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In episode 4, there is an ad for "強力わかくさ" or "strong green/fresh grass."

![What do you hide?](https://i.stack.imgur.com/JIumy.jpg)

Is this a reference/parody to something (out-of series reference), like the
["Dogs Playing Pool"](https://i.stack.imgur.com/zN2p2.jpg) in the
[background](https://i.stack.imgur.com/hlwxX.gif) of episode 3 at the pool
hall? If so, to what?


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2013-08-10T18:10:06.030
4735
2023-04-28T18:54:37.543
2023-04-28T18:54:37.543
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question
the-eccentric-family
Is the "wakakusa" ad a references to something?


The pose itself seems to be a reference to a similar billboard ad from the
American Sci-fi movie [Blade
Runner](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade_Runner). In this ad, a woman
dressed as a Geisha is holding a pill in a similar way to the image above. The
dress is similar for both characters, as is the object being held.

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/tpStAm.png)

You can watch the ad [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ17UsZ0DEQ).

The ad plays several times throughout the movie. The image is followed by the
text 強力わかもと, which is not exactly the same as the Uchouten Kazoku text but is
close enough to be fairly sure this is the reference. I'm not sure what わかくさ
means here. It could be 若草 (green/fresh grass) but my best guess is that they
changed the name just enough that it would avoid violating copyrights but
still be recognizable.

The Blade Runner ad is itself a reference to the product [強力わかもと (Strong
Wakamoto)](http://www.wakamoto-pharm.co.jp/english/), which is a
gastrointestinal drug to aid with digestion produced by [わかもと製薬 (Wakamoto
Pharmaceutical)](http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%8F%E3%81%8B%E3%82%82%E3%81%A8%E8%A3%BD%E8%96%AC)
(ja.wikipedia link).

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/0zLgq.gif)


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2013-08-10T18:35:42.233
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2013-08-10T18:52:15.347
2013-08-10T18:52:15.347
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answer