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The weirdest Japanese TV commercials are weird in Japan, too

23 Comments

What’s probably lost on most TV viewers around the world is that Japanese TV commercials aren’t evidence of Japan’s widespread, built-in cultural bizarreness. Nope, they’re much more about about advertisers and ad agencies trying to out-weird each other. That's right, "weird" probably even outsells "sexy" here.

That being said, and while commercials from any culture not one’s own can seem nonsensical, offensive, and/or disgusting, we do have to admit that, in the “I have no idea what’s going on here!” department, Japan really does go the extra mile...err, kilometer.

Among this array of gems, our favorite is Burger King’s “Eat it Like a Snake.” Now, we do have to point out that Eat it Like a Snake is actually Korean - but hey, these two very distinct cultures evolved with only a little bit of ocean in the middle. It's safe to say Korea likes a little weird, too.

Source: AkihabaraNews

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23 Comments
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Said no one, ever.

Said KariHaruka, and myself as well for that matter.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Being a Westerner I quite enjoy the adverts for their 'uniqueness'

6 ( +7 / -1 )

I am totaly speechless !! and we in the UK think that we have S*** adverts

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Burger King one is korean

4 ( +5 / -1 )

There's an old commercial by a bedding company that showed a man dancing the waltz with a sheep. (The mattress or cover contained 100% wool, apparently.)

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I like Japanese ads. As for what Brian says... we have good and bad ads... the current McVities ones are fun though. As are Compare the Meerkat ^_^

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@Kimokekahuna Hawaii - Valid all the way through, but you lost me at 'disco music', dude, no. You should have quit while you where ahead.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I haven't watched J tv in like 2 or so years since I got cable. I haven't seen these. very wise. unfortunatly the only thing of any interest in JTV is the commercials. without game & cooking shows JTV would collapse.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

it is not too weird, it quite funny i think

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I had never seen the Burger King CM, that is just disgusting. Also that Glico Cm, with the guy wearing the red nose is just so stupid, i hate when it is on TV. I love the sumo wrestler commercials though.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

the tarako pasta one terrified me... they look like little walking fingers.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I guess the advertisers are on to the standards they need to adhere to.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The first 2 or so minutes were quite funny, then they were kind of boring. The last BK one was certainly a surprise, though.

The red nose one was really hard to understand.

I haven't watched J tv in like 2 or so years since I got cable. I haven't seen these.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

As an expert in American advertising I have to say... I liked them all. Unlike ads in America that have little entertainment value, these ads were engaging, memorable, hilarious, used music well and I could watch them over again without being bored. It did not matter that I do not understand one word of Japanese making them effective communications. The key is now making short commercials that lend themselves to mobile media and social media platforms. Integrating advertising also with lifestyle is critical to making not just mindless consumers.. but loyal fans. It is not that hard but advertisers seem to refuse to watch their own work (over and over and over) so ads must have variety and not punish viewers for giving 30 seconds of their life that we will never get back. So entertain please... arigato. Dentsu does great work as does boutique agencies showcasing a sense of again entertainment as well as product quality/uniqueness/call to action. Eat like Snake would be a big hit in US. The dancing Sumo are terrific. I wish American ads would use more beautiful Japanese girls because they are very pleasing on the eye. I wish ads would use more disco music as well and be as good to listen to as to watch.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The perpetual portrayal of Japanese as "weird" or "bizarre"

Funny. I just thought this article was about weird or bizarre commercials in Japan. I don't see anything racist in that.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Doesn't matter if it's entertaining if it doesn't help sell the product. Like that wonderful child Darth Vader ad that won the Super Bowl - nobody even remembers which car it was trying to sell.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Although this is about weird Japanese commercials, the Eat Like Snake / Burger King Commercial is from South Korea, not Japan.

When I commented above, I hadn't looked at the video. I had just read the article. Then I watched the video and saw that the last one was not Japanese. You can actually see the Korean writing on the window.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Also many of those commercials are regional, many products like Pretz issue some flavours only in 1 or 2 regions.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'm disgusted at myself for loving the Burger King ad. It is quite bizarre. But what the hell are they trying to do by telling people to "Eat like snake"??!! Chewing is better.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

That BK ad looks extremely unprofessional. I wouldn't be surprised if it was some kind of university project or something. Definitely not Japanese in any case.

The Tarako ad is amazing.There's a full version of the song too.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Love Japanese ads! Countries everywhere have really funny and unique CMs, but nowhere manages to pack quite so much craziness into such short time slots as Japan.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Thats why I love Japan more when I am not there!

Patsjapan

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

@KariHaruka

I quite enjoy the adverts

Said no one, ever.

-11 ( +1 / -12 )

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