Japanese Graphics NOW!

[Miduki]

I stopped at B&B bookstore today and happened upon a wonderful book called Japanese Graphics NOW!. It's chock full of amazing Japanese advertisements, graphic designs, packaging, and so on. The book is worth checking out, it was on sale too.

I would like to comment on how wonderful the Japanese advertising/graphic industry is, or even the Chinese advertising/graphic industry. SO much better than the dry car commercial, cigarette poo of America, with the exception of ads in Soho/New York and a few other major cities.

What do you all think of Japan's Advertising and Graphic Design Industry?

[Suiko Eiji]

What do you all think of Japan's Advertising and Graphic Design Industry?

Some of it is pretty unique, especially some of thier odd television advertisements. One thing I prefer is thier abundant use of text, which I don't see in too many ads here in the US.

I also think their advertising is less regulated than it is in the US, which could be a very good reason why it is so different. One thing I've noticed is that in Japan it is okay to advertise a product directly related to a show, not just stuff from the show's sponsors. But then again, I'm not a huge fan of regulation of economic/fiscal matters...

[Miduki]

Well, I am in Taiwan right now, and since their is a good amalgamation of Chinese and Japanese ads, they don't have the same Puritan restrictions that the US culture was based upon.

[ZeroKun]

You can go down the street with a van that has speakers blasting out advertisements in Japan, not against the law as long as it's advertising something. From all the TV I've watched, to all the toys I've bought, they SURE do love text.

[Jun_Inohara]

You can go down the street with a van that has speakers blasting out advertisements in Japan, not against the law as long as it's advertising something.

An especially annoying feature of the advertising industry :P

From all the TV I've watched, to all the toys I've bought, they SURE do love text.

Despite being used to all the text on tv, and thinking that often times it can/does make things more entertaining, I sometimes think it's waaaay overused. There are times where I feel like the producers think the audience doesn't understand their own language, as some situations seem to use it unecessarily.

I like a lot the way a lot of advertising looks here in Japan, but at the same time there is a painful concentration on "cute" advertising. While I like cute things it tends to make many things a great deal more childish, which I find irritating.

[Prons]

I liked the chocolate comercial where the busty Japanese chick was jumping around in her underwear yelling "CHOCO PARTY! GOOD GOOD!" if that counts.

[Miduki]

One interesting thing I noticed was intense focus on facial products during weird times. For example, we were watching a Stephen King movie dubbed in Chinese, and all these weird facial bleach commercials kept coming on. There were quite a few juice box commercials as well.

[Atomusuku-sama]

The use of english text as a design element rather then conveying actual information can result in some very humorous things, that is from a english speaker's perspective.

Though some famous people are starting to do a few ads in the United States, there are far more famous people from the United States in Japanese Commercials. They figure no one will see them. Well, thanks to the internet & the occasional show featuring such things we will.

[Miduki]

I think those are hilarious, but I mean, I feel bad laughing at them, because it's like I am laughing at Japan.

[sailornyanko]

I'm wondering how close to reality is that weird commercial from the Simpsons promoting the dish washing product with a logo that looks like Homer's face. The things the logo told to the dancing Japanese girls was.. disturbing. Is that real?

[sfried]

Well, I am in Taiwan right now, and since their is a good amalgamation of Chinese and Japanese ads, they don't have the same Puritan restrictions that the US culture was based upon.

You have a point there.

Also, unlike Europe and Japan, advertisments are not shown every 5 minutes as they only have usually one commercial break for each show. And usually two or three ads are shown in between them. (Most of the commercials happen after a show)

[Nami]

I like them, they looks clean and beautiful. Also, I think it depends on the products and its target market. The one you see in the book are usually the nice one that is being chosen that it is nice enough to be in a book. The one in normal Ads though, some of them have a lot of text in it. ^^;;

[Len]

Japan's Video Game industy in general is also under high expectations. For example; Square released Final Fantasy: Advent Children under unpresidented expectations which had to be met to keep their fanbase.. and did, in my book. Graphics are getting cleaner and clearer, as well as more life-like. It isn't a bad thing, either..