As the most important event on Japan’s annual calendar, the New Year’s holiday period is a time when the country’s traditions truly come to the fore. There’s the time-honoured act of eating special "osechi" meals, the custom of visiting shrines and temples to pay your respects, and a whole plethora of other important activities with centuries of cultural significance attached to them. One of the most common customs is the practice of sending "nengajo" New Year’s cards to family and friends, and while some choose to adorn their greetings with cute anime-style characters, others prefer to add a more traditional touch to their messages.
Japanese singer, actor and film producer Masashi Sada is one such person leaning towards the side of tradition over New Year’s, only he’s chosen to add a fruity, modern twist to the proceedings. Sada, who was one of the most popular male artists of the late 1970s and early '80s, is now paying tribute to one of today’s most well-known singers, Piko Taro, who took the world by storm last year with his smash hit, “Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen”. In Sada’s New Year’s clip to fans, he dishes up his very own version of PPAP, which comes with a generous dose of Japanese tradition.
Take a look at the short clip below.
Having already racked up more than a million views on YouTube, fans are loving Sada’s version of PPAP, which features a number of traditional Japanese elements, including a taiko, shamisen and side flute accompaniment.
Everyone in the clip is decked out in Japanese outfits, while Sada wows us all with his traditional vocal stylings. At the end, the message “Shinshun” appears. This is a common New Year’s greeting that literally translates to “New Spring”.
Having released over 35 solo albums during his musical career, this is the first time for Sada to dip his toes into the viral video scene. Given Piko Taro’s love of collaborating with popular personalities, we can’t help but wonder if the two might be appearing together soon in a PPAP video of their own.
Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen singer makes shocking claim about how much money the song has earned him -- Tokyo’s Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen Cafe is now open, and we stopped by for a PPAP meal! -- Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen singer barks like a mad dog in music video for newest song【Video】
© Japan Today
5 Comments
Login to comment
thepersoniamnow
And suddenly everyone around me speaks English with confidence. Unfortunately they are saying the most nonsensical thing ever. Lol!
Aly Rustom
absolutely. When my Japanese friends showed me that clip I was like "What the~~~~?
Maria
Fabulous!
smithinjapan
I think Sada's appearance here is funny, and since it is a take on pop-culture it works well. Good job.
Pikotaro on the other hand... he has had his day in the sun, and I really wish he'd come up with something else. Going to the movies and seeing, "I have a mileage. I have a card. UN! Mileage card" or turning on the TV for the first time in a year (and quickly off again as a result), "I have no money. I have a sumafo. UN Part-time job!" or however it goes. The horse died months ago... stop flogging it, please.
SenseNotSoCommon
Next: Pikotaro designated Living National Treasure as choreography for UNESCO protection.