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JR Kyushu has created highly-effective print advertisments for their current "Kyushu Destination Campaign" featuring the world's cutest small white dog (some kind of Shiba-ken mix, perhaps? a Kyushu-native kishu inu) making his way to all of the southern island's greatest attractions. I have been looking for web versions of these ads over the last couple of weeks to no avail, but thanks to the hard work of individuals on this this hatena page, I finally found the official online gallery. I highly recommend taking a peek.
I like these ads a lot too... but, who are you? Did jean snow steal your password?
see also the (intentionally) parallel ads for the minshutou on TV.
Posted by: nate at October 18, 2006 9:46 PMoops, meant to have a question mark after intentionally there: (intentionally?)
i didnt mean to actually make an assertion, just to insinuate.
Posted by: nate at October 18, 2006 9:48 PMAww, these ads make me home(stay)sick. I used to live in Kagoshima.
Posted by: lauren at October 18, 2006 9:48 PMThis post should have been called "Kyushu Nostalgia."
Did jean snow steal your password?
Jean does not have the monopoly on love of iconic dogs.
Posted by: marxy at October 19, 2006 12:57 AMJust in case there are other readers outside Japan who care to see a grotesque, mugging Ichiro Ozawa, the DPJ ad is available online as well as the television:
http://www.dpj.or.jp/news_video.html
jean snow IS an iconic dog.
Posted by: r. at October 19, 2006 2:34 AMThat dog appears to be a Kishu Inu, one of the Japanese "native" breeds local to Kyushu, which would explain why it is showing up in Kyushu...
Posted by: anon at October 19, 2006 4:20 AMOf possible interest to Neomarxism readers:
http://www.freakonomics.com/blog/2006/10/18/an-obituary-you-probably-wont-read-elsewhere/
That dog appears to be a Kishu Inu
Thank you for that info.
Posted by: marxy at October 19, 2006 11:02 AMI hate to interrupt,but it is Kisyu,not Kyusyu.
Kisyu is an old name for what is now Wakayama pref.
Kisyu Inu or Kisyu Ken was used for wild boar
hunting in the region,and though it looks small
compare to western breeds,actually it is known
to be a mid-sized for japanese canine.(shiba is
the small-size)
The reason why JR chose a dog for Kyusyu campaign is unknown.
But Many japanese had thought that the dog belongs to Saigo Takamori,whom we all know for the statue in Ueno park with his dog,Tsun.
Saigo-san is not only historic but tourist icon for Kagoshima,where he was born when it was called Satsuma.
So imagination naturally flows like Tsun-got-lost
his-way-while-taking-a-walk-with-his-master or
something and ends up wondering all over Kyusyu
to find him.