Mr. Sparkle (ミスタースパーコル, Misutā Supākoru) is a Japanese brand of dishwashing detergent, notable for its mascot, which bears an uncanny resemblance to Homer Simpson. This quirky design caught the attention of fans when it was featured in The Simpsons episode “The Springfield Connection.”

In the episode, Homer takes Bart and Lisa to the Springfield Dump to dispose of an old Christmas tree, where they stumble upon a box of Mr. Sparkle detergent. The family is startled to discover that the mascot on the box looks eerily similar to Homer, with its round face, stubbled chin, and signature expression. This leads to an amusing moment of confusion as they try to unravel the bizarre connection.

As it turns out, the resemblance was no accident. The design of Mr. Sparkle was the result of a joint venture between two Japanese companies: Matsumura Fishworks and Tamaribuchi Heavy Manufacturing Concern. In an unexpected twist of branding, the two companies combined their individual mascots—a fish and a lightbulb—to create the odd yet memorable Mr. Sparkle. The fusion of these two elements somehow ended up looking strikingly like Homer Simpson, much to the delight (and confusion) of The Simpsons audience.