Mayo, shiso and tiny little fish sandwich

Browsing around YouTube instead of working, as you do, today I found this little gem. It's a commercial for Ajinomoto Mayonnaise, by Juzo Itami, the late, great director of the best food movie ever, Tampopo:

The actor (not sure if it's Itami himself) is talking on the phone to a friend, when he gets hungry. Still remaining on the phone (and inexplicably on his back), he scoots over to the kitchen to get white bread, mayo and chirimenjako, little semi-dried fish. He tops it off with a fresh shiso leaf, and is in heaven. The dialogue is just like the dense, obsessive dialogue in Tampopo. I'll have to give that sandwich a try one day...it is odd enough that it has to appeal only to a really curious food person.

(The second commercial is cute yet odd, like many of the best Japanese commercials.)

The actor (not sure if it's Itami himself) is talking on the phone to a friend, when he gets hungry. Still remaining on the phone (and inexplicably on his back), he scoots over to the kitchen to get white bread, mayo and chirimenjako, little semi-dried fish. He tops it off with a fresh shiso leaf, and is in heaven. The dialogue is just like the dense, obsessive dialogue in Tampopo. I'll have to give that sandwich a try one day...it is odd enough that it has to appeal only to a really curious food person.

(The second commercial is cute yet odd, like many of the best Japanese commercials.)

Submitted by maki on 2008-04-09 21:13.
Filed under:  tv offbeat movies

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Comments

yoko

9 April, 2008 - 21:35

Weird that the guy scoots on his back like that! Oh, and that crustless bread looks delicious.

I like the second commercial with the kid and the father too. (who knew elephants like cucumber and mayonnaise? ;))

SBS

10 April, 2008 - 17:21

Tampopo!Thanks for recalling the name of that movie for me! I've seen it twice on satellite tv several years ago. Would love to have it played again so I could record it. It runs in Japanese with English subtitles.

There's a wonderful saimin shop in Lihue on Kaua'i, Hamura's, that is famous for its version of the noodle soup, with vegetables and some meats. This particular saimin was developed by the Hamura family; they make their own noodles fresh daily and their own broth. In business continuously since the 1940s or 1950s, they're known all over the islands -- and by mainland travelers, too. As soon as we land and get the rental car, my husband and I always head there first. It's located off Rice Street in downtown, at the end of Kress Street. Broke da mouf!

djheydt

11 April, 2008 - 20:14

Would someone who understands Japanese (I don't) explain what the second commercial is about? Other than mayonnaise (I figured out that part)? Thanks.

maki

12 April, 2008 - 10:09

The little boy has a box on his head and is pretending to be an elephant. His father? grandfather? asks, "Mr. Elephant, would you like some cucumber? (presumably freshly picked from the veg garden.) "Mr. Elephant" says yes. Then father? grandfather? asks "would you like some mayonnaise with the cucumber? Elephant says yes. Father?grandfather? says "Is it good? If it's good, spin around." Elephant turns around saying "umye-!" (yuuuummy!) Then the boy takes off the box and you see him grinning, so happy to be eating cucumber with delicious Ajinomoto Mayonnaise.

brook

14 August, 2008 - 20:18

Tampopo! My whole family loves that movie, though we covered the kids eyes at a few parts. She's too young for 9 1/2 Weeks;). I had no idea any english speakers aside from ourselves watched it much less loved it! Nice to know we aren't the only weirdos out there(our daughter is also the only student out of 1000+- who bentos)Thanks for the support and inspiration!