Passengers say they’ve been trying to hold in their laughter after laying eyes on this unforgettable image.
A journey on a Japanese train can bring with it tales of kindness, furry passengers, and sometimes, unusual advertisements that you won’t be able to get out of your head. That’s exactly what’s happening to passengers on Tokyo’s trains at the moment, thanks to an ad for a nasal douche, or nose gargle, as it’s known in Japan.
The product is being recommended for hayfever sufferers, as a way to clear passageways and aid breathing during the springtime months. While nasal irrigation is well-known worldwide for improving sinus and nasal health, the practice is usually done in the privacy of one’s home, and not out on display for thousands of people to see on a public train.
▼ That’s why people like @gakkkin have been tweeting out images of this girl, as she dutifully demonstrates the correct way to use a nasal douche.
なにこれ、どういうことなの!?
— がが♨ (@nisssshin) January 7, 2017
左の鼻の穴からだだ漏れしてるけど……#ハナノア #珍広告 #花粉症 pic.twitter.com/3Vpm78INta
According to the ad, the Hana Noa “shower-type” nose gargle is a painless way to rinse out the nether regions of your nose, helping to ease annoying hayfever symptoms caused by pollen, allergens and house dust.
ハナノアのインパクトがヤバい#ハナノア pic.twitter.com/rXSOU7kKlI
— 10O-M∀S (@BLUE_SEEKER) January 8, 2017
If the smile on this girl’s face is anything to go by, the act of flushing water in one nostril and out the other is one of pure enjoyment.
よくこれやったと思うよ。#ハナノア pic.twitter.com/c0vh9xyGj7
— s-ichikawa (@ichikawa_0829) January 6, 2017
Here’s what Twitter users have been saying about the unusual ad:
“It was a challenge to stifle my laughter after seeing this on the Yamanote line train!”
“This made me laugh on the Sobu train line too!”
“Because it’s a beauty with flawless makeup, that dirty water coming out of her nose seems clean and beautiful.”
“Wow – that model worked hard for her money on that job!”
“Now that’s an ad with impact!”
If the success of an advertisement can be measured in terms of its memorability, then this ad has won in spades. Still, it’s pretty tame compared to some other types of Japanese ads like this one, which we definitely wouldn’t want to see on a train!
Source: Togech
Featured image: Twitter/@gakkkin

Japanese company uses real futons as advertising posters on Tokyo trains
Yamanote trains in Tokyo display unique poster ads that look like paper but move like video
Japanese train announcement fail makes Tokyo commuters laugh out loud【Video】
The time someone pooped next to us on the train during Tokyo rush hour, and we tried to be nice
Japan’s final Penguin Suica train cards have already shipped, and when they’re gone, they’re gone
Farewell Final Ceremony announced for Tokyo’s life-size Gundam statue, will stream live
Japan approves foreign resident visa renewal fee increases of up to 967 percent, starts soon
Hobonichi unveils new 2027 planners, diaries and stationery with One Piece, Suica Penguin, Hello Kitty and a must-buy Mini Techo
Nonstop flights from U.S. to Okinawa return after 54 years, making travel faster than before
Anime and Hollywood movies cross over in new Universal Studios Japan merch collection
Pizza Hut Japan creates moon-viewing sukiyaki chrysanthemum pizza for tsukimi season
Starbucks Japan adds a gooey sweet potato Frappuccino to its menu this autumn
Starting this fall, you’ll be able to take a Pokémon Jet flight to Japan
McDonald’s Japan reveals exclusive new Tsukimi moon viewing collection for 2026
Japan tripled its departure tax to fund tourism but is using the money on cherry blossoms and bears
Sushi Bus: Japan’s first conveyor-belt bus lets you eat sushi while sightseeing around Tokyo
Nike x One Piece collection brings Devil Fruits to sneakers and streetwear in Japan
We recommend not buying one pack of Japan’s new convenience store corn soup-flavor fried chicken
Police in Japan looking for who’s responsible for dumping 80 loaves of bread on side of road [Video]
7-year-old boy left behind on Mt. Fuji by his own dad
Anime fans can now wear a Seiko watch inspired by Japan’s One Piece Shinkansen
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Study finds hundreds of people in Indonesia legally named after Naruto, Inuyasha, other anime stars
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】