Saga Prefecture lies in the northwest corner of Japan’s island of Kyushu. This past week, in an unusual attempt at self-promotion, the Saga Prefectural Office uploaded a video of hundreds of workers from its various divisions happily dancing to the new AKB48 single, Koi Suru Fortune Cookie (Love Fortune Cookie). With more than 480,000 views on YouTube so far, the up-beat video certainly beats a boring old poster campaign!
Every Sunday night, Fuji Television airs a program called AKB Eizou (Video) Center. For one of the show’s primary segments, they invite viewers to submit their own videos in accordance with a given theme for a chance at being aired on TV. Select submissions are not only given a two-minute snippet of televised fame, the full clip is also added to AKB48’s official YouTube channel!
Saga Prefecture submitted their dancing music video both as a fun side-project and to give the people of Japan a happy introduction to all of the different departments managed by their government. Luckily for them, the charming dance clip made the cut, and now appears on AKB48’s official channel.
Approximately 60 prefectural departments and their associated staff members are featured in the three-and-a-half-minute video. Bright-eyed workers both young and old wear their biggest smiles as they dance in sync to the up-beat pop song. Even the prefecture’s mascot characters gathered together for the recording, and the prefectural governor in particular displays a great deal of excitement for the song and dance.
▼ In case it wasn’t obvious, the governor is the man in the middle.
So, if you’re looking for a nice little pick-me-up as we struggle towards the end of the working week, Saga Prefecture’s rendition of Koi Suru Fortune Cookie will certainly raise your spirits, while also giving you a well-rounded sampling of the many kinds of people who keep Japan running smoothly. Enjoy!
▼ Watch the video here or on AKB48’s official YouTube channel!
▼ In case you can’t watch the video right away, here’s a few stills from the merry music video.
Source: Net Lab (Japanese)
GMO’s pretty employees rival AKB48 with big smiles and short skirts
AKB48 and South Korean idol groups perform hits at music awards, turns out to be a disaster
Square Enix announces new Romancing Saga project! Don’t fire up your PS4 just yet though
Team Rocket outlines recruitment project in Saga Prefecture
A kappa and a mermaid want to move to Miyazaki…no it’s not the beginning of a joke【Videos】
Japanese police arrest four foreign residents on charges of stealing over 100 cars
Doujinshi manga/anime chain announces moratorium on Visa/Mastercard credit card payments
Sanrio and magical girl anime PreCure join forces for new merch line【Photos】
A deep-fried sushi senbero awaits from Super Value【Japan’s Best Home Senbero】
Excuse me, could you please pass the outer space potatoes?
Japan’s new difficult-to-drink-from beer glass protects your liver, but it’s a brutal experience
Century-old Hiroshima brewery in one of Japan’s three great sake-brewing spots offers tours in English
The results are in! One Piece World Top 100 characters chosen in global poll
New Ghibli papercraft kit gives you a little Princess Mononoke forest on your desk【Photos】
“The revolutionary way to pick your nose!” We try out the Nose Picker
Ghibli Park debuts first winter illumination display with Howl’s Moving Castle theme
Pringles releases a limited-edition sweet flavour in Japan
Tokyo restaurant isn’t kidding about the name of its overflowing rare wagyu-ju【Photos】
Secret hot spring onsen in Japan is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered by tourists
Japanese samurai randoseru backpack lets you carry the bushido spirit with you wherever you go
Starbucks releases new Wicked tumblers in Japan
Off-the-beaten-tourist-track observatory tower in Tokyo has great views of the city…for free!
Japanese mountain community’s first baby in 52 years celebrates first birthday
Nintendo’s controller capsule toys are so cool, even the machine you buy them from is awesome【Pics】
Totoro sequel anime Mei and the Baby Catbus will screen at Ghibli Park this winter
Tokyo Disneyland loses top-attendance crown for Japanese theme parks for second year in a row
Adult Jam Bread causes a stir at store in Tokyo
What’s the deal with akebi, the perfectly purple, alien-like fruit that’s in season now in Japan?
Tsukemen ramen restaurant becomes a hit with foreign tourists in Tokyo
Kyoto becomes City of Yokai, with Night Parade of One Hundred Demons festival this autumn
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengers
[Deleted] Article written for April Fool’s Day 2018
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Tokyo’s Shibuya Station now sending trains on their way by playing the Dragon Quest theme 【Video】
Studio Ghibli releases its first-ever train jingles, to be played at one special Japanese station
US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy performs “Koi Dance” in Santa suit【Video】
Subpar AKB48 performance in Thailand earns scalding remarks from netizens 【Video】
U.S.-Japan release collaborative video of support one year after Kumamoto earthquakes【Video】
AKB48’s new idol outfits are so stylish everyone’s talking about the company that makes them
Anime song dance performance group Real Akiba Boys: combining the otaku life with street dancing
Gunma Prefecture’s adorable mascot dances into our hearts and travel plans 【Video】
Japan petitions to add 40 traditional folk dances to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list
Tokyo’s AKB48 idol-themed cafe announces sudden, permanent closure
Local samurai legend is immortalized in rockin’ new short animated film by Production I.G
Yuri!!! on Ice Promotes Main Character’s Home Prefecture
And now, the principal percussionist for a German orchestra playing Rossini on Taiko no Tatsujin
Hello Kitty and AKB48 collaborate for the ultimate fan merchandise from Thank You Mart
China’s People’s Daily newspaper promotes dancing boy as “the future King of Salsa”
Leave a Reply