Dec 19 2008
Nooo Mr. Clooney!
There is something about Japanese advertising, at times, that just punches you in the face. I’m not talking about the often reported, funny, imperfect English sentences that make no sense but tag lines in either language that, without any irony, say outright: this product will make people like you.
Advertising companies, in the UK at least, couldn’t get away with these kind of statements (however much it might be what they’re really trying to say) but somehow no one seems to mind the blatant demands to be a better consumer.
So, around Tokyo recently, a new take on the lost-in-translation American-celeb-comes-to-Japan advertising, George Clooney, who I happen to like, has ended up in a rather unfortunate set of Honda adverts with the horrifying tag line:
“I Like Nice Cars. Because I’m a Man”
This one is written in Japanese, but its just as cringeworthy.
So, if there are any charitable celebs out there this christmas, please, please, step forward and volunteer to shoot sexy mr. public transport man. “I like punctual park and ride services, Because it makes sense” Its not as punchy, but that’s just because it doesn’t have the million dollar advertising budget of industrial corporate social responsibility denial.
We have them here too, although with slightly better english…