Crunchy Sweetmeat

I've tried to avoid the usual 'funny Engrish' stuff on this blog - best to leave that to places like engrish.com and the plethora of gaijin blogs and boards. In fact, after 12 years in-country I hardly even blink when I see "Cock's Specials" on a menu or "Room Saniterizers" in a hotel or "Spank Me Like a Monkey" t-shirts on little girls. These I get. A "Cock" is a misspelled "Cook". "Saniterizer" is a cute error on "Sanitizer" - nice try! And the t-shirts, hey, they look nice and no one reads/understands English but us gaijin anyway.

This one caught me off guard, though. A co-worker was handing these out as 'omiyage' (gift from a trip):






To be fair they were sweet.

Behavior modification ads - Japanese style

From Tokyo Metro (which runs most of the city's subways).
Reminding people (note that the offenders tend to be young people) how to behave in a way that doesn't make them want to mis-behave:

Mode Japonesque

Ok, GK still thinks that I have not done enough to compensate my dormant period, so here is another one. He wrote about a disastarous Japanese car ad, and here is my counter offer.

Nissan makes various car ads (duh), and each always has a theme as 'SHIFT_XXX.' Here is one for TEANA with 'SHIFT_hospitality.'



Filming is beautiful, and the actress (Rei Dan) is breath-takingly stunning, but beyond that, the creative concept is concise and true to the functional offers of the car. The narration takes functionality to a higher level of emotion:

"Sitting in this space, my spirit becomes soothingly liberated."

"Omotenashi"

"Welcome to New TEANA"

'Omotenashi' is a translation of hospitality and it is well woven with the tranditional Tea Ceremony and its spirit. One may argue that it is too 'cultural,' but isn't that exactly what we want to (or should!) play with to make better communications? Plus, I like the track choice; it is the Japanese version of 'Waltz for Debby,' making the whole impressions gently powerful.

I think it's about a time for me to let go of my German wagon...

Yodobashi-Akiba goes International

GK nags me that I have been a total slacker, so here is another hommage to 'Akiba.'

I have previously talked about 'Akiba' a couple of times, and I am more and more feeling confident that Akiba is a must-see place if you ever make a trip to Tokyo.

Previous goverment had promoted 'Yokoso Nippon' ('Welcome to Japan') campaign to vitalize Japanese economy by encouraging foreign travelers to this land of Rising Sun. It has actually been a success; the latest news reported that visitors to Japan has increaed by 160% in the last 3 years. At the same token, Tokyo is yet to be non-Japanese friendly; English is still hardly spoken at local restaurants and shops. I personally find it very interesting to visit local restaurants when travelling abroad, so I wish Tokyo will be more international to be truly visitor-friendly.

However, you will be in good hands in Akiba; Yodobashi Camera (one of the largest electric appliance store chain) in Akihabara decided to make it mega vision multi-lingual. It will feature product guides and store guides in English, Mandarin, and Korean (source: Akiba Keizai Shimbun). Overmore, store clerks are multi-lingual too! So, once you visit the store, you can not only buy the gadgets you always wanted, but also ask them travel tips and places to hang out!

Yokoso Nippon!!

On my way home from work

A great thing about Tokyo is you can pretty much walk around anywhere, anytime.

So that's what I do.

Well, within reason - have to be home for dinner most nights....

Here are some of things I see. Sorry for the quality - these are either taken from my cell phone or regular old unpro digital camera.

Tsukiji crossing

Tokyu Stay Hotel (Higashi Ginza):

One of many bridges (Harumi) along Sumida River. Fairly ugly during the day but lit up all nice and pretty at night:

Hmmmm. Mysterious creature in Hibiya...

Hmmmm. More mysterious creatures in Hibiya:

Japanese Car Ads

Car ads in Japan are a constant source of entertainment - and bewilderment. This one made me choke on my coffee this morning.

The brief:
Product/Brand: Mazda Demio
Message: New Orange color!
Idea: New Mazda Demio Orange will make you want to dance. Even if you can't actually dance.

Train jackin'

Saw this on a train in the residential area of Western Tokyo. It was a 'Train Jack'.

That's when an advertiser buys all the space on an entire train and plasters its own ads all over it. (thus hi-'jacking' the train with ads)

This one was for Lenor, a P&G fabric softener.

The cool thing is that they hung these shirts up (real shirts - it's Japan so no one steals or vandalizes them!) with 'sweat' dripping. On the sweat drop, and on a puddle sticker on the floor, the ads talk about preventing sweat smell on your clothes with Lenor.

Brilliant idea for the sweaty summer Tokyo rainy season.