Takumi Kitamura talks about summer festivals. "I once caught too many goldfish while scooping them up, and was told to stop (laughs)."

■Fuyumi Sakamoto x Riho Yoshioka x Takumi Kitamura Enjoy the summer in the new Clear Asahi commercial! “I never thought I’d have the opportunity to dance Bon Odori with Mr. Sakamoto in my life” (Yoshioka)

The new Clear Asahi TV commercial, “Let’s sing and drink in the summer,” starring Takumi Kitamura, Fuyumi Sakamoto, and Riho Yoshioka, will begin airing on July 5th.

In the spring of 2024, Clear Asahi will revamp its brand communication to “Let’s sing. Clear Asahi.” Through the familiar CM song “Clear Boogie Woogie (original song: Tokyo Boogie Woogie),” which begins with “Clear Asahi is cold at home,” the brand aims to evoke the desire to toast with Clear Asahi and to make the brand loved by more people.

This time, “Clear Boogie Woogie” has evolved into “Clear Boogie Woogie Ondo” with the desire to liven up the Japanese summer with “Clear Asahi”. The “easy-to-drink deliciousness” of “Clear Asahi” is a perfect companion to a summer toast, and the hope is that people will feel cheerful and bright with “Clear Boogie Woogie Ondo” during the hot summer.

■A new commercial featuring Sakamoto Fuyumi, Yoshioka Riho, and Kitamura Takumi enjoying their own summer!
The new commercial depicts a scene in which singing Clear Boogie Woogie makes you want to toast with Clear Asahi even during the hot summer.

Sakamoto and Yoshioka are singing and dancing to “Clear Boogie Woogie Ondo” under the refreshing summer sky. Sweating in the summer sun, Kitamura takes out a cold “Clear Asahi” from the refrigerator while humming “Clear Boogie Woogie”. Pay attention to the refreshing expressions of the three people enjoying “Clear Asahi” in the hot summer.

In addition to the TV commercial, original web videos will also be released on YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and other web media from July 5th. Also, the full version of “Clear Boogie Woogie Ondo”, which was only a part of the commercial, will be released.

This summer, sing and dance to “Clear Boogie Woogie Ondo” and enjoy “Clear Asahi.”

■ Filming episodes
◇Fuyumi Sakamoto, Riho Yoshioka
This time, with a summer theme, Sakamoto and Yoshioka tried their hand at Bon Odori under the guidance of a teacher who is a special advisor to the Japan Bon Odori Association. The Bon Odori is easy for anyone to dance, and the two quickly mastered the choreography. In preparation for filming, they even earnestly asked the teacher for advice on the timing of when to start dancing and how to dance more gracefully and with more movement. With each take, the two checked the rhythm together, and in the end, they performed a perfectly synchronized dance.

During the drinking scene, the two of them said, “It tasted even better after dancing,” and with natural smiles and expressions of enjoying delicious “Clear Asahi,” it was a one-take success. The staff also praised them, saying, “Your expressions were so good that we all laughed together!”

◇Takumi Kitamura
The setting for Kitamura’s summer is by a window overlooking the blue sky. Last time, he said that it was his first time shooting a commercial for alcohol, and he struggled, but this time, being his second time, he was used to it and the pace went well. In response to the director’s request to “make it more exciting,” Kitamura, who plays an everyday persona during a hot summer, commented, “It was difficult last time, so I’ve been doing some research.” The director also gave his stamp of approval for the facial expression drinking “Clear Asahi,” saying, “That’s a great expression!” and immediately gave the OK. He perfectly expressed the refreshing drinkability of “Clear Asahi” to be enjoyed under the midsummer sun.

■ Interview with Fuyumi Sakamoto and Riho Yoshioka
Q:How did you feel filming the commercial?
Yoshioka:We did the Bon Odori in front of summery cumulonimbus clouds and fireworks, and it was a fun shoot that allowed us to get a taste of midsummer early. It was a truly precious opportunity in my life to do the Bon Odori with Sakamoto-san. In the web version, there were movements where we held up fans and Clear Asahi cans as if to join in with Sakamoto-san’s dancing, which was fun to do like a supporting actor.
Sakamoto:I felt rejuvenated together with Yoshioka-san, and it was great to get a head start on summer and drink beer while filming. Filming with Yoshioka-san was like a dream come true for me, and I’m looking forward to watching the commercial on TV. As we practiced together, we gradually got into sync, and I was so happy when we landed on a pose.
Q: Do you have any tips for this dance?
Yoshioka:I think the best thing to do is drink Clear Asahi, feel happy and excited, and dance to your heart’s content.
Sakamoto:We performed a basic dance, so I think it would be fun if you could watch it and then arrange it however you like.
Q: Is there a stall that you think is essential for a summer festival?
Yoshioka:I’ve loved candy apples since I was a child, and recently I’ve been seeing a lot of candy apple specialty stores around town, so I often go there. I also love muscat candy, because they’re small and easy to eat. In games, I like target practice. I would stretch my arms out as far as I could and stubbornly play.
Sakamoto: When I was a child, there were candy apples, but since I was born in Kansai, there were always takoyaki stalls. They’re delicious to eat while blowing on them when it’s hot. And I also like to have a little beer.
Yoshioka: It’s the best! Beer goes well with takoyaki. I’m glad that we’re from the same Kansai region as Sakamoto-san.
Q: Is there anything you like to do when it’s hot?
Yoshioka: Sleeping with a pillow that has an ice pack on it. In the summer, my head gets hot, so I always keep a pillow with an ice pack on me.
Sakamoto: When I play golf in the summer, I usually wear gloves, a towel around my neck, and a parasol to avoid getting sunburned, but it is at times like these that I want to play in short sleeves and shorts without worrying about getting sunburned.
Q: Is there anything you want to do this summer?
Yoshioka: Paragliding! A long time ago, I went to Australia and rode in a hot air balloon, which was my dream, and I was really moved, so I think I have a strong desire to see the view from high in the sky. I would also like to try skydiving.
Sakamoto: I really want to drink as much as I want without worrying about my body, calories, or what other people think! (laughs) In summer, edamame is the perfect snack.
■ Interview with Takumi Kitamura
Q: How was it filming the commercial?
I was happy to be working with the same team again, including the director, and I think I was able to do a better job of “acting to convey the deliciousness of beer while drinking it,” which was a first for me last time. This time it was summer, and drinking beer in the summer is something I look forward to every year, so I acted while remembering that atmosphere. I like to research, and the drinking scenes are not just “delicious” but also have various nuances of flavor, so I think they were good subjects for research. I think I got the impression that I was able to act even more freely this time than last time.
Q: Is there a situation in the hot summer when you would like to toast with Clear Asahi?
Recently, we’ve been receiving gifts at our live shows (DISH//) and drinking after the show, but our favorite place to work in the summer is definitely festivals, so after our set I’d like to toast with my friends and eat some festival food and drink Clear Asahi.
Q: Is there a stall that you think is essential for a summer festival?
I’ve loved baby castella since I was a child, and I love that the ones sold at the stalls are in paper bags, which makes it seem like something out of a movie. At festivals, I’d first buy a baby castella, then carefully halve it in half along the seam in my mouth and eat it, something I’ve been doing since I was a child… I still love it. I like the old-fashioned, simple feel. As for games, I think the one I played a lot as a child was yo-yo fishing. I was really good at fishing for things and goldfish scooping. I once caught too many goldfish and was told to stop (laughs).
Q: Is there anything you like to do when it’s hot?
When it’s hot, I really want to cook stews at home. When I’m at home on my days off, I want to cook food that I can take my time to make. I like summery dishes like chilled Chinese noodles, but I’d like to spend a long time cooking stews and drinking at the same time… I’m the kind of person who likes to do things at the same time, so this is just right. I want to spend a day not worrying about time, like drinking Clear Asahi while stewing, or going to check on the pot while watching anime. This year, I’m thinking of making a lot of char siu and opening a ramen shop at home (laughs).