Sunday, March 8, 2009   2:32 PM

We can haz coffee? Why yes, we...

By its nature the Japanese language lends itself to clever wordplay, and also excruciatingly bad puns, and the nation's marketing gurus are not afraid to make use of this characteristic with a vigour which is as enthusiastic as it is forehead-slappingly facile. Or extremely clever. Depending on your point of view.

Such as on this poster advertising coffee beverages sold in round metallic containers:

Yes We 缶

Bonus points are awarded for involving the English language.

Probably even non-Japanese speakers who are familiar with recent events in US politics could have a game stab at pronouncing the single Sino-Japanese character in this particular advertising slogan, which does in fact carry the meaning of a tubular liquid enclosure and not of a modal auxiliary verb indicating ability or potential.


Posted in Japanese
Comments
I like the Georgia Mountain Something, and the can of Fire, too!
Posted by: ed Ward | 2009-03-09 12:04
Hey Ed, long time no blog?! That's "Georgia Emerald Mountain Blend", fresh from the lofty mountain top breweries of Georgia I presume. A product of the Coca Cola company, no less.
Posted by: ThePenguin | 2009-03-09 14:25
I actually found that quite funny...
Posted by: Prometheus | 2009-03-10 03:00
Last night I went to a curry restaurant and the waiter, a Bangladeshi guy, asked where my coworkers and I were from. When we said America, he asked if we liked Obama and when we said yes, he gave us some free tea. It wasn't in a can though.
Posted by: Tom,, | 2009-03-13 22:56
@Prometheus: yes, it's actually pretty good.

@Tom: no doubt a lot of expectations are being made of Obama which he won't be able to fulfill, but as a non-American I must say that at the very least it's comforting to experience a US president who can at least talk coherently.
Posted by: ThePenguin | 2009-03-15 08:07
As a Brit-American crossbreed, may I belatedly join this post and say, that was a dang fine pun, and the best spurious use of Yes We Can ever. God bless you all. Now pass me my beer.
Posted by: Our Man in Abiko | 2009-03-16 14:15
Good heavens, you're a haafu!
Posted by: ThePenguin | 2009-03-17 02:15
Our man prefers the less charged term mogrel alien half-caste, but yes.
Posted by: Our Man in Abiko | 2009-03-17 09:42
This is actualy kinda clever I guess. At least they avoid all common "engrish mistakes".
Posted by: Mieszkania Gryfino | 2009-03-17 14:41
@Our Man: gotcha, will note for future reference.

@"Mieszkania Gryfino": almost as clever as engaging in fake dialogues to promote Polish websites.
Posted by: ThePenguin | 2009-03-17 15:20