Taoyuan Airport Quarantine Dog's Fierce Poster Goes Viral in Japan, Taiwanese Homophonic Pun Sparks Discussion

Central News Agency

(Central News Agency reporter Wu Rui-chi, Taoyuan Airport, 4th) A Japanese traveler posted a promotional poster of a fierce-looking quarantine dog at Taoyuan Airport with a homophonic pun on social media, sparking heated discussions among Taiwanese and Japanese netizens. The Taoyuan Airport Quarantine Station said today that they hope to attract travelers' attention through quarantine dogs and will change different promotional materials according to holidays or specific events.

A Japanese traveler visited Taiwan and posted on the social media platform X, saying, "Taiwan's quarantine dogs are getting more and more amazing." The post included a promotional poster of a quarantine dog with a wrinkled nose and fierce eyes, along with the title "I吸YOU" (I suck you), which attracted nearly 800,000 views in just 5 days. The Japanese traveler even asked, "How do you pronounce it, is it like smell?" Many Taiwanese netizens responded online, saying it was Taiwan's favorite homophonic pun, sparking heated discussions among Taiwanese and Japanese netizens.

Wu Szu-hung, station chief of the Taoyuan Airport Quarantine Station, Taoyuan Branch, Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, Ministry of Agriculture, said in a media interview that travelers will see many different promotional materials from various units when entering the country. To keep travelers' attention on animal and plant quarantine topics, the Taoyuan Airport Quarantine Station uses more unique or eye-catching methods for promotional materials to remind travelers.

Wu Szu-hung pointed out that previous posters were more traditional, perhaps showing many photos of quarantined items, such as apples and shredded pork. However, people's attention span is shorter now, so the quarantine station hopes to let travelers know "what's being done here" through eye-catching dog pictures. For example, the photo taken by the public is posted in the hand luggage inspection area, so travelers will know that the X-ray machine is inspecting related items.

Speaking of the idea behind using fierce photos of quarantine dogs, Wu Szu-hung said that colleagues felt that this topic had been promoted for a long time, and wondered if everyone had heard it. Therefore, they decided to use a "more severe tone" and add high-contrast EVA-style text reminders to look at "this matter is actually very serious" from a different angle. Bringing prohibited items will result in a fine, and travelers need to pay attention.

Many travelers are curious about how these photos were taken. Wu Szu-hung said that dog handlers are close partners with the dogs, and they often record the quarantine dogs. They have many photos of dogs on their phones, plus some fiercer photos of quarantine dogs playing or waiting to see a doctor. The station then asked the dog handlers to provide suitable photos for promotional materials.

Wu Szu-hung said that there are currently 25 quarantine dogs stationed at Taoyuan Airport. The poster posted by Japanese netizens has been in use for nearly 1 year. The quarantine station will change different promotional materials according to the three major festivals or specific events. In the past, they also used more lively and cute photos of dogs, such as the "Quarantine Fairy" during the Mid-Autumn Festival or other appearances. They will also use different photos for promotion in different areas to attract attention and help travelers understand related issues. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150504

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