Japan cm of the week - Skiが好きだ！

I can't think of that many train commercials that hit all the right notes like this one does. It's a part of JR East's series of Ski Ski commercials - the idea is if you want to go on a skiing trip, you'll need to hop on a train, right? Right?

OK it is mildly farfetched when you think of how much of a pain in the ass it would be to lug a bunch of ski equipment on a train, but for young college age kids (who in Japan notoriously have a lot of free time but not so much money or cars), it makes perfect sense.

And what better way to sell a skiing trip than by playing off the fact that the word for like and ski sound the same in Japanese? Hence if you say "Ski ski" you could be saying you like skiing or that you like someone. So put the super cute Tsubasa Honda (本田翼 - her blog is here) being... super cute with her short cut and ski outfit with her obviously pining for her skiing companion and you have a total winner.

I also want to use this space to make a prediction. Tsubasa has suddenly jumped into the spotlight with this commercial and a few more, so I'm thinking she's bound to be the next Yui Aragaki or more likely she'll be a Shiori Kutsuna - start off in a few commercials, then get supporting roles in dramas and if she gets enough attention then she'll get a lead in a love romance or two and the rest is set. If she suddenly becomes a Pocky girl, don't be surprised.

Oh, and for anyone who noticed the theme song for this commercial is Yuki no Oto (雪の音) by GReeeeN, a pretty good J-Rock group. Here's a link to their site: GReeeeN Official Web Site.