"What's wrong with being special?" NGK Insulators features Junichi Okada in new commercial

NGK Insulators held a new TV commercial launch event at the Jiji Press Hall in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, on March 8. The company began corporate advertising featuring actor Junichi Okada as its commercial character two years ago, coinciding with its 80th anniversary. Continuing with Okada this year, the TV commercial "Speech" edition will air starting the 11th.

Set against a backdrop symbolizing the company's new business frontiers—"uncharted territory stretching like a wilderness"—Okada conveys the company's passion, emphasizing its spirit of challenge and the innovative thinking essential to manufacturing. After delivering the powerful declaration, "What's wrong with being special?", Okada is shown sprinting alongside hundreds of employees, leaving a strong impression.

At the outset, Chairman and President Shinichi Odo stated: "The external environment surrounding our company is undergoing a major transition. Leveraging our 80-year legacy of valuing a spirit of challenge and innovative thinking, we will strive as a company to achieve greater leaps forward than ever before. To this end, we will unite as one to challenge new business domains such as 'Environment & Energy,' 'Next-Generation Vehicles,' and 'Medical.' I was deeply impressed by Mr. Okada, whom we engaged last year, as he broadens his field beyond talent work to take on acting challenges. The new commercial powerfully expresses our company's challenging spirit."

Reflecting on the shoot, Okada smiled and said, "Last year's commercial involved a lot of running, so I was full of motivation on the day of filming this time too, fully prepared to run." Regarding the scene where over a hundred people ran at full speed, he added, "After shouting my line, I had to start running in perfect sync with everyone else, so we really needed to be on the same page. It was rewarding and fun."

In light of the upcoming April, the company announced three messages for new graduates: "Be passionate about your dreams," "Don't fear risk," and "Keep challenging new things."

Okada passionately stated, "It's crucial to never forget your dreams. It's okay to be so busy every day that you lose sight of them for a while, but it's important to realize, 'Ah, I'm not giving it my all right now,' flip the switch, and start running toward your dreams again. Don't be afraid of risk. Whether you see it as risk or an investment in yourself is up to you. I want to keep challenging new things and be the kind of person others think, 'I want to have this person do this.'"

"Companies that pioneer unique, uncharted territory are incredibly important. The scene of running through the wilderness embodies the company's spirit of taking on new challenges. I want people to feel that," he concluded.

 

 

Official Site: https://www.ngkntk.co.jp/special/tokushu/