In Japan, Hokto is to mushrooms what Chiquita is to bananas: a household name that people know but aren’t overly excited by – until now!
The mushroom growers have been releasing an increasingly sexy line of commercials that seem to get pulled from the airwaves soon after debuting. The latest one, titled “Splendid Mushroom Kinkatsu,” depicts a love affair between actors Jun Kaname in the role of the spirit of mushrooms and Sawa Suzuki as the middle-aged woman he continuously haunts and seductively whispers about mushrooms to. As far as mushrooms go, this is pretty hot.
In this commercial, Suzuki is perusing the produce section of her local supermarket. Suddenly, the spirit of mushroom appears behind her and whispers to her as he presses his mushroom-decorated body behind hers.
He whispers the ways of mushrooms to her, and asks if she truly wants a “regular mushroom” or his “splendid mushroom.”
Suzuki begins to feel lightheaded at Kaname’s forceful yet delicate mushroom lecturing. Overwhelmed, she desperately tries to escape and plunges her hand into the bin of regular mushrooms. The spirit of mushrooms passionately reaches for her arm and pulls it towards his own bulging package…
…of mushrooms.
He then vanishes, leaving Suzuki to do the rest of her shopping all in a tizzy, and some poor schmoe to mop up after these two fungal themed love-birds.
It’s said but unconfirmed that these commercials were quickly taken off the air after receiving complaints from viewers. However, it’s entirely possible this was all a clever viral marketing campaign to build hype.
Knowing how crafty those mushroom farmers can be I wouldn’t put it past them. My brother used to run an investment banking firm out in the countryside. Then one day a consortium of fungi cultivators bought out his company replaced his once-majestic office complex with a bleak mushroom house.
Source: Livedoor News via My Game News Flash (Japanese)
Hokto: Official Website (Japanese)
Videos: YouTube: autoxp038, douga sukiyo
▼ All installments of the Suzuki/Kaname mushroom romance to date.
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
McDonald’s Japan releases a Mushroom Mountain and Bamboo Shoot Village McFlurry
Otaku’s beloved anime-style doll kidnapped, maybe murdered by bird of prey at Japanese beach
New KitKat pizzas are coming to Pizza Hut Japan
Man with face covered in tattoos admits to repeatedly headbutting Tokyo store clerk【Video】
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
McDonald’s Japan releases a Mushroom Mountain and Bamboo Shoot Village McFlurry
Otaku’s beloved anime-style doll kidnapped, maybe murdered by bird of prey at Japanese beach
New KitKat pizzas are coming to Pizza Hut Japan
Man with face covered in tattoos admits to repeatedly headbutting Tokyo store clerk【Video】
Almost exactly half of the new adults in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward are foreigners
7-Eleven Japan has a hack for creating insanely delicious potato chip rice meals
A diner’s guide to oden: Japan’s weird-looking, super-popular winter dish
Hokkaido has an Ice Festival that’s less famous than the Snow one, but beautiful in its own way
We followed Tokyo’s mystery walking map and ended up creating our own bar-hopping adventure
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
Princess Mononoke magnets return just in time to treat yourself to awesome anime decorations
Umamusume anime girl plushie recalled for having parts she absolutely should not have【Pics】
Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.
Japanese women showing rebounding interest in giving Valentine’s Day chocolate【Survey】
We ate sushi made from Japan’s most expensive tuna ever【Taste test】
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Almost exactly half of the new adults in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward are foreigners
7-Eleven Japan has a hack for creating insanely delicious potato chip rice meals
A diner’s guide to oden: Japan’s weird-looking, super-popular winter dish
Hokkaido has an Ice Festival that’s less famous than the Snow one, but beautiful in its own way
We followed Tokyo’s mystery walking map and ended up creating our own bar-hopping adventure
Psychological horror anime gets new T-shirt line, and even the fabric is meant to be unsettling
Japan Travel: Explore a hidden cave on a tiny monorail roller coaster thrill ride in Nara
Starbucks Japan releases new range of pink drinkware and gift cards for Mother’s Day
Domino’s Japan’s New Cheese Volcano Pizza is a game-changer that’s about to go global
Getting a driver’s license in Japan the hard way: The first driving test a few more times
Japan’s New Chitose Airport has the most useful signage for travelers ever: “Sushi, 60 meters”
Studio Ghibli’s kodama ready to leave the Princess Mononoke forest as a squeezable keychain【Pics】
Japan’s hardest rice crackers, snacks of the shinobi, go soft, so do they have a reason to exist?
How to try the viral 7-Eleven smoothie hack in Japan
Leave a Reply