Jun Shison and Mizuki Yamashita forget the camera and put on a good face! New "Kirin Hanayoi" commercial released

■ “I like alcohol the most when it makes me feel like I’ve done my best today.” (Yamashita Mizuki)

The new TV commercial for Kirin Beer’s new low-alcohol RTD brand “Kirin Hanayoi,” starring Jun Shison and Mizuki Yamashita, will begin airing nationwide from September 24th.
*Ready to Drink. An alcoholic beverage that can be consumed as is after opening the bottle.

In this commercial, Shison and Yamashita are seen in their natural, real-life state enjoying themselves with friends and colleagues, expressing the good time and good mood that Kirin Hanayoi brings with alcohol.

Shison was filmed in a different location, “inviting friends to his house for drinks,” while Yamashita was filmed in a different location, “drinking at a friend’s house.” The scene where Shison is drinking with friends on a pleasant terrace and having a casual conversation is just like a scene from everyday life. Realistic home drinking talk unfolds.

The song is “Utopia” by imase. This time, a film camera was used to shoot in a documentary style, capturing the raw atmosphere and humanity of enjoying a drink with friends. Forgetting the presence of the camera, pay attention to the real “good faces” of the two enjoying “Kirin Hanayoi”.

[Behind the scenes/on-site report]
◇Jun Shison
There were no set lines prepared for this commercial, and it was free acting, so Shison actively worked with the director and staff to refine the nuances of the words and the image of the lines. The commercial was created using Shison’s own natural words.

Although he has a serious side, Shison seemed to be having fun during breaks, engrossed in playing with toys on his desk. Also, while the staff was covered in sweat during the midsummer shoot, Shison was not sweaty even though he was filming on a balcony with a skateboard and a hammock, and he took a sip of “Kirin Hanayoi” with a refreshing expression. At the end of the commercial, he was seen drinking with a refreshing expression, and his “good face” was in full bloom.

◇Yamashita Mizuki
Yamashita was also seen relaxing on a sofa in the house set, as if he were at home. He looked natural and true to himself, and even called his co-stars by their nicknames, creating a friendly atmosphere on set from start to finish. He also showed off a lot of playfulness during filming, posing to the music and dancing with the other cast members on set.

The scene in the commercial where he drinks and dances is called the “Cucumber Dance” because Yamashita, who loves cucumbers, was dancing while holding one during filming. Yamashita’s “good face” blooms in full bloom as if he is enjoying himself, even though he is a little red, just like in his private life.

■ Interview with Jun Shison (partial)
Q. Mr. Shison, what do you usually do when you drink alcohol? Also, when do you feel good after drinking alcohol or when do you feel like you look good?
Shison: I’m usually the type of person who gets really happy when I drink. I’m the type who has fun for about 30 minutes, then gets sleepy… I think that because I work in the public eye, I have to put on an air in front of the media even if I’m not aware of it, but when I’m drinking with friends, that’s not the case at all, and I’m not trying to look good at all, so I think that’s the moment I look my best.
Q. There is a scene where you are drinking happily with friends, but how do you usually spend time with friends? Also, are there any memorable events while drinking with friends?
Shison: When he spends time with his friends, he probably goes out to eat and talks a lot. We usually drink and eat while talking. Apparently, once he starts drinking and feeling good, he praises his friends a lot, and goes around telling everyone, “I really like you,” but I think it would be a bit annoying if it were the other way around (laughs).
Q. I think this is your last year in your 20s. Is there anything you want to do in your last year of your 20s, or anything you want to challenge yourself to do when you reach your 30s?
Shison: Work is a high priority in my life right now, so I want to change the way I approach work. Also, I’ve only been working since I was 15, so I want to be more nimble and try new things that I haven’t tried before, and open my eyes to different things and increase my input. I want to greedily enjoy the things I want to do. As an extension of that, I would like to try things that I normally don’t get to do, like having a BBQ with friends or going to the beach, while I’m still in my 20s.
■ Interview with Mizuki Yamashita (partial)
Q. Mr. Yamashita, what happens when you drink alcohol?
Yamashita: I’m not that strong with alcohol, so after a few minutes of drinking a little, I feel a little lightheaded, different from usual. When I get home from work feeling tired, I open the bottle and it’s time to go home, and I can relax and drink alcohol. I like alcohol that makes me feel like I’ve worked hard today.
Q. There was a scene during filming where you said, “This is my favorite time!” Do you have a favorite time of day or week?
Yamashita: I like to spend time lazing around at home doing nothing. Recently, I’ve been watching movies, watching TV, or just doing nothing, with no make-up on, messy hair, and just lying on the sofa for half a day without moving. When I spend time like that, I feel like it’s a day off and I’m very happy.
Q. Since graduating from being an idol, has your way of spending your free time or your state of mind changed? Also, have you had more opportunities to drink alcohol during your break?
Yamashita: Yes, I have more free time than I did when I was an idol, so I have more time to think about nothing, and I can read my favorite books or play games during that time, so I think I’ve become more cherishing myself. I also have more time to meet up with friends, go on short trips, or whirlwind trips, and there are more days when I think, “Maybe I’ll just have one drink at night,” or “Maybe I’ll just have a little today.”