This is an old one I know, but I still crack up every time I see a can or bottle of Pocari Sweat. I used to buy this stuff at the Super 88 grocery in South Boston. The taste is not up to my standards, and swallowing something named “sweat” always lights up my gag reflex.
Has to taste better than the ‘mare sweat’ from ‘A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To The Forum’.
I’m right there with you, Dave. I first discovered Pocari Sweat in Tokyo in 1991. I was traveling with my brother for 10 days in Japan. At that time, Japanese consumer marketing was obsessed with using English to earn a premium. So, we had great fun finding the most ridiculous English usage gaffs, so Pocari Sweat hit the radar. There was some other beverage that “makes you pleasant,” etc.
I still get a Pocari Sweat from the vending machine at Narita upon arrival (it has been a while), and drink it on the bus to the city, while listening to the recorded voice say in a British accent “please do not use mobile phones on the bus, as it annoys the neighbors.”