Tarako song and dance

October 28, 2006 on 1:30 pm | In Culture, Food, Media | | Email This Post

There is a company in Japan called キューピー “Cupie” which makes a mayonnaise. The image character for this mayonnaise… is TARAKO (たらこ).

※ Note, if you check the Tarako webpage the Tarako image characters will appear to close in on you, back you into a corner, and follow your mouse around the screen. Do not panic. No harm will come to you.

Tarako is a pod-like red thing with an eerie cute baby face.

If you ask me, Tarako looks like something that would appear in a psychedelic nightmare after studying a bit too much Kanji in one day.

To make it worse…

This song and video on YouTube is the promotion video for Tarako.

The song sounds like it should be in a Tim Burton movie. Happy… Yet… Some how creepy and forboding… If you can understand the lyrics. Please read them. In fact. I’m going to post the translation soon.

Memorize them, and sing the theme song while walking down the street to amaze (and probably creep out) Japanese around you.

I’m sure this song is also available in Karaoke booths, so practice and bust a move!

If you can memorize the dance… Impressive.

Most Impressive…

Ominous even.

You can download you Tarako wallpaper here. I’m using it. You should too. If you haven’t had enough, there are more Tarako commercials available on the official website as well.

- Harvey

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Related Posts... (in theory)   Tarako Revisited    Tarako song explained    Japanese TV Commercials  

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12 Comments »

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  1. Gravatar

    確かに強烈。たらこの歌。一度聴くと頭から離れなくなる。

    That’s advertising!

    Comment by nory — October 28, 2006 #

  2. Gravatar

    That’s brutal!

    Comment by harvey — October 29, 2006 #

  3. Gravatar

    I always figured that mascot was based on Kewpie Dolls.

    Eagerly awaiting your translation of that bizarro song!

    Comment by Heather Meadows — October 29, 2006 #

  4. Gravatar

    You’re right Heather, that is based on Kewpie dolls.
    Why did you know about Kewpie dolls? Are they fairly well known in the states among Japan-heads?

    I’ll get the translation within the next 7 days for sure! Probably sooner.

    Comment by harvey — October 29, 2006 #

  5. Gravatar

    You use the wallpaper!!!

    maybe it is time for a vacation…

    no seriously.

    Comment by zen — October 30, 2006 #

  6. Gravatar

    Hi Harvey,
    About a month ago I contacted you randomly through yahoo’s FSWE website and asked for your advice about going to study or work in Japan or China. You told me that it is easy to teach English in China, so I just wanted to let you know that that is what I am doing now. I am in Jilin province in China (former Manchuria….where the Japanese invaded) I’m having a great time, so thank you so much for your advice. Your website is AWESOME and I hope to make one to be its equal in the near future. I will let you know….we can compare notes!! lol. Sadly, yes, people here do not like the Japanese. It would be interesting to compare the versions of the historical facts together…hmmm…I’ll let you know when I set up a website for China. Maybe I will never go home…lovin’ it here tooo much. :)
    Jacqueline

    Comment by Jacqueline — October 31, 2006 #

  7. Gravatar

    Wow. I love the internet. I’ll be in touch with you via email Jacqueline!

    Comment by harvey — October 31, 2006 #

  8. Gravatar

    That thing reminds me of Seaman (Sega Dreamcast).

    Comment by Roger — November 1, 2006 #

  9. Gravatar

    Harvey,

    I don’t know if Kewpie dolls are popular now, but my aunt had a whole bunch of them when I was growing up.

    Comment by Heather Meadows — November 1, 2006 #

  10. Gravatar

    [...] Recent Posts: Osakayaki Yokohama Customs Office Tell me your favorite Japanese Movies Kitty Sponge Cake Chocolate Banana Tarako song and dance Japanese Mind Games Beer Dumping Wedding Not so useful Japanese Lesson 1 - Abduct North Korean News [...]

    Pingback by » 2006 » November » 14 — November 12, 2006 #

  11. Gravatar

    [...] This is for everyone who has succeeded in getting Tarako out of their heads already. [...]

    Pingback by » Tarako Revisited — November 20, 2006 #

  12. Gravatar

    Here’s the translation of the song:

    I would jog and I’d start rowing,
    Every day you’d see me going to the park and to the gym
    I’d go drinking in the pub and every evening I’d go clubbing
    If I only had some limbs
    I would learn to play the trumpet
    ‘Cause just sitting on my stump it tends to make my life quite grim
    I’m content but I’d be more so if I wasn’t just a torso
    If I only had some limbs

    Oh I just sit and cry, a quadruple amputee
    I just hang around all day and watch TV
    But that’s the life of quadriplegics

    I’d play cards and I’d play scrabble,
    Not just spend my days imagining a life where I had shins
    Cos I’ve never had a date, hell I can’t even masturbate
    Oh if I only had some limbs

    (I’m kidding, this is from ‘Snippets’ by Amateur Transplants.
    I was reminded of the song the moment I saw the first
    picture above; these Tarakos somehow look quite depserate.)

    Comment by nex — December 22, 2006 #

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