I can't find any interesting topics or news this week. We say "NETA GIRE" in Japanese which means "run out"?. I'm sorry, but today I will complain a little bit.
Since yesterday some Japanese sites link to this file "Super strange Diesel jeans TV ad from Italy". Well, Japanese reactions are "bimyo" = confusing. Yes, I can't understand their aim too. Look at this. It looks like a soap ad. Could you tell it is an advertisement for Diesel Jeans? In it Japanese words are wrong (I can't read it). We don't use a short split curtain in bars. I know they mean it a is bar because there is a letter "alcohol" on the curtain. The background music is not Japanese either; maybe Chinese? We don't have vending machine inside a bar like that, etc,. My impression was they made it "too easy". If they want to portray a Japanese mood, they could easily check more real Japanese cultural details. James Bond "You only live twice" had so many mistakes and details incorrect about Japan, but it was released 1967. Now you can find Japanese in your country and we can access easily collected information via the Internet. When I have to make an English manual or something at my job I always get input from a native speaker so I can't understand why they don't as well.
I see such "easy" creative things often. This is a German McDonald Asian burger Special menu. Do they mean Japanese? Chinese? We don't have such characters in Japanese. R.Kelly's Thoia Thoing is a Japanese mood PV too. I suppose they spent a lot of money to make that but I don't think any Japanese checked it even once. Some of the ladies do not wear their Kimono correctly. When you wear Kimono the correct way is "wrap the right side of the kimono over the body, then overlap it with the left side." Right on top of the left is only used to dress a corpse for burial.
Ah! Sorry I am complaining a lot . :-) Perhaps you found strange Japanese ads where they get details about your culture wrong too. I know I know.
Hi to all!
Is there a way to have the Palm T/X (or maybe for winXP) repeat an Event in the calendar every year on http://holidaysleisure.com/easter/>Easter Sunday?
I don't want input the dates manually
2008 - 23 March
2009 - 12 April
2010 - 4 April
2011 - 24 April
2012 - 8 April
2013 - 31 March
2014 - 20 April
2015 - 5 April
2016 - 27 March
2017 - 16 April
2018 - 1 April
2019 - 21 April
2020 - 12 April
Thanks!
Posted by: EastRabbit | Saturday, January 19, 2008 at 04:45 PM
After viewing this Diesel commercial, I've concluded that they were trying to recreate the 1950's style United States TV commercial in another language. Even the sets (the funny looking bar) look like retro 50's era US furnishings.
Posted by: Esther | Thursday, December 01, 2005 at 07:43 AM
Hi Stig Inge
Thank you very much, the dentist one is so cute!!
Posted by: Mari | Monday, October 31, 2005 at 07:42 AM
Hi Mari: Regarding Diesel ad campaigns, you wanted to see more? Here is some fun stuff I found (and I also discovered it's an Italian company):
An ad that made dentists mad:
http://www.advertisingdentist.com/hall.html
This one must have ruffled a few Christian feathers (click on the top lefthand image in full color):
http://www.diesel.com/guides/print/199601/52.html
...and here is a deconstructive history of such "anti-ads," including a diesel ad "set" in North Korea:
http://www.stayfreemagazine.org/archives/14/anti-ads.html
Thanks for your wonderful blog, Mari!
Posted by: Stig Inge | Friday, October 28, 2005 at 06:32 AM
Hi Mari: Regarding Diesel ad campaigns, you wanted to see more? Here is some fun stuff I found (and I also discovered it's an Italian company):
An ad that made dentists mad:
http://www.advertisingdentist.com/hall.html
This one must have ruffled a few Christian feathers (click on the top lefthand image in full color):
http://www.diesel.com/guides/print/199601/52.html
...and here is a deconstructive history of such "anti-ads," including a diesel ad "set" in North Korea:
http://www.stayfreemagazine.org/archives/14/anti-ads.html
Thanks for your wonderful blog, Mari!
Posted by: Stig Inge | Friday, October 28, 2005 at 06:31 AM
Hi there
Chinese Japanese whatever?! ha ha ha I understand. Diesel ads in the US take a similarly strange and puzzling approach? Really I want to see it.
Posted by: Mari | Thursday, October 27, 2005 at 07:17 AM
Hi there --- I ditto the person who said they were trying to create a fake Japanese mood---Diesel ads in the US take a similarly strange and puzzling approach, very calculated and designed to grab your attention.
Regarding the Yahoo Japan auction site---I love it! One of the things that is so great about it is that there are pictures of nearly every auction item when search results are listed, making it easy to scan a lot of items very quickly. I sell items on eBay sometimes, but I think their prices are way too high, especially to post a picture on search results---35 cents! It might not sound like a lot but most things go for very low prices, and that fee eats up a lot of your minimal profit. So many sellers don't use this option and it starts to take too long to look for things because you have to read, click into listings to see a pic, etc. Bah!
Posted by: Stig Inge | Tuesday, October 25, 2005 at 06:02 AM
Unfortunately the majority of Americans, especially in rural or small-town America, still don't know the difference between Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. I was recently at a grocery store in a small city and asked where I could find the sushi lunches, and the clerk said, "It should be in the Chinese section!" As for R. Kelley, he really doesn't care if his video is authentic or not. The name "Thoia Thoing" is racist and insulting to all Asians since it just reflects his perception of what "Chinese/Japanese/Whatever" words sound like.
Posted by: Pineyfork | Monday, October 24, 2005 at 06:10 AM
Hi There
Oriental means far east? For us, appearently Japanese, chinese, Korean are different. But they are close and related more than Europe and America. I understand Oriental is convenient way to call for something in Asia. But if you focus on "one", the details is important for real.
Hmm the last comment from no name san said they made "fake japanese" on purpose. I did not think like that, interesting. Actually I hope so.
Posted by: Mari | Sunday, October 23, 2005 at 11:44 AM
I find the appearance of Americans in Japanese comericals confusing. Like Keifer Sutherland in the calorie mate commercial that is running right now.
Posted by: Claytonain | Sunday, October 23, 2005 at 12:49 AM
I didn't get the impression that they were trying to create a Japanese mood in that Diesel ad. More like they were trying for a purposely fake Japanese mood.
I assume Italians are much like my fellow Canadians- they already know that most of the stereotypical images of Japan (and of any other country for that matter) are false.
So this ad seemed to be portraying and poking fun of these stereotypes, rather than trying to accurately portray Japan.
Posted by: | Saturday, October 22, 2005 at 12:11 PM
R Kelly is a Chicago native and notorious (well, around here, anyway) for his side career as a child pornographer. For a while, his wife had a order of protection against him and she moved out of the house, but they are going to work it out outside of the courtroom.
I, too, have wondered what "Oriental" flavor ramen was supposed to taste like... There are all kinds of odd ramen flavors now in the regular supermarket, like Chicken Picante. I guess they are going after a broader market than just 'starving student'.
I usually get my instant noodles at Korean, Japanese, or Vietnamese groceries, not at regular supermarkets, YMMV. Another tasty instant noodle is the spicy type of "Mi Goreng" from Indonesia. These you boil, then drain the water and mix the seasoning in. It is good with the fried egg on top (as shown on the package).
That German McDonald's ad was quite interesting--I wish the CM was still available. "Yin Burger" is ground pork with fresh cucumber, crispy mixed greens, and fruity mango-wasabi sauce. "Yang Burger" is ground beef with tomato, crispy mixed greens, and delicious spicier curry sauce. I wouldn't be too surprised if these tasted pretty much the same, although mango-wasabi sauce doesn't sound too tasty to me.
Posted by: Claire (クレア) | Saturday, October 22, 2005 at 11:27 AM
Yah, the "asian" flavored food thing.
I'll bet you a shiny 10 yen coin that this originated in the US. For if you would mention Japanese style food, then some Koreans and Chinese would be offended. Or if you mention Vietnamese, then some Americans would be offended. Etc. Etc.
So they just call it "Asian" or "Oriental" food instead. And I agree, it's inaccurate and most importantly, it tastes bland!
I mean, when I go to the instant noodle section, Top Ramen (Nissin Foods) has beef flavor. Chicken flavor. Pork flavor. And "oriental" flavor.
Soooo, what does "oriental" taste like, exactly?? Mmmmmm. Asian...? What does THAT taste like?
Now for a good instant noodle, I would direct you to Shin Ramuyn from the good folks at Nong Shim...
Posted by: abraxis | Saturday, October 22, 2005 at 02:14 AM
hahahah. You Only Live Twice.
i'm an american. i watched that movie with my friend, who's from japan.
the best part is when Tiger Tanaka, head of japanese secret service, tells bond "Rule #1 in Japan is: never do anything for yourself, when a beautiful girl can do it for you."
ha ha. or something like that.
and when bond and tanaka realize they have to attack the volcano fortress of the evil SPECTRE organization, bond asks
Bond: we'll need a company of first-rate men. have you got any commandos?
Tanaka: no bond-san, we have better than THAT...
Bond: ?
Tanaka: Ninjas.
hahahaha.
some of the on-location filming was great, though.
Posted by: I am Dali | Saturday, October 22, 2005 at 01:28 AM
this comment isn't tied to your post today, but i had to let you know of this brilliant japanese product (i totally want one of these)! Apparently, you can buy card-board, bio-degradable computer cases now in japan!
http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2005/10/cardboard_pc_ca.html
chris
Posted by: Chris | Saturday, October 22, 2005 at 12:52 AM