creative expressions in advertising

Tokyo is full of branding and advertising, and every now and then, a poster or video screen catches my eye. I don't feel comfortable calling advertising and branding themselves "forms of art", but I think it's undeniable that some very creative people are often involved in this line of work. Sometimes, the material they produce manages to go beyond the GET EXCITED FOR PRODUCT, NOW level and unfolds its appeal on a more abstract, conceptual level. This is often true for branding or awareness campaigns (or advertising for real high-end luxury products like perfume) which are less concerned with straight-up selling a specific product but transporting images and messages that resonate with people (or rather, the intended target audience). They tend to allow for a wider range of creative expression. For example, I like the iichiko posters. They're advertising for a brand of shochu, an alcoholic spirit made from sweet potatoes. I've never bought a bottle of iichiko, and I don't intend to.…