(こうこくとう)

こうこくとう
noun
advertising tower; figurehead; poster child
businesscommunicationperson
1. advertising tower; billboard pillar
A tall structure or tower used to display advertisements, typically found in urban areas.
駅前(えきまえ)(おお)きな広告塔(こうこくとう)ある
There is a large advertising tower in front of the station.
(ふる)広告塔(こうこくとう)撤去(てっきょ)された
The old advertising tower was removed.
The advertising towers in the entertainment district are lit up with neon.
2. figurehead; poster child; public face
A person who serves as the public representative of an organization or cause, often implying they are being used mainly for promotional purposes.
(かれ)その団体(だんたい)広告塔(こうこくとう)だ。
He is the figurehead of that organization.
A celebrity was used as a poster child.
詐欺(さぎ)グループ広告塔(こうこくとう)になっていたこと発覚(はっかく)した
It was revealed that he had been serving as the public face of a fraud group.

Usage

The figurative sense (sense 2) is very common in news reporting, especially when discussing celebrities or public figures who lend their name and image to organizations, sometimes unknowingly or for dubious purposes.

Common collocations