Unique Advertising Methods in Japan

There are many innovative ways Japanese companies advertise to get their messages out to people, like running a short commercial twice, back-to-back, so you can’t tune it out easily. Many Japanese advertising campaigns are so interesting they develop a following outside Japan, like the Lotte Fit’s gum commercials that will make you get up and dance, or the nosebleed-inducing AKB48 “mouth to mouth” Puccho commercial (YouTube videos embedded in our product pages). The Japanese take public transportation a lot, and innovative advertising in trains is common, like the campaign that transformed the metal bars passengers hold onto while commuting into lightsabers to promote the Star Wars DVD release here, or turning an entire train into a giant advertisement for K-On! One method of advertising I’ve always liked is pocket tissue, which are printed by banks or ramen shops to promote their wares and handed out on street-corners — they’re useful because you never know when you’ll need some tissue. If you’ve ever been to an anime convention J-List was at we probably handed you some of these pocket tissues, and we also include a pack with orders you make from our website. And if you make an order now, you’ll get our cool limited-edition holiday pocket tissue with “Santa Megumi” on it. (Please note that J-List tissues aren’t included in orders that would be damaged by them during shipping, like thin books or doujinshi, and are subject to availability).

Pocket tissues are a popular way to advertise.