions pictured above. There will also be a series of merchandise purchasable and available for reservation through Lawson's Loppi machines.

Check out the lineup of goods that IT Media covered.