Special message of hope featuring narration scripted by Haruki Murakami being webcast
Entertainment ( 6 )
TOKYO —
Sapporo Breweries Ltd is webcasting a special commercial message featuring narration scripted by writer Haruki Murakami and footage produced by movie director Hirokazu Koreeda in a special advertising campaign to encourage the people of Japan moving forward despite difficulties caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake.
The web CM is based on a series of four TV CMs aired during the Hakone Ekiden (long-distance college relay road race) on Jan 2-3, a nationally popular New Year event broadcast live across Japan. The race is a round trip between Tokyo and the resort town of Hakone.
Murakami wrote narrations for the TV commercials featuring acts of running. A runner himself, Murakami agreed for the first time to take on writing CM narrations. He intends to donate all of his writing fees to disaster-stricken areas through the Japanese Red Cross Society. The narrations were voiced by actress Yukie Nakama.
Director Koreeda also combined the four commercials into a 3-minute, 32-second special movie, made available on the company’s website. Visitors to the site can read Murakami’s narrations in their entirety. The webcast will be available until the end of January.
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6 Comments
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Bebert61
So, no book this time? Commercials instead? Hope there is a book.
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7solace9
These are very nicely done. The words, music, visuals and narration came together quite well.
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Nicky Washida
Isn`t this the guy that writes the really weird, twisted, depressing stuff? A brilliant writer definitely, but really the right chocie fro spreading a message of hope??!
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Allie Chambers
He is brilliant, one of my all time favorites, but the two books I've read by him (Norwegian Wood and Wind Up Bird Chronicles) were crazzzzyyy. I'm kind of excited to hear a 'message of hope' from him.
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7solace9
@Nicky Washida: It is probably his writing style that earned him the project. And you are right; he has written a few novels that have been somewhat depressing. A Wild Sheep Chase and Norwegian Wood were actually heavy hitters for the heart. But they were also entertaining and engaging in a way that makes one want to find answers to difficult questions in life, be a better person and appreciate the good in life. His books make me feel more alive and curious. But that is just me.
Did you watch the CMs?
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JeffLee
I'm now trying to get through "IQ84," and take my word for it, it's anything but "brilliant." Tedious is a better descriptions. He's usually a good writer, but vastly overrated, it seems.
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