From the Heart of Tokyo 東京の中心から

Super Bowl Ads ユーモア

スーパーボールのコマーシャル　HUMOR

日本に来てから、毎年テレビでスーパーボールを見ています。でも、日本のテレビにはアメリカンのテレビのコマーシャルがありません。スーパーボールのオリジナルのコマーシャルはとても面白いからとても残念でした。今年のスーパーボールはシカゴのベアーツとインディアンポリスのコーツの対戦ですました。今年は初めてインターネットで見たので、ゲームしかもオリジナルのコマーシャルを見ることができました。先週月曜日８ 時からマティンとスーパーボールを見ました。よかったです。ゲームはすごかったです。テネシー州住んでいたから、ジョナの好きなチームはコーツです。理由はペートンマーニング はテネシーの学校でプレーしていましたから。始まってすぐ空前の出来事が起こりました。ベアーはキックオフをしてそのままのタッチダウンを遂げました。びっくりした。ゲームはわくわくしました。ペートンマーニングは上手なクぁーターバックなので、彼はスーパーボールのMVPに選ばれました。スコアはインディアンポリスのコーツ２９．シカゴベアースは１７．　　

アメリカンのフットボールは四つ１５分の四半分があるけど、 もっともっと長い時間かかります。いろいろ理由から、クロークが中止をしたながら、ハーフタイムのショーとコマーシャルは乗せます。マティんと私はスーパーボールのオリジナルのコマーシャルを見て楽しかったです。スーパーボールの広告の間は一番高いですよ。それから、そのコマーシャルは一番上手だと思います。殆どは可笑しかったです。今インタネットで見られますだけど、日本人には英語のユーモアは分かりにくいかもしれません。SB間に４８のコマーシャルが流れます。興味があったら、見てください。この人気投票の結果も面白いと思います。皆さんはどれが一番好きですか。私の一番好きのは英語で下です。

これはコマーシャルのサイトです。　　See ALL THE ２００７SUPERBOWL ADS

Ever since we moved to Japan, we've continued to watch the Superbowl on TV every year, but unfortunately, Japanese TV doesn't air the American advertisements.  Since the commercials during the Superbowl are very interesting, this is a shame. But this year, for the first time, we found a way to watch the Superbowl Live on the Internet.  Not only could we see the game, but we could also see the original American television commercials.  The game was between the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears.  Jonah's favorite of the two teams is the Colts because quarterback Peyton Manning played for the University of Tennessee back when we used to live in Tennessee.  So, at 8am last Monday morning, Martin and I watched the Superbowl.  It was really a good game.  The game started with an amazing play, unique in Superbowl History.  The Bears made a Touchdown from the Kick-off return.  The whole game was very exciting, and Peyton Manning played so well, he was named Most Valuable Player of the game.  The final score was Colts 29, Bears 17.

An American football game is made up of 4-15 minute quarters of actual play time, but the game goes much longer than that.  The clock stops for many reasons, and often, a comercial is shown at that time.  The half-time show also takes time.  Martin and I really enjoyed the game and the commercials.  Superbowl advertising time slots are reputed to be very expensive, so only the best ads run during that time.  Almost all of them were funny, and all were well done.  There were 48 commercials during the Superbowl.  Now you can see them all via the internet on one site.  Here is the link.  SEE ALL THE 2007 SUPERBOWL ADS   At that link, there are poll results showing the most popular ads.  Be sure to look at the results and watch the most popular commercials, they are generally the best, in my opinion.  Of course, Budweiser does a real nice job, and Doritos, Blockbuster, and I liked the singing Chevy ad in the 1st Q..... I enjoyed them all.  Oh, make sure to watch the Bud Light "Classroom" one about learning English. Truth is, I don't watch much English TV, just Japanese TV for language practice, so I am deprived of funny commercials that I can understand.

Here's a plug for Humor Power, which is a blog I discovered while researching this post.  At this link, the writer has three postings about the Superbowl Ads.  It was very interesting reading, and I learned a lot about the formulas involved in making something funny.  I also like his writing style, simple, direct, and encouraging.

 

Dog Mart. Uh, I mean, J Mart

Hey Everyone, get your dog, and let's go to J Mart.

皆さん、犬を連れって行って、Jマートに行きましょう。

I love living in Japan, don't get me wrong, but I really miss getting into the car and driving to Kroger, or Walmart, or especially Target.  Of course there are places like that here, with different names, with the customers coming by train, or parking on the roof or in the basement, and the prices are higher and the clothes don't fit me,  but they are all a long way from where I live anyway.

But there is J Mart.  Actually, it is an HOUR away from my house, but fairly close to the children's school, where I go VERY often.  Usually I get to school by train, but now and then, especially when planning a trip to J Mart, I drive the car.  (round-trip tolls are 2500 yen compared to 1240 yen round-trip on the train.  Time's about the same.)  You can get bedding plants, shampoo, big bottles of tea, wine and coke, pencils, lightbulbs, lumber, dishes and lots of other stuff, including dogfood. 

Yes, dogfood, and dogbeds, and books about dogs, dog toys, dog raincoats, leashes, doggie treats, and there's even a groomer on site.  I always feel a little bereft when I go there, wandering up and down the ailes without a dog in my cart like virtually every other customer.  We've always had a dog, before moving to Japan, where it would just be too difficult and expensive for us to manage.  We are dog people, for sure.  So, the other day, I decided to see how many dogs I could take a picture of during my little shopping trip to J Mart.  Sometimes I would ask the person if I could take their picture, 写真を取ってもいいですか。And sometimes I would just take it, and then smile and say ありがとう。Arigatou.  No one seemed to mind.  They do love their dogs.

So, here's the photos.   They're really bad quality.  I'm thinking about getting the new Sony Cybershot, it should take better photos indoors.  Yes, yes... I know..., its probably operator error.

Am I the only one who thinks this sign is funny? 

For more Funny Signs, please see this website: JAPANGRISH