yeah, noviye russkie come to japan to learn English ;] they can afford anything, can't they? ...

Well, I would say that this advert is more honest if it's showing a Japanese girl becoming friends with a Russian girl through the language school.

how the heck are you going to determine what the roles of the models in the ad were?

Bah... If you start trying to analyze the motivation behind Eikawa ads...

While you are at it, can you try and explain to me the meaning behind Gaba's latest campaign?

I mean, I can see the point of the one seemingly depicting a Japanese living among foreigners (possibly in a foreign city). But the one entitled "ROMANCE" and showing two *black* hands holding? Huh?
Am I to understand that Gaba wants to bring the Ghanaian clientele in?

for me they looked like two teachers- one Japanese and one native speaker /the school's rule?/ and maybe it is to attract young men?

how the heck are you going to determine what the roles of the models in the ad were?

The text of the ad! Crazy but I will actually try to use my language skills to analyze Japanese culture.

While you are at it, can you try and explain to me the meaning behind Gaba's latest campaign?

I saw that one yesterday, but didn't read the copy.

But, the one before that showed a Japanese guy laughing and drinking with a Western guy (both in suits) with the text in Japanese: "This dude, who up until earlier was my enemy, will probably become a lifelong friend."

Why is the foreign guy an "enemy"? （敵)

for me they looked like two teachers- one Japanese and one native speaker /the school's rule?/ and maybe it is to attract young men?

The Japanese girl looks like the typical student model. The white people are almost always teachers, but I don't want to assume.

Just curious as to what japanese you got "dude" from? Anyways, as always, looking forward to the facts of the case.

Just curious as to what japanese you got "dude" from? Anyways, as always, looking forward to the facts of the case.

Ha ha. Yeah.

I remember that it used the word "こいつ" which is like "this guy" or "this one right here" (imagine a drunk frat guy saying this) but not very formal/polite. My translation added a little color.

Well, I remember reading the small text on the ad and it wasn't really shedding any light on the deeper meaning of this pair of hands, as far as I could tell.

But I just went on Gaba's website (http://msn.gaba.co.jp/global/04/index.html), and the ad is there, along with what seems like a travel diary. The couple is indeed not supposed to be related to English teaching in Japan in any way, just an old couple walking in the street whose man is "older than her" and a theatre producer...

My bad. Even though that would still go to reinforce my opinion that trying to make any sense, let alone analyze, Japanese eikawa ads isn't gonna lead much anywhere...