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© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Super Mario Abe marketing op in Rio cost Nintendo zero
By YURI KAGEYAMA TOKYO©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
13 Comments
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Wakarimasen
Abe should have paid THEM
Alex Einz
now, if they are smart... sue the gov and profit
Bob Sneider
the cost is that they have tainted their brand forever.
Moonraker
Not surprising because there is a revolving door between them, it seems.
dcog9065
I hope they go all out with the Japanese cultural icons in the 2020 opening, they have such a ridiculously huge amount to work with. It's a once in a lifetime gold-plated opportunity to market the country, don't screw it up!
Yubaru
If Abe was the "highlight" then there are some serious problems....I think Mario was the highlight!
talaraedokko
Someone HAS to sue. Come on. Sony? Apple? Give them time.
misunderstood
Nothing can be done! If the government or Abe was to get sued just think about all of the individuals who dress up as anime characters being stripped down to the undies. It was free publicity for The government that was unwanted by Nintendo. Honest Abe done it again!
SenseNotSoCommon
One of Japan's most profitable companies for the past few decades gets free advertising at taxpayers' (not inconsiderable) expense.
Ginza tonight?
toshiko
Good for Nintendo. It still does not know how to be greedy.
Fadamor
Sue for what? Dentsu, Inc. went to Nintendo ahead of time and got their permission to use the licensed characters. There is nothing to sue over.
5SpeedRacer5
Oh, you mean Abe served his constituency by promoting Japanese products, jobs, and commerce using perhaps the ONLY character known worldwide to just about everyone under the age of 60?
Well, tar and feather that guy because wow! The nerve! Why couldn't he be a useless old guy in a grey suit like the rest of the losers in Nagatacho??
It is freaking genius. If he had come out as a ninja or a samurai, or a geisha, that would not only have been dumb, it would have been communicating a lot less about the reality of Japan than Mario. Super Mario Abe works. And it is fun. And it is international, and not so blatantly commercial as driving a Toyota or rocking to Sony music or whatever.
I like Abe. I don't even care about fashion. The guy has chutzpah and moxie, and a sense of humor. He is not an idiot and he does his job. We have had far worse PMs, and recently, too.
Strangerland
They asked Nintendo for permission to use Mario, and there was zero Nintendo advertising included. I see absolutely no reason why Nintendo should have paid a yen.
After all, what other character could Japan have used that would have had the same impact/effect? None. So if they had asked/required Nintendo pay money, and Nintendo said no, they would have been left with a presentation that wasn't as good. That's what you call cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Things were done correctly here. Anyone whining about it is creating controversy, without having the business sense to actually know what they are talking about.