Kaguya Hime

Mon 2009/07/20 14:58 JST

3854 views

Just saw this during a CM break just now which reminded me to post it.
Kaguya Hime is a 10th century Japanese Folk tale about a girl who was discovered inside the stalk of a glowing bamboo plant - you may have seen references to the story in some anime.

Sho Shu Riki is a brand of deodorizer and usually have funny ads like this one.

Your Japanese word for today is "Kusai" (臭い) meaning "to smell bad" If you come across a smelly odour, you can say "Kusai" in the same tone as kaguya hime in the ad.

If you are interested in reading about life in Japan, seeing photos taken daily around Tokyo, like Japanese subculture (anime, manga, figures, Dollfies) then you may want to start delving into the Japan or Figure categories for a start or have a gander at all photo articles.

If you don't have much time now, maybe subscribe to the RSS Feed, Twitter Feed or join the other readers in the FaceBook Page.
Alternatively, you may want to read more about the site.
If you are a regular reader then this message will probably annoy you each time - hide it forever.

This item was posted in the Japan category. You can see more of everything else or subscribe via RSS instead.

日本語で表示する

-Japan Probe - News from Japan (Subscribe)
-Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)

Follow comments on Twitter

pipopaz in US (Registered on 2008/08/26)
thousand master II, Internet Learner, Auto didacta
http://pipopaz.wordpress.com/

lol for a moment i thought it was going to be a movie or a series then, she said "kusai!" almost fell of my chair of laughter XDD

Mon 2009/07/20 15:14:49 JST (ID #681037)

reply to pipopaz's comment
- Teresa_Chan in Tacoma, WA USA (Registered on 2009/07/07)
  *HINT* MY BIRTHDAY IS AUGUST 12TH *HINT*
  http://www.facebook.com/TeresaStockroske
  
  I'm gonna have to second that one.
  
  The look on her face is what got me.
  
  Mon 2009/07/20 23:46:48 JST (ID #681308)
  
  reply to Teresa_Chan's comment
  - sunjewel in USA Alabama (Registered on 2009/05/26)
    Graphic Designer
    
    yes, it was the look on her face
    i almost fell over laughing!
    
    Fri 2009/07/24 01:31:02 JST (ID #683902)
    
    reply to sunjewel's comment
Paws in Australia (Registered on 2009/06/14)
I.T. Technician

With an add like that, does it work???

Mon 2009/07/20 15:18:15 JST (ID #681042)

reply to Paws's comment
- Whats-A-Coder? in Philippines (Registered on 2009/05/14)
  Programmer
  http://whatsacoder.blogspot.com
  
  asians have different sense of humor
  
  Mon 2009/07/20 15:27:46 JST (ID #681054)
  
  reply to Whats-A-Coder?'s comment
  - acq128 in Sydney (Registered on 2008/11/19)
    Student
    
    i interpretted it as, does the product work
    
    Mon 2009/07/20 17:39:48 JST (ID #681142)
    
    reply to acq128's comment
    - sati navi in england (Registered on 2009/04/20)
      anime + games collector
      
      probably.
      
      Mon 2009/07/20 19:37:25 JST (ID #681205)
      
      reply to sati navi's comment
- Argyle in Toronto, Canada (Registered on 2008/12/23)
  Otaku Programmer/Gamer/Artist/Photographer
  http://argylebolivar.wordpress.com
  
  MUAHH XD probably not :P
  
  Mon 2009/07/20 19:54:45 JST (ID #681215)
  
  reply to Argyle's comment
Whats-A-Coder? in Philippines (Registered on 2009/05/14)
Programmer
http://whatsacoder.blogspot.com

I wonder what kind of smell does that product emit? or is it made to absorb the smell of the sorroundings

Mon 2009/07/20 15:27:08 JST (ID #681052)

reply to Whats-A-Coder?'s comment
- Cyberchaos in Australia, Sydney (Registered on 2008/02/17)
  NEET part-time - Technical Support Officer - Network security engineer
  http://burugureibi.blogspot.com/
  
  It's yellow... so it's probably lemon
  
  Tue 2009/07/21 02:40:50 JST (ID #681362)
  
  reply to Cyberchaos's comment
ScorchNRoses in Singapore (Registered on 2009/03/20)
High School Student
http://scorchnroses.wordpress.com

The "kusai" was pretty random xD

Mon 2009/07/20 15:34:07 JST (ID #681056)

reply to ScorchNRoses's comment
Eclair in singapore (Registered on 2008/09/19)
No more NEET, enineering student now...g
http://saiseki.blogsome.com/

Reminds me of Kaguya from Touhou ^^;
Kusai!!!

Mon 2009/07/20 15:36:01 JST (ID #681058)

reply to Eclair's comment
punynari in Yokosuka, Japan (Registered on 2008/09/20)
US Navy Sailor
http://punynari.wordpress.com/

Was reading that Kaguya wikipedia article. So that's why there's so many moon princesses lately in anime and games. I see Touhou Impressible Night is also based on the tale. Even have a Princess Kaguya of the moon.

Mon 2009/07/20 15:36:52 JST (ID #681061)

reply to punynari's comment
- punynari in Yokosuka, Japan (Registered on 2008/09/20)
  US Navy Sailor
  http://punynari.wordpress.com/
  
  *Imperishable Night Can tell I haven't got much sleep. ^^;
  
  Mon 2009/07/20 15:40:22 JST (ID #681064)
  
  reply to punynari's comment
iron2000 in SG (Registered on 2007/12/19)
http://iron2000.blogspot.com

Kind of a crossover with that crane story.

Mon 2009/07/20 15:46:03 JST (ID #681067)

reply to iron2000's comment
Klen in Mexico (Registered on 2009/05/01)
IE
http://otakujanai.org

oh! it reminds me the kaguya from code geass xD

Mon 2009/07/20 15:47:09 JST (ID #681068)

reply to Klen's comment
- cheesecake in San Diego, CA (Registered on 2008/09/02)
  こうこうせい
  http://stickymochi.blogspot.com
  
  Hahaa that is so true!
  
  Tue 2009/07/21 00:13:33 JST (ID #681318)
  
  reply to cheesecake's comment
Zell_ff8 in Argentina (Registered on 2008/12/28)
Student, Musician, PHP
http://www.tojikomori.com.ar

Mmm, I saw about Kaguya Hime in the movie "Houhokekyo tonari no Yamada-kun", the grandma was narrating the family's history with folk tales (the girl born as Kaguya Hime and the boy as Momotarou).

Also in PS2's Ookami, I remember slacing bamboo plants and taking out animals from it :P

Mon 2009/07/20 15:49:25 JST (ID #681069)

reply to Zell_ff8's comment
Khazar in Western Australia, Perth (Registered on 2009/04/26)
Otaku

I'm pretty sure this story was in the "Mushi-Shi" anime even though that anime didn't haven't a plot/storyline and recycled character designs, i still liked it

Mon 2009/07/20 15:49:45 JST (ID #681070)

reply to Khazar's comment
JanaffStache in Kansas USA (Registered on 2009/04/21)
Student

Was in Okami too! ^^

Mon 2009/07/20 15:50:47 JST (ID #681072)

reply to JanaffStache's comment
- gits_sac in Singapore (Registered on 2008/11/15)
  http://www.sgcollect.com/forum/index.php?showuser=3533
  
  yup, gotta love the bamboo rocket scene LOL
  
  Mon 2009/07/20 15:53:40 JST (ID #681074)
  
  reply to gits_sac's comment
- ravenschwann in Canada, ON (Registered on 2009/03/30)
  Chinese/Viet restaurant waiter, no post secondary
  
  Thats where I learned my Japanese lore xD
  
  Mon 2009/07/20 16:02:36 JST (ID #681081)
  
  reply to ravenschwann's comment
  - litokid in Toronto, Canada (Registered on 2007/11/25)
    university film student | ecchikid | the Archivist
    http://www.vimeo.com/longhim
    
    For me it was simply reinforcement and additional info., but yeah. Okami was where I got some of my more general Japanese folklore as well. xP
    
    Mon 2009/07/20 17:53:44 JST (ID #681152)
    
    reply to litokid's comment
Ben Lau in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia (Registered on 2008/11/28)
Geotechnical Engineer

Totally didn't expect the "Kusai"!. LOL!

Mon 2009/07/20 15:55:33 JST (ID #681076)

reply to Ben Lau's comment
pwnT in Adelaide, Australia (Registered on 2007/12/23)
Uni student
http://twitter.com/leesinyung

was the hime in that commercial a Caucasian? hahaha something i randomly noticed... so were the people floating on the clouds.... XD

Mon 2009/07/20 15:55:51 JST (ID #681077)

reply to pwnT's comment
6pack (Registered on 2008/03/20)
browsing the nets
http://otakuposts.blogspot.com/

lol. what does the crane say in the end?

Mon 2009/07/20 16:04:24 JST (ID #681083)

reply to 6pack's comment
- iron2000 in SG (Registered on 2007/12/19)
  http://iron2000.blogspot.com
  
  I think she wants one of those deodorizer in her room too.
  
  Tue 2009/07/21 07:42:03 JST (ID #681514)
  
  reply to iron2000's comment
Kushieda in Sydney, Australia (Registered on 2009/03/30)
Student
http://foxkey.blog126.fc2.com/

Reminds me of Kannagi, first thing that came to mind.

Mon 2009/07/20 16:09:07 JST (ID #681086)

reply to Kushieda's comment
- Patti in Sydney, Australia (Registered on 2009/04/27)
  Time Traveller/High School Student
  http://thetsundere.wordpress.com/
  
  Same here ^-^
  
  Tue 2009/07/21 02:53:58 JST (ID #681367)
  
  reply to Patti's comment
yamada in Belait District, Brunei Darussalam (Registered on 2009/02/04)
studying comp studies, planning to look for part time job
http://bruneian-otaku.blogspot.com

LMAO very creative CM I must say d^^b

Mon 2009/07/20 16:16:03 JST (ID #681089)

reply to yamada's comment
El Bastardo in Germany (Registered on 2009/06/05)
Computer science student

It's referenced quite often in many different Japanese media.

Spontanious I can think of and love: Okami (PlayStation 2 game)!!

Mon 2009/07/20 16:37:26 JST (ID #681101)

reply to El Bastardo's comment
SG in 英国 (Registered on 2006/12/28)
Art/Media
http://sgallen.wordpress.com/

Hahaha, nice of you to share it Danny ^^

I watched it twice ^^
Very random and interesting. When the woman/princess in the bamboo got out after saying "Kusai!!" I thought she told them to go to hell or something lol

Mon 2009/07/20 16:44:50 JST (ID #681103)

reply to SG's comment
zephi in Sydney, Australia (Registered on 2008/04/26)
student
http://zephi-san.deviantart.com/

I read this story in my Japanese class, along with like Urashima Tarou and some others...
but that is a pretty random CM, just like a lot of other Japanese CM I saw when I was in Japan. Surprising thing is, they really like to use foreigners in their CM and talk shows.

Mon 2009/07/20 16:46:08 JST (ID #681105)

reply to zephi's comment
azn-n3ss-__- in Brisbane (Registered on 2008/07/28)
大学生
http://justaskeikaku.net23.net

lol Kaguya-hime is a gaijin?

Mon 2009/07/20 17:24:31 JST (ID #681126)

reply to azn-n3ss-__-'s comment
- lightningsabre in Vancouver (Registered on 2007/08/30)
  Pseudo-Graphic Designer, 触手 wrangler, H-Man
  http://lightningsabre.blogspot.com/
  
  Yeah, looks like... I wonder if it's a celebrity.
  
  Tue 2009/07/21 05:14:04 JST (ID #681440)
  
  reply to lightningsabre's comment
WiseFreeman in DC Cloning Laboratory (Registered on 2007/11/07)
Dance Trooper: DCX-001 O.D.E. (Order of the Dancing Empire)
http://dannychoo.com.my

kusai! LOL!

Mon 2009/07/20 17:30:10 JST (ID #681131)

reply to WiseFreeman's comment
silentkey in Singapore (Registered on 2008/01/24)
Student, Uncle & hopfully a good husband..

Hahaha...that just made my day...

Mon 2009/07/20 17:33:08 JST (ID #681137)

reply to silentkey's comment
SeiWhiteMoe in Caracas,Venezuela (Registered on 2009/06/18)
Full-time geek/Part-time student/Part-time musician
http://randomgeekness.livejournal.com/

KUSAI! LOL!

Mon 2009/07/20 17:40:40 JST (ID #681144)

reply to SeiWhiteMoe's comment
chun in need to be in bed (Registered on 2007/01/09)
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
http://puppy52art.com/

LOL! that's hilarious XD

Mon 2009/07/20 17:41:03 JST (ID #681146)

reply to chun's comment
GREW in Germany (Registered on 2009/06/24)
trainee at German Telekom
http://grew.themania.org/

Ok...?

Kusai is Kusai!

Mon 2009/07/20 17:42:38 JST (ID #681147)

reply to GREW's comment
litokid in Toronto, Canada (Registered on 2007/11/25)
university film student | ecchikid | the Archivist
http://www.vimeo.com/longhim

>< Is anyone else really bothered by the fact that Kaguya-hime is apparently Caucasian? I mean, of all people, I'd expect a Japanese folklore beauty to be played by a Japanese actor...

Or am I just looking at her wrong, and she actually *is* Japanese? o_O

Mon 2009/07/20 17:56:03 JST (ID #681154)

reply to litokid's comment
- litokid in Toronto, Canada (Registered on 2007/11/25)
  university film student | ecchikid | the Archivist
  http://www.vimeo.com/longhim
  
  Ah, by the way Danny - this is just nitpicking - but I'm guessing the captial "I" in your post title wasn't intended. ^^;
  
  Mon 2009/07/20 17:57:11 JST (ID #681155)
  
  reply to litokid's comment
  - Jace Lamporouge in Alara (Registered on 2009/07/17)
    Planeswalker
    
    I was just a little confuzzled when that caucasian person spoke japanese.
    The annoying thing is when there's a chinese commercial on tv with caucasian lawyers speaking chinese, however it looks very cheesy and lip synced.
    
    But anyways, that was a funny commercial.
    
    Mon 2009/07/20 19:19:15 JST (ID #681190)
    
    reply to Jace Lamporouge's comment
Leo-chan in Lamesville, Winterpeg, Canada (Registered on 2009/02/03)
Retailerz

What is with the gaijin? I don't understand the use of gaijin's in music videos either

Mon 2009/07/20 19:25:37 JST (ID #681194)

reply to Leo-chan's comment
senken in Vancouver, Canada (Registered on 2009/03/26)
IT Administrator

LOL
Nice Ad.

Mon 2009/07/20 19:46:50 JST (ID #681211)

reply to senken's comment
cantbeprez in Brockton MA (Registered on 2009/06/23)
PT Supervisor at UPS

lol

Mon 2009/07/20 20:44:11 JST (ID #681238)

reply to cantbeprez's comment
optimisticpenguin in New Zealand (Registered on 2009/07/02)
Student
http://www.optimisticpenguin.com/

lols :D

Mon 2009/07/20 23:24:30 JST (ID #681296)

reply to optimisticpenguin's comment
Nathan in Atlanta, GA, USA (Registered on 2007/08/22)
student

LOL love the bird このへやにも！

Mon 2009/07/20 23:34:25 JST (ID #681299)

reply to Nathan's comment
DeathSnake in Srilanka (Registered on 2009/01/26)
university student

NANI KONO HEYA?!!

Mon 2009/07/20 23:41:31 JST (ID #681305)

reply to DeathSnake's comment
Marooned Islander in Old Blighty (Registered on 2008/09/22)
Big Daddy!

Did she just say "I'm getting outta here!"?

Mon 2009/07/20 23:44:11 JST (ID #681306)

reply to Marooned Islander's comment
- Cyberchaos in Australia, Sydney (Registered on 2008/02/17)
  NEET part-time - Technical Support Officer - Network security engineer
  http://burugureibi.blogspot.com/
  
  I believe she said 何この部屋 (nani kono heya)
  
  Loosely translated to:: "WTF IS WITH (wrong with) THIS ROOM!"
  
  Tue 2009/07/21 02:39:09 JST (ID #681358)
  
  reply to Cyberchaos's comment
Bakkou in Australia (Registered on 2009/04/01)
Student

Haha, must be some good deodorizer.

Tue 2009/07/21 00:48:44 JST (ID #681326)

reply to Bakkou's comment
Heavy in Georgia U.S.A. (Registered on 2009/07/02)
Exploring worlds and ways of thought

I tried to type out what I thought I heard the stork say and came up with this:
"この根身桃" and babble fish translated : "This one peach root" (>~<)
I'm clueless tis right or wrong.

Tue 2009/07/21 02:04:24 JST (ID #681340)

reply to Heavy's comment
- Heavy in Georgia U.S.A. (Registered on 2009/07/02)
  Exploring worlds and ways of thought
  
  Retyped "このめみのも" and babble fish translated : "The first and best"
  That makes a lot more sense. If at first.....well, you know.
  
  Wed 2009/07/22 06:58:51 JST (ID #682329)
  
  reply to Heavy's comment
Ninjovee in your storage closet (Registered on 2009/06/08)
NEET
http://tangerinetango.wordpress.com/

*rofl*
I wonder... is the hime a gaijin?

Tue 2009/07/21 02:21:34 JST (ID #681346)

reply to Ninjovee's comment
Cyberchaos in Australia, Sydney (Registered on 2008/02/17)
NEET part-time - Technical Support Officer - Network security engineer
http://burugureibi.blogspot.com/

okay, i lol'd pretty hard

Tue 2009/07/21 02:39:30 JST (ID #681359)

reply to Cyberchaos's comment
mattvboss in Cali (Registered on 2009/06/06)
Student
http://mattmac.vox.com/

The whole Crane thing caught me off guard. lol Japanese commercials are amazing! ^^

Tue 2009/07/21 04:40:25 JST (ID #681427)

reply to mattvboss's comment
Moemoekyun in otakukingdom (Registered on 2009/07/18)
http://moemoekyun.wordpress.com

HAHAHA nice promotion for that drink !!

Tue 2009/07/21 05:02:00 JST (ID #681431)

reply to Moemoekyun's comment
- terra in Malaysia (Registered on 2008/08/17)
  Undergraduate
  
  lol!! Eh! it's not a drink~ its a deodorizer
  
  Tue 2009/07/21 05:31:53 JST (ID #681459)
  
  reply to terra's comment
paperstarxo in Canada (Registered on 2009/04/09)
Student

KUSAI!!! D:<

lol i'm going to have fun saying that

Tue 2009/07/21 05:39:28 JST (ID #681463)

reply to paperstarxo's comment
pauldy in the Doppler Notch (Registered on 2008/09/02)
November Echo Echo Tango
http://pauldy.deviantart.com/

foreigner hime.. well she's from the moon after all ;)

Tue 2009/07/21 05:40:25 JST (ID #681464)

reply to pauldy's comment
Sabekuji Kaneda in Parañaque, Philippines (Registered on 2008/06/21)
Mechanical Engineering student
http://sabekujikaneda.multiply.com/

lolwut O_o

Tue 2009/07/21 07:47:34 JST (ID #681515)

reply to Sabekuji Kaneda's comment
LesterHo in Tokyo, Japan (Registered on 2008/11/16)
Student
http://www.lesterho.com

ZOMG! Another AWESOME CM. ^^;;

Tue 2009/07/21 08:42:55 JST (ID #681532)

reply to LesterHo's comment
jowy in philippines (Registered on 2008/01/23)
vendor
http://www.friendster.com

Good CMbut i am not a "Kusai"person,i just a sweaty busy workacholic guy...i see some japanese literature about some old story or something but bit good too.

Tue 2009/07/21 10:34:13 JST (ID #681621)

reply to jowy's comment
NikoLover in Koala Lompor , Malay-asia (Registered on 2009/06/15)
Alchemist in training

Wondering if that girl is Gaijin . she doesn't look like Japanese

Tue 2009/07/21 13:22:44 JST (ID #681738)

reply to NikoLover's comment
RogueTrooper in Berkshire UK (Registered on 2009/01/06)
Dental Technician, i make teeth!
http://antsizedman.blogspot.com/

Weird adveet, on a side note my friend it tranlating that girl in a bamboo story, somethjing to do with it being one of the first book written in Japan or something.

Tue 2009/07/21 19:53:09 JST (ID #681992)

reply to RogueTrooper's comment
Hidden Oasis in California, United Sates (Registered on 2008/10/28)
College Freshmen

This is like a Japanese version of Thumbelina.

Wed 2009/07/22 01:00:44 JST (ID #682132)

reply to Hidden Oasis's comment
Kesenaitsumi in Sengoku, Tokyo (Registered on 2009/02/06)
Student, Performer
http://kesenaitsumi89.wordpress.com/

Funny ^^''

Wed 2009/07/22 09:45:30 JST (ID #682415)

reply to Kesenaitsumi's comment
Reiia in Maryland USA (Registered on 2008/08/10)
Student, All-Rounder and Dealer's Room Bishie.

Its interesting to see how race is a major factor in Japan. Foreigners are treated like a commodity and never really seriously from what i seen :|. But on the other hand if you had a guy who looks Asian and has perfect english VS a foreigner who looks and speaks okay english... most asian people would flock to the foreigner because he isn't asian. Not really racism... but somewhere between...

Anyways... this video made me lul when she spoke =)

Wed 2009/07/22 09:56:53 JST (ID #682430)

reply to Reiia's comment
Shockerz in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Registered on 2008/10/12)
Student
http://shockerz.wordpress.com/

Now I remember it have been used in the anime Sekirei if I'm not wrong. Overall, it's a funny ads.

Wed 2009/07/22 10:43:46 JST (ID #682477)

reply to Shockerz's comment
Bayli in Secret cottage somewhere in Finnish forests (Registered on 2007/02/10)
IT Student, Web-dev intern
http://users.utu.fi/pplaat

I was wondering what the farmer does with a katana, unless he was a secret samurai ninja? Second thing, if he had chopped little bit lower, wouldn't that end up messy? Besides, what's with the foreign actors? :D

Wed 2009/07/22 20:48:14 JST (ID #682879)

reply to Bayli's comment
Vandy in Oakland, California (Registered on 2009/03/07)
Design Student. Occasional Retailor of Delicious Toubed Meats.

Was that Applemilk?

Fri 2009/07/24 01:13:13 JST (ID #683888)

reply to Vandy's comment
lerry[maru] in Kuala Lumpur, MY (Registered on 2008/09/14)
Nekophilia

I lol'd.

Also, pic reminded me of Might Morphin' Powerr Rangerrrrssss!

Sat 2009/07/25 16:49:31 JST (ID #685310)

reply to lerry[maru]'s comment