Face of superstar actor is emblazoned on supermarket lettuce in VERY unsettling marketing ploy

NewsWorld News THE unsettling face of a beloved Japanese actor has been emblazoned across 10,000 supermarket lettuces in a bizarre marketing ploy. Thousands of shoppers have been left shocked by the unique packaging surrounding the vegetables which show a frowning TV and film star. Japanese film star Tatsuya Fujiwara has put his face to lettuce packages Credit: @AJINOMOTOPARK/X His frowning face is on 10,000 lettuce heads Credit: @AJINOMOTOPARK/X Tatsuya Fujiwara, who is best known for leading roles as Shuya Nanahara in the Battle Royale films and Light Yagami in the Death Note films, is the new lettuce posterboy in Japan. The 44-year-old has agreed to collaborate with Ajinomoto and JA Zen-Noh Nagano in the Nagano Prefecture – Japan‘s largest domestic lettuce producer. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! He is the new face of their “Cook Do Oyster Sauce: Tatsuya Fujiwara’s ‘Buy It Now Lettuce'” campaign. Several supermarkets in the greater Tokyo area and Kansai region have jumped on the initiative and are selling lettuce sold in eye-catching packaging. Tatsuya Fujiwara is the new lettuce posterboy in Japan Credit: Getty Japan are attempting to teach locals about the rising concerns over food waste – particularly in vegetables Credit: @oricon/X And the idea isn’t just based around increasing sales for JA Zen-Noh Nagano, who already account for approximately 60 per cent of Japan’s domestic lettuce production betweensummer ando autumn. They are attempting to teach Japanese people about the rising concerns over food waste – particularly in vegetables. Ajinomoto released shocking statistics revealing more than 60 per cent of people have thrown away lettuce at home because they couldn’t finish it. President and CEO Shigeo Nakamura said: “We don’t know how to eat it other than in a raw salad, so we can’t use up a whole head.” Most read in The Sun Their “Survey on Cooking and Lettuce Consumption in Summer” sparked serious questions over how to change the perception around lettuce waste. Fujiwara’s face is only one part of the plan with Ajinomoto also sharing a QR code on the back of the packages to allow people to view fresh recipes. The “Lettuce Instant Disappearance Recipe” is a new website put together by veggie fans to help them use up the greens in a variety of ways. Some of the meals include chilled rice porridge with shredded lettuce, lettuce dumplings and the strange “instantly disappearing lettuce”. Thousands of shoppers have been left shocked by the unique packaging surrounding the vegetables Credit: @AJINOMOTOPARK/X Describing how he was approached for the lettuce marketing scheme, Fujiwara said he was told by Ajinomoto that ‘lettuce is in crisis’ Credit: Getty The promotional packaging started on July 21 and will continue on until stocks run out. Describing how he was approached for the lettuce marketing scheme, Fujiwara said he was told by Ajinomoto that “lettuce is in crisis”. They then asked if he would lend his face to a new advert to which he happily said yes. Hiroshi Kobayashi, the General Manager of the Production and Sales Department at JA Zen-Noh Nagano, said: “When I first heard about the concept for this project, I was honestly very surprised that Tatsuya Fujiwara would be cooperating with us. “I hope that this eye-catching packaging will encourage many people to enjoy new recipes and fully appreciate the appeal of Nagano Prefecture lettuce. “I sincerely hope that this initiative will encourage everyone to enjoy eating lettuce deliciously and completely, and that it will lead to a reduction in food waste at home.” 1 comment1