Tourism Agency Commissioner Hiroshi Mizohata, left, clowns around with members of Il Divo, from left, Carlos Martin, Sebastien Izambard, David Miller and Urs Buhler, in Tokyo on Tuesday. The singing group members, dubbed "musical ambassadors" because they have four different international backgrounds, visited the agency to help promote Japan which has suffered a plunge in tourism following the March disasters.
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33 Comments
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IvanCoughalot
That's bound to work. Come to Japan. It's ludicrously expensive, you won't understand a thing unless you know someone who lives here, you'll be irradiated and subject to seismic catastrophe at any point. We have no functioning government and we'll assume you, in your racial inferiority are criminal. But never mind, we have a middle manager in a silly wig looking awkward in front of some has-beens, in a staged photo-op which we assume will be enough to lure you, as we do not understand the concept of critical thought.
IvanCoughalot
All the would-be tarento needs to know.
The saddest part of this picture is the fact that Mr Mizohata's antics aren't off-the-cuff or improvised in any way. He'll be delivering the script, memorised verbatim, which was the result of twenty hours'-worth of meetings with senior wise types nodding sagely as the "creative" advice was dispensed by some other clueless halfwit.
Disillusioned
Ah, the Japanese sense of humor. It's so unashamedly childish! No wonder you can do a PHD in comics.
KevininHawaii
LOOK AT ME!!!! I WEAR SUIT, AND STUPID CAP!!!!!
do YOU SEE??? I AM FUNNY!!!! WE JAPANESE CAN RELAX TOO!!!!
GOJ manual for dealing with foreigners: Step 1: when you do not know what to do, put on silly cap. Step 2: refer to step 1.
the cap was the only tool available to him.Yeah, this picture makes me think everything will be ok... sure.
MrDog
We pay taxes for guys to do stupid stuff like this?
alladin
They are trying to promote Japan to bring more tourist here. Well, I got some very reliable information for everyone here. Japan is already promoting themselves. They are word widely promoted as the nuclear disaster country of the world. Come to Japan, get radiated and then go back home to get cancer and glow like a glow stick.
tkoind2
Talento here and their silly slapstick behavior is embarrassing. Elegantly mannered singers come and Japan trots out some dweeb in a samurai get up from a novelty store. No wonder the world is increasingly writing Japan off. If you don't take yourselves seriously enough to be more than silly characatures, then why should the world?
MYRB2011
I am crying when nobody invites me.
Noripinhead
Looks like a skit from the new Saturday Night Live Japan.
GW
hazukashi ne!
IvanCoughalot
I met this bloke once. I will guarantee you that this was the only flash of "personality" he showed during the entire meeting, and it took him half a dozen attempts for him to smile correctly.
thehedonist
Good way to show how idiotic TV personalities are here.
nandakandamanda
Nice try, but this kind of posed photo never goes well.
Maria
What does this mean? That they're from different countries? Continents?
selfish
Finally some handsome men on JT (=Il Divo)
sctaber56
Hey, lighten up, everyone. I'm with selfish above - just enjoy the international eye candy and call it a day. And if you haven't ever heard Il Divo sing, go to YouTube immediately to savor the group's incredible talent! Almost as good as chocolate ;)
sourpuss
Ivan, if it's really that bad,then why are YOU here? Is it the old Woody Allen joke? Because you need the eggs?
BlueWitch
What a ridiculous photo! Makes me cringe.
hooktrunk2
I have never heard of this group before. Are they famous or am I behind the times? After listening to their music on iTunes, I feel a bit silly for at first confusing their name il-divo for Devo? You know, as in the group that sang "Whip it."
Moderator: Is this better?
IvanCoughalot
Sourpuss - I'm sure the mod will direct you soon to stay on topic. This photo is not about me or why I live here. That's right, isn't it, Mod?
sctaber56
My take is that Il Divo, a Simon Cowell creation, is a very successful singing group in the US and internationally. I'd love to attend one of their sold-out concerts but the ticket prices are a bit out of my range. Besides producing a beautiful sound with their combined voices, they sing in multiple languages: French, Italian, English, Swiss, etc. - nice variety.
tokyokawasaki
Extremely childish & mega overreacting comedy only seems to work in Japan. If you act like a freak (stupid voice, mannerisms or hideous clothes/outfits) or pretend to be a woman, you'll do well on TV. If you have real talent (a.k.a a successful stand up comic) but you do not know how to act childish and grossly overreact, then you're doomed to fail.
nath
This idiot clowning around is doing nothing to lessen the spread of radiation from Fukushima. He is attempting, in a rather idiotic way, to lure people back to Japan to spend $$. He, of course, cannot guarantee your safety nor that you will not eat contaminated food. Idiots all around.
cactusJack
"Look at me, I am Japanese stereotype!"
tokyokawasaki
Urs Buhler (guy on the far right) looks totally unamused :)
Darren White
No, this doesn't look embarrassing at all, does it ?
Now if they had made the gaijin wear the funny chonmage the Japanese would have found it hilarious.
Zenny11
So what they joked around a bit. Like no other visiting celebrity/business person has done that before?
In short only a big deal to people that want to make it into one.
nath
Mizohata is not middle management or a tarento, but actual the head of the Japan Tourism Agency. I have also met him and while he tries hard, I am not confident that he is the correct guy to lead the JTA. Lacks the flair and creative thinking needed to be the head of tourism promotion in Japan and to lure tourists back to Japan. Just your typical J Government bureaucrat. The "Yokoso Japan" fiasco, where the bulk of the budget was spent in Japan, happened during his term.
Patricia Yarrow
Actually, manga is pretty deep and worthy of a PhD inquiry.
sourpuss
disillusioned, what's wrong with being goofy?
sctaber56
Just curious - can anyone tell where the sections of the map depict which have been puzzled-pieced together on the office wall behind Mr. Mizohata? It looks like a map showing coastline somewhere to me, anyway. Thanks.
zurcronium
Are we not men, no we are il Divo.
IvanCoughalot
I couldn't agree more. Nice, harmless enough bloke, but a cookie-cutter bureaucrat.