Following in the footsteps of Kobayashi City in Miyazaki Prefecture, Gifu Prefecture’s Seki City has recently released its own quirky PR video. This ad, however, focuses on the city’s contribution to daily life with an important product that the city is famous for rather than emphasizing any local accent. Judging by the bizarre scene in the photo above, can you guess what Seki City is famous for producing? Here’s a hint: This video is shear madness!
Give the video a watch yourself, or scroll down for our brief description and screenshots.
The advertisement begins with a rather loving scene set to touching music of a mother preparing a meal in the kitchen. However, something’s not quite right as she raises her hand to begin chopping a carrot…minus a knife!
▼ Props to her for managing to keep a face of serious determination, however.
This bizarre spectacle is followed by even more surreal scenes, including the following:
▼ A middle-aged man is standing in front of his bathroom mirror–apparently about to rip off his stubble with tape!
▼ What on earth is this stylist doing biting a client’s hair with his teeth…?
▼ Idol handshake events have never looked this creepy.
▼ But this wedding scene looks kind of fun, actually.
Finally, we get a glimpse of each person going about their business with the following short message overlaid:
Have you figured out what Seki City is famous for making yet? According to this ad, Seki is Japan’s No. 1 City of Blades! Seki was famous for its swordsmiths during Japan’s feudal era, and while we’re not entirely clear if it’s still the largest producer of bladed objects in Japan by volume or what, but apparently it’s associated enough with all manner of sharp, pointy things that it warrants this title.
Despite the odd manner in which the city went about its PR mission, we’ve got to say, the ad is a bit endearing in its strangeness. Be sure to think about Seki the next time you use any type of product with a blade!
Source/images: YouTube/Seki Koshiki Channel
[ Read in Japanese ]
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
New Japanese KitKats come in sakura flavour, with poetic symbolism for success
Peanuts and Coke becomes a viral hit in Japan, but is it a trend worth joining?
McDonald’s teams up with Touch manga for burgers that capture the bittersweet taste of youth
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
New Japanese KitKats come in sakura flavour, with poetic symbolism for success
Peanuts and Coke becomes a viral hit in Japan, but is it a trend worth joining?
McDonald’s teams up with Touch manga for burgers that capture the bittersweet taste of youth
McDonald’s Japan adds new Hello Kitty and Pompompurin drinks to the menu for a limited time
Flower Ice Cream becomes Japan’s newest breathtaking dessert
There’s a Japanese-style spaghetti chain Mr. Sato’s been skipping for years, but that ends today
Kura Sushi adding premium tier pricing for better chance at capsule machine game
Sexy Japanese anime character Fujiko Mine strips down to her underwear for new lingerie range
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
Two food hacks take Japan’s convenience store fried chicken to amazing new sandwich heights
7-Eleven Japan’s new baked-in-store sweet treat is only available in three parts of the country
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
Can a downtown Tokyo super sento bathhouse beat a hotel for a one-night stay?
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
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
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
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
McDonald’s Japan adds new Hello Kitty and Pompompurin drinks to the menu for a limited time
Flower Ice Cream becomes Japan’s newest breathtaking dessert
There’s a Japanese-style spaghetti chain Mr. Sato’s been skipping for years, but that ends today
Kura Sushi adding premium tier pricing for better chance at capsule machine game
Sexy Japanese anime character Fujiko Mine strips down to her underwear for new lingerie range
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
Sausage stepping in for increasingly expensive octopus at takoyaki stands around Japan
New 7-Eleven sandwich goes viral in Japan, but is it everything it’s cracked up to be?
Japan Travel: Explore a hidden cave on a tiny monorail roller coaster thrill ride in Nara
Japanese politician arrested on charges of accepting bribes to reduce number of monkeys in park
Daiso has giant new branch in middle of Tokyo’s Shinjuku neighborhood (and another beneath it)
Starbucks Japan unveils epic Frappuccino hunt with five to find in new Star birthday campaign
New Japanese KitKat flavour lets you eat a zunda milkshake