The first phase of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) will be fully operational on Jan. 31, 2020.

An Open House will be held on Jan. 11, 2020 for the public to have a sneak peek of the line and its stations.

Speaking of the TEL, you may recall the beautifully-made anime commercial for the line by acclaimed Japanese director, Makoto Shinkai of Your Name fame.

"Sorry, I can't make it to the reunion. I'm in Singapore right now."

While Singaporeans were mesmerised or amused at how romanticised Singapore was in the eyes of the acclaimed director, Japanese viewers started seeing the ad in a different light.

The commercial has now become a copypasta - a viral message replicated, sent and posted on various social media platforms.

If you've not seen it, the animated short story revolves around the female protagonist Ayano, who is an engineer.

At the beginning of the video, we are introduced to Ayano, who is apologising to her classmates for not being able to attend a class reunion, as she’s currently in Singapore.

Her reply was then seen by some of her classmates who are already eating and drinking at the reunion event.

Ayano continues on her soliloquy, saying that she's constructing the Thomson-East Coast Line which will span across the country.

As much as she misses home and her past, Ayano mentions that she will put aside those feelings, and continue to work hard at constructing the MRT line, as it will deliver unforgettable memories to someone, someday.

Awww.

Plot holes

Some Japanese viewers found that her classmates contacting Ayano only on the day of the reunion itself a little strange.

"The first thing that came to my mind was why didn't they try to contact her until the day of the class reunion itself?"

"She totally cancelled on them last minute."

At the same time, Ayano's narration lacks a clear break between what she wrote in her text message and her own thoughts, which may lead to viewers thinking that she sent a long message to her classmates, detailing her grandiose excuse for missing the gathering.

"I'm wondering if there's really anyone who would send such emails during the event itself."

Meme infamy

These plot holes turned the moving script into something of a joke between netizens.

Sometimes, it's just a simple reference to the ad:

#忘年会スルー

ごめん、忘年会には行けません。いま、シンガポールにいます。 pic.twitter.com/fvtrXGOFql

— ねここねこ (@necoconeco08) December 10, 2019

Others, including celebrities, would quote the ad when they're actually in Singapore themselves.

ごめん、同級会には行けません。いま、シンガポールにいます。この国を代表する観光地を私は作っています。……相当に、水の出が激しいけれど、でも今はもう少しだけ、知らないふりをします。私の作るこの観光地も、きっといつか誰かがTwitterに載せるから。 pic.twitter.com/hMNfLR3NwC

— 瀬戸弘司 Koji Seto (@eguri89) December 2, 2019

ごめん、同級会にはいけません。今、シンガポールにいます。この国を南北に縦断する地下鉄を作っています。......本当は、あの頃が恋しいけれど、でも今はもう少しだけ、知らないふりをします。私の作る地下鉄も、きっといつか誰かの青春を乗せるから。 pic.twitter.com/piktU3QDC4

— やしろあずき (@yashi09) August 26, 2019

Some even copied the entire script, and sent it to their friends, mocking the ridiculousness of the extent of Ayano's explanation over a text message.

There's even a Twitter bot that regularly tweets the same script daily:

ごめん、同級会には行けません。いま、シンガポールにいます。この国を南北に縦断する地下鉄を私は作っています。……本当は、あの頃が恋しいけれど、でも今はもう少しだけ、知らないふりをします。私の作るこの地下鉄も、きっといつか誰かの青春を乗せるから。

— ごめん、同級会には行けません。いま、シンガポールにいます。bot (@Singapore_bot) December 13, 2019

So if you see people repeating the same chunk of text about not being able to make it to a certain class reunion because they're in Singapore, you know why.

While we can't say the meme has created an increase in tourists rushing to Singapore to use that one joke, it's nonetheless endearing.

A shame that we can't actually use that excuse, though.

 Top image via Tom Watanabe's Youtube video

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