Former idol group member stars in the new commercial, set at a Japanese summer festival.
McDonald’s in Japan has introduced a new item, the Cheese Bacon Potato Pie, available for a limited time. McDonald’s in Japan is known for its variety of pies, including the popular Bacon Potato Pie, first released in 1990. This new version includes two types of melted cheese – Cheddar and Gouda – along with creamy potatoes, chopped onions, and smoky bacon.
The cheese adds extra flavor and gives the crust a golden color.
A new commercial promotes this limited-edition pie, featuring Mai Shiraishi, a singer, model, actress, and former member of the idol group Nogizaka46. The commercial is set at a Japanese summer festival, where Shiraishi plays a stall owner selling the pies. She encourages a festival-goer to try the new pie, saying “tabete bikkuri” (“eat it and you’ll be surprised”), and performs a dance move typical of a Bon Odori (Obon Dance) Festival.
The festival-goer is pleasantly surprised after tasting the pie, and the commercial ends with the melody of “Tanko Bushi,” a song traditionally used in Bon dances. In a twist, the lyrics are changed to “Cheese ga deta deta” (“The cheese has come out”) instead of the usual “Tsuki ga deta deta” (“The moon has come out”).
The commercial will air nationwide from July 30, with the Cheese Bacon Potato Pies available from July 31. Priced at 190 yen (US$1.24), they will be on the menu until the end of August.