Product placement in anime.

[LostCause]

I was wondering about product placement in anime , things like certain brands of cars, beer etc. clearly portrayed in anime and whether or not it is a common practice.
But what made me think about it: is insane(and unnecessary) amount of smoking I saw in "Initial D". Other examples come to mind: "Gravitation", "Haibane Renmei", "Weiss Kreus","Loveless" although not to the same extent and I suppose those could be, somewhat, explained as a type of character description.
The thing with tobacco is, that usually it is not necessary to clearly depict a brand, since the majority of them belong to the same company. In Australia for example 1 company is responsible for 80% of market share, I don't know about Japan but it is a possible scenario.
I have actually read on the other forums threads, asking what brand of cigaretts a particular character smokes. And some people said that they were influenced (partially) in their decision to start smoking by the fact that their favourite anime character smokes.
Majority of anime fans are teenagers and thats exactly the group tobacco industry wants to target. About 70% of smokers got addicted in their teens.
So am I being paranoid or.........?

[Vaikyuko]

If you ever watched Thank You For Smoking, it touched upon this sort of thing, where they planned to have a science fiction film with top tier actors smoking in order to get more appeal for cigarettes. I'd imagine this is somewhat of a similar thing, although obviously much 'safer' to the actors and actresses portraying the character, since unlike live action actors, they don't have to actually smoke for the role, which makes throwing it in much easier.

I hope that answers your question somewhat.

[Ironfrost]

I've found that product placement is surprisingly uncommon in anime. Even when characters are smoking cigarettes, drinking cola and going to the convenience store, animators will often change the name to make sure it doesn't represent a real product (although it's usually easy to tell what the original brand was). I guess it's easier to change the name in animated material than in live action shows, because you don't have to make special props for each occasion.

As for the cigarettes, I think the reason is just that smoking is a lot more common in Japan than it is in the West. A shocking proportion of my Japanese friends smoke and they tell me it's quite normal over there. Perhaps someone who has lived in both Japan and in the West could tell me whether that's an accurate comparison, or whether my friends were just weird ;)

[Philemon]

As for the cigarettes, I think the reason is just that smoking is a lot more common in Japan than it is in the West. A shocking proportion of my Japanese friends smoke and they tell me it's quite normal over there. Perhaps someone who has lived in both Japan and in the West could tell me whether that's an accurate comparison, or whether my friends were just weird ;)

This is a surprise for me, as I assume that the Japanese are healthy people and at least know the dangers of smoking. I do not find smoking glamorous, and it is nothing more than a money-wasting bad habit.

It is a good thing Westerners are taking the dangers of smoking serious, and I noticed as an American, that I am seeing less people smoking than ten years ago. This can be attributed to the removal of cigarette ads on billboards and an agressive anti-smoking campaign.

[LostCause]

As for the cigarettes, I think the reason is just that smoking is a lot more common in Japan than it is in the West. A shocking proportion of my Japanese friends smoke and they tell me it's quite normal over there. Perhaps someone who has lived in both Japan and in the West could tell me whether that's an accurate comparison, or whether my friends were just weird ;)
I remember reading statistics on country/%of smokers and if I'm not mistaken Japan had 11% of female populace smoking and around 40% males. I might be wrong.
Anyways I have my doubts as to whether a lot of smoking in anime is a plot/coincidence, I am particularly suspisious of close ups of full ashtrays, that serve no purpose yet appear quite regularly.

[Teppei]

If, by midnight tonight, all barriers of race, colour, language, gender etc. were to disappear...........
By noon tomorrow, humanity would come up with new reasons for discrimination.
Perhaps they would discriminate on the basis of their over-emphasised opinion of smoking.

Seems to me there's a bit of ethnocentrism going on here. Smoking behavior is different in Japan, and you would have to understand how the social forces work there in order to justify your paranoia :P.

[Dr. Nick]

Even when characters are smoking cigarettes, drinking cola and going to the convenience store, animators will often change the name to make sure it doesn't represent a real product

Slightly relevant. (http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y163/Dr-Nick/random%20anime/snapshot21068293009117.jpg) (Now if there was a tobacco brand named like this, it would make a bit more sense...)

[Suiko Eiji]

I've found that product placement is surprisingly uncommon in anime. Even when characters are smoking cigarettes, drinking cola and going to the convenience store, animators will often change the name to make sure it doesn't represent a real product (although it's usually easy to tell what the original brand was). I guess it's easier to change the name in animated material than in live action shows, because you don't have to make special props for each occasion.

As for the cigarettes, I think the reason is just that smoking is a lot more common in Japan than it is in the West. A shocking proportion of my Japanese friends smoke and they tell me it's quite normal over there. Perhaps someone who has lived in both Japan and in the West could tell me whether that's an accurate comparison, or whether my friends were just weird ;)

Ironfrost is correct on both accounts. The product placements in most anime are tweeked a little bit as a little bit of an easter egg for the viewers (or rather, I've always viewed them as such) like the Somy TVs in Project A-ko or Dudwoiser beer in Yoroiden Samurai Trooper.

Smoking is much more prevalent in Japan than at least the US; I believe I've seen statistics that show between 50-60% of Japanese of smoking age do smoke; split about 80-20 between males and females. The government is making some strides to curb smoking in society, just making it illegal to smoke in government buildings back in 2002, I believe. However, I wouldn't attribute this to anime or anything like that.

This is a surprise for me, as I assume that the Japanese are healthy people and at least know the dangers of smoking. I do not find smoking glamorous, and it is nothing more than a money-wasting bad habit.

They smoke a bunch and many of thier drinking habits would constitute 'binge drinking' and widespread alcoholism, pending the study you read or base that on. Does this mean they are all unhealthy and slobbish drunks? I wouldn't really say it does. For a country that, even with an aging population, still works harder than all but one First World country putting in what some Americans would consider insane hours, they're under considerable stress from numerous angles. The majority of smokers are the working folks who've finsihed school. Sometimes the only time you have to unwind is taking that drag off of a Mild Seven while you run to the train. I'm sure most know the dangers of it; though, I don't believe they have idiot labels on thier smokes like we do in the US and in the UK (probably elsewhere in Europe); however, you ever wonder why the largest industry of smokers was the healthcare industry?

Anyways I have my doubts as to whether a lot of smoking in anime is a plot/coincidence, I am particularly suspisious of close ups of full ashtrays, that serve no purpose yet appear quite regularly.

So, there's some conspiracy about putting smoking characters in anime to encourage people to smoke? Whatever happened to individual choice? Has it ever occured to you that some people smoke because they choose to, rather than being the sheepish fool of some advertising campaign? Even being aware of what all of the health risks and seeing the most vile pictures of rotted lungs, they still choose to? Call it idiocy, insanity, or what-have you; I still believe in choice and if individuals want to harm their bodies by smoking (or whatever other vices there are), then they are free to do so, so long as they do not violate the wishes of others around them concerning that habit.

[CrossboneGundam]

I remember reading statistics on country/%of smokers and if I'm not mistaken Japan had 11% of female populace smoking and around 40% males. I might be wrong.

I've heard it much higher than that, but that might as well be speculation, as I don't recall the source.

[Area88]

Back in the 80's copyrights weren't really enforced. So they could use cooperate logos at freewill. Anime could parody anime.

Here's an nice screenshot from my beloved Area 88 anime:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a162/mcarocks2003/colacola.jpg

Just watch Megazone 23 part 1 to see how many logos you can find i.e. Mcdonalds, Cola, IBM, Toshiba, Mitsubushi etc.

Btw these trademarks are simply used to add realism or Project A-ko's case parody it. I don't believe the use of smoking in Initial D isn't progaganda in anway, just a way of adding characterisation.

[Samurai Drifter]

In the last episode of Cowboy Bebop you can see a Playstation on the floor of Laughing Bull's tent.

http://rfblues.aaanime.net/Omake/Notice/Product06large.jpg

[Area88]

Wow thats awesome. I never would have noticed that. It's so subtle.

[LostCause]

Perhaps they would discriminate on the basis of their over-emphasised opinion of smoking.

Seems to me there's a bit of ethnocentrism going on here. Smoking behavior is different in Japan, and you would have to understand how the social forces work there in order to justify your paranoia :P.

No need to feel threatened :P
I'm not sure what you mean by ethnocentrism, but since I come from one of the hardest drinking/smoking nations on earth, superiority complex isn't an issue here.
Please enlighten me on the issues of social forces and smoking behaviour in Japan.
I might very well be paranoid, I did include the word in the original post, but I sincerely would like to find out if its just me. What I saw in some series, was way overdoing it to be simply considered characterisation. imho

[The Million Dollar Prons]

Instead of product placement we get "koran yo sponsor de okerikishmasu" (Extremly bad attempt at me typing down the please visit our sponsor line) If you watch fansubs, you've probably seen a few "add screens" inbetween the OP and the actual episode.

Of course, even that seems to be a lot more prominent in live action dramas and stuff. I seem to remember watching a Drama once that had three screens of sponsors.

[Leader Desslock]

In the last episode of Cowboy Bebop you can see a Playstation on the floor of Laughing Bull's tent.
That's awesome. I didn't catch it. ^_^

I think product placement in anime (in general) is less "for the sponsors" or "to promote a product/lifestyle" than it is "for the amusement of the animation staff". Pretty much every series I can remember seeing has some form of modified product logo somewhere in it, usually several. When they're in the background (like Laughing Bull's Playstation), I view them as a form of fanservice.

Then you get things that are a bit more iconic, like Keiichi's BMW (and his grandfather's Brough Superior). I don't see these as product placement or fanservice - these are added in because they're relevant to the plots and character development.

[Teppei]

No need to feel threatened :P
Didn't mean to sound threatened ;)
I figure instead of thinking there is an intended subliminal suggestion for anime watchers to smoke, rather smoking is used to identify various types of characters. Seeing a character smoking hints at a "character type" the animators are trying to show.

"koran yo sponsor de okerikishmasu"
kono bangumi wa goran no suponsaa no teikyou de okurishimasu
This program is brought to you by the sponsorship of the following sponsors.

[LostCause]

I figure instead of thinking there is an intended subliminal suggestion for anime watchers to smoke, rather smoking is used to identify various types of characters. Seeing a character smoking hints at a "character type" the animators are trying to show.



I agree somewhat. It is true for some anime. However, what are the closeups of full ashtrays supposed to show?
The 'character type' is more often than not, an image of smoker, tobacco companies would love to present. Sophisticated, dangerous, badass. "Marlboro man" of anime. Which reminds me: did Spike/CB smoked? Coincidence? Again?

[SeannyB]

At best I've seen cross-promotion of various franchises like the real-life videogames featured in Genshiken, and subtle product placement of various game consoles and brands -- like Sega in Evangelion for instance, Sega's name also being on a lot of Eva merchandise. But yeah, product placement never seems that prevalent. If they're distorting the name (e.g. WcDonals) or using generic iconic products (Ramune) then it's not really product placement but just utilitarian usage.

But I think it's pretty nice that anime isn't getting hijacked (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/persuaders/view/3_hi.html) by advertizers and external marketing, outside of themesongs that cross-promote bands. You can argue that anime is getting too wound up in its own franchise marketing (e.g. chara-moe, promoting mecha toys and accessories), but still. The less product placement there is, the better. I'm glad that Tatu: Paragate thing fell through. That would've been the start of a miserable trend.

[Suiko Eiji]

I agree somewhat. It is true for some anime. However, what are the closeups of full ashtrays supposed to show?


The same thing sort of dramatic pause that stupid train bell and telephone pole in Evangelion show. It's just filler and being more common place than in the US, it probably doesn't stick out as much to the Japanese.

[ArcaJ]

The same thing sort of dramatic pause that stupid train bell and telephone pole in Evangelion show. It's just filler and being more common place than in the US, it probably doesn't stick out as much to the Japanese.

It could also be to show the passage of time. A full ashtray could show that it is a tense situation, or this character smokes a lot to relieve stress. (i.e. Ritsuko in Evangelion) It's just another way to let the viewer gather character traits without wasting time on exposition.

::HUGS::

Arca Jeth

[Takumi Fujiwara]

I think that in the case of smoking, drinking, etc. of anime charicters is simply a way of giving a certian charicteristic to that charicter. ie. someone that smokes is under a lot of stress, or is being shown as the "tough guy" like in old wild west films. As for product placement, like others have stated already, the names are usaually altered and serve as little jokes, or suprises that keep you interested in what would normally just be a plain "panning across a cityscape" shot.

Unlike in the clip SeannyB posted where advertises meet with producers and try to seamlessly or subliminally place product in to programing. I see it as more plot/charicter enhancement in an anime than the purposly placed advertising in live action movies/tv shows.

[LostCause]

I agree with the 'passage of time' explanation.
So, I suppose, I did overemphasized portrayal of smoking. But if tobacco companies have nothing to do with it, as you all seem to think, its still playing into their hands, whether we like it or not.
My prediction is that, as anime grows in popularity product placement will become more prominent.

[Dj_Saito]

Hmm I agree that a full ashtray would contribute to character/plot development. It shows desperation, nervousness, and indicates that the character in question is about to make a big decision.

[Suiko Eiji]

I agree with the 'passage of time' explanation.
So, I suppose, I did overemphasized portrayal of smoking. But if tobacco companies have nothing to do with it, as you all seem to think, its still playing into their hands, whether we like it or not.

I disagree. I am of the belief that those whom choose to smoke do so out of an almost pre-disposition to it; either they are around others who do, do not know/care about the health risks, or are weak-minded (even for smokers). It's not 100% true for those reasons in all cases, but I think those are about where the bell curve lies. It all boils down to an individual choice.

My prediction is that, as anime grows in popularity product placement will become more prominent.

Again, I disagree. I think that in the 40 year history of modern anime, exact product placement/parody has peaked in the Eighties and Nineties, with it only appearing in rare cases on either side of those decades. If it were to 'become more prominent', I would figure that it would have happened by now.

[Ken-Ohki]

It will happen. Product placement is taking over by necessity. People own DVRs and simply skip commercials and companies know their advertising isn't being watched. This is a large concern for television companies because advertisers are starting to withdraw their funding from television in general. While a mass exodous to other media hasn't happened yet television shows are being forced to fight back with more and more product placement. I watched a news report on this just yesterday on CNN. The problem must be aware to the producers of anime as well. In order to maintain a free medium of entertainment they will be forced to adapt.

[ZeroRyoko1974]

Wasn't there some Japanese anti smoking group that sent a petition or something to Miazaki asking him to quit smoking?

[LostCause]

I disagree. I am of the belief that those whom choose to smoke do so out of an almost pre-disposition to it; either they are around others who do, do not know/care about the health risks, or are weak-minded (even for smokers). It's not 100% true for those reasons in all cases, but I think those are about where the bell curve lies. It all boils down to an individual choice.
I do not wish to turn this into real life smoking debate. I do believe that for some seeing smoking by anime hero can be tempting to light up or for the first timers make the decision to start smoking a bit easier to make.
EDIT: Of course, its hardly the only or the main reason.

Again, I disagree. I think that in the 40 year history of modern anime, exact product placement/parody has peaked in the Eighties and Nineties, with it only appearing in rare cases on either side of those decades. If it were to 'become more prominent', I would figure that it would have happened by now.
Actually, I see product placement as a western thing. So as anime grows in popularity in the west, western methods will influence it.
Anyway, I am not stating it as fact, its just my prediction, and time will tell.

[Suiko Eiji]

I do not wish to turn this into real life smoking debate. I do believe that for some seeing smoking by anime hero can be tempting to light up or for the first timers make the decision to start smoking a bit easier to make. Of course, its hardly the only or the main reason.

I really don't want this discussion to devolve into that as well; however, I think there are more factors involved in people deciding to light up besides seeing "cool" characters doing the same.

Actually, I see product placement as a western thing. So as anime grows in popularity in the west, western methods will influence it.
Anyway, I am not stating it as fact, its just my prediction, and time will tell.

Modern Japan is a lot closer to any other Western country than you (or others) might think, especially in the areas of economics and business.

I never meant to sound like you were stating fact; in fact, Kenohki brought up a good point in defense of your position. Where you are correct is that only time will tell.

[LostCause]

Just saw another episode(11) of "Initial D" last night. While I might be wrong on every other anime series I mentioned, I just can't shake the suspicion I get from this anime.
There was a shot of a guy playing with his cigarette pack, just long enough so viewer can catch the logo. "Lucky Strike". Then as he was taking a cigarrete out, we had a close up and could actually read the brand name. I guess for those who unlike myself couldn't recognise the red circle from the distance. Then as he was lightining up we had a close up of a lighter, the gas one where you flip open the cover, I know they are brand name, just can't recall the name at the moment. But if that wasn't enough, there was "F-1" logo on the lighter, I was a bit slow figuring that one out, racing is not exactly my interest, then it came to me. "Formula-1"! Which is heavily sponsored by tobacco companies.
Now thats just too much coincedences for one episode.

[Suiko Eiji]

Just saw another episode(11) of "Initial D" last night. While I might be wrong on every other anime series I mentioned, I just can't shake the suspicion I get from this anime.
There was a shot of a guy playing with his cigarette pack, just long enough so viewer can catch the logo. "Lucky Strike". Then as he was taking a cigarrete out, we had a close up and could actually read the brand name. I guess for those who unlike myself couldn't recognise the red circle from the distance. Then as he was lightining up we had a close up of a lighter, the gas one where you flip open the cover, I know they are brand name, just can't recall the name at the moment. But if that wasn't enough, there was "F-1" logo on the lighter, I was a bit slow figuring that one out, racing is not exactly my interest, then it came to me. "Formula-1"! Which is heavily sponsored by tobacco companies.
Now thats just too much coincedences for one episode.

Formula -1 and the Tobacco Conspiracy, eh? It is an anime about street racing, I think that makes for a better case. Not to mention, Zippos will put logos of anything on their lighters that will sell.

Also, Luckie's are probably the most recognized brand of cigarrettes in the world, especially in the US, Japan, and Western Europe particularly because of American soldiers who would receive them as their rations during World War II immediately surrounding periods.

[LostCause]

Formula -1 and the Tobacco Conspiracy, eh? It is an anime about street racing, I think that makes for a better case. Not to mention, Zippos will put logos of anything on their lighters that will sell.

Also, Luckie's are probably the most recognized brand of cigarrettes in the world, especially in the US, Japan, and Western Europe particularly because of American soldiers who would receive them as their rations during World War II immediately surrounding periods.
Well of course they won't have school girls lightining up with Zippo bearing 'F-1" logo, these guys are pros. And the ban on TV and some other forms of advertising of tobacco products only drove them to more devious methods. Its meant to look like a coincidence and characterisation. Now I have a question. Is the company producing "Lucky Strike" also a sponsor of 'formula-1' ? If so, we will have a direct connection.
edit: The fact remains: we have 3 recognizeble brand names in the course of hardly 5 minutes.

[Suiko Eiji]

Well of course they won't have school girls lightining up with Zippo bearing 'F-1" logo, these guys are pros.

For those convinced it's a conspiracy, I suppose it means that.

And the ban on TV and some other forms of advertising of tobacco products only drove them to more devious methods. Its meant to look like a coincidence and characterisation.

There are problems with this on a couple of levels, but the main one is probably out of the scope of this conversation. Are there similar bans on televised smoking in Japan as there are in the US? I wouldn't assume so; even though I've not seen it in drama or variety shows aimed at older audiences, I do see it in anime and manga, presuming it is elsewhere on programs that I've not watched.

Now I have a question. Is the company producing "Lucky Strike" also a sponsor of 'formula-1' ? If so, we will have a direct connection.
edit: The fact remains: we have 3 recognizeble brand names in the course of hardly 5 minutes.

Yes, British American Tobacco Company advertises all three of its brands, Luckie Strike, Malboro, and Rothman on the Formula-1 circuit and I think its worth noting that the Luckie brand is the middle of advertising budget and still barely more than half of Malboro's budget.

Or, it could be sheer fanservice: people who are fans of racing are most likely drawn to a show like Initial D; Formula-1 is probably one of the most famous race circuits in the world, which does feature heavy tobacco sponsorship, and Zippo lighters being just as famous for thier quality as well as 'cool factor'.

[LostCause]

For those convinced it's a conspiracy, I suppose it means that.



There are problems with this on a couple of levels, but the main one is probably out of the scope of this conversation. Are there similar bans on televised smoking in Japan as there are in the US? I wouldn't assume so; even though I've not seen it in drama or variety shows aimed at older audiences, I do see it in anime and manga, presuming it is elsewhere on programs that I've not watched.

All developed nations are tightening the ban on both smoking(in public) and its advertising, just to a different degree. Even developing nations are fighting back, without much success, though.




Yes, British American Tobacco Company advertises all three of its brands, Luckie Strike, Malboro, and Rothman on the Formula-1 circuit and I think its worth noting that the Luckie brand is the middle of advertising budget and still barely more than half of Malboro's budget.



Well, there you go, a connection. What you are saying is: "Lucky Strike" is less popular than "Malboro" and presumably needs more advertising, again tieing in with my theory.


Or, it could be sheer fanservice: people who are fans of racing are most likely drawn to a show like Initial D; Formula-1 is probably one of the most famous race circuits in the world, which does feature heavy tobacco sponsorship, and Zippo lighters being just as famous for thier quality as well as 'cool factor'.


I haven't considered fanservice possibility.
Honestly, if animators are doing all this without tobacco companies involvment.....I dread the day when they do get involved.
Remember, that tobacco industry dealings, reach public knowledge sometimes decades later, as was the case with their prior knowledge of addictiveness and harmful effects of tobacco.

[Suiko Eiji]

All developed nations are tightening the ban on both smoking(in public) and its advertising, just to a different degree. Even developing nations are fighting back, without much success, though.

But what exactly are the Japanese laws regarding smoking on television? Sure, it's illegal to smoke inside a government building in Japan - a law which was only past three or four years ago. As far as I know, the US has an outright ban on characters/people actually smoking on television. In fact, I cannot even remember seeing Cigarette Man/Cancer Man on the X-Files actually smoking except for being surrounded by cigarette smoke.

Well, there you go, a connection. What you are saying is: "Lucky Strike" is less popular than "Malboro" and presumably needs more advertising, again tieing in with my theory.

Insubstantial. The same source where I found Lucky Strike's advertising spend on Formula-1 also cited about the same proportionate spend between Lucky Strike and Malboro.

I haven't considered fanservice possibility.

Sometimes the easiest answer is the right answer.

Honestly, if animators are doing all this without tobacco companies involvment.....I dread the day when they do get involved.

There's a reletively easy way to figure out - find a list of all of the broadcast and production sponsors from Initial D. I'm fairly confident that tobacco companies weren't involved.

[Matsu'o Tsurayaba]

In the last episode of Cowboy Bebop you can see a Playstation on the floor of Laughing Bull's tent.

http://rfblues.aaanime.net/Omake/Notice/Product06large.jpg

If the reason for this thread is to talk about certian items or themes in an anime,it happens every so often.The image above is one,i can imagine is for fun.Dont forget,Cowboy Bebop takes place around 75 years in the future.It stands from its original release date,1998.

I can only think of Evangelion,Dragonball Z and Big O that has scenes with items.

[LostCause]

But what exactly are the Japanese laws regarding smoking on television? Sure, it's illegal to smoke inside a government building in Japan - a law which was only past three or four years ago. As far as I know, the US has an outright ban on characters/people actually smoking on television. In fact, I cannot even remember seeing Cigarette Man/Cancer Man on the X-Files actually smoking except for being surrounded by cigarette smoke.


Not sure about both Japan and US. I think smoking in movies is still going on, the movies do make it eventually on TV. Also the are plenty of re-runs with smoking characters.


Insubstantial. The same source where I found Lucky Strike's advertising spend on Formula-1 also cited about the same proportionate spend between Lucky Strike and Malboro.


A connection is a connection.

Sometimes the easiest answer is the right answer.

Sometimes


There's a reletively easy way to figure out - find a list of all of the broadcast and production sponsors from Initial D. I'm fairly confident that tobacco companies weren't involved.


Sincerely tried. Learned some interesting trivia in the process (there is "Initial D" movie. who knew? -_-; ) . But failed.
Anyway, I am sure you realise that not all bussiness dealings make it on paper.

[sfried]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Ghost in The Shell (the 1st movei) and Macross: Do You Remember... movie yet.

[Dan]

Hey, I think I might be able to help with my small amount of knowledge on these subjects.

First- product placement. From what I understand Japanese copyright laws are far less concerned about their products being represented in anime, and it really happens all the time, probably much more than americans realize.

For example, in one later episode of Paradise Kiss, Yukari is looking for a job and browsing a "From A Black" magazine, an obvious parody of (probably no one has every heard of these) the "From A Blue" and "From A Red" free magazines that litter every newsstand in Japan and have employment info. These are even free and they're being represented in anime, which would suggest, as I have heard (and I dont have any sources) that these things are done to establish the setting.

On the other hand, the BECK manga has been going on for a long time now (and is FULL of parodies and homages), but only recently one character is shown playing an obvious PSP. It is possible that this was sponsered since there is a BECK PS2 game, but it is also possible that the author wanted to establish an obviously current atmosphere since there was no PSP years ago when BECK first came out.

Smoking Culture- this is coming from someone who lives in Philadelphia, a very modern american city, and what I noticed in Tokyo. Tokyo reeks of cigarettes. ok, not completely, but the smoking rules are comparatively very archaic, and I havent checked a pack of cigarettes recently but only within the past 1 or 2 years was a bill to change the warning labels on cigarettes changed from roughly "smoking may be bad for your health, and mind your smoking manners" to what we would deem appropriate in the US, in the vein of "you will get cancer".

In japan, it is extremely common to have smoking and non-smoking sections in almost everything - resturants, bars, pachinko parlors, manga cafes. But the seperation is rather arbitrary, and in my experience sitting in the non smoking sections, the protection from smoke is non-existant. Similarly, in public places, smokers have yellow boxed in areas in most building vacinities in which to smoke, but this hardly does anything to protect others either. Furthermore, almost all smokers abide by these setups, and therefore have an attitude of "im following the rules, so screw you". They unfortunately dont have the relative status of second-class citizens that is more common in america.

SO, following with the advertising question, I dont think this is a corporate move, but rather to create an individual character. Being very rule-abiding, the japanese also see people who are of age to make the choices they want since they are within the legal age. And as was expressed before, understanding their strict work ethic helps people accept what might be considered substance abuse in america.

However, this is another place where the law is somewhat archaic. Although I feel allowing cigarette portrayal is great for freedom of speech and artistic expression, I also understand its negative effect on impressionable minds. In regards to anime, there are a lot of things that pass without feeling they are hazardous to impressionable minds, a big one being smoking. I mean look at One piece, geared to under 10 year olds, one of the main characters is always smoking.

Anyway, I dont know if I helped at all, but in short:

product placement is usually more fan service or creating an atmosphere
smoking is a result of the culture not finding it as publicly reprehensible as in america.

[LostCause]

^That was very informative, thanks a lot. :)

It could be that I lived in the west a bit too long, and some of its attitudes and 'conspirasy theories' rubbed off on me. -_-;

[Suiko Eiji]

^That was very informative, thanks a lot. :)

It could be that I lived in the west a bit too long, and some of its attitudes and 'conspirasy theories' rubbed off on me. -_-;

I agree, Dan made some excellent and balanced points. Thanks, Dan!

[Dan]

I agree, Dan made some excellent and balanced points. Thanks, Dan!


Oh wow, I didnt think I would help that much but Im glad I did a little. I only wish I could have some more solid sources for some of these things. I've studied smoking in Japan, but forget the names of all of the books for that class.