Althouse: A very elaborate ad from Japan. (It hardly matters what the product is.)

October 21, 2018

A very elaborate ad from Japan. (It hardly matters what the product is.)

I found that via Adweek.

86 comments:

richlb said...: As a huge fan of stop-motion animation, I love this ad. As a huge fan of hot lesbians I REALLY love this ad.; 10/21/18, 2:31 PM
Vittorio Jano IV said...: Reminds me of a Campari spot
https://youtu.be/gYvAPeJhees; 10/21/18, 2:32 PM
YoungHegelian said...: Well, not surprisingly, it's for a make-up company.

We, with our western eyes, see the unmasked samurai ghoul at the end as a girl, thus seeing the couple at the end as lesbian.

But to Japanese eyes, I'm not so sure. Is the ghoul character a bishonen, a Japanese "pretty boy"? Or, is the samurai yet another one of the androgynous in every sense demons so common in hentai & manga? Or, is the director of the ad just into dykes?

I have no idea. But, I'm thinking that the assumption that it's just lesbian may be a cultural misreading on our part.; 10/21/18, 2:39 PM
becauseIdbefired said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 10/21/18, 2:43 PM
becauseIdbefired said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 10/21/18, 2:44 PM
rcocean said...: Incredibly well done ad. As someone just stated, what it means to the Japanese is probably different than the foreign view.

You could have shown that during the SuperBowl and gotten a lot of buzz. But of course, they're selling a Japanese product in Japan.; 10/21/18, 2:46 PM
becauseIdbefired said...: It shows the sexual power of women, and hints at their influence on the evolution of humans.

To understand, try making a successful ad like that with men.; 10/21/18, 2:47 PM
Big Mike said...: If everyone in that ad is Japanese then they must not have a taboo against blackface.; 10/21/18, 3:10 PM
Kevin said...: First of all, I wonder if the Japanese would have an inherent revulsion to the, I guess that's a possessive boyfriend?, being black. I would wager that is a side effect at least, intentional or not. Probably not intentional.

Second, everyone is reading the samurai in the mask as a female or a female that is suggestive of a boy, but I think it might really just be a boy. The little avatars that show on their lips show a taller straighter male figure on the samurai and a female figure on hers.; 10/21/18, 3:15 PM
Fernandinande said...: Affirmative-action hire writes "heart-clenching".; 10/21/18, 3:16 PM
rhhardin said...: Long meaningful stare means bad acting. It Japan it probably means hello kitty.; 10/21/18, 3:17 PM
SayAahh said...: Cruel androgyny; 10/21/18, 3:25 PM
ALP said...: My half-Japanese partner and I just watched this. We have some contact with his younger relatives in Japan, some come to visit. Males wearing makeup is pretty popular, and it doesn't detract from one's masculinity. We both thought it was a boy with makeup. I could have sworn that the animation that grew out of the unmasked character's lips was a male profile in contrast to the female one - I'll have to watch again.

The message I got from this was: wow, now I've found a boy I can share makeup with and we can go makeup shopping together. He REALLY gets me!; 10/21/18, 3:25 PM
Mid-Life Lawyer said...: Loved it, whatever the sex or gender identification disorder of the person in the mask is. Also, the ad would not be made in the U.S. because racism!; 10/21/18, 3:29 PM
stonethrower said...: Am I the only one who thinks this is elaborately stupid?; 10/21/18, 3:31 PM
rcocean said...: "Am I the only one who thinks this is elaborately stupid?"

Yep.

But don't worry, plenty of Asperger's don't get Art.; 10/21/18, 3:36 PM
rcocean said...: Why do people look at paintings when we have photographs?

I just don't get it.

Why do people depict stuff that isn't real?

I just don't get it.

Why don't people make commercials with/about people like me? What's with all this *foreign* shit?

I just don't get it.; 10/21/18, 3:38 PM
rcocean said...: the Train is fine.; 10/21/18, 3:39 PM
mockturtle said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 10/21/18, 3:43 PM
mockturtle said...: Reminded me at first of Black Orpheus, a movie version of the Greek myth set in Carnival in Rio wherein a skeleton-masked figure follows Eurydice and eventually takes her into Hades. In this ad, it would seem that the girl chooses death over life. But Orpheus does not follow her into Hades here, unless that will follow as a sequel.; 10/21/18, 3:45 PM
mockturtle said...: But to Japanese eyes, I'm not so sure. Is the ghoul character a bishonen, a Japanese "pretty boy"?

That's the way I took it: A boy with makeup.; 10/21/18, 3:50 PM
James K said...: "Am I the only one who thinks this is elaborately stupid?"

Yep.

Nope. Maybe not 'stupid,' but tedious, pretentious, repellent.; 10/21/18, 3:52 PM
mockturtle said...: Japanese culture is both traditional and decidedly quirky. It's an acquired taste.; 10/21/18, 4:00 PM
Mikec said...: I would agree with repellent, although my first reaction was silly. A commercial like this is useful in figuring out what not to buy.; 10/21/18, 4:12 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Very cool. I'll be adding it to my collection shortly.; 10/21/18, 4:32 PM
Mary Beth said...: The zombie samurai is played by Rina Fukushima. The other cast credits are Elena Ann as Princess Kaguya and Endo as Dracula. The same director, Show Yanagisawa, did High School Girls for Shisheido a few years ago.; 10/21/18, 4:47 PM
Bad Lieutenant said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 10/21/18, 4:48 PM
Bad Lieutenant said...: The zombie samurai is played by Rina Fukushima.

Wait, wut?; 10/21/18, 4:50 PM
Sprezzatura said...: "I guess that's a possessive boyfriend"

That's bad.

But it also seems like the least bad interpretation. Physically grabs and moves her. Makes her weep. Tries to advance after being turned away.

Bad hombre! (or, Japanese equiv.)

IMHO.; 10/21/18, 4:50 PM
Bad Lieutenant said...: Yeah, I got nothing.; 10/21/18, 4:53 PM
Sprezzatura said...: Bad L,

Why delete your comment pre yur realizing she's a she?

That really amplified yur "Wait, wut?"

IMHO.; 10/21/18, 4:56 PM
Sprezzatura said...: BTW Bad L,

You coulda waited.

It was fun to let the locals jabber about how this gots ta be a boy. Cause they know about Japanese folks, like they know so much else. [Never thinking to look for the truth.]; 10/21/18, 5:00 PM
FullMoon said...: It was fun to let the locals jabber about how this gots ta be a boy.

Who did that?; 10/21/18, 5:19 PM
Sprezzatura said...: "Who did that?"

Too Bad Bad L spoiled the fun, maybe you coulda been on the list, too.; 10/21/18, 5:27 PM
Karen of Texas said...: Cosplayers come to mind. My son's ex is South Korean and she was big into cosplay. From what I saw, a great many Asian females were keen into the whole idea of being able to take on the persona of female characters or male characters. She could use makeup and costuming and look like a hot female character or a hot male character. It was pretty amazing.; 10/21/18, 5:40 PM
Ken B said...: Stonethrower
Yes, elaborately stupid. Repellent as James said works too. Drops of blood, Mary Poppins on the mouth, “even the masked dude who turns out to be a woman is better than a black guy”.; 10/21/18, 5:40 PM
Karen of Texas said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 10/21/18, 5:40 PM
Burkemania said...: I'm from a red state. I prefer Ford F-150 ads.; 10/21/18, 5:41 PM
tim in vermont said...: I thought that it was beautiful right up to the dancing nosebleed.; 10/21/18, 5:43 PM
Ken B said...: “I thought that it was beautiful right up to the dancing nosebleed.”

See how different people are? That's just when de Sitter got turned on.; 10/21/18, 5:49 PM
Sprezzatura said...: "I prefer Ford F-150 ads."

Ha ha.

'Oh, a half ton turck! So manly!!'

Get an F-450 Platinum, and we'll talk.; 10/21/18, 5:54 PM
Sprezzatura said...: BTW, I've been told that the nanny-state EPA dominated gov will fine ya many thousands of dough if ya take all the emissions stuff off of yur F-450 and put on a tuner.

Still, worth it. Even before the Rs fully legalize pollution Again.; 10/21/18, 6:02 PM
FullMoon said...: "Who did that?"

Too Bad Bad L spoiled the fun, maybe you coulda been on the list, too.

Right. So, what, two or three locals, or less?; 10/21/18, 6:06 PM
Douglas B. Levene said...: Looked like a boy to me.; 10/21/18, 6:10 PM
Sprezzatura said...: FullM,

Bad L ruined that (though Doug still persists).

Move on. So, what's yur POV re all the glorious black smoke that I exhaust w/ throttle? Cool right? No F-ing gov should tell individuals and/or companies what to do. That's commie!; 10/21/18, 6:15 PM
FIDO said...: Shishado is a world famous make up company which my wife speaks highly of.

As far as this ad, it's elaborate. I fail to see the difference between this highly digitalized special effects laden ad and the CGI films that Althouse normally excoriates, except for the fact that it tickles her pretention bone with a sop of homophilia and exoticism. And costumes! Chicks dig costumes.; 10/21/18, 6:16 PM
Sprezzatura said...: FIDO,

You didn't like the ad cause there were no big tits.

How many times did you comment in that one thread re Sinema's tits?

Not that there's anything wrong w/ that. The first time. Maybe even the second time is okay too, but probably already boring repetition. You were beyond that.

IMHO.; 10/21/18, 6:20 PM
FullMoon said...: Move on. So, what's yur POV re all the glorious black smoke that I exhaust w/ throttle? Cool right? No F-ing gov should tell individuals and/or companies what to do. That's commie!

Surpised you feel that way. Had assumed you were environmentally conscious.; 10/21/18, 6:21 PM
Sprezzatura said...: "Had assumed you were environmentally conscious."

Well, I don't purposefully smoke out people who are not in cars who are beside the road when I go by them. Which w/ some of the hicks I know does make me a snowflake. They think that's good fun. Maybe if I didn't have a big dick I'd get that. I dunno.

Anywho, I would like the true cost of products (incl carbon) to be included in the price of those products, such that other people don't get stuck w/ bills that they aren't responsible for. For me, I pay plenty of taxes to cover my pollution (incl a jet), unlike the hicks I know/hang w/.; 10/21/18, 6:29 PM
FullMoon said...: For me, I pay plenty of taxes...

Are you braggin, or complainin'.?

Your percentage of taxes more than the hicks you hang out with?; 10/21/18, 6:33 PM
Sprezzatura said...: BTW, My 450 isn't lifted. Unlike most truck folks I know. More evidence re those w/ big dicks and those not.

And, when I'm at my woods houses I'm on all sorts of rough roads, incl long out of maintenance logging roads. Never needed more ground clearance. Those lifts seem to be for show. IMHO.; 10/21/18, 6:33 PM
Sprezzatura said...: FullM,

Nobodies talkin' about percentages here. That's fer chumps.; 10/21/18, 6:35 PM
FullMoon said...: Nobodies talkin' about percentages here. That's fer chumps.
So, less than Buffets secretery. Seems fair.; 10/21/18, 6:41 PM
FIDO said...: IIRC, during the long decline of the Samurai during the Tokugawa Era, the men in court wore make up. And watching anime as a kid, there were quite a few make up wearing...folks of undefined gender identity.; 10/21/18, 6:51 PM
FIDO said...: Not that there's anything wrong w/ that. The first time. Maybe even the second time is okay too, but probably already boring repetition. You were beyond that.

Well, I hadn't mentioned tits all day. Thanks for bringing it up.

What I DID notice is the hands. In the first scene with the hand holding, the thumb of Skelator looked masculine, but the way he was touching wasn't.

It was a big thumb. I may mention that about two more times, just for you.; 10/21/18, 6:55 PM
Sprezzatura said...: BTW FIDO, looks like those tits are winning folks over. First time for a D endorsement in approximately two decades:

https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/editorial/2018/10/21/kyrsten-sinema-martha-mcsally-arizona-senate-candidates/1689525002/; 10/21/18, 7:00 PM
FIDO said...: Who said, by the way, that I didn't like the ad?

The emotions, the symbolism, the special effects were all first rate. The girl was absolutely gorgeous and the make up first rate. I was staring at the 'black man' to determine if he was actually an African American or a Japanese in Black Face.

What my comment was pointing out was that Althouse is FREQUENTLY viscous in her critiques of CGI...until she isn't.

**

Let me see...I have recently made two comment blocks about racks. The first was the ever pugnacious and hypocritical Michelle Goldberg of the Queasy Belly and the second was Sinema Star, also a Feminist/Atheist/Bisexual...who comports herself like a Newsbunny.

How are both of the similar? Starts with an 'F'...you can figure it out. And both are trading on their tits. Much like Ms. Valenti.

If you have an issue with people making mention of such hypocrisy among feminists, I believe your beef should be better directed at the proprietor.; 10/21/18, 7:04 PM
Sprezzatura said...: "It was a big thumb."

azcentral gots that sorta code down too, re Sinema:

"She leads with an arm extended"; 10/21/18, 7:04 PM
FIDO said...: BTW FIDO, looks like those tits are winning folks over. First time for a D endorsement in approximately two decades

Never underestimate the power of a nice rack. The rack that launched a thousand votes.

Just from a visual perspective, I knew McSally was in trouble. Not JUST the rack, but the presence. Sinema has it and McSally looks like one of the uglier moms from the PTA.; 10/21/18, 7:06 PM
Michael K said...: Blogger anti-de Sitter space said...
BTW FIDO, looks like those tits are winning folks over. First time for a D endorsement in approximately two decades:

Both the Republic and the Tucson Star News are leftie papers.; 10/21/18, 7:15 PM
Jupiter said...: But to Japanese eyes, I'm not so sure. Is the ghoul character a bishonen, a Japanese "pretty boy"?

Have to check the birth certificate. Or the genitalia. Or the chromosomes.; 10/21/18, 7:18 PM
Henry said...: You can buy the product at many fine retailers.

Watching the ad a second time, I picked up on the fact that the boy rejected has pancake makeup covering bad skin. That, I suspect, is the product differentiator.; 10/21/18, 7:21 PM
Sprezzatura said...: So Doc Mike,

Do you think the masked person is a guy er a gal?; 10/21/18, 7:22 PM
FIDO said...: But to Japanese eyes, I'm not so sure. Is the ghoul character a bishonen, a Japanese "pretty boy"?

Have to check the birth certificate. Or the genitalia. Or the chromosomes.

Althouse seems to suggest that only a Psychologist knows for sure.

However, I found Crocodile Dundee seemed to have a good grasp of the situation without credentials.; 10/21/18, 7:22 PM
FIDO said...: Both the Republic and the Tucson Star News are leftie papers.

What paper isn't?; 10/21/18, 7:23 PM
Barry Dauphin said...: It is beautifully produced an executed. However, the upshot is that a Japanese woman rejects a black guy and prefers someone Japanese. That shouldn’t be very surprising considering how the Japanese prefer homogeneity. Is this some subtle anti-immigrant add?; 10/21/18, 7:26 PM
Sprezzatura said...: "What paper isn't?"

Does Stormfront have a print publication?

Anyone here got Steve King's number? Check w/ him.; 10/21/18, 7:26 PM
robother said...: An expensive ad campaign aimed a lipstick lesbians. Based on my experience, they might be rarer on the ground than transitioning male to females. But maybe in a culture where literally everyone is an exotic oriental, you've got to stretch further for that tingle of erotic exoticism.; 10/21/18, 7:26 PM
Sprezzatura said...: "...is an exotic oriental"

Rugs and furniture are oriental. Not people. They can be Asian, however.; 10/21/18, 7:29 PM
Michael K said...: a good analysis of Democrats' problems.

For Democrats, that means taking on some of their own donor constituencies, such as Silicon Valley or Wall Street. It means confronting globalization in a manner focused on the impact of the American worker’s displacement (rather than simply accommodating employers who insist that domestic workers lack requisite skills for the jobs they offer), eschewing the deficit fetishism of the likes of the Peterson Foundation, which preaches fiscal rectitude, and not embracing “pay-go,” another one of these seriously stupid ideas beloved of the chattering classes, who crave “fiscal responsibility.”

In reality, abiding by these fiscally hawkish fiscal rules will simply cripple a progressive agenda, as well as having zero economic logic behind it. It will leave Democrats offering voters false choices between, say, infrastructure vs Social Security, but not having both.

Awwww. False Choices ? Say it isn't so.

As for Sinema. lets's see how the election turns out.; 10/21/18, 7:37 PM
Sprezzatura said...: "As for Sinema. lets's see how the election turns out."

Doc, aside from that lib lady, have ya seen this fussy gal?:

https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1053813870932955136

Sassy.; 10/21/18, 7:50 PM
Sprezzatura said...: CIA gal.; 10/21/18, 7:51 PM
Sprezzatura said...: Sorta like FBI gal.; 10/21/18, 7:52 PM
Michael K said...: Another Valerie Plane., I assume. Desk jockey like 95% of the CIA bureaucrats. The Church committee got rid of the operators.

The CIA guy in Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, was retiring and asked for a replacement who spoke Turkic. They sent him an expert in sexual harassment.

He wrote a book about it.; 10/21/18, 8:01 PM
Michael K said...: Valerie Plame before autocorrect got it.; 10/21/18, 8:03 PM
Sal said...: Total globo-homo filth. Japanese men are wussy cucks who work like drones and die as virgins. Japanese women are pornified lolita-like whores. Japanese culture is now artificial and cosmetic. There is nothing there there.

A nation that has no children. A nation with no sense of morals or history. Just a shallow and empty consumer society that now promotes invasive diversity and degenerate decadence.; 10/21/18, 8:16 PM
mockturtle said...: ADU, why don't you tell us how you really feel about Japan? ;-); 10/21/18, 8:29 PM
Darrell said...: I saw it as an anti-drug ad. The angry Black man was the pusher. And pimp.; 10/21/18, 9:06 PM
Phil 314 said...: I thought the ad was racist.; 10/21/18, 9:11 PM
Skyler said...: Why would anyone kiss a girl with an open and dancing cold sore?; 10/21/18, 9:40 PM
Mary said...: Nice find! I love the animation; 10/21/18, 10:07 PM
FIDO said...: The moral of the story seems to be better a Japanese girl than a Black man.

Outside of the Academy and their Program victims, most of the world is not all that hot on diversity as a blatantly obvious unmixed blessing.

Sweden and Germany are finding diversity to be a trifle wearing at this point.; 10/21/18, 10:36 PM
0_0 said...: so, dark makeup in a makeup advertisement.; 10/21/18, 11:42 PM
virgil xenophon said...: Unfortunately mockturtle, ADU, above is right. Japan is well on its way to committing slow-motion cultural suicide..; 10/22/18, 1:10 AM
mockturtle said...: Virgil--I am acutely aware of that fact, which is one reason I'm immersing myself in Japanese history right now. Every empire has its decline and fall. The US, though not technically an empire, is nonetheless seeing hers as well. At least Trump is trying to delay that sad inevitability.; 10/22/18, 8:42 AM
SeanF said...: FIDO: I was staring at the 'black man' to determine if he was actually an African American or a Japanese in Black Face.

American?; 10/22/18, 9:11 AM