JAPAN: A THREE METRE TALL MODEL OF DAVID BECKHAM MADE OF MILK CHOCOLATE ATTRACTS LARGE CROWDS AS IT GOES ON DISPLAY IN A STREET IN TOKYO.

Record ID: 190200

  • Title: JAPAN: A THREE METRE TALL MODEL OF DAVID BECKHAM MADE OF MILK CHOCOLATE ATTRACTS LARGE CROWDS AS IT GOES ON DISPLAY IN A STREET IN TOKYO.
  • Date: 16th December 2002
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (DECEMBER 16, 2002) (REUTERS) 1. UNVEILING OF THE CHOCOLATE STATUE OF DAVID BECKHAM 2. CLOSE UP OF THE FACE OF THE CHOCOLATE STATUE 3. WOMEN IN CROWD TRYING TO TAKE PICTURES WITH CAMERAS AND MOBILE PHONES 4. CLOSE UP OF A CAMERA-EQUIPPED MOBILE PHONE 5. TILT UP OF CHOCOLATE STATUE 6. WIDE OF TOKYO INTERSECTION 7. (SOUNDBITE)(Japanese) KINYA MURAKAMI, MANAGER, FOOD MARKETING DEPARTMENT, MEIJI SEIKA SAYING "He's popular, ever since the World Cup. But its not only the World Cup or soccermania. He's got a warm-hearted image, especially as a family man; some-one who take care of his family. And we thought it would fit the image of our chocolate almonds." 8. CLOSE UP OF CHOCOLATE BECKHAM 9. (SOUNDBITE)(Japanese) MURAKAMI SAYING: "He tastes of sweet, sweet chocolate," 10. (SOUNDBITE)(Japanese) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN PASSER-BY SAYING "He's just so handsome, kind-hearted and cute" 11. (SOUNDBITE)(Japanese) KENICHIRO ARAI, STUDENT, SAYING "He's got a smile as sweet as chocolate. I am quite jealous," 12. (SOUNDBITE)(Japanese) KENICHIRO ARAI, STUDENT, SAYING "But he is quite well balanced as a person and quite cute really" 13. CROWDS TAKING PICTURES 14. SCREEN WITH BECKHAM COMMERCIAL TOKYO, JAPAN (DECEMBER 17, 2002) (REUTERS) 15. TOKYO SUBWAY STATION 16. TRAIN LEAVES TO UNVEIL POSTER OF DAVID BECKHAM AND WIFE VICTORIA 17. CLOSE UP OF DAVID BECKHAM AND WIFE VICTORIA IN POSTER Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 31st December 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
  • Country: Japan
  • Reuters ID: LVA7Z74USALXNN6FXIQ55ZUUV89B
  • Story Text: He's already melted the hearts of his Japanese fans.

    Now England soccer captain David Beckham is set to tantalise
    their taste buds as he stands three metres (10 feet) tall and
    made of milk chocolate in the middle of a busy intersection in
    downtown Tokyo.



    Memories of this year's soccer World Cup may have
    faded and copycat mohican haircuts grown out, but Japan's love
    affair with Beckham lives on.

    Trailed by screaming fans throughout his visit to Japan
    for the tournament in June, the footballing idol remains a hot
    media topic with magazines, books, Web sites and television
    programmes reporting his every move. Now manufacturers have
    got into the act.

    "He's popular, ever since the World Cup. But its not only
    the World Cup or soccermania. He's got a warm-hearted image,
    especially as a family man; some-one who take care of his
    family. And we thought it would fit the image of our chocolate
    almonds," said Kinya Murakami, the producer of Meiji Seika,
    the chocolate manufacturer that commissioned the statue for an
    advertising campaign that kicked off on Tuesday.

    Meiji Seika will show the star nibbling on its chocolate
    almond candies in the company's commercials and posters.

    "He tastes of sweet, sweet chocolate," said Murakami when
    asked what Beckham tasted like.

    Those fans, however, won't be able to grab a piece of the
    star.

    The statue -- made of several thousand chocolate bars --
    is not for sale. It will be on display until Christmas before
    being relocated to a safer environment.

    For now, the chocolate Beckham is protected in a glass
    case and guarded by at least two permanent security officers.

    But that hasn't stopped fans from drooling over the
    statue.

    "He's got a smile as sweet as chocolate," said
    twentysomething Kenichiro Arai, who came to the trendy
    shopping district with his girlfriend, Akiko Otsuka "I am
    quite jealous," he added.

    "But he is quite well balanced as a person and quite cute
    really," Otsuka butted in.

    It is this kind of appeal that has other Japanese
    companies hoping to harness Beckham's appeal and swamping his
    agency, SFX, with offers for television commercials.

    In another commercial, a formally dressed Beckham and his
    pop star wife Victoria exchange a kiss in a commercial for TBC
    beauty salons, the first company to win the coveted prize of a
    joint appearance by the couple anywhere in the world.

    Beckham's reputation as a devoted husband and father has
    helped boost his image among women in Japan, where open
    displays of affection between married couples are rare.



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