TOKYO — With the state nearly broke, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is touting a money-making idea to help California reopen its Tokyo trade office: starring in a Japanese commercial.
While leading a four-day trade mission here, Schwarzenegger said Wednesday that he may accept one of the many multimillion-dollar offers he receives to make commercials for Japanese television.
But instead of pocketing the money, he would plow it into an office that would push California's business interests.
Schwarzenegger is a familiar figure in Japan, having appeared in several television ads while a movie star. The national nickname for him is "Schwa-chan," with the last part meant to convey the sort of affection a parent feels for a child.
As part of California's current tourism and marketing campaign, Schwarzenegger is displayed on a towering billboard near the Tokyo hotel where much of the California delegation is staying. Clusters of passing Japanese stop briefly to gawk at the image.
In a budget-cutting move last year, the state closed its 12 overseas trade offices. Money is still so tight that California cannot afford to reopen the offices without the sort of private donation he envisions, the governor said.
"We don't have any money in the budget," Schwarzenegger said. "I feel like always when we talk about the budget and there's a program I want to fund but we don't have the money, I feel like pulling out my own wallet and putting in money."
Schwarzenegger described how the plan could work during a 10-minute interview with California reporters. The session came after he taped a separate interview with the Tokyo Broadcast System for a nightly news show that reaches more than 15 million people.
He would "do a quick spot and make a few million dollars and take that money and open up an office and not have to worry about our budget," Schwarzenegger said.
"That's really my mission.... Maybe in the next six months I will be able to accomplish that.... It's quick money. You work for a day and the trade office opens. You have enough money for several years. That's really the way to go."
He continued: "All along while I've been doing this job, the offers are coming," inquiring if he is "still interested in doing this for us or that. If I get a really good one that makes sense and ties us together -- California and Japan -- there's maybe some meat on that chicken."
