Posts Tagged: love

Japan — 8 Comments
17
Jun 08

I Love Commercials Commercial!

Last year a I wrote a series about Japanese manners, each with a video of an AC commercial that broadcast nationwide, teaching Japan’s public to be a little more considerate to each other. I thought those commercials were brilliant, kind of like drink driving commercials back home, but these were about topics as frightening as eating hamburgers on a train.

I Love CM

I’m all for encouraging people to talk to their neighbors, as was done in one of those AC commercials, but this latest “CM” is going a bit too far. Now they are actually encouraging you to watch TV commercials! Watch this video to see what I mean (or jump directly to YouTube).

I have to admit it’s one of my favorite commercials, not least because of its very catchy tune. The question is, though, will an advertising campaign like this work? Will people start to watch the commercials more, and then actually buy the products being advertised?

Of course! When you repeat something enough times, it becomes true, so singing “I love commercials” to yourself all day will subconsciously make you believe you really love commercials. It must work because I’ve been glued to the TV for the last few days. I might have to change the lyrics to “I love changing diapers” or “I love Akihiro Miwa” if I’m going overcome the things I fear most.

Japan — 1 Comment
28
Sep 06

Love in a cabbage field

A husband screams a message of loveIn the cabbage fields of Tsumagoi in Gunma prefecture, about 20 loving hubbies gathered to scream out messages of love to their wives. It was an event called “Kyabetsu Batake no Chushin de Ai O Sakebu” (”Shouting love in the center of a cabbage field.”), a pun on Kyoichi Katayama’s best-selling novel, “Sekai no Chushin de Ai O Sakebu” (”Shouting love in the center of the world”).

From the Mainichi News:

Tsumagoi, known as a cabbage-producing district, literally means “loving wife” in Japanese. Legend has it that it took the name after Prince Yamatotakeru, a famous hero of ancient Japan, announced, “I love my wife,” in the village.

Yasunobu Suga, 46, who roared his heart out in more ways than one for his beloved Hiromi, also 46, was happy with the event. “I felt great because I could shout out my message without being embarrassed,” he said.

Like most husbands (I hope), I often tell Mami I love her, so I don’t feel the need to scream it out loud as if I’ve been bottling it up for years. Don’t get me wrong, I think those husbands who took the time to go to the cabbage event are a rare breed in Japan and hopefully the media attention will encourage more husbands to follow suit.

The story reminded me of when I proposed to Mami. At the time, we were “Kechi-Level Red” (code we use for “extremely low on funds”), so there was no nice restaurant, boat cruise or hotel suite. Instead, I took her to Meiji Mura – a local theme park based on buildings from the Japanese Meiji era.

It was one of those days when it would be glorious sunshine one moment and be snowing the next. I really wanted to surprise Mami, but I had previously asked her mum for permission and she had tipped Mami off about the upcoming proposal. Even still, she didn’t know when it would come.

Amidst light snowfall, we climbed the tower of a Meiji period bank, to the highest point at the park, and with a view of mountains, a lake and historic buildings, I got down on one knee (very un-Japanese) and asked if she’d marry me.

Being prepared for either a positive or negative response, I was wearing my “Maji de?” or “Are you serious?” t-shirt under my jacket. After a moment of hesistation, she agreed to be my wife, and I unvailed the t-shirt to which she burst out laughing. The rest of the day was spent riding penny-farthing bicycles and being pulled around by horse and cart.