Suntory Beverage & Food International has appointed actor Shingo Katori as the brand character for "Suntory Natural Water Sparkling Lemon" and began airing a new TV commercial featuring Katori titled "Happiness Like Squeezing a Lemon" on April 1.
The setting is a small house in the woods overlooking a beautiful panorama. Katori plays an uncle living freely amidst nature. His niece Mei (model Miho) arrives after school looking downcast.
When her uncle asks, "Did something bad happen?", Mei curtly replies, "How did you know?". The two gaze at the beautiful scenery while drinking sparkling lemon. After a while, Mei's expression lightens as she says, "But I've already forgotten about it." The commercial concludes with a shot of her uncle gently watching over her, now looking forward. The warm and fuzzy commercial conveys the message: "It's like the happiness of squeezing a lemon right here, right now."
Katori's jacket bears what looks like paint or ink stains, his hair is tousled, and he wears sandals barefoot, giving him an overall rough-and-ready look. This perfectly matches Katori's image, as he engages in art activities in his private life too.
In an interview, Katori stated, "This is a product renewal, and while being reborn anew is difficult, I personally enjoy improving and taking on new challenges. I'm very happy to be able to participate in this." He also mentioned starting YouTube this year, noting its unique enjoyment compared to other social media, and concluded, "Drinking this product refreshes your body, mind, and spirit. Please give it a try!"
Product Site:
https://www.suntory.co.jp/water/tennensui/lemon/