Tag: ‘Marketing’

Japanese steamship travel posters

10 May 2010

Here is a collection of early 20th century travel posters for Japanese steamship companies (from the book Miwaku no Funatabi, published by the Museum of Maritime Science, 1993).

Vintage passenger ship travel poster --
Osaka Mercantile Steamship Co., Ltd., 1909

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Osaka Mercantile Steamship Co., Ltd., 1916

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Oriental Steamship Co., 1919 (Chinese poster)

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Osaka Mercantile Steamship Co., Ltd., 1916

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Japan Mail Steamship Co. (NYK), 1910

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Korean Mail Steamship Co., 1918

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Osaka Mercantile Steamship Co., Ltd., 1912

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Japan Mail Steamship Co. (NYK), 1914

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Japan Mail Steamship Co. (NYK), 1940

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Osaka Mercantile Steamship Co., Ltd., 1909

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Osaka Mercantile Steamship Co., Ltd., 1916

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Oriental Steamship Co., 1914

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Japan Mail Steamship Co. (NYK), 1909

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Japan Mail Steamship Co. (NYK), 1928-1930

Musical Nikes vs. Our Park

16 Apr 2010

Japanese breakbeat duo Hifana bang out a funky rhythm on sensor-embedded Nikes that function as sound controllers (sound programming by Daito Manabe, hardware by 4nchor5 la6). [Via: SNOW Magazine]


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Meanwhile, the homeless residents of Shibuya's Miyashita Park (now known as "Miyashita NIKE Park") are getting the boot as the local government uses Nike money to transform the public space into a private commercial sports facility. "Our Park," a short documentary directed by Emil Langballe, looks at the issues from the perspective of the homeless. [Via: Hypebeast]


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Tsutenkaku Robo does Akihabara

09 Apr 2010

Tsutenkaku Robo -- a walking, talking robot modeled after Osaka's signature Tsutenkaku Tower -- has been spotted hanging with maids in Tokyo's Akihabara district.


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In addition to stopping in for a snack at a maid cafe, the robot reportedly went shopping and paid a visit to Asimo at the Akihabara Daibiru Building. Tsutenkaku Robo, which weighs 30 kilograms (66 lbs) and stands 170 centimeters (5 ft 7 in) tall -- 1/60 the size of the actual Tsutenkaku Tower -- has been traveling the country to promote tourism to its hometown of Osaka ever since it was unveiled there last month.

Video: H.R. Giger x Pioneer

19 Mar 2010


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A monster designed by H.R. Giger starred in a 1985 Japanese commercial for the Zone home entertainment system by Pioneer. The biomechanical beast -- which was also featured in a series of print ads that ran at the same time -- appears to be based on illustrations Giger made for underground filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky's screen adaptation of "Dune," which never made it to production.

HR Giger --
H.R. Giger illustration for Alejandro Jodorowsky's "Dune"

HR Giger --
H.R. Giger illustration for Alejandro Jodorowsky's "Dune"

HR Giger --
H.R. Giger illustration for Alejandro Jodorowsky's "Dune"

HR Giger --
H.R. Giger illustration for Pioneer

[Images via The Dark Portal of Art]

Yusaku Kamekura posters

04 Mar 2010

Here is a collection of posters by the father of Japanese graphic design, Yusaku Kamekura.

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
Sofu Teshigahara, One Man Show, 1954 [+]

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
Nikon, 1954 [+]

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
Gropius and Bauhaus Exhibition, 1954 [+]

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
Nikon Mikron Binoculars, 1955 [+]

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
Graphic '55 Exhibition, 1955 [+]

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
Fuji Photo Contest, 1955 [+]

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
Atomic Energy for Peaceful Industry, 1956 [+]

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
Nikon SP, 1957 [+]

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
Terror and Sorrow! Cancer! 1959 [+]

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
"Design" Magazine Cover, 1959 [+]

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
Nikkorex 35, 1960 [+]

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
Nikkor Lens, 1960 [+]

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
Poster for 18th Olympic Games, 1961 [+]

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
Rayon and Synthetic Fibres of Japan, 1961 [+]

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
Rayon and Synthetic Fibres of Japan, 1962 [+]

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
Election Poster, 1967 [+]

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
Japan World Exposition, Osaka, 1967 [+]

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
Office Design Exhibition, 1970 [+]

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
Nikomat, 1971 [+]

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
Tokyo International Design Competition for Lighting Fixtures, 1973 [+]

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
The 8th Annual Tokyo International Lighting Design Competition, 1977 [+]

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
The 9th Annual Tokyo International Lighting Design Competition, 1979 [+]

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
The 10th Tokyo International Lighting Design Competition, 1983 [+]

Poster by Yusaku Kamekura --
Hiroshima Appeals, 1983 [+]

[From "The Works of Yusaku Kamekura," Rikuyosha, 1983]

Video: Star Wars disco sea chicken

03 Feb 2010

Hagoromo canned tuna (a.k.a. "sea chicken") commercial, circa 1978.


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[Via MetaFilter]

JAL unveils Doraemon Jet

15 Jan 2010

Doraemon jet --
Can Doraemon save the debt-crippled Japan Airlines?

Their stocks are plunging and they are preparing to file for bankruptcy, but that's not stopping the struggling Japan Airlines (JAL) from offering travelers the opportunity to fly with Doraemon, the beloved cartoon robo-cat.

According to a press release on the company website, JAL will begin operating the "Doraemon Jet" -- a Boeing 777-300 decorated with large colorful images of Doraemon characters -- on domestic routes (mainly between Tokyo Haneda, Sapporo, Itami, Nagoya, Fukuoka and Okinawa) beginning in mid-February.

The anime-themed aircraft is the result of a joint effort between JAL and the creators of the Doraemon movies to promote this year's annual Doraemon film, Doraemon The Movie: Nobita's Great Battle of the Mermaid King (a.k.a. Doraemon The Legend), which will hit theaters on March 6. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Doraemon movie franchise.

Doraemon jet --

In addition to operating the Doraemon Jet, JAL will be offering Doraemon-themed tours to Okinawa from February 15 through April 30 with daily departures from Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. The carrier will also provide a selection of Doraemon entertainment on domestic and international flights, as well as a Doraemon kids' corner at airports and limited-edition Doraemon goods through their in-flight catalog.

[Link: JAL]

Alien squid hijacks movie trailer

21 Oct 2009

Alien squid invades trailer for Watashi Dasuwa --

In Hakodate, the battle rages on between alien squid from the planet Ikaaru and giant robots shaped like the city's landmarks. In their latest offensive, the dastardly squid invaders have muscled their way into the trailer for "It's on Me" (Watashi Dasuwa), a new film shot on location in Hakodate.


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The film, which debuts today at the Tokyo International Film Festival, is a low-key drama about a woman who returns to her hometown to spread the wealth she accumulated in Tokyo.

Although the story itself has nothing to do with aliens (and unfortunately no extraterrestrials actually appear in the film), it happens to be set in Hakodate, which is home to an unconventional tourism campaign involving giant robots that defend the city against alien cephalopods seeking revenge on a population that eats too much squid. This tourism campaign has now wrapped its tentacles around the film.


+ Video: Alien squid dances next to a streetcar advertising the film

The new and improved trailer, which was recently posted on the film's YouTube channel, is nearly identical to the original version, except for the appearance of alien invaders. Only in Hakodate.

[Via: Nippon Cinema]

Tarako Kewpie is back

04 Oct 2009

Tarako Kewpie is at it again with a new pasta sauce commercial.


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