Idol Bromide Business Cards

There is a casual bar I often stop by when I go to Susukino. I'm not a Sapporo resident, so I only go about once a year if I'm lucky, but I've been going long enough to know the place since it first opened.

One day when I entered the bar, a female staff member called out to me,
“Welcome! This is your first time here, right? I’m [Name]. Nice to meet you!”
I think her friendly demeanor, which wasn't overly familiar, and her proactive approach to customer service were truly wonderful.

However, this is actually the fifth timeI’ve met you.

Thinking back, there have been other times when people I’ve met before have said “Nice to meet you” to me.
When I was a municipal employee after graduating, I met a staff member from another municipality who was in the same group as me during initial training, only to have them say it again when we were in the same group for a different training session.
In the summer of my third year as a working professional, I happened to run into a senior from my university seminar while out on a field assignment.
When I bumped into a vendor who comes to my workplace almost every day at an izakaya.

Isn't that a bit too often?

I know, I know—my face is unremarkable. Eyes that are neither big nor small, a nose that is neither high nor low, and eyebrows that aren't as thick as Jun Matsumoto's. For instance, if I were a heinous criminal and someone witnessed my crime, the composite sketch created from their testimony would surely be incredibly vague.

Even so, isn't it the other person's fault for forgetting me over and over again? Their memory is like a retro game cartridge that loses its save data immediately. If they were aware of that and asked apologetically, “Um, have we met before...?” I wouldn't mind at all, but they just assume from the start that it's our first time meeting. What on earth am I supposed to do?

It has been three years since I quit my job as a civil servant and started working as a freelance writer. Even though my work is basically completed entirely on the internet, I decided to make business cards, thinking I might need them eventually.

Coming up with a design from scratch is difficult. So, I decided to look for inspiration among the business cards I had received so far. A simple white background with a simple font lacks playfulness and is uninteresting, and the impression it leaves is weak. Conversely, if I prioritize impact too much and it becomes cluttered, making it hard to read, it would be counterproductive. Now, what should I do?

A certain business card caught my eye. It had a white background with a Mincho font—a very simple look—but it had a portrait photo next to the name.

This is it!!!!!

A business card is a greeting paper handed out not only to provide one's information but also to make an impression—in other words, to be remembered. Have you ever looked back at a business card you received and opened and closed the drawers of your memory, thinking, “Hmm, when and where did I meet this person?” No matter how much your name, affiliation, and contact information are listed, if it doesn't link to anything in your mind, the business card you received is nothing more than a risk of personal information leakage.

That’s where the portrait photo comes in. And it wouldn't be fun if it were just a stiff, formal ID photo. Why not make a business card with a one-of-a-kind, peerless, and thrilling photo that the recipient won't be able to forget even if they wanted to?

Thinking that there is no time like the present, I contacted the president of the printing company who made my business cards when I was a civil servant, and an acquaintance who works as a freelance photographer. What a coincidence that two people I could rely on came to mind when I thought about wanting to make a photo business card.

We decided on a date and time for the shoot and meeting, and I also had a preliminary consultation with the photographer. It seems they wanted to align our images regarding the intent behind the photos. It would certainly be awkward if we just shot blindly and it ended up feeling like 'this isn't what I wanted.' We discussed the purpose of the photos, the atmosphere of the shooting location, and how I wanted to be perceived.

On the day of the shoot, I arrived at the location with my black hair perfectly styled. The coworking space, a renovated elementary school, was perfect for taking various types of photos. There were pure white walls and windows with lace curtains that looked cool and transparent. If you went outside, there were retro exterior walls and raw, natural greenery. Standing, sitting, looking right, looking left, smiling, and looking serious. The shoot progressed as the two of us discussed this and that. I didn't feel bad when I was told, 'Arlon-san, you look better when you smile!', but I sealed my smile because I was afraid I would end up with a weird, goofy grin that might lack dignity. It was the first time in my life I had someone take photos of me looking all polished, and while the awkwardness was extraordinary, I couldn't deny that there was a hint of pleasure in it.

After the shoot, I parted ways with the photographer and met up with the company president at the printing firm. Even though he's the president, we've met, talked, and shared drinks so often that he feels more like an uncle to me.
The meeting with the president felt friendly yet maintained a serious tone. The front side would be entirely covered by the photo, with my name placed as an accent. All detailed information, such as contact details, would go on the back. Since I hadn't received the data from the shoot yet, I just picked a random photo of Tsuyoshi Domoto that I liked from the internet and had a sample made with that. It was so funny that we both burst out laughing. It was obviously an idol bromide because it used a photo of an idol. At the very least, the impact was perfect. The exciting atmosphere, like when you're planning a school festival booth, filled the reception area from start to finish.
A few days later, I sent the photo data to the president, and all that was left was to wait for the finished product.

A few months after the shoot and the meeting, the finished business cards arrived. I took one out of the box.

It's totally an idol bromide.

It's cringey. So cringey. There's a limit to self-obsession. Plus, I took the photos during the time I was at my heaviest, so my face is round. And this ennui-filled, serious look. It's just too cringey.

Looking at it again like this, my face feels like it might turn into a flamethrower, but I had more than enough satisfaction that I had created what I wanted to create. I am invincible now that I have completed my ideal business card with the help of two people. I won't let anyone say 'nice to meet you' for the second time ever again. I vowed that from now on, I would literally pierce my name into anyone I hand this card to.

Since the business cards arrived before the Sosaku Taisho 2024 awards ceremony (Arlon won the Best Reviewer Award), I was immediately blessed with an opportunity to use them. I went around handing out my idol bromide business cards to everyone I met.

And what do you know? It was a huge hit.

'Wow, that's amazing!' and 'That's hilarious!' were the storms of praise I received. Everyone I exchanged cards with was involved in creative work, so the cards I received were also full of personality and variety. However, I was the only one handing out an idol bromide business card. I can say the plan was a great success. The idol bromide-style business card is a force to be reckoned with.

There is no such thing as a person without personality. However, I think there is such a thing as being hard to recognize. Being remembered by someone seems easy, but it is actually very difficult. Especially if it's the first time you're meeting them.

In such cases, you just need to cover it with creativity. Even if you have a featureless face, as long as you know how to make yourself shine in your own way, you will remain in people's memories. And the pleasure of being able to do that is irreplaceable.

Remaining in someone's memory. That isn't about your appearance, but perhaps it connects to the 'character' of someone who would seriously go out of their way to make a business card like an idol bromide.

After my business cards were finished, I started getting asked by people I was meeting for the first time, "We've met before, haven't we?" Since I show my face on both note and social media, they probably just feel like they've met me. It's bad for my heart, so I wish they would stop.

(The End)