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1. 

   It hadn’t been stuck in my head for quite a while. Now it is, just seeing it mentioned. Damn you.

   Comment by Garrett — November 15, 2006 #

2. 

   […] This guy over at Salmon Sheets has done a bang up job collecting everything and anything there is going on regarding Tarako. He even quoted my translation! Please don’t miss the Tarako Christmas version. […]

   Pingback by » Tarako Revisited — November 20, 2006 #

3. 

   Tarako tarako e ancora tarako…

   Taaarako! Taaarako!! L’altro giorno non riuscivo a togliermi dalla testa questo motivetto, ma dev’essere stato lo stesso per qualche milione di giapponesi negli ultimi mesi. Da quando cioè una famosa ditta di alimentari chiamata Q.P. (KYUPI), …

   Trackback by buroggu — November 23, 2006 #

4. 

   […] The song from this pasta sauce commercial became a major hit in Japan, spawning a CD release and music videos featuring the elementary school girls who sang the song. They’ve even got a Christmas version of their song! [An English explanation of the lyrics] […]

   Pingback by Japan Probe -Japan News & Culture Blog » Blog Archive » The First Annual Japan Probe Awards For Excellence In The Field of Japanese Commercials — December 22, 2006 #

5. 

   En mi web comerJapones.com he traducido la canción de Tarako en castellano, junto con la transcripción fonética en japonés.

   Comment by comerJapones.com — April 11, 2007 #

6. 

   Many English speakers, myself included, don’t realize the first few times they hear 「スイッチ」 that it’s simply “switch”. ^_^

   As for 「スイッチョ スイッチョ」, I’d guess the Japanese probably picked it up from European and American magicians when they first began performing there many years ago. Picture a magician passing his hands over a bird that he’s about to transform into a rabbit and saying forcefully, “Switch! Switch!” When I used to read old magic books as a child, the same incantation was sometimes recommended for dramatic moments when you’re willing the magic to happen.

   In other words, “hocus pocus”, “alacazam”, “abracadabra” and the like would all be valid translations.

   Next time you see that part of the video, listen for the sound effect and watch the gestures they make, and you’ll witness the magic happening right before your eyes. ^_^

   Comment by Michael — April 12, 2007 #

7. 

   Hey Michael, are you sure about the magic connection and スイッチョ meaning “switch”? I’m a little skeptical on that one! Interesting though… Very interesting.

   I’ll check the video again and see if I can imagine the スイッチョ sound effect with the magicians

   Thanks for that comment!

   Comment by harvey — April 12, 2007 #

8. 

   As I said the magic thing was just a guess, but I’m almost positive about the association with the word “switch”. My wife refuses to watch anything on Youtube for fear someone will track her down and arrest for her copyright infringement, so instead of playing the video I asked her last night, “What is スイッチョ?” She said “switch”. Then I asked, “Well, what about the チョ at the end?” She said it’s for emphasis. Then I asked, “If I said, ‘スイッチョ スイッチョ’ what would you think?” She replied, “Are you a witch? Did you cast a spell on me?”
   —-
   Anyway, it’s nothing definitive, but I guess it shows we think alike. ^_^

   Comment by Michael — April 12, 2007 #

9. 

   Wow amazing! I’ll try that on the next random Japanese person I run into as well. Nice, I’m a believer now!

   Comment by harvey — April 12, 2007 #

10. 

    I really want her to see the video so that I can see if she still has the same opinion. It could be one of those things that really depends on the context, and maybe also how awake your spouse is when you ask her about it. ^_^ I wonder if the official website has the video? I’ll have to check that out since I know she’ll refuse to watch it if it’s on Youtube. She really is the most law-abiding person I know, and I admire her for that even though I’m a typical American when it comes to such things. Hey, it’s free advertising, right? And it worked, too, since now all I can think about is eating some charming tarako…
    —
    If you try it on a random Japanese person, be sure to get their reaction on video. And do the flashing finger motion, too, for full effect! ^_^

    Comment by Michael — April 13, 2007 #

11. 

    Alright Michael, so far I’m 0 for 2 on the スイッチョ確認。 However, I have to admit that I only remember to ask people when I’m looking at JapanNewbie or my email, so I ended up asking Japanese friends who were online on chat. However, they recalled things such as “the sound a bug makes”, or even “swimming”, when I described waving my arms around and making the sound.

    I don’t think that the switch of a magician is the universal reaction to スイッチョスイッチョ。

    Needs more analysis!

    Comment by harvey — April 15, 2007 #

12. 

    I talked to my wife again and asked her if スイッチョスイッチョ reminds her of anything else besides a magical incantation, and she said the rhythm of people marching in formation. Recalling the rest of the line about heading out, and the visual from the commercial where you see all the tarako marching along, I like that one better than spellcasting, swimming or the sound of a bug. ^_^

    Comment by Michael — April 18, 2007 #

13. 

    ¡QUE VIVA OLGA! ¡QUE VIVA! QUE EL GUEVO DE OLGA LOS BENDIGA Y EL PAJASO DIVINO LOS CUBRA ANTE TODO; HERMANOS I GOT TELL YOU… TAKARO IT’S A REALLY FUNNIE SONG I LIKE IT SO MUCH, I MEAN THERE IS NO SENCE AT ALL, BUT THE MUSIC IT’S SO PAJUA QUE SE OYE GODD BIEN VERY MUCHO MUY GOOD… SO I JUST GOTTA SAY CLUB OLGUISTICO FROM VZLA TO THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD

    Comment by Jesus Cubillan (CUBIX) — May 5, 2007 #

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