Virtual model imma to pose in fashion magazine with real models, advertising makeup brand KATE

The CG-created model is getting her big break in the fashion industry!

You might remember virtual model imma, whose trendy selfies and street-style Instagram photos have earned her tens of thousands of followers, along with worldwide attention. What sets her apart from other models is not her fashion or makeup style, however, though those are unique in their own way; it’s the fact that she isn’t real! imma is entirely a CG construct, designed to look so incredibly realistic that if we hadn’t been told that she didn’t exist, we would never have known.

Such is her realistic beauty, and her growing fame, that she’s booked herself her first major photoshoot! She’s appearing in a digital article from fashion magazine i-D Japan sporting KATE cosmetics, alongside two real models. How does the digital beauty of imma compare to the beauty of real humans?

KATE, by Kanebou Cosmetics, is a makeup brand marketed towards Asian women, which goes by the motto “No more rules”, emphasizing individuality and freedom in makeup design. The brand has a base makeup series called “THE BASE ZERO“, which includes foundation that prides itself in being light and smooth while still thoroughly covering blemishes. The products come in both liquid and powder form, in six colors each, and with mild SPF protection.

You can see imma and her human co-models Mayben and Aria wearing KATE THE BASE ZERO in a special article on i-D Japan’s website. The makeup and looks were coordinated by renowned hair and makeup artist Torii, who sought to re-imagine beauty with their design, and with the use of a digital model. The article discusses what beauty is and how it changes with the times, and there’s even an interview with all three models, including imma. Unfortunately, it’s all in Japanese, but if you can find someone to translate it for you, you might find it very interesting!

With the blossoming of highly realistic virtual idols like imma and the newly debuted meme, who is turning beauty standards on their head, the world of fashion modeling is changing. In fact, with technology that can even produce an incredibly realistic human voice, with AIs designing their own idol faces, and with virtual YouTubers scoring anime voice acting gigs, we might soon be approaching a time when we no longer need real celebrities!

What a time to be alive.

Source, images: PR Times
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Can’t decide what to order at Starbucks Japan? Use this handy guide to pick a Frappuccino!

With all of the delightful flavors available, it can be hard to choose. We’re here to help!

Now that cherry blossom season is pretty much over, it’s time for one of Japan’s biggest holiday seasons: Golden Week! A week straight off from work marks it as one of the biggest travel times in the Japanese calendar year. It can also be one of the most expensive, so for many it can be better to stay home and enjoy the quiet that often comes with Golden Week, especially in the Tokyo area.

And what better way to enjoy a staycation than with Starbucks? As the days are getting warmer, we’re starting to crave something cold, and for that you can’t go wrong with Starbucks’ delightful lineup of sweet, icy Frappuccinos. But how do you know which one to try when they all look so darn good? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with our Starbucks Frappuccino Golden Week 2019 Flavor Chart.

We covered the basic lineup of Frappuccinos two years ago, and in case you forgot, the regular menu Frappuccinos are Coffee, Matcha Green Tea Cream, Vanilla Cream, Dark Chip Mocha, Dark Chip Mocha Cream, Caramel, and Mango Passion Fruit. They were placed on the richness scale based on the votes from our panel of judges two years ago, and they have held steady in flavor profile since.

Last time we also included two limited edition menu items that aren’t available any more, so this year we decided to add two spring specials and an additional Golden Week drink: the two Strawberry Very Much Frappuccinos, and the Espresso Affogato Frappuccino.

With its combination of strawberry cream, whipped cream, strawberry syrup, mocha, and strawberry macaron chunks, the Strawberry Very Much White is supremely rich and creamy, but comes at a high calorie cost (481 calories), just higher than its sister, the Strawberry Very Much Red (447 calories). Compared to the White, the Red lacks only the mocha and the macaron chunks, and is just a little more refreshing.

The real surprise of the trio, however, was the Espresso Affogato. It has the more mature flavor of bitter espresso, and there’s no whipped cream topping on this baby, so it’s much less rich than the other two. And yet, it still comes in at a pretty high calorie count, with a whopping 458 calories!

So there you have it – your guide to Starbucks Japan for Golden Week. If you’re looking to save on the calorie count, the Caramel, Vanilla, Coffee, and Mango Passion Fruit may be your best bet. But if you’re prepared to splurge for the holidays, definitely give the limited edition flavors a try, and while you’re at it, pick up a cute tumbler for next time!

Images © SoraNews24
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Man arrested for attempting to rob Tokyo police with fruit knife

The “arrested” part probably goes without saying though.

A daring robbery attempt took place in broad daylight at the popular Asakusa area of Tokyo. “Daring” is perhaps an understatement in this case because the intended victim was none other than the Tokyo Metropolitan Police themselves.

The incident took place right outside the iconic Kaminarimon with its giant red lantern outside Senso Temple, pictured below behind the iconic SoraNews24 writer Mr. Sato.

Near the gate is a “koban” which is a type of small police outpost that can be found all over cites in Japan. One such koban is pictured below, with two other SoraNews24 writers who were being detained inside on suspicion of public indecency.

At approximately five o’clock in the afternoon, a 63-year-old man entered the koban located right outside Kaminarimon and brandished a fruit knife at the officer on duty, demanding “Gimme money!”

The officer then warned him to put down the knife. This, for some reason, prompted the suspect to walk out of the box where he was swiftly arrested with the help of another officer who was obviously nearby.

Since the attempted robbery took place in a major sightseeing spot in the middle of a holiday, the area was very crowded and there was no shortage of people with cameras to capture the incident.

In a subsequent investigation, the suspect is said to have admitted to the charges, claiming that, “Not having any money on me, I wanted money.”

The suspect’s motive was perhaps the only thing that made sense in this whole debacle and netizens struggled to understand what was going through his head.

“Maybe he just wanted to experience getting arrested once in his life.”
“Poor guy. Didn’t anyone tell him the police don’t have any money?”
“I guess he was trying to get arrested.”
“It’s sad that some people can have a better life in prison. There should be another way. Maybe by donating blood or volunteering for medical experiments.”
“I also was going through a rough time once and went to the police asking them to arrest me. That was about five years ago.”

Many people assumed this was a case of a broke person trying to get arrested in order to take advantage of the food and shelter that prison provides. 

But if that were the case, why would he do it at a police box at one of Tokyo’s most popular sightseeing spots on one of the busiest days of the year? He could have just as easily waltzed into a more out-of-the-way koban, waved a knife around, and been discreetly arrested. 

▼ Or you could do it in front of a thousand people with cameras. There’s no one way to go about this kind of thing.

#浅草 #浅草寺 #刃物 https://t.co/PAw0lgWlfh

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ぼっちライダーwith Ted@房総族 (@PB839_HD) April 29, 2019

I wonder if perhaps the guy had the foresight to realize that despite food and a bed, prison is still a rough place to be. However, if every time you were asked “Waddaya in for?” you could answer with, “I mugged a cop,” and have the news reports along with a slew of video evidence to back you up, you’d probably be seen as a bit of a live wire and not one to be easily messed with.

Then again, I’m probably ascribing way too much rationality to the kind of person that would try and rob a police officer.

Source: NHK News Web, Hachima Kiko
Top image: Pakutaso
Inset images: SoraNews24
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Our reporter ran into one of Tokyo’s pushy flag-selling foreigners

A tap on the shoulder leads to a flag in the hand and a request to pay for it.

Recently, one of the big topics on social media in Japan has been foreigners in Japan “selling” flags on the street. We put “selling” in quotation marks because the tactics they employ don’t really conform to the standard way shopping transactions are supposed to happen.

It turns out our own Japanese-language reporter P.K. Sanjun ran into one of these flag sellers not too long ago. In January, he was hanging out in Tokyo’s Ueno neighborhood. Walking around the Ameyoko shopping streets, he stopped in front of the local branch of electronics retailer Yodobashi Camera, where he crouched down to get a better look at the wares being sold by the gachapon vending machines (keeping abreast of capsule toy trends is, after all, part of our job here at SoraNews24).

▼ Ameyoko

But as P.K. was checking out the Pokémon cosplay hoods for cats and other tempting trinkets, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Standing up to see who’d tapped him from behind, he saw a Caucasian man in his 20s, and as soon as P.K. turned around, the man, without saying a word, pressed a Japanese flag into his hand.

Before P.K. could even think “What is this dude trying to do?” the man pulled out a small card and showed it to him. Confused and agitated, P.K. wasn’t sure what language the card was written in, though with its Latin alphabet characters he assumes it was English. But what he didn’t need an translation to understand the part that said “￥500” (￥ being the symbol for “yen”).

At this point, it was clear that the man wanted P.K. to pay him 500 yen (US$4.50) for the flag, which he’d already forced into P.K.’s possession. However, P.K., like virtually every other person in Japan, doesn’t ever find himself randomly walking around town and thinking “You know what? I really want to buy a flag of my home country, and RIGHT NOW!”

So P.K. reversed the handover and put the flag back in the man’s hand, telling him “No thank you” in English, figuring that the silent man was more likely to understand English than Japanese. The man reacted with neither anger nor sadness, and walked away to start handing flags to other people on the street and asking for their money.

P.K. isn’t our only staff member to have a run-in with the flag sellers either. About a year ago, our reporter Go Hatori had a young Caucasian woman in Shibuya, near the famous Scramble Intersection, wordlessly hand him a Japanese flag and show him a card claiming she was deaf, and asking him for 500 yen in return for the flag he hadn’t asked her for in the first place.

▼ Shibuya

In both our reporters’ cases, the encounter was over before they could snap a picture, but photos on social media from others who’ve run into the flag-selling foreigners confirm that claiming to be deaf is a common part of their sales pitch, as is approaching people in busy sightseeing or entertainment districts. It’s currently unknown whether the sudden increase of flag-sellers is because of a coordinated effort by some sort of managing organization, or if the situation is one of individuals copying each other’s cards and tactics.

While this practice of handing over an undesirable item first, then asking for payment while claiming a disability later, has been common in several other countries for many years, it’s been relatively unheard of in Japan until fairly recently, at least on the scale it’s taking on. It’s particularly sad to see it beginning to make inroads in Japan, where the group-oriented nature of society makes it extremely difficult for many Japanese people to firmly turn down a request from someone in need and the value of responsibility and reciprocation is likely to make a large portion (compared to other countries) of flag recipients feel morally obligated to pay the 500 yen. Add in the fact that Japan is extremely self-conscious of the fact that it has a different language and customs than the rest of the world, making many people react to misunderstandings with foreigners by trying to be accommodating, and the flag sellers, either by design or coincidence, appear to be trying to take advantage of the compassionate, caring aspects of Japanese culture.

“Regardless of their identities or motives, if you don’t want the flag, don’t give them any money,” says P.K. “That’s something that goes for any shopping or donation decision: If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it.”

Photos ©SoraNews24

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The Parasite You Probably Have

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Daddy day care center with beer opens in Japan

Urban oasis offers a place where tired dads can knock back a cold one and take a nap.

After clocking out of work last Friday, Japan entered its annual Golden Week spring vacation period. This year, however, Golden Week is extra-long, as workaholic Japan will enjoy an almost unheard of 10 straight days off.

During that time, vacationers will be flooding Japan’s entertainment and tourism destinations, but for dads who don’t want to fight the crowds in Osaka’s downtown Namba shopping and dining district there’s a relaxing oasis waiting for them inside Namba Midosuji Hall, which is connected to Namba subway station. Ordinarily, Namba Midosuji Hall rents out its conference rooms for business meetings and corporate functions, but during Golden Week it’ll be the venue for Daddy Day Care, which will occupy a 200-square-meter (2,152-square-foot) space.

The organizers’ goals are two-fold, in that they recognize that some dads might not have the energy to accompany their wives on extended shopping excursions through all of Namba’s numerous boutiques and department stores, and also that some Japanese wives would like a place to stash their depleted spouses for a quick recharge while they continue doing whatever they came to Namba to do.

Amenities include foot-massaging machines to soothe tired toes, and also mats for lounging and napping on. Unlimited soft drinks are available for just 200 yen (US$1.80), but since many Dads find a can of beer to be a more soothing pre-nap treat than a box of juice, Daddy Day Care also sells booze too. There’s also free Wi-Fi, electrical outlets, a manga library, and a golf simulator to keep Dads entertained if they’re not feeling sleepy.

Despite the name, Daddy Day Care is open to Moms as well. Kids are welcome too, and some of the earliest customers have been dads with small children who need a place to play and nap for a while during the middle of a family outing.

Daddy Day Care is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and charges 500 yen (US$4.50) per hour for adults or 1,000 yen for an all-day pass (for kids 6 or under the prices are 300 and 600 yen, respectively). The service is being offered until May 6.

Related: Namba Midosuji Hall
Sources: Livedoor News/Asahi Shimbun Digital via Otakomu, Yahoo! Japan News via Jin, Net IB News
Top image: Pakutaso
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Dimension 20 is Back in ESCAPE FROM THE BLOODKEEP

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Artist says anime should be more like Marvel/Disney, can’t because of sexualized, moe content

”Moe has ruined anime.”

Keiko Moritsugu (@W_Fei_hung on Twitter) doesn’t have the longest anime industry resume, but she can boast of involvement in two of Japan’s biggest animation franchises. While still a student, she worked as a CG artist for the perennially popular Doraemon, and after graduation she joined Game Freak, where she contributed character designs to the animated Pokémon franchise.

But just because she worked on a pair of high-profile anime doesn’t mean that Moritsugu is happy with where the industry is as a whole. As a matter of fact, she’s disappointed in the current state of Japanese animation, especially compared to its across-the-Pacific counterparts Marvel and Disney.

ディズニーやマーベルの映画が、毎年のようにクオリティを更新出来るのは、実際の社会の中で争点になっている事をきちんと脚本に織り込んでいくからなんだよ。日本のアニメはもうそれが出来ないのよ。「エロを混ぜればオタクを騙せるんでしょ？」という方法論で作ってるから。

—
Moritsugu Keiko 森次慶子 (@W_Fei_hung) April 25, 2019

“The quality of Disney and Marvel movies get better and better every year, and the reason why is because they work issues that society is grappling with into their scripts. Japanese animation has become unable to do that. The methodology for making anime is ‘As long as we put some sexy stuff in, we can trick otaku into buying it, right?’”

日本で今、ズートピアみたいなアニメを作ったら「フェミニストを殺せー！」「いやこれはマイノリティのための映画だー！」と、ネットでは大騒ぎになると思うんだけど、それで良いのにね。それでこそ社会性のある作品だと思う。

—
Moritsugu Keiko 森次慶子 (@W_Fei_hung) April 25, 2019

“These days, if you made a movie like Zootopia in Japan, I think people would get all worked up about it online, and say things like ‘Kill the feminists!’ and ‘Wait, this movie was only made to please minorities.’ But there’s nothing wrong with that happening. That shows that a movie has social relevance.”

In subsequent tweets, Moritsugu had more to say about male anime fans being “tricked” by the content they watched, and how she feels that creates a problem for women as well.

女がキャッキャするだけのアニメを見て、男は癒されるのかもしれないけど、女の場合は女に癒しを求めすぎてる男達を見て、精神的に疲れ果てるんだよ、、、。

—
Moritsugu Keiko 森次慶子 (@W_Fei_hung) April 26, 2019

“I think men probably get deceived watching anime that’s just about girls being giggly and screechy, but when women look at men who desire too much comforting from women, it’s psychologically exhausting.”

It’s not just explicit sexual content that upsets Moritsugu either. In yet another tweet, she expressed her feelings on “moe,” a kind of protective affection felt towards a character, after another Twitter user mentioned their hatred of 2008 anime TV series Sekirei.

こういう露骨なのばかりじゃなくて、こういう概念が薄められて多くのアニメに混ざってしまった事に対して憤ってますね。やっぱり「萌え」はアニメを滅ぼしたと思う。 twitter.com/ainoanison/sta…

—
Moritsugu Keiko 森次慶子 (@W_Fei_hung) April 27, 2019

“I’m not just angry at bluntly sexualized anime like this. I’m also angry at anime that include this attitude in a diluted form. I really think that moe has ruined anime.”

However, Despite Moritsugu’s clear belief that anime needs to take a page out of the playbooks used by Disney and Marvel, many commenters had dissenting opinions, leaving remarks such as:

“Is ‘works issues that society is grappling with into the scripts’ your only criteria for what constitutes good anime? If so, I think you have a largely mistaken perception of what the artform of animation is.”

“That ‘higher quality’ for Disney and Marvel is nothing more than a result of having more money to spend than anime studios do.”

“Isn’t the reason Disney doesn’t put sexual content in their cartoons just because in the west animation is thought of as something for children? Live-action Hollywood movies have plenty of sex scenes and kissing scenes.”

“Sure, a lot of anime are filled with sexual content, but there are a lot that aren’t too. There is so much anime being produced that you can’t really say ‘All of it is like this.’”

“Ultraman, Kamen Rider, Super Sentai, PreCure, and Detective Conan are all getting higher-quality year after year.”

A lot of the discourse seems to stem from Moritsugu’s apparent framing of high quality and sexual content as an either/or proposition, with multiple commenters pointing out that since Marvel and Disney are aiming their products at a worldwide audience, those broader demographics are naturally going to shift the content of their films away from the sexual fetishes that so often crop up in otaku and fujoshi-oriented anime. The target market for a new Disney movie is essentially “anyone in the world who’s a kid or kid at heart,” and for Marvel movies it’s “anyone in the world who likes action movies.” Anime, though, especially the risque or moe projects that Moritsugu is taking aim at, are much more of niche product, with their creators knowing full well that they won’t appeal to everybody, and the goal instead being to appeal very strongly to a certain subset of somebodies.

That said, Moritsugu, who describes herself as an “ingenious artist” in her Twitter profile, isn’t convinced that sort of more concentrated focus is good for the long-term health of the anime industry.

まさにそういう事なんだよ！エヴァ以降、アニメにエロを混ぜて売って良い事になっちゃった。そうなるとモテない男オタクを騙すほうが楽になっちゃったから、芸術作品としてのアニメを模索する事が出来なくなって、日本のアニメは縮小再生産のループに入った。

—
Moritsugu Keiko 森次慶子 (@W_Fei_hung) April 25, 2019

“Since Evangelion, anime has become something where if you add in some erotic content so people will buy it, then it’s all good. That made it easier to trick male otaku who can’t get a girlfriend, and it became harder and harder to find anime that are artistic creations, and now anime has fallen into a regressive loop.”

Of course, there’s no shortage of anime fans who became fans because they preferred the Japanese animation industry’s style of telling stories of magical wonder and spectacular action to the way Disney and American comic books handle such elements. It’s also not like Japanese anime fans are only watching anime because they don’t have access to Disney or Marvel films, since all of the companies’ movies see nationwide theatrical releases in Japan. Quality is, after all, a subjective thing, and just as Moritsugu sees it in a willingness to weave contemporary social commentary into a script, other people may find it in any number of other things, including titillation, and to them late-night boob-and-butt anime might embody the highest level of quality they can imagine.

Source: Twitter/@W_Fei_hung via Jin
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Ultimatums in Married Life

When things happen in married life, whether bad or good, a common reaction is to blame (or give credit) someone else. While they may have been a contibuting factor to the result of a situation, when we fail to acknowledge our own role in life’s circumstances, we damage our own growth and chance for lasting […]

The post Ultimatums in Married Life appeared first on Sexy Marriage.

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30 years of Japanese hair and makeup trends, all modeled by one beautiful woman【Video】

As Japan says goodbye to the Heisei era, Shiseido looks back on the last three decades, from the bubble economy to yuru fuwa iyashi otono kawaii joshi.

At the stroke of midnight on May 1, Japan’s Heisei era, coinciding with the reign of abdicating Emperor Akihito, will come to a close, and the new imperial era, to be called Reiwa, will begin. The changeover has all of Japan (even ATMs) taking a moment to reflect on the 30 years of the Heisei period, and for cosmetics company Shiseido, that means a special look back at three decades of Japanese women’s beauty trends.

Shiseido’s stylists divided up the Heisei period, which started in 1989, into six five-year blocks, starting with what it calls the “Bubble Gorgeous” trend of 1989-1993, with the fading light of the bubble economy of the 1980s still present in its raised bangs, vivid lipstick, and pronounced eyebrows.

Things change dramatically for 1994-1998, though, with the rise of the Amura look, inspired by J-pop’s number-one recording artist, Namie Amuro. The Okinawan-born songstresses had a huge impact on the fashion world, with her long, straight hair (dyed brown) and thin, arching eyebrows becoming the defining trends of the mid ‘90s.

As different as the first two Heisei styles may look, however, that’s actually the same model demonstrating each of them. In fact, Shiseido employed the same model for the entire project, which next heads to 1999-2003, when the gyaru, or gal, look brought bleach-blond hair, bronze-toned skin, and heavy eyeliner to the fashion forefront.

But the attention-grabbing aesthetic of the gyaru may have been a bit too extreme for long-term mainstream popularity in Japan, and for 2004-2008, much of it was undone in favor of a classically soft and feminine look, and while women of this era didn’t go back to the perms of the 1980s, they did start adding a bit more volume back into their styles, with light twists resting on the shoulders becoming the go-to choice for dates, parties, and other special occasions.

This would evolve into the “yuru fuwa iyashi otono kawaii joshi,” or “loose, soft, soothing mature cute girl” trend of 2009-2013, which represented a desire for relaxed, understated looks, with rosy cheeks and puffy eyes seen as desirable physical traits.

And then, proving that if you wait long enough, everything eventually comes back into style, since 2014 there’s been a resurgence in the brightly colored lipsticks of the bubble economy years, though this time paired with straighter hair than the first time around.

Finally, Shiseido closes out its retrospective with a look towards the future, offering a potential combination of hair/makeup trends for the start of the new Reiwa period.

Finding out whether or not that predication proves true, though, is just one of the may things we’ll have to look forward to in the new era.

Source: Shiseido
Featured image: Shiseido
Top image: Shiseido
Insert images: YouTube/資生堂 Shiseido Co., Ltd., Shiseido
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Emperor of Japan abdicates throne, issues final imperial statement to people of Japan【Video】

Emperor Akihito’s 30-year reign, known as the Heisei era, comes to a close.

Much like with other titles of nobility, the Emperor of Japan’s position is granted for life. However, on April 30, Emperor Akihito made the rare move of abdicating the throne, something that hasn’t happened in Japan since 202 years ago.

As such, for the first time in any current citizen’s lifetime, an abdication ceremony was held, taking place in the Matsu no Ma, or Pine Hall, of the Imperial Palace, which sits at the center of downtown Tokyo, surrounded by moats, gardens, and forested grounds.

▼ Emperor Akihito, delivering his last address as Emperor of Japan

202年ぶりの天皇の退位の儀式となる「退位礼正殿の儀」が午後５時、皇居 宮殿の「松の間」で始まり、先ほど終わりました。 天皇陛下の最後のおことばです。 www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/2019… https://t.co/wIITFIAhoZ

—
NHKニュース (@nhk_news) April 30, 2019

The Three Sacred Treasures, as the Japanese imperial regalia are called, were brought into the room (though within elegant cloth coverings, as the sacred items are only to be gazed upon by the emperor and the priests who convey them upon the monarch). Emperor Akihito and his wife of 60 years, Empress Michiko, stood on a dais in front of the assembled attendants, with other members of the royal family standing of to the side, as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe read a statement thanking the Emperor for his long service to the nation since the beginning of his reign in 1989. “Today, as you resign from your position, we look back on the years and see that at all times, you felt the same joys and sorrows as the people of Japan, and on this occasion we feel anew a deep respect and gratitude,” the politician said.

Emperor Akihito then spoke, making his final official statement to conclude his three decades as the symbol of Japan’s traditions and values.

“As of today, my position as emperor is ended.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the sentiments Mr. Abe spoke of, as a representative of the people of Japan.

I am happy that in the 30 years since my ascension, I have been able to perform my duties in such a way as to earn the deep trust and devotion of the people. From the bottom of my heart, I thank them for their acceptance of me as a symbol of Japan, and for their support.

Tomorrow, the new era, Reiwa, will begin, and both the Empress and I hope it will be one of peace and prosperity, and we pray for tranquility and happiness for our country and people around the world.”

Akihito’s son, Crown Prince Naruhito, will assume the position of emperor on May 1, whereupon Japan’s Reiwa era will officially begin.

Sources: NHK News Web (1, 2)
Top image: Pakutaso
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Tommy Lee Jones cries, says sayonara to the Heisei era in epic new Boss coffee commercial 【Video】

The one-night special will be screened on Japanese television tonight, on the last day of the Heisei period.

Today is a historic day in Japan, as 30 April marks the final day of the thirty-year-long Heisei era. And as Emperor Akihito prepares to step down from the Chrysanthemum Throne and hand the role over to his eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, on May 1 – which will mark the start of the new Reiwa era – Japan is taking a nostalgic look back at the past thirty years of Japanese history.

One company waxing lyrical over the Heisei period is Japanese beverage company Suntory, which is bidding a fond farewell to the era with a new commercial featuring the poster boy for their Boss canned coffee brand: Hollywood actor Tommy Lee Jones.

Jones has been appearing in Boss coffee commercials since 2006, playing the role of an alien observing humans in their element, and tonight, the company will be screening an epic two-minute long commercial on television for one night only, featuring some of Jones’ best appearances over the years.

Take a look at the special two-minute commercial, entitled “Alien Jones: Heisei Special”, below:

The special commercial is made up of past ads featuring Jones, all tied together with a narrative that comments on the social quirks and achievements seen by Alien Jones on this planet during the Heisei period.

The ad begins with Jones’ 2011 Boss commercial, which shows the “cycle of meetings and farewells” illustrated by one couple parting and another meeting on a station platform, with Jones in the role of station attendant.

The clip goes on to show Jones in a 2006 ad, where he brings drinks to customers as a karaoke employee and cries over the emotive singing of acclaimed Japanese enka singer Aki Yashiro.

He’s then pictured as a construction worker who remarks on the sense of accomplishment that can be felt by beings on this Earth, before stepping into the ring as sumo referee, from a 2008 ad, looking over the new heroes born during the period.

The clip ends with a montage of Jones’ best appearances, while commenting on the fact that “It’s not easy to know what type of era was created over the past thirty years, but one thing I can say is that people worked hard in the Hesei era.”

Given the amount of appearances Jones has made over the years, he’s definitely worked hard during the Heisei era. Here’s to many more years of Boss coffee commercials starring Alien Jones as we roll over to the new Reiwa era!

Source: Suntory
Images: YouTube/サントリー公式チャンネル （SUNTORY）
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