'Asagaya Sisters Station'? Train station in Tokyo transforms for comic duo promo

August 31, 2023 (Mainichi Japan)

Japanese version

TOKYO -- A train station in the capital's Suginami Ward is creating a buzz on social media for a promotional tie-in with a famous comedy duo sharing the station's name.

Until the end of September, passengers at East Japan Railway Co. (JR East)'s Asagaya Station will be greeted by large printed photos and banners of the Asagaya Sisters. The decorations are a tie-in with the duo's appearances in commercials for an online reservation system being offered by JR East.

Images of the comedic pair, known for their iconic bob cuts and pink outfits, first graced the station on July 5. They have since adorned a staircase and escalator handrail belts, while a horizontal banner near the ticket gates proclaims the station to be "Asagaya Sisters Station," in both Japanese and English.

JR East is offering a reservation service that allows passengers to board express trains by booking trips online, without having to purchase tickets at the counter. A company official said, "We aimed to create a project that would spark station users' interest in the service while having fun."

(Japanese original by Yusuke Kato, Tokyo Bureau)