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Every nation likes to believe their own country is the best. There`s an interesting advert on Japanese TV for a shampoo called Asience with nationalistic overtones. In my opinion the Japanese are being conned as knowing how China and Japan don`t get on so well, I think this is a Chinese company or originally a Chinese advert. Let me describe it for you.

An Asian woman is very nervous on stage about to sing a song. Then it cuts to two blond Western woman in the audience looking on with scorn. Then to save the day another Asian woman comes on to join in.

She starts by singing the words “Asian Beauty” and then proceeds to start singing in Chinese. The two Western women in the audience are so impressed they start to applaud and one suspects renounce their nationality and join the motherland.

The shampoo is very popular. We had some in our house and I used it with positive results. To tell the truth, I was surprised it didn`t react to the fact I wasn`t Asian and start to act like Holy Water on vampires. But why are they singing in Chinese and not getting lynched unless this was a Chinese advert?

The most recent one is also amusing. When asked what her secret is she replies Inner Beauty and then dances around the stage flicking her red dress in the eyes of the two disgusted blondes. Is this a metaphor for the Chinese dragon taunting America?

Follow the link for the advert. It can be found on the left sidebar of the linked page by clicking on 2004.12.20. There are two others in the series above it as well.

Technorati Tags: Japan, Osaka, Asia, Quaisi, Kansai, Expat, English, Asience, Shampoo, Advert, Commercial, Hair, Beauty, China