So here’s something you might not know. The tune that every novice pianist first learns has hugely different cultural meanings around the world. In the UK it’s known as ‘Chopsticks’. In Germany it is ‘Der Flohwalzer’, or The Flea Waltz. Slovakia reckon it’s more of a Donkey March (Somársky pochod). Spain goes for La Chocolatera.
And Japan? In Japan it’s Neko Funjatta (ねこふんじゃった) – or ‘I Stepped on a Cat’.
Unsurprisingly, then, it’s become the anthem for Kuroneko Yamamto, Yamato Transport. Their logo depicts a black cat and so they’ve been embracing the cheeky feline theme tune for a series of quirky music video-style online films.
The most recent, Black Cat Ballad, shows a refined puss at a grand piano, milking the simple song for all the dramatic potential it can offer. The agency behind the film was Dentsu Inc. and it was produced by Dentsu Creative X Inc.
The film follows the hugely popular and upbeat version ‘Dancing Black Cats’, which came out in September. The campaign coincides with the brand’s 40th anniversary.