Westerners used in Advertisement

[sakurastar]

Hi all! Am new to this forum and needed some help from anyone that can give it. Currently i am doing a project on why Westerners are used in Japanese advertisment (including magazine ads, tv etc), and am a little bit stuck as there isn't much in the way of material to research (or at least, if there is i cant find it). Do any of you have any clues as to why Westerners are used, and for what purpose? ANY help/viewpoints etc would be MUCH appreciated!!!

Thanks all

 

[TwistedMac]

try these guys. If nothing else, Arnold will give you a good laugh

Japander.com

I have one with Harrison Ford doing Kirin beer too on my 'puter... can't remember where I found it tho :/

might be able to send it some way...

 

[DragonChan]

As far as I can tell they just use westerners because they think we look cool. Probably just adds a bit more 'snaz' to the ad than if there weren't anybody. Not too sure, though it gets annoying when there is really bad dubbing involved.

 

[TwistedMac]

Arnold does look cool!

the others... maybe not so much.

 

[ragedaddy]

Here's a article which explains how a washed up American football player turns into practically a legend in Japan through K-1 Fighting. Bob Sapp has become some kinda phenomenon in Japan, and has been in many Commercials as well as releasing a cheesy CD there as well. Anyways, this article way be of some relevance to your research....best of luck with that.

http://www.time.com/time/asia/2003/bob_sapp/story.html

 

[GaijinPunch]

1: They're famous
2: It's a way for famous people to make extra money but not "sink to the depths of endoresements" (at least not where their fans are likely to see them).
3: They cost less than a lot of the Japanese celebrities.

 

[john-seiyaku]

Foreign image in Japan

Westerners are probably used in CMs and other adverts, for the same reason western style weddings are the norm in Japan - especially if they have a foreign wedding celebrant to conduct the service. Christianity is still seen by most Japanese to be a foreign religion, so the ceremony appears to be more authentic if they have a foreign celebrant. (see Western Style Weddings in Japan)

Same goes for an advert for a commercial product. Since so many modern things have been imported to Japan over the past 150 years (television, telephone, cars, trains, education, healthcare, politics etc, etc, etc) they all have a foreign image, even when they are fully integrated and enhanced by Japanese.

So if an Arnie and Harrison Ford are used in Japanese advertising, it can give the product more authenticity.

The fact that these actors are not typical foreigners just supports the illogicality of the whole thing. But that's show-business folks!

 

[Hiiragi]

I think your right.
American culture seems very popular in Japan.
I think because of that american stars are asked to do the commercials.
It will most likely appeal to more young people.

I might be wrong about this, but this is wat i've heard.

 

[Carth]

My guess is because American actors to star in a Japan commerical would cost a lot cheaper and might fit the image the advertisers are seeking.

 

[cyber ape]

Maybe they're bored of seeing Japanese people in their commercials?

Well, Arnold is a well-known actor, even in Japan, so I'm sure it just has the typical bandwagon technique. "If Arnold says it's good, it must be."

ﾆ但ﾂーﾆ知ﾆ停?ｹﾆ檀窶堙坂?弖ﾂ催銀?堙??堋?窶堙ｩ

 

[epigene]

The Japanese LOVE Hollywood actors and pay tons of money to have them appear in TV commercials. They are far more expensive than Japanese celebrities.

Arnold ("Shuwa-chan" as he is known in Japan) is loved here because he made far more personal appearances in Japan than other actors to promote his films, revealing his warm personality and willingness to "stoop" to comic stunts in TV programs and commercials.

The first American actor I've seen promote Japanese products in Japanese TV was Charles Bronson in the 1970's (probably late 1960's, too). He sold a line of men's perfume and related products called "Mandom." The other popular "foreign" actor in TV commercials was Alain Delon of France.

The wierdest appearance of a Hollywood actor was Nicholas Cage promoting a pachinko machine manufacturer. The commercial itself was weird.... It got me thinking that he must have been in serious need of money at that time....

Addendum: I just read that George Clooney was paid approx. $1.5 million for his appearance in a Toyota commercial. He earned that in only 3 days that was required to film it! Japanese actors don't earn that much from TV commercials.

 

[sgt. Pepper]

Are all japanese commercials as psycho as the ones with arnold in them? :/

 

[epigene]

There are a lot of goofy commercials, but not all of them are. But the Japanese love humor in TV commercials.

 

[Censport]

I've also wondered why they pay western actors so much. For me, it would make working in Hollywood worthwhile. Think about it: Make a couple of successful films, then travel to Japan to make as much in one week as you did in five years.

Then stay in Japan, comfortably.

"Sir, your agent is on the phone."

"You've got a project for me? Do my own stunts? Nah. I think I'll stay at this onsen and drink sake. Get Bruce Willis, he probably needs the money."

Sounds like a good plan to me!

 

[budd]

"Are all japanese commercials as psycho as the ones with arnold in them?"
no, unfortunately some of them might as well be selling snuf or tobacco they so boring

"I've also wondered why they pay western actors so much."
my opinion: in japan, especially in tokyo (as opposed to osaka), people SEEM to take pride in being able to spend a lot of money on what they buy

 

[den4]

some of the J commercials with the natives in them can be even more psycho than the ahnold ones....

saw the hair commercial with Mokkun in there with the mohawk hairdo that's clapping to the tune of "If you're happy and you know it clap your hair....." weird...

 

[TwistedMac]

"Are all japanese commercials as psycho as the ones with arnold in them?"
no, unfortunately some of them might as well be selling snuf or tobacco they so boring

"I've also wondered why they pay western actors so much."
my opinion: in japan, especially in tokyo (as opposed to osaka), people SEEM to take pride in being able to spend a lot of money on what they buy

consumerism pride, or just showing of that "I can spend this much without starving!"?