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McDonald’s Japan Runs Ad in Forged Edo-Era Script of the Gods
McDonald’s Japan’s latest social media ad campaign harkens back to claims that Japan had a pre-Chinese writing system.
McDonald’s Japan is known for its online ad campaigns that draw international attention. Its latest stunt, however, drew a few heads, as it employed a writing system that some people have tried to pretend is an ancient Japanese form of writing.
McDonald’s is far and away Japan’s most popular burger chain. With 2,967 stores nationwide, it surpasses local favorite Mos Burger (1,308 stores). Like Starbucks, the company’s managed to succeed by adjusting its offerings to the Japanese market. Burgers like the Samurai Mac, a bruegr with a soy and sesame sauce, and seasonal favorites like the Tsukimi Burger combine local tastes with the universal appeal of standards such as the company’s addictive french fries.
Past and current McDonald’s Japan social media campaigns have generated tons of interest — and controversy. Its current campaign with popular anime Neon Genesis Evangelion is drawing heavy interest on social media. Meanwhile, its August promotion, which leveraged AI-generated ads, drew criticism for its Uncanny Valley depths of unoriginality.
The company’s latest tweet, however, seems out of left field. It depicts a stone etching of a cheeseburger…
