Nogizaka46 Kawasaki Sakura: First appearance in SoftBank commercial

It has been revealed that Sakura Kawasaki of the idol group "Nogizaka46" will be appearing in two new SoftBank TV commercials, "Encounter with an Unidentified Object" and "Coexistence with an Unidentified Object." This is the first time Kawasaki has appeared in a SoftBank commercial. The commercials will be broadcast nationwide from July 17th.

He appears in a commercial for the folding smartphone "Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7" alongside actor Ryota Bando and the familiar "Dad of the Shiroto family."

In the "Encounter with an Unidentified Object" episode, Bando is walking while reading the newspaper when he is suddenly pinched between a mysterious "ultra-thin" object, and through this strange world view in which he continues to walk through it, the latest Galaxy is introduced by SoftBank. In the "Coexistence with an Unidentified Object" episode, Kawasaki folds an ultra-thin object, expressing the appeal of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7.

This is Bando's second appearance in a SoftBank commercial, following the "Apple and Truck" and "The Giant Turnip" commercials (broadcast in January this year) in which he co-starred with Nogizaka46's Mao Ioki. Looking back on the shoot, he commented, "Following on from the last time, I was really excited to be standing in a very surreal world, and this time I was sandwiched between smartphones, and it was nice to witness the moment when Pecha and I became two-dimensional (laughs). It was fun."

Kawasaki said, "Bandou-san's face and expression when he was sandwiched between the two were very impressive, and I was drawn to that and was able to make it surreal for myself." The making-of video was also released on YouTube, and Kawasaki revealed, "I had never cooked at all until now, but I started cooking about three days ago."