Japanese JR Ad: Your opinion please. [Archive]

Emoni

May 13, 2006, 18:22

shocked because of they have the train in the building? or the bad design that the train is in the building, because there was no space above it. where else should they have put the train? in the woman? I understand the add, but they should have chosen a different design *company lol*

Where should they have put the train you ask? Well... they could have put it on a train track. Why would NiceGaijin be "shocked" by the bad design, and not that it is about to ram into the Shinjuku Government building?

JR Guy #1: "Dude! Where should we put the train?"
JR Guy #2: "Um... dunno."
JR Guy #1: "I KNOW!!! Lets put it in the sky! That would cool!"
JR Guy #2: "Wow! Ya! And we could have it screaming towards a government building!"
JR Guy #1: "Wow... that is even better! We are SOOO getting to go home before 11:30pm tonight!"

Anyway, putting the train on the ground might have been a slightly better idea...

nice gaijin

May 13, 2006, 18:26

not taking into consideration any design concerns, I found it shocking.

Where should they have put the train you ask? Well... they could have put it on a train track. Why would NiceGaijin be "shocked" by the bad design, and not that it is about to ram into the Shinjuku Government building?
JR Guy #1: "Dude! Where should we put the train?"
JR Guy #2: "Um... dunno."
JR Guy #1: "I KNOW!!! Lets put it in the sky! That would cool!"
JR Guy #2: "Wow! Ya! And we could have it screaming towards a government building!"
JR Guy #1: "Wow... that is even better! We are SOOO getting to go home before 11:30pm tonight!"
Anyway, putting the train on the ground might have been a slightly better idea...
a building with two towers, to say the least.

Dutch Baka

May 13, 2006, 18:29

The JR train shows that you can go to this place! the building resembles this place * Tokyo? you can go to Tokyo with the train... IT DOES NOT RAM IN THE BUILDING, it is INFRONT OF the building. imagine a train track... with the train .. where do you put the building that resembles Tokyo? I don't think that the makers made it with the thinking of 9/11...

Emoni

May 13, 2006, 18:38

Of course they didn't make it thinking of 9/11. I never said anything of the sort, so please do not imply that I did. No it doesn't ram the building, but it is flying directly towards the building.

You haven't been to Japan in that region probably, but the building is the Shinjuku government building in Shinjuku Tokyo. It is one of the most famous buildings in Tokyo. As Nice Gaijin pointed out there are two towers. There are few buildings in Tokyo that have exactly two distinct towers that are that size. A couple exist but none as distinct as this building.

The similarity speaks for itself, for anyone who is aware of this event in America and has seen the 9/11 pictures. This thread was posted because I was curious if Japanese posters would see the similarity themselves, as friends of mine either saw it immediately or did not without being given hints. With one the most major rail transportation company in Japan making an ad like this while at the same time JR's most recent promotion for Americans to visit areas of... do I really need to continue further?

nice gaijin

May 13, 2006, 18:38

of course they didn't make it with 9/11 in mind, but it DOES evoke such an image. Unintended messages are still messages, and it's up to marketing editors to catch stuff like this.

Dutch Baka

May 13, 2006, 19:58

I don't understand the fuz about it, but yeah.

Elizabeth

May 13, 2006, 21:01

I don't understand the fuz about it, but yeah.
I don't think it's particularly insensitive either. The whole point is to make taking the Tohoku shinkansen into a spectacular experience, similar to what you would get with a plane with a distinctive design backdrop over Tokyo for a lasting impression. The buildings look half-animated, anyway, and it is clearly headed in front not into the side.

Mike Cash

May 13, 2006, 21:41

JimmySeal

May 13, 2006, 21:55

I agree with Nice Gaijin's last comment. It's obviously not headed for the buildings but it does evoke such an image. They could have picked a distincive Tokyo backdrop with shorter buildings or the same buildings with the train over them. Or they could have had the same picture and put the train on a track.
JR Guy #1: "Wow... that is even better! We are SOOO getting to go home before 11:30pm tonight!"
I burst out laughing when I read this.

Blututh

May 13, 2006, 22:27

I'm a native american and I didn't even notice the reference to 9/11 until I read some posts.

Emoni

May 13, 2006, 22:44

I agree with Nice Gaijin's last comment. It's obviously not headed for the buildings but it does evoke such an image.

Yes, it does evoke a scene of 9/11. It has some strong similiarities, very strong. Keep in mind this is right next to an ad campaign to bring more Americans to Japan. Just horrible ad planning if you ask me.
Curious as to the responses of the poll so far. What I am most curious is the opinion of the (remaining) Japanese posters on this board and what they think of the poster. So far, some Japanese friends of mine see the 9/11'ishness, and for some it doesn't cross their mind. Which is most like the case of the JR advertisement team.

Emoni

May 13, 2006, 22:53

I drive by the thing about 12 times a week. The train is "flying" parallel to the building and couldn't possibly hit it. It would have to be coming in at an angle in order to hit the building.

You are misunderstanding this poll and post.

The exact angle of impact is not the point of this post. It is the image and the advertisement itself.

If you want to get SUPER technical, you can say that it is possible to hit the second tower of the building considering that the picture as taken at an extremely slight angle, thus it is possible for the oversized train to hit the second tower. Of course, then you can argue that the shear size of the train shows that it is far enough away from the building. Oh, but wait! You can then point out that TRAINS DON'T FLY. Thus destroying the argument. Finally you can end it with the classes Internet rebuttal and just say "JR so Photoshopped it dude!"

Come on guys...

I think Nice Gaijin explained it best when he mentioned the statement of evoking the image of 9/11. This is what the poll is about, if this sort of image is seen or not, and by who.

pipokun

May 13, 2006, 22:56

How many American women eat humbergers while they wash their cars...

JimmySeal

May 13, 2006, 23:08

How many American women eat humbergers while they wash their cars...
As far as I know, just one. But Paris Hilton does a lot of weird things. What's your point?

yukio_michael

May 13, 2006, 23:08

The first thing I thought when I saw that ad, was that plane has no wings...

Carlson

May 13, 2006, 23:15

Its the Tokyo Goverment Building its soposed to transform into a robot and protect Tokyo. or so some Japanese think.

the train really doesnt bother me at all.

heliobacter

May 13, 2006, 23:24

The first thing I thought when I saw that ad, was that plane has no wings...
same here! i'm no american, but the first thing i thought of when seeing this ad was 9/11

Mike Cash

May 13, 2006, 23:32

You are misunderstanding this poll and post.
The exact angle of impact is not the point of this post. It is the image and the advertisement itself.
If you want to get SUPER technical, you can say that it is possible to hit the second tower of the building considering that the picture as taken at an extremely slight angle, thus it is possible for the oversized train to hit the second tower. Of course, then you can argue that the shear size of the train shows that it is far enough away from the building. Oh, but wait! You can then point out that TRAINS DON'T FLY. Thus destroying the argument. Finally you can end it with the classes Internet rebuttal and just say "JR so Photoshopped it dude!"
Come on guys...
I think Nice Gaijin explained it best when he mentioned the statement of evoking the image of 9/11. This is what the poll is about, if this sort of image is seen or not, and by who.

Did you want people's honest impressions of the poster? Or did you want everyone to just see it the way you do and express agreement?

I wasn't trying to be super technical. Based on familiarity with that building and the way the train is positioned, it didn't (still doesn't) look to me like it is going to hit the building. I never got that impression at all, and as per your request in the initial post, I spent quite a while looking at it trying to figure out what was objectionable about it. I didn't see anything wrong with it.

I wish I had known there was some sort of party line I was expected to toe in this thread.

DoctorP

May 13, 2006, 23:50

I don't see the big deal. First off, the buildings look nothing like the towers in New York. Second the train doesn't hit the buildings. It is just alluding to the fact that their train "flies" and will get you there quickly. No need to drive. What's the big deal? Is it a pleasant design? No...I find it quite cluttered, but what the hell do I know?

Emoni

May 14, 2006, 00:12

Did you want people's honest impressions of the poster? Or did you want everyone to just see it the way you do and express agreement?

I never said that anywhere. The purpose of this thread (again) is to see how (if possible on a forum board) the thoughts of this ad are seperated.

I never got that impression at all, and as per your request in the initial post, I spent quite a while looking at it trying to figure out what was objectionable about it. I didn't see anything wrong with it.

And this is exactly what this poll was here to test. Nothing more than that.

ArmandV

May 14, 2006, 00:21

The train is obviously in the foreground and passing the buildings (one is already being passed by). I find nothing objectionable about it. It would be a different story if the camera were positioned on top of the train looking forward and the nose of the train is aimed at the buildings.

mad pierrot

May 14, 2006, 00:48

Man, I was wa-a-a-a-y off.

The first thing that came to my mind was, "Gee, does that look kinda phallic?"

Mike Cash

May 14, 2006, 00:56

I never said that anywhere. The purpose of this thread (again) is to see how (if possible on a forum board) the thoughts of this ad are seperated.

And this is exactly what this poll was here to test. Nothing more than that.

Okey-dokey.

Put me down for "didn't make the connection". I can see how others did make the connection, though.

Dutch Baka

May 14, 2006, 00:59

lol funny thread, heaps of attention in one day!

guess we are taking things to serious sometimes hahahaha

ArmandV

May 14, 2006, 01:17

Man, I was wa-a-a-a-y off.
The first thing that came to my mind was, "Gee, does that look kinda phallic?"

Hmmm, I didn't think of that. But I do see your point (no pun intended).

Elizabeth

May 14, 2006, 01:17

Its the Tokyo Goverment Building its soposed to transform into a robot and protect Tokyo. or so some Japanese think.
the train really doesnt bother me at all.
Robotic/animated/cartoon-like are all good descriptions. :D That's why I couldn't stop looking into its "eyes" on the screen of the buildings staring at that thing in the sky like it had never seen a flying train. :p

Numark

May 14, 2006, 01:18

Mike Cash

May 14, 2006, 02:03

Such ignorance is more to be pitied than censured.

breez

May 14, 2006, 04:47

Man, I was wa-a-a-a-y off.
The first thing that came to my mind was, "Gee, does that look kinda phallic?"

:p Haha, same here! Voted for "not disturbing" anyway.

Elizabeth

May 14, 2006, 06:00

oh come on! I can definatley see how it could be taken that way, but heres my two cents.
I'm an american and I am damn sicka 9/11. seriously, so our sh*t got bombed. welcome to the lives of the rest of the world and stop crying your pants off about it, this "tragedy" means absolutely nothing on a world scale, so don't expect others to tread lightly whenever anything has a possible reference to 9/11.
Absolutely most of the rest of the world has their problems more pressing than 9/11 was for America. It certainly has had major consequences on the world stage that are being played out every day, you'd have to be living under a rock not to notice that. And if overly 'sensitive' means not making an ad campaign depicting terrorism, that looks like a pretty smart business decision from my perspective. You obviously have very little insight into the nationalistic feelings this would have brought out in the Japanese had it actually happened to the two buildings in Shinjuku. :okashii:

Not that this was necessarily the same ignorance Mike had in mind...I'm sure there's still a sufficient amount more that could be added. :relief:

Uncle Frank

May 14, 2006, 06:19

the ad designers were being clever. You want people to notice your ad , talk about it, and maybe remember it. Seems like it worked?

Frank

:blush:

Dutch Baka

May 14, 2006, 07:29

well, it's working for people who are thinking a little bit too far....:okashii:

inertia

May 14, 2006, 09:48

I'm an American from New York City, and was living there on 9/11. My initial impression of the poster: that the train was simply zooming past the buildings on the way somewhere. Trying to find something "wrong" with the image, I thought it might be a little phallic. But I see absolutely no visual resemblance to the images of the planes hitting the Twin Towers. The proportion of train size to building size is completely different.

Mars Man

May 14, 2006, 10:37

Firstly, I voted along with the largest group. Secondly, this is exactly the kind of material psychiatrists and psychologists use in determining brain states. Thirdly how I see it:

乗り込もう！　　Well, the Japanese suggests that we get on it and ride it into some location. Of course this is phallic in sub-conscious sublimity. Most every male brain wants to 'mount' and 'ride'. So you guys that saw the phallic first, are real he men !! :p :p

NO...really I'm just in a crazy mood this morning...that's what happens when one attempts to answer to ELECTRIC JAPAN first thing in the morning before looking at any other posts. . .

Mike was right on. Frank was too. And a number of other posts were on the money too. I have enjoyed reading all the comments. Regardless of associations or patterns that ones brain fires up originally, thinking, analyzing is important. The ad is fine.:relief:

misa.j

May 14, 2006, 11:02

I am disturbed by the ad. There is no way something like that poster can be hanging on trains in the US. It brings the image I saw on TV right back to me.

9/11 is not past for some people. I think the ad is offensive and extremely wrong.

Emoni

May 14, 2006, 12:26

I'm an American from New York City, and was living there on 9/11. But I see absolutely no visual resemblance to the images of the planes hitting the Twin Towers.

This post I almost find hard to believe... I can't see a poster like this being put in New York and lasting a day without many many complaints. To say there is "absolutely NO visual resemblance" is really stretching it, even if you voted that the image was mostly acceptable.

Results are interesting, and friend of mine has asked a few other Japanese friends of his and they are seeing the similarities right away. I expected it actually to be reverse between Japan and outsiders and what their reactions to the pictures. It is a bit confusing to me why people are focusing on small details rather than just the overall image.

Nicky

May 14, 2006, 13:32

I don't see anything wrong with the poster. Before reading the replies I didn't see any resemblance to 9/11.

Bucko

May 14, 2006, 14:16

Dutch Baka

May 14, 2006, 16:05

The ad is a non-issue. Why you would bother to make a post about it in the first place, however, is quite an issue. Maybe we should redirect the course of this post to how the American national psyche affects the overall direction of American foreign policy?

LoL, I was thinking about that too :blush:

nice gaijin

May 14, 2006, 16:19

I think you're being awfully harsh on the OP; the symbolism is there if you are open to notice it. The images of those planes flying into the WTC have been engrained in the memories of those unfortunate enough to be in front of a TV to witness the events live or in the countless replays thereafter. I suppose it's possible to see that image in any number of places, but when I saw this ad it immediately came to mind. The angle and scale might not be right, but the basic elements are there, and at first glance, they were glaring [to me].

I would expect a "world revolves around America" mindset to be accompanied by a sense of outrage, which I can't say I'm experiencing. I have, however, witnessed this sense of outrage when I showed it to a few Japanese friends who immediately saw the anomaly in question, none of whom were in the US when the attacks happened; I certainly wouldn't call their views America-centric. I'm more than willing to bet that not only wasn't the ad made to spark debate, but that it is a completely unintended message. One might expect the intended audience of Japanese citizens to completely overlook the accidentally encoded symbol, as did the advertisement's designers, but interestingly enough, the ratio of Japanese citizens seeing said symbol in the ad is much higher than that of non-Japanese citizens. I think that is what makes this thread interesting, and it has nothing to do with the American psyche, nor its foreign policy.

mad pierrot

May 14, 2006, 16:42

Let's look at it this way: people who have experienced traumatic events will tend to associate familiar feelings when faced with something similiar. 9-11 was a seriously traumatic event. So, while the JR poster might not mean much to some of us, it obviously has BIG implications for someone tramatized by those events.

Can you imagine a tourist poster for auschwitz showing a blonde haired cook putting some bread in an oven? Not exactly the same, but you get my point.

Emoni

May 14, 2006, 17:11

Typical "the world revolves around America" thinking. The ad is in Japan, which, last time I checked, wasn't a part of America, so who cares? You could take just about any image and associate it with some shocking event in world history.

The ad is a non-issue. Why you would bother to make a post about it in the first place, however, is quite an issue. Maybe we should redirect the course of this post to how the American national psyche affects the overall direction of American foreign policy?

Wow, where are you getting this from? To imply me and this post is somehow a representation of nationalistism... entirely deviates from the topic of this post. My area of study actually IS Japan, so I find material and posters like this very interesting when it is related to the current travel and trade relations between America and Japan.

Let me state, yet again, the purpose of this post was to rate the difference between Non-Japanese, and Japanese seeing the relation or similarity in the poster to the 9/11 events. Nothing else.

As Nice Gaijin stated, the difference between American's seeing the similarity and Japanese seeing the similarity has proven to be a bit of a surprise. Both me and Nice Gaijin know a decent number of friends who are Japanese. Both who have been to America and those who have not. Most Japanese quickly see the similarity, and actually have personally emailed JR to warn them. Also be aware that JR is currently running a strong campaign to bring Americans to visit Japan, and the regions that they have this poster up! Of course not everyone is going to see the similarties, but for some people the similarity is very strong (although clearly not on purpose). Still this is very ironic.

Mad Pierrot made a very good point that it does matter the background of those who view the poster. However, what I find interesting (and something that completely shoots a hole in the entire mention of nationalistic American posters) is the fact that of those I have heard from, Japanese people are seeing the similarity much more than Americans. Of course, many Americans still see it as well. The ratio is different though, and many more do not see it than I expected.

Still, I wonder how this got out of JR's office. Especially with such a focus now to bring in Americans.

Why you would bother to make a post about it in the first place, however, is quite an issue. Maybe we should redirect the course of this post to how the American national psyche affects the overall direction of American foreign policy?

LoL, I was thinking about that too :blush:

On a side note, I do have to say I'm very disapointed to see a JRef Moderator posting mostly snide side comments, and supporting this sort of reply to a post that was made seriously and sincerely. Then going further to support that everyone divert and highjack the thread to an entirely more extreme topic of nationalism.

Dutch Baka

May 14, 2006, 17:25

On a side note, I do have to say I'm very disapointed to see a JRef Moderator posting mostly snide side comments, and supporting this sort of reply to a post that was made seriously and sincerely. Then going further to support that everyone divert and highjack the thread to an entirely more extreme topic of nationalism.
to bad you feel disapointed to see this, in my opinion and I think together with a lot of people *see poll result* you take this add to serious. And I did had some side comments*beside my non-side comments*, and sorry if that disapointed you!

last post in this thread.

Emoni

May 14, 2006, 17:43

... I posted a poll on the Internet. Not sure how that is taking an issue far too seriously. That wasn't even part of the poll either. Again, I was only interested how the results would be split between nationalities. That is the purpose of this poll.

Can we go back to the actual topic now? No more snide or trolling comments and telling posters they shouldn't bother posting or support for changing the topic mid-thread, and instead keep the actual discussion on topic?

It was actually interesting for a while with some of the results that were showing up.

Bucko

May 14, 2006, 18:05

I have no problem with Americans seeing the poster in this way, but to claim that it's "shocking" or "insensitive" or whatever is arrogant and mildly insulting.

And you arguement about JR trying to boost American tourists is also irrelevant. This poster has nothing to do with that campaign, nor is it in English, nor will any tourist likely understand the meaning of it.

nice gaijin

May 14, 2006, 18:17

This poster has nothing to do with that campaign, nor is it in English, nor will any tourist likely understand the meaning of it.
except, perhaps, for the imagery in question?

mad pierrot

May 14, 2006, 18:18

This is subjective; think of the poster as a big ink blot test.

Even if you disagree with someone, do so respectfully.

Bucko

May 14, 2006, 18:24

except, perhaps, for the imagery in question?

Maybe it's just me, but I can't seem to see any link between a train, a building, a woman and appealing to American tourists.

Emoni

May 14, 2006, 18:40

Maybe it's just me, but I can't seem to see any link between a train, a building, a woman and appealing to American tourists.

You do realize that this poster isn't part of the American Tourist campaign right? That and the fact it is in Japanese? This poster was next to the ones to bring tourists to America, along with the others that are put up to bring them to visit the Tohoku region. If you truly are in Japan like your flag icon indicates, then you would most likely have seen some of the campaign ads that were all over during Golden Week in many areas around Japanese train stations.

Pretty much, you have an American coming to visit Japan, and then a poster in English to come visit Tohoku, with a picture (with text they most likely can't read) that resembles an image of 9/11. This is just not a good idea, even if you don't find it offensive.

Mike Cash

May 14, 2006, 18:45

Pretty much, you have an American coming to visit Japan, and then a poster in English to come visit Tohoku, with a picture (with text they most likely can't read) that resembles an image of 9/11. This is just not a good idea, even if you don't find it offensive.

Just for the sake of accuracy....

The poster is to promote tourism to Tokyo, not the Tohoku region.

Emoni

May 14, 2006, 18:52

Just for the sake of accuracy....
The poster is to promote tourism to Tokyo, not the Tohoku region.

Speaking of accuracy... Which poster are you talking about? This poster here is for Tokyo clearly. The other advertisements is for Tohoku as well as other areas as well. Not just Tokyo.

Mike Cash

May 14, 2006, 19:12

Speaking of accuracy... Which poster are you talking about? This poster here is for Tokyo clearly. The other advertisements is for Tohoku as well as other areas as well. Not just Tokyo.

I'm just going by what you said in the portion that I quoted.

You mentioned a poster for Tohoku, containing the imagery we've been discussing.

Also, regarding your reply to Bucko, one can truly be in Japan and not have occasion to enter a train station. The last time I took a train was last October and I took the train then more for the change-of-pace novelty value than for economy or practicality, for either of which a car would have won out.

Ewok85

May 14, 2006, 19:19

Doesnt look the least bit like 9/11, sounds like someone making a mountain out of an imaginary molehill...

If you dont like it, write a nice letter to JR and point it out, but I've seen far worse.

RockLee

May 14, 2006, 19:20

The first thing I noticed, was that the plane was flying, and there were no railtracks !!! :silly:

It seems some of the Americans think everything should be related directly to them. IMHO I think it's better for a train to be up in the air as there is limited space on the ground.

Elizabeth

May 14, 2006, 19:26

Speaking of accuracy... Which poster are you talking about? This poster here is for Tokyo clearly. The other advertisements is for Tohoku as well as other areas as well. Not just Tokyo.
And how does where these posters are for, whether the Tohoku ones (assuming different imagary) are next to Tokyo, even what language they are in bear on the point of resemblance to 9/11 to Americans ? :?

heliobacter

May 14, 2006, 19:44

It seems some of the Americans think everything should be related directly to them. IMHO I think it's better for a train to be up in the air as there is limited space on the ground.
IMHO seeing the similarity isn't a question of nationality.
some posters here tend to generalize a lil bit IMO

This is subjective; think of the poster as a big ink blot test.
Even if you disagree with someone, do so respectfully.

word! nuff said

Emoni

May 14, 2006, 19:47

RockLee

May 14, 2006, 20:07

I don't know, but I didn't even saw similarities, guess it's because I ain't American :?

Emoni

May 14, 2006, 20:11

No, it isn't because of that. It seems to be more similar to the "ink blot" comment that Mad Pierrot mentioned.

What the poll has showed (and me and Nice Gaijin talking with Japanese friends we know) is that it does NOT depend on the country for seeing the similarity. We expected it would, but it doesn't seem to at all. Some of the people (Americans) on this board don't see the similarity AT ALL (which I actually find almost hard to believe). Yet, many Japanese that I have talked to and shown the ad reacted quite quickly that it looked like 9/11. Only a couple didn't see it.

pipokun

May 14, 2006, 20:12

Do your friends know where you are from, Emoni and Nice Gaijin?
I think your friends showed their consideration.

For Japanese living in rural parts of Japan, Tokyo has much bigger image, of course there are super anti-Tokyo people, though.
Shinkansen is a kind of their dearest dream for some people, actually my mother is from Niigata and said to me how appreciated she was when shinkansen's operation started.
And the Galaxy Express 999.

Emoni

May 14, 2006, 20:19

I considered the fact of consideration, but their reactions were fairly direct. One person I simply showed the picture and he reacted that it looked EXACTLY like 9/11. This was the strongest reaction I got, the rest were kind of "Wow, I can't believe they would make that ad..." sorts of reactions.

Considering the number of people I have asked, and the sorts of reactions. The "just being nice" factor I don't believe is a part of this as all. However, I do think that it is going to depend on factors such as if they have studied abroad in America maybe, or where they live in Japan. Of course, that is a bit more beyond an Internet poll and I don't really have time to check on all that info.

Elizabeth

May 14, 2006, 20:27

Because there is quite an ironic flaw in having these two advertisement campaigns next to each other; one to bring in Americans to Japan, and another which can be seen as a similar to almost a "Japanese" version of the New York attack.
There is a great deal of irony for those who see the similarity, and this almost amplifies the effect in some ways.
OK, I assumed the bring Americans to Japan campaign was targeted here in the states and that once there, you were talking about English-language signs for various locales within the country next to this potentially offensive one.

I'll try to take closer notice in two weeks on the next visit to both Tokyo and Tohoku....:relief:

Dutch Baka

May 14, 2006, 20:32

Guess it was not my last post :relief:
So how about you send an email to JR Japan, with the qeustion about this advertisement? Maybe they can give you an explenation for the train in the air.

http://www.japanrail.com/JR_contactinfo.html
or contact the Japan National Tourist Organization (http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/contact/index.html)?

let us know if you hear anything from them...

* is this off topic or what :p

Emoni

May 14, 2006, 20:37

No that actually is on topic, but I already did that yesterday.

Actually a few people seem to have already beaten me to that; Japanese that saw the ad. Which was a bit of surprise to me.

Dutch Baka

May 14, 2006, 20:40

and they, and you are still waiting for the reply?

Emoni

May 14, 2006, 20:42

Considering I didn't mention a reply... yes waiting. We just sent it last night (Japan time last night) However, since "some posters" believe this topic is pointless, I'm surprised to now hear an interest in a response from JR.

With some of the out and out rude responses, and "less than kind" reception that I have gotten from some people on this thread just over this poll, I am tempted to not even bother posting it and to just say to email them yourselves if you are interested. However, if I get a response I'll consider posting it.

Dutch Baka

May 14, 2006, 20:58

Trying to be nice, to get back to the topic with serious questions...

You better be posting it hahaha, that's what this thread is about right?

Emoni

May 14, 2006, 21:12

Trying and being are two very different concepts.

College classes start up again tomorrow, my week will be extremely busy. This post was a poll to see how opinions were divided and why. If I DO get a response I may post it here, although I have no idea what that response might be. Considering the mentality of some of the posters on this topic so far, I am finding it hard to really care about posting any company emails or not when they would most likely just be used to bicker more about who knows what considering the behavior shown so far on this thread.

We'll see. No response yet anyway.

DoctorP

May 14, 2006, 21:32

Look, you asked for opinions and that is what you got. Everyone is not going to agree on everything. I personally didn't see it as such a big deal. You and some of the others obviously do. You are entitled to that opinion.

Kinsao

May 15, 2006, 18:52

I'm not American but as soon as I saw the ad I thought of 9/11 simply because it had 2 tall buildings on it. :bluush: I thought 'hmmm is that not a little tasteless?' Of course, I can see clearly that the train isn't actually crashing into the buildings and is unlikely to do so (without getting into geometry calculations! -_-). But if these buildings are well known landmark for the area, I can fully understand the poster, I think it was an unintentional thing and there's no point to becoming 'offended' by the image.

pipokun

May 15, 2006, 19:37

I'd like to see the another poster next to the poster you posted here, Welcome to Tohoku or Tono. It is nice if the photo includes both of them.

Tsuyoiko

May 15, 2006, 21:11

The first thing I thought when I saw that ad, was that plane has no wings...That is exactly what I thought. My initial reaction was that it was some sort of sick joke. After reading some posts it seems possible that the designers never saw the connection, but I think it's more likely that Frank is right - it is probably an advertising ploy. I will be interested to hear the response to your e-mail Emoni.

btw, I'm not American :blush:

Emoni

May 16, 2006, 20:19

Alright, last night I got an email from JR. I had to think about it a bit before posting on it. I WILL NOT be posting the original email I recieved, as it was a surprisingly candid and honest email. It impressed me to a great deal, and as I know for a fact that this ad was not made on purpose and the response I got, I am going to keep the original email private. You can think whatever you want about this, but I will not be changing my mind. I hope you understand.

I will give a short summary of the reply for the most part. I was quite impressed by the email actually.

After seeing the picture I forwarded in the email and the explaination, they agreed completely that it brought to mind and reminded people of the 9/11 attack, and even admitted that it was clearly a careless mistake and that the main office would be notified. Apparently, it was from the JR office in New York as well.

Airth

May 17, 2006, 01:45

I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't understand why you have decided not to post the response. Are you saying if the reply had been guarded and dishonest you would have posted it?
Anyway for what it's worth, I saw the connection with 9/11 almost straight away and also felt it was in poor taste. And going back to the original response, I also thought the design team needs a good shake up.

heliobacter

May 17, 2006, 01:59

i'm REALLY interested in that response!

could you send it as a private message? :o

RockLee

May 17, 2006, 02:07

Alright, last night I got an email from JR. I had to think about it a bit before posting on it. I WILL NOT be posting the original email I recieved, as it was a surprisingly candid and honest email. It impressed me to a great deal, and as I know for a fact that this ad was not made on purpose and the response I got, I am going to keep the original email private. You can think whatever you want about this, but I will not be changing my mind. I hope you understand.
I will give a short summary of the reply for the most part. I was quite impressed by the email actually.
After seeing the picture I forwarded in the email and the explaination, they agreed completely that it brought to mind and reminded people of the 9/11 attack, and even admitted that it was clearly a careless mistake and that the main office would be notified. Apparently, it was from the JR office in New York as well.Thank you for sharing. I guess :?

nice gaijin

May 17, 2006, 02:14

I've read the entire e-mail. It's not much longer than the summary emoni posted, and that's pretty much exactly what it said. Emoni said that due to the impressive candidness of the response, he would not want the message to be traced back to that individual somehow and get them in trouble. I'm not so sure that it would be traceable, or that the person would care (any e-mail sent on the behalf of the company to a customer should be public record). But that's his perogative.

I have to admit, I was also impressed by the "real" response; my friends who sent in e-mails in Japanese received canned responses to the effect of "Thanks for your inquiry, we'll get back to you on that."

Airth

May 17, 2006, 10:26

OK, nice gaijin, that's fair enough. Thank you for filling in the missing details.

Emoni

May 17, 2006, 12:05

I actually just got yet another email from JR, this one from the main JR office. This one explained that the ad was a mistake, and said that they would be removing all of the posters this month. They said that they did not have the intention of reminding someone of 9/11 and applogized and thanked me for letting them know about the situation, twice.

Talk about a customer service center... Not only did the NY reply back with a nice email. The main office in Japan took their time to do all of this, then reply personal back again from their own office about the issue all typed by a HUMAN BEING. No auto computer responses.. I've never seen customer service this serious, even in during the time I've been in Japan.

Thought I would post this as well. Yes, the reason Nice Gaijin explained is the reason I did not post the original emails. For a company to have service like this and put so much effort, I want to keep the actual emails private.

DoctorP

May 17, 2006, 14:06

glad that you are happy, but seems to me that your reason for not posting would be an even better reason to post! Praise them by putting them on display, but...to each his own.

Mike Cash

May 17, 2006, 17:50

I'm a very firm believer in treating even the most innocuous e-mail correspondence with the greatest of confidentiality, unless I have either asked permission to share or have mentioned that I intended to make public any reply I receive.

While I can't imagine any possible negative repercussions to JR or anyone associated with JR from making public the content of the mail, I find it damned refreshing and admirable that Emoni is keeping them (largely) confidential.

nurizeko

Aug 16, 2006, 03:28

I think the ad is offensive and extremely wrong.

Fortunately, and in all due respect, Japan isnt here to cater to the over-sensitive "insulted" foreigners.

You choose to see 9/11 where there is a flying train flying quite forward of the buildings which dont look like giant huge rectangular blocks in the sky
And you choose to find the harmless image of a flying train with the coincedental Japanese landmark in the background to stir up national pride in the sense "if your true japanese you'll use this train" or "use this train to see famous japanese places" as an unforgivable stab at the victims of 9/11, or even just a stab at your fragile ego, who knows.

The point is that in the long term, an actual image of a plane smashing into two huge american sky-scrapers makes me think of 9/11 more then a train "flying" past a japanese building, in the background, call me wierd.

The images of those planes flying into the WTC have been engrained in the memories of those unfortunate enough to be in front of a TV to witness the events live or in the countless replays thereafter.

I saw the second strike live, I felt the emotion and tension and chaos as a tangible energy through the screen.

It still looks like a flying train infront of a building to me.

I guess I can see how it could look like it with a bit of imagination, but when I return to reality its still just a flying train infront of a background building again.

Its nice to see JR cared enough to respond personally, its all to easy to just disregard random complaints as over-sensitivity, and they say Japanese dislike foreigners, they obviously love you enough to want you to continue spending yen for train tickets. :blush:

shintemaster

Aug 17, 2006, 14:19

Man, I was wa-a-a-a-y off.
The first thing that came to my mind was, "Gee, does that look kinda phallic?"

Me too... What does that say about us?

Dena81

Aug 19, 2006, 03:33

I think it's a funny design but it doesn't offend me and I really don't see why it would be defending unless you just stare at it for hours on end and put that opinion in to be offending.

And I live in NJ and saw the actual damage of the WTC from my town's beach the day it happened, as well as see the WTC site after the whole matter. But...I still didn't find it offensive, I mean sure I thought for a second of how the buildings were similar but I didn't think twice about the train, especially seeing as how it's flying in front of it.

Nicholas Tse

Aug 31, 2006, 16:42

I don't think anything is wrong!:souka:

miki78

Oct 22, 2006, 14:38

ow dear that could be very sad for many people i don't think they intended to upset ayone with it

I guess it looked great in there head but didn't turn out so well

The design would be bad though without the obvious

I think the design is acsidental but shocking it took me a few secods to work out what they had done

I think to people in Japan they prob wouldn't even think of it

But to people in the west that strikes a chord

and even worse it strikes two chords if your a brit twin towers for the Americans trains for the Brits and the people of Madrid

Very very bad design