Deer character unveiled as Kusanagi’s successor for digital TV commercials
Entertainment ( 38 )
TOKYO —
Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Kunio Hatoyama, 60, on Monday unveiled the new character that will promote the switch from analogue to digital television broadcasts. Hatoyama had some harsh words last week for popular group SMAP’s Tsuyoshi Kusanagi – also the face of the digital TV campaign - after he was arrested for indecent exposure. But he was more supportive on Monday when he said: “I believe Kusanagi will reflect on his actions and bounce back. In his absence we’ll need our new character to do his best.”
According to the National Association of Commercial Broadcasters’ website, the new deer character “Chidejika” was born on Dec 1, 2003, is 2 meters tall and weighs about 15 to 20 kilograms. He is calm under pressure but can be a bit nosy. He likes salad but not the crackers often fed to other deer, and will feature in the association’s commercials and posters from next month.
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38 Comments
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whatanidiot
??????????
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Altria
What's the bet that's actually Kusanagi inside the suit?
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dennis0bauer
looks like they designed it on a napkin in 30seconds
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papasmurfinjapan
hahaha, well i guess that's the best they can do on such short notice.. what a waste of taxpayer money.. grab a kusanagi poster from an electronics shop if you can - they may be worth something in 10 years..
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outofmydepth
this is perhaps THE lamest thing i have seen here in japan and i have seen LAME!!!!!
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Spanishwoman
Improvising gives sometimes weird results... Look at the legs... They should have worked a little bit longer on the design. Was the need to replace Kusanagi really that urgent? The change to digital is schedules for 2 years later, ne? At least the deer will not give any behavioural problems...
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tasha77
I hope we see some photos of a blind drunk man in a deer costume resembling this one soon on the internet.......what will they do then??? Pull the deer and replace it with one someone in one of those stag beetle costumes??? It actually looks like a pencil with a deer head as a cap!!!
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InTheKnow
According to the National Association of Commercial Broadcasters’ website, the new deer character “Chidejika” was born on Dec 1, 2003, is 2 meters tall and weighs about 15 to 20 kilograms. He is calm under pressure but can be a bit nosy. He likes salad but not the crackers often fed to other deers,
Now I remember why Japan isn't taken seriously outside of Japan. Are there are any adults running this country, some with a mature, sensible mindset? I find this idiotic deer mascot/campaign change more offensive and worthy of comment than Kusainegi's drunken strip dance.
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JackDorff
With the promise of these digital broadcasts coming in I was starting to feel the effects of futureshock. I was beginning to fear the TV because of the little analogue message in the top corner. I even tried to escape back into the 90
s by restricting myself to my SP1 and MD player. However, with this created-at-short-notice deer character leading me into the next decade, Im starting to feel a lot more relaxed about the changes taking place.0
Azrael
Is the purpose of this to add insult to injury? Because it does seem like the coup de grace humiliation aimed at Kusanagi. This is so sad, but I had to laugh.
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pawatan
Is there anyone outside bitter message board posters who really thinks that?
Crap mascot, though. I'm sure someone put in alot of zangyou to get that cranked out in a few days...
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Sarge
"He likes salad but not the crackers often fed to other deers"
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
"deers"
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
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Sarge
"Chidejika"
Cute!
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dokachin
If you put a wig on it, it may just look like Kusanagi.
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likeitis
At least it might cost taxpayers less than Kusanagi's contract. Why in the "beep" does this need to be promoted anyway? Its being forced on us with a happy face, a happy face that is costing even more money than the expensive change.
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TokyoGas
The should have just used a picture of Sputnik 1, even that would have been better.
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Scrote
Oh deer.
It doesn't look anything like a deer, more like a malnourished polar bear. They should just show a picture of Hatoyama in the corner of the screen on the analogue channels the whole time, that would soon get people to switch over.
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ultradodgy
A Beer character? What...?
Oh, that was the last mascot.
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TokyoXtreme
A friend speculated that Kusanagi wasn't doing well enough to promote the digital zombie box, so someone slipped drugs into his beer, which then caused him to publicly embarrass himself. With this method, the digital dudes didn't have to fire him outright; instead they masterminded a coup. Man who gives an F about either one anyway.
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Osakadaz
WTF??? Japan should really start checking its water supply.This is going from the sublime to the ridiculous.The land where Chihuahuas and cartoon characters sell goods to discerning adults...ROFL. shikatto sureba ii wa. shikata ga nai.
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natosucks
Nice choice the mascot it's cute and Kusanagi sorry but not, maybe as ELF..
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josebove
In other news, Kusanagi is being replaced in SMAP by a singing pencil. It likes washi but not the plain white paper that other pencils write on.
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fairyprince
HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Looks like they threw that "deer character" together quite fast.
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TexasAggie
In the photo it looks like Casper the Deer is weaving. Perhaps the person in the costume made a pit stop at one of that smap guy's favorite watering holes before meeting the press.
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uberloser
Oh dear!
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northlondon
I'm more likely to buy a new digital TV system promoted by an actor who likes to get drunk in Roppo and who gets butt naked in Midtown park, rather than by a salad-eating human deer who lies about his weight..
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Freddy5
Wait until they catch this deer character romping in park with those three chicks.
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Weasel
I guess the deer has as much to do with the conversion into digital TV as Kusanagi does.
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northlondon
Venisony going to sell their TV sets ?
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temporaryVisa
Seeing that Kusanagi is frequently refered to as goat face and even dresses up as such in SMAP comedy shorts, the choice of replacing him with a deer is truely baffeling.
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DarkKnightNine
OMG! This is so funny. Kusanagi is one of Japan's most famous TV stars and yet he is easily replaced by this obscenely ridiculous character. Makes you contemplate pursuing a career in Japanese entertainment. No such thing as job security.
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TokyoTanuki
The joke is on the Ministry though, this deer is only wearing body paint.
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Okinawamike
They did a marketing test a found that the deer sang, danced and acted better than Kusanagi, so the HMFIC said run with it.
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telecasterplayer
LOL! A clothed digital deer, instead of a naked Kusanagi.
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WilliB
I prefer the deer. Can they please replace all SMAPs with deer? Thank you.
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elbudamexicano
I just hope this deer dont go out on one of them drinking binges in roppongi, cause it will really stand out, getting drunk, naked etc..good luck kusanagi (are you in the deer??)
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IchyaWarFare
I have to remember that TV is so important in Japan, that a new mascot had to be literally scrapped together so they could put something in Kusanagi's place. Sad. At least know the masses will be informed. Go Japan!!!
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blackbagger
Wow, I can't believe they're serious about this deer mascot. Makes me want to reach for my hunting rifle.
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