One thing I like about Japan is the importance placed on truth in advertising. In TV commercials for products like toothpaste or mouthwash or laundry detergent, you’re likely to see visual images of the product cleaning away plaque or dirt vigorously…but if you look closely, the CG animation will always leave just a little in place, to reflect that no product cleans 100%. Once you notice that little patch of dirt left on clothes in TV commercials you see it everywhere, and it certainly seems to be a common industry practice to avoid making claims that are untrue. This dedication to accurate advertising isn’t universal, however: at Japan’s popular onsen hot springs it’s common to see signs boasting of the various body ailments that will be cured by the hot water you’re about to bathe in. These signs get quite creative, offering to cure everything from rheumatism to chills to anemia and various nerve-related disorders. I just smile and enjoy the bath.
Truth in advertising is important in Japan.
