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[oeleo]

[098] Pepsi Nex II | Clear Pepsi Max.😁 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #2020leo366 #Pepsi #PepsiJapan #PepsiNexII #PepsiNex2 #PepsiClear #TrySomethingNew #TastesLikeNormal https://www.instagram.com/p/B-yDbhzlyCB/?igshid=ix20zyeg1b0p

[jaxu21976]

#cej8k Good luck to all in the giveaway & congrats to Paul! 😎👍@CriticalEatsJpn #pepsi #pepsijapan (at Ancaster, Ontario)

[selectnstart-blog]

Pepsi Japan is "Forever Challenge"

Note: This quarter I am trying to have some direction for this blog. When possible I will try to include other countries marketing campaign(s) or content along with its American counter part. Hopefully it will give us a fun global take on the brands we all know and love. With that being said read on…

Differing from my previous post about Pepsi, which is about Pepsi taking a whole new direction with its 2015 ads by NOT including any celebrities. On the other side of the world, Pepsi Japan  has employed famous Japanese actor,Shun Oguri, to be the face of Pepsi Nex Zero and part of their “Forever Challenge” theme ads, titled Pepsi Nex Zero x Momotaro.

First of all,

What is the meaning and significance behind “Forever Challenge”?

 “Forever Challenge” has something to with Pepsi’s long time rival, Coke Cola. Taking a brief history lesson, I’m sure some of you may remember a couple of years ago or at least heard  the “Pepsi Challenge”. In which, people were given a random blind taste test to see which cola they preferred. And of course, the option was between Coke and Pepsi. This challenged was first proposed by Pepsi in 1976.

In a sense, Pepsi Japan is reusing past idea but doing something completely different from before. The meaning of “challenge” is not obviously directed at Coke with Momotaro. It is more of an embodiment of the spirit of challenges faced in life and enduring it time after time. That is what I see the characters in Momotaro portrays. This can be said about Pepsi’s competition with Coke or other beverages in general. I mean how does one try to stay above it all?

Pepsi had its fair share with of including the element of martial arts in ads.Certainly Momotaro pays homage to its predecessor as well. But what was amazing about what Pepsi Japan has created are these visually stunning ads that weaves itself into a story that represents its brand. Which can be tied to the brand’s long history with its eternal rival Coke Cola. So long as they are unopposed by others and divided by people’s preference they are in fact “Forever Challenge” by each other.

Taking advantage of technology today, I have to say Pepsi Japan is operating at a high level with the contents of these ads. Does it set some precedent  to future ads and to its competitors? Maybe. To me it was not just an ad, it is an episodic journey of the challenges one may face our a journey. Will the characters in Momotaro triumphant in the end? And if they do, what message is Pepsi trying to send to its rival?

For more information:

http://www.pepsi.co.jp/momotaro/index.html

'Momotaro' a Classic Japanese Tale

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momotar%C5%8D

Shun Oguri

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shun_Oguri