9/25/2005

The Times gets its “news” on Japan from me… one year late

Sexy ‘McMakeover’ for burger clown
By Adam Sherwin, Media Reporter
IS IT Ronald McDonald or Rhona? The gaudy clown who symbolises fast food has been replaced by a sleek, bikini-clad woman in Japanese advertisements in the latest attempt by the world’s biggest restaurant chain to improve its image…more…

I reported on this just about one year ago on Wed Oct 27, 2004: Ronnette Mcdonald is a hot tomato!.
This sure ain’t news.
This TV ad campaign was only broadcast in Japan last year.
Also note the clowns in The Times don’t know that Ronald Mcdonald is called “Donald” in Japan. Therefore her name would be “Donna McDonald.” Mcdonald’s Japan changed Ronald’s name to “Donald” for the Japanese market.
Why? Maybe it’s to avoid further further embarrassment. However, I think it’s “Donald/Donna McDonald”" in Japan for the same reason why a dog licks his own—-because it can.

Posted by Taro in Business News, Pop Culture | 6 Comments »

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6 Responses to “The Times gets its “news” on Japan from me… one year late”

1. Yves Says:
   September 26th, 2005 at 10:50 am

   Nice catch, Taro! I shall send an email to the Times advising them to read your 3Yen column…

2. taro Says:
   September 26th, 2005 at 1:14 pm

   The Guardian gets it, sort of.
   …The Japanese adverts, which promoted the new McGrand burger, first appeared last year…

   The Telegraph just makes up lies about “bikini-clad” “latest attempt” and “lady in question is actually a cross-dressing “metrosexual” male” —none which is true.
   Big Mac’s gender bender
   The Telegraph – Calcutta : International
   London, Sept. 25: Is it Ronald McDonald or Rhona? The gaudy clown who symbolises fast food has been replaced by a sleek, bikini-clad woman in Japanese advertisements in the latest attempt by the world’s biggest restaurant chain to improve its image.
   ….Disturbingly for the all-American Ronald, websites are speculating as to whether the lady in question is actually a cross-dressing “metrosexual” male.

   The WorldNetDaily uses a 15 year old quote from the long-dead McDonald’s Japan president, sheesh.

   WorldNetDaily:
   

   No clowning: Ronald becomes a McHottie!

   
   According to the Times, when faced with accusations that hamburgers were inimical to the country’s diet, Den Fujita, the first McDonald’s Japan president, declared: “The reason Japanese people are so short and have yellow skins is because they have eaten nothing but fish and rice for 2,000 years. If we eat McDonald’s hamburgers and potatoes for a thousand years we will become taller, our skin become white and our hair blond.”

   
   low culture is funny but off-base.
   …”McDonald’s new female Ronald McDonald, as seen in a current Japanese TV campaign [looks like] Milla Jovovich as Leeloo in Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element (1997)”

3. taro Says:
   September 28th, 2005 at 8:09 am

   McDonald’s Goes Cheesecake [Fool.com: Motley Fool Take] September 27, 2005
   McDonald’s Goes Cheesecake

   By Tim Beyers (TMF Mile High)
   September 27, 2005

   Is it the end of an era? After more than 40 years together, and just days after Demi married Ashton, it appears that Mickey D’s is about to dump Ronald. At least in Japan.

   According to BBC News, burger titan McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) has decided to experiment with new advertising in Japan that won’t feature legendary clown Ronald McDonald. In his place, apparently, will be a bikini-clad woman sporting high heels. Talk about your rebranding.

   …. anyway. Ronny just doesn’t have the cultural presence in Japan that he does here. I can understand that. But I doubt that it’ll be too long before we, too, see bathing beauties hawking salads under the Golden Arches.

   This sure ain’t news. In fact, it’s only half-assed true.

   This McDonald’s TV ad campaign was only broadcast in Japan last year—It has not shown this year. Refer to Guardian’s slightly better report which says it was broadcast last year.
   http://doiop.com/guardian-report

   There was NO “bikini-clad woman” in the ad—just a sexy dress and high heels.

   “Donald” Mcdonald statues are still in front Mcdonald’s in Japan. Yes, that’s “Donald Mcdonald.” Ronald Mcdonald is called “Donald” in Japan. Mcdonald’s Japan changed Ronald’s name to “Donald” for the Japanese market.
   Why?
   Maybe to avoid further embarrassment . However, I think he’s “Donald McDonald”” in Japan for the same reason why a dog licks his own—-because it can.

   L8r,

   “Taro”

4. Miss Free Me! Says:
   May 10th, 2006 at 1:57 pm

   Yep, The Times gets its “news” on Japan one year late and your news Taro is a lot more fun! This is just another case of another newbie reporter “discovering” Japan.

   XXXX,

   Your fan

5. virgin Says:
   May 11th, 2006 at 12:38 am

   After reading this u must write another article.

6. forceable Says:
   May 31st, 2006 at 10:45 pm

   Your article makes interest to the problem.

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