Takuya Kimura appears in Yodoko's new TV commercial! Appointed as corporate advertising brand ambassador

■CM making videos will be released sequentially on the official website

Takuya Kimura has been appointed as the brand ambassador for Yodogawa Steel Works Co., Ltd.’s corporate advertising to commemorate its 90th anniversary. Kimura appears in the new TV commercial “Osamarunana. Yodoko’ edition (15 seconds, 30 seconds) will be broadcast nationwide from January 23rd.

Founded in 2025, Yodoko is a steel manufacturer that handles industrial products such as the familiar exterior products of Yodokou, roofing and wall materials for Japan’s leading large facilities, and industry-leading colored steel plates. Celebrating the anniversary.

In this TV commercial, Yodoko expresses his determination to step out of the “box” that represents existing businesses and their own limitations and take on the challenge of facing the future.

Kimura dashes through boxes of all sizes while emphasizing the importance of growing up, saying things like, “It’s boring just staying in your own box,” and “It’s okay to fail. Pay attention to the action that jumps out, and the “Kimura Bushi” that inspires with a passionate tone, “Don’t calm down. Yodoko.”

■Photography episode
Kimura appeared in the studio and started shooting with the third smallest box (90 cm in height) out of the 6 sizes of boxes (from 55 cm to 517 cm in height).

The box was placed at a height of about 3 meters, but Kimura called out to the concerned staff, “It’s okay,” and slipped his body into it, completing the preparations. I heard whispers from those around me saying, “It’s strange that it looks cool even in a small box.”

Kimura was intrigued by the ingenious mechanisms used, such as using an elevator to raise and lower the camera 9 meters in order to create a video of Kimura in a box moving as if it were an elevator. When photographing a large box, the staff moved a large light set on a manual crane at exactly the same speed as the camera. “Advanced technology and human power coexist. I’m looking forward to seeing the result!” he said with admiration. I was raising my voice.

Kimura did a smart job of filming inside a small box, but there was also a scene where he muttered, “This is difficult,” as he had to speak within the specified time during the audio recording. When the staff suggested, “The rest can be adjusted through editing,” Kimura directly appealed for him to try again, saying, “I’ll redo it because it’s an important line.” Kimura went into the recording with all his heart, making gestures, and when he got an OK take, he expressed his joy with a small fist pump.

■Takuya Kimura interview
Q. Please tell us how you feel about being appointed as the brand ambassador for Yodoko’s 90th anniversary corporate advertisement.
I didn’t expect to be involved with a steel manufacturer, so I was surprised when I received the offer…The message Mr. Yodoko has is completely different from what I had imagined of a steel manufacturer. I was surprised by the content of the ad, which made me say something different, and I was really drawn to it. I was able to feel the motivation of “I agree” from that message, so I am truly grateful that they chose me.
Q. Please tell us your impressions after finishing the filming of this very unusual commercial where you were in a box from start to finish.
I photographed in a very analog way…wide areas are wide boxes, and narrow boxes are really narrow boxes. I would like to thank all the art staff who prepared this box, the technical staff who did the camera work without going crazy, and the people who do the lighting right next to the computer-controlled motion control camera. That’s right. It was a filming location where cutting-edge technology and human power coexisted, so I’m looking forward to seeing the final result.
Q. Mr. Kimura, please tell us an episode in which you did not fit into your own box and had the courage to take on a challenge.
In the commercial, there are boxes of various sizes, and I set up situations where it was a very comfortable space, a large space, and a very cramped space, but…my box is in a sense. , I think it’s like a territory, so you can feel safe interacting with people who enter that territory, and I think it’s difficult to step out of that territory unless you’re very prepared. But personally, when I am asked to participate in a new work, I think my job is to step out of my own territory and intrude on that person. If you think about it all by yourself, you tend to get in over your head, but if you ask me if I’m the only one who has the option to make a decision, I don’t think that’s the case. There are a lot of people around you who support you, so if you look into their eyes and get a feel for what they want from you, I think it will help you decide how long to take each step. Instead of deciding what to do in your head and deciding what to do, I want you to feel the warmth of the people around you and remember that you’re not alone. I’m sure there will be friends there, seniors, and juniors. I think it would be a good idea to get a better feel for these people and try to get to know them better.
Q. Mr. Kimura, please give some advice to people who want to step out of their box.
This may come as a surprise, but I have always felt pressure when trying something new. But I’m not good at regretting something I didn’t do, so I took a step forward to try something new, to the next project I should tackle…If I had a bird’s-eye view, I might be able to say that the result is what I am now. I’m sure there are feelings of anxiety and pressure when trying something new, but I want to support everyone who chooses to try, and I want to do the same. Takuya Kimura’s “Taku” is the “Taku” of development. I would like to give you these words: “Don’t be afraid of failure and don’t fit into a box!”
Q. Please give a message to the viewers who will watch the new TV commercial.
My name is Takuya Kimura and I have been appointed as the brand ambassador and the face of Yodoko’s 90th anniversary corporate advertisement. This is an unusual commercial in which I am inside a box from beginning to end, but it conveys Yodoko’s determination to continue to take on more and more challenges in the future with a new corporate philosophy, as well as a powerful message that will encourage those who take on challenges. Please pay attention to this as well.