Animal Hamaguchi promotes Coca-Cola's new energy drink

Tuesday 17th June, 10:41 AM JST

TOKYO —

Ex-pro wrestler Animal Hamaguchi, 60, visited the office of Sankei Sports newspaper to promote Coca-Cola’s new energy drink, Sankei reported on Monday.

Hamaguchi, who is an “image character” for Olympic sponsor Coca-Cola, said, “I support men who are working hard in summer.”

Latest 15 of 21 Total Comments Show All

kinniku at 12:29 PM JST - 17th June

dagbrown,

Does it still have the nicotine? That's one of the ingredients that gives Real Gold a kick.
timorborder at 02:10 PM JST - 17th June

Animal has enough Kiai without pumping himself up on caffeine, his public persona is like the Everready Bunny on steriods. He is one of the few old-school professional wrestlers still here in Japan. Ugly as squat and as tough as nails
dagbrown at 02:11 PM JST - 17th June

kinniku,

I think you misread "niacinamide", which is an ingredient in Real Gold (and by extension, Real Kiaida). Niacinamide is more commonly known as "Vitamin B3".
blvtzpk at 05:13 PM JST - 17th June

Is that the supersized bottle he's holding? Japan should stop following the West and keep to the regular bottles. ;)
Nessie at 06:44 PM JST - 17th June

Is that the supersized bottle he's holding?

He's just happy to see you.
kinniku at 08:46 AM JST - 18th June

dagbrown,

Thanks for the post. I don't believe I misread it. I haven't drunk Real Gold for a long time. However, many 'energy drinks' and even some kinds of gum in Japan have nicotine in them. Have you ever tried Black Black gum? I am pretty sure I remember Real Gold having nicotine years ago, though it might not now.
kinniku at 08:53 AM JST - 18th June

BTW, I should add that on the packages I am referring to, I believe the word Nicotine (ニコチン)not Niacinamide(ナイアシンアミド)is written.
jerseyboy at 10:06 AM JST - 18th June

lipscombe..stellar? Wrong. He was embarrassing at the last Olympics. The Olympics are supposed to be about sportsmanship, not bullying and ego-driven rants. In my opinion, he is the antithesis of the Olympic spirit, and I think it is too bad that a company with the heritage of Coke and the Olympics (Remember the classic "Hillside" commercial, with the singers from all the countries?) is stooping to use this guy. I guess it just shows how companies have to dumb-down everything, including the Olympics, here to be successful. Because, unfortunately, most Japanese folks probably agree with you, and think he is a hero for trying to intimidate the officials in 2004.
lipscombe at 11:12 AM JST - 18th June

no, most japanese were embarassed by him and still are. personally I think he's great
kinniku at 06:45 PM JST - 18th June

dagbrown,

Hey, you learn something new every day! At least I do, especially on JT. I took a long neglected look at a pack of Black Black Gum today and sure enough it says ニコチン酸アミド or nicotine san amido, which turns out to be vitamin B just like you said. I don't know a person who didn't think there was nicotine in that gum. My guess is that Real Gold must have the same ingredient, too. There wasn't any in the store I happened to be in, but I'm sure you are right. I think they would scare less people if they actually wrote 'niacinamide', since that is what it is anyway! They'd probably sell more that way.
Sarge at 10:39 PM JST - 18th June

kinniku - So, is nicotine san amido, or vitamin B, in Real Kiaida? And why is it called nicotine san amido instead of Bitamin B?
Sarge at 10:40 PM JST - 18th June

"His ( Hamaguchi's ) public persona is like the EverReady Bunny on steroids"

Har!
kinniku at 01:10 PM JST - 19th June

Sarge,

Interestingly, the Vitamin B3 or Niacine is called nicotinic acid, which someone at some point called nicotine san amido. Evidently they added the 'san' or 'san amido' so that it would not be confused with the commonly considered unhealthy substance 'nicotine'. I don't think that has worked for the most part though. Witness me, for instance.

I haven't bumped into Real Kaida in the stores yet. I did see on the net that it has 'ginseng' in it though.
kinniku at 07:37 PM JST - 19th June

Here is an update. I still can't find Kiada. However, I checked out a new bottle of Real Gold and it now says ナイアシン or niacin. So, I would assume Kiada now says the same thing.
borscht at 11:51 PM JST - 19th June

A student brought a bottle of Kiada to class thinking it was a Big bottle of Real Gold. It's surprising light of taste for all the crap they put in it. Caffeine and I'm sure I, like kinniku, thought I saw 'nicotine'. After a few moments my student was buzzing around the room and answering questions like she's never done before. Finished the bottle, too.