A gigantic billboard in the form of a chocolate bar was unveiled Tuesday at Meiji Seika Kaisha confectionary factory in Takatsuki, Osaka Prefecture, ahead of Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14. It is customary in Japan for women to give chocolates to men on Valentine’s Day. Meiji Seika Kaisha has applied to Guinness World Records for the billboard which 166 meters in width and 28m in height, to be registered as the world’s biggest advertising board made of plastic. The giant billboard consists of 42 plastic blocks which look like chocolate blocks and is placed near the JR Tokaido Line and the Hankyu Kyoto Line running nearby. The billboard will not be missed by the train passengers. The company will light up the billboard, dubbed Big Miruchi at night between Feb. 11 and 14.
Founded in 1916 as a manufacturer of biscuits and caramels, Meiji Seika Kaisha Ltd. is one of Japan’s leading confectioners. The company manufactures a wide variety of products, ranging from chocolate and snack foods to antibiotics and agricultural chemicals. Meiji sought to establish a competitive advantage right from the start by being the first company to introduce chocolate snacks, bars, and candies, all of which quickly became a standard part of the Japanese diet. These products soon were followed by other snack and health-related items.