Debate Grows Over "Chiikawa" Movie Bonus Stickers Being Resold
Listen to the story
The Japanese movie "Chiikawa: The Secret of Mermaid Island" is causing debate online.
The movie gives every ticket buyer a special bonus sticker as a gift. Fans usually collect these stickers because each one is different.
However, some people have started buying many tickets just to get the stickers, then reselling them online for profit.
This has upset many fans, who feel it is unfair and takes away the fun of collecting.
Japanese writer Osamu Suzuki commented on the issue. He said that giving out bonus items with tickets is not a bad type of marketing.
According to Suzuki, the real problem is not the bonus system itself, but the people who buy items only to resell them.
This kind of reselling practice has become common in Japan for popular movies, toys, and merchandise.
Meanwhile, a new Chiikawa merchandise item has also appeared: a useful tote bag sold through capsule toy machines.
The bag comes in five different designs, all based on the "mermaid island" story from the movie. It is large enough to fit an A4-sized paper.
Chiikawa is a very popular Japanese character franchise about small, soft-looking creatures.
One viewer, known as nyaro, wrote a movie review online. The reviewer said the film's message is good for children as a moral lesson.
However, the reviewer added that it may not suit adult viewers, and noted that no one seems to talk about a strange feeling connected to a character named Shima Jiro.
Vocabulary10 words
- bonus
- an extra thing you get for free
- reselling
- selling something again to make money
- unfair
- not right or not equal
- marketing
- ways a company sells or promotes a product
- merchandise
- products made about a movie, show, or character
- capsule toy
- a small toy inside a plastic ball from a vending machine
- popular
- liked by many people
- review
- a written opinion about a movie or product
- franchise
- a series of connected movies, shows, or products
- moral lesson
- a message about right and wrong
Quiz
Answer key
1. People resell them for profit instead of collecting 2. People who resell items after buying them 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The movie gives every ticket buyer a special _____ sticker as a gift.
Some people have started buying many tickets just to get the stickers, then _____ them online for profit.
This has upset many fans, who feel it is _____ and takes away the fun of collecting.
Osamu Suzuki said that giving out bonus items with tickets is not a bad type of _____.
According to Suzuki, the real problem is the people who buy items only to _____ them.
A new Chiikawa _____ item has also appeared: a useful tote bag.
The bag is sold through _____ machines.
Chiikawa is a very _____ Japanese character franchise.
The reviewer said the film's message is good for children as a _____.
The reviewer added that the movie may not suit adult viewers.
Discussion questions
- Do you think reselling bonus items like stickers is unfair to other fans? Why or why not?
- Have you ever collected special items given with tickets or products? What was your experience?
- Do you agree with Osamu Suzuki that bonus marketing itself is not the problem?
- Would you buy a movie ticket just to get a bonus item, even if you didn't want to watch the film?