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'97.10.17 Update
- At this time, Kazu was just starting to show signs of becoming a veteran J.League player. With energetic rookies such as Jo and Okano under his wings, Kazu plays the role of their reliable (maybe) mentor. Shot as a short comedy sketch, this ad features yours truly as somebody slightly off center.
 | Title: The Underpants of Fire Co-starring Jo 15 seconds. 96.3.4
The smile Kazu makes when asked, "How about wearing your undies?" by Jo, is a masterpiece performance. Jo also proves that he's got a knack for acting.
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 | Title: Do you like soccer? Co-starring Jo 15 seconds. 96.3.4
Kazu probably likes being naked. It must be so.
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 | Title: We sure are a refreshing bunch of guys, aren't we? Co-starring Okano 15 seconds. 96.3.27
The dumbfounded look on Okano after Kazu tells him, "Congratulations Okano, I'll treat you to a Dekavita" is worthy of praise. What's more, Kazu's comic genius shines here once again, as seen in the goofy way he delivers such lines like "let's race to the vending machine," and "man, aren't we a bunch of refreshing guys?" It's simply irresistible.
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 | Title: I forgot to bring my money. C0-starring Okano 15 seconds. 96.3.27
A well-paced parody of a youth drama.
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 | Title: Strategic meeting 15 seconds. 97.2.15
This ad saw Kazu, Jo, and Okano featured together for the first time.
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 | Title: Practice version 15 seconds. 97.2.15
While the punchline is very gratuitious, it's still laughable, thanks to Kazu's nice-guy personality shining through.
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 | Title: Deka Vita Pon (Stone Paper Scissors) 15 seconds. 97.5.31
Whether Kazu drops a ball or whether he projects a pensive mood, Kazu's movements are warped, cartoon-like and cute. It's evident in all the episodes he appears in.
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- Kazu's image fits perfectly with Kirin Beer's image. After all, the man and the company both have more in common than meets the eye. They both achieved breakthroughs. Kirin by doing away with the husk to introduce a new type of beer, and Kazu by breaking away from Japan to become a professional football athlete in Brazil, and attaining hero status upon his return home. Kazu is probably the first professional Japanese football player to ever appear in a commercial. The commercial became the talk of the town, and around the time it aired, it coincided with a rapid rise in Kazu's popularity.
 | Enter Miura 30 seconds. 91.3.4
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 | Enter Miura 15 seconds. 91.3.4
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 | Miura catch 30 seconds. 91.4.18
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 | Miura catch 15 seconds. 91.4.18
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 | Soccer pin ball game 15 seconds. 92.4.4
Key word : "Vamola!"
The question of what Kazu says at the end of this ad became a hot topic of conversation. "Vamola!" means "Let's go!" in Portuguese. Kazu himself proposed to holler out this zestful catchword at the end of the ad.
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 | Dash 15 seconds. 92.9.11
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 | Stretch 15 seconds. 92.9.11
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 | Win, drink, and play 15 seconds. 93.4.5
"Vamola!" Redux
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 | Kazu as seen from a ball's perspective. 15 seconds. 93.9.20
Key word : "Action!"
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 | Face 15 seconds. 93.11.24
Key phrase : "Back then, I used to chase after the ball all alone".
"Now, I run after it together with millions and millions of others."
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 | Fight 15 seconds. 94.2.22
Key phrase : "Let's give it what we've got!" "Wh ... What?".
Kazu's appearance together with Osawa, the coach of Nippon Ham Fighters, became a hot topic. Shot on location in the US at the Dodger's Stadium, this episode of the ad reveals some of Kazu's best off-the-wall acting.
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 | Kids episode Direct. 15 seconds. 94.3.15
Key phrase : "Oh youth! Take big steps."
It's perfect but it makes you laugh nevertheless. Kazu's natural gift, perhaps.
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 | Hustler 15 seconds. 94.7.25
Key phrase : "Shakiiin!"
For this ad, Kazu received special lessons from a professional billiard player.
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 | Canzone 15 seconds. 95.3.3
Key phrase : "Mamma Mia!" "Forza!"
This ad brims with things Italian, recalling Kazu's move to the Serie A league. The ad was shot on location in Italy at the Portofino, a high-class resort area. "Mamma Mia," the words uttered in the ad, is Italian for "Oh my God." "Forza!" is Italian for "Go for it!"
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 | Tunnel 15 seconds. 95.5.22
Key word : "Mamma Mia!"
This commercial is like a vaudeville sketch performed by Japanese comedy kings, The Drifters. Kazu appears to be having fun here. Like the Canzone episode, the song that Kazu sings out loud "If I count to 99, and it's still not okay . . .," is probably one that has passed through everyone's lips at least once.
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