kodomo tencho
The definition of “kodomo tencho” is a child store manager. “kodomo” means a child and “tencho” means a store manager in Japanese. “Kodomo tencho” is in a TV commercial series of Toyota Motor Corporation. A child called Seishiro Kato is performing as a child store manager in the TV commercials.
“Kodomo tencho” explains the tax reduction and subsidy systems for buying a car to a customer, by using some childlike examples. The systems are very difficult to understand. His explanation in the TV commercial helped customers to understand the systems easily.
There is a punch line at the end of the TV commercial. “Kodomo tencho” is scolded by his mother and sister for his faults, though he is a store manager in the TV commercial. The TV commercial makes itself not only serious, but also funny. As a result, “Kodomo tencho” was the object of all Japanese people’s attention after Toyota Motor Corporation broadcast the commercial from April, 5, 2009 and it was one of the most popular TV commercials in 2009 in Japan. Also, “kodomo tencho” was nominated for the top 10 ranking of vogue-word in 2009.
The child in the picture is Seishiro Kato who is “kodomo tencho”. A one of the reasons why the TV commercial became popular is that Seishiro Kato is very cute, and his performance is wonderful.
If you would like to watch some TV commercials of “kodomo tencho”, here is a link to them on YouTube: