Actress’ incredible swing in new Toyota commercial has people talking

Very cool.

I love this whole commercial (especially the bunt), and I didn't even care what the product was.

Ha ha! The old Fella copping one to the Jatz Crackers!!! Great ad.

Lol nice commercial! She had a very interesting trying stance to say the least

Fantasic Toyota thanks

A fun commercial for sure, and definitely a nice stance at the end.

I gotta say this was one of the bets J-commercials I've seen in a while.

This was far and away the best commercial I've seen in Japan in two years. Excellent job!

In English language newsrooms a 19 yr old female is called a woman not a girl. Same for males 18 yrs old and up...they are called men not boys. So 18 and up it's woman not girl. Man not boy. Please!

@Danny

Language is irrelevant. In Japan she's a girl in the eyes of the law. Along with any other female under twenty.

I just found Warren Cromartie former Yomiuri Giants is doing a Cameo at around 1:20. LoL

@ lucabrasi

I forgot. You are right.

Saw this advert on Youtube a couple of weeks ago and knew it was a class apart. The whole flow with the bunt, the hits and the settings is great. As somebody else has pointed out, the advert even had a cameo by the "Crow" (Warren Cromartie) one of Japan's favorite US baseball players who plied his trade for a number of years with those damned Yomiuri Giants. For those of us who remember, the "Crow" was famous for settling down a young Tatsu Hara (now Giants manager) by asking how much a boxer puppy would cost. He is also famous for chasing a couple of Dragons pitchers into the stands after being hit by inside pitches, and perhaps most famous for his body guard provided by the police (down in Osaka?), after he started throwing batteries back into the stands that were originally thrown at him by the radical fringe at Koshien. Back in the day, the Crow was about the biggest thing in Japanese baseball.

great ad, it could have been used for almost any product, let hope it raises the bar in Japan on the quality of ads which are mostly bland or weird.

The first lady's trying stance is an imitation of Kakefu, former Hanshin Tiger slugger.

Yes it looks like a lot of fun, but I really hope people to not start staging this type of baseball game here in Tokyo. And the message at the end says that this was done by professionals (i.e., "Do not try this at home!").

HongoTAFEinmate

the Crow was about the biggest thing in Japanese baseball.

You're forgetting Kamisama, Hotokesama, Randy Bass sama. He really made Torakichi (Devoted Hanshin fans) proud.

. . . Ahh the great sport of Baseball. America's Pastime-

Do any JT readers know who the Black Guy was? He seemed out of place, and that made me think he may be a baseball player from way back.

@SamuraiBlue

Unfortunately Bass was finished in Japan by the time I got here. He was the biggest thing in Osaka but it didn't stop the Tigers shopping him because he ran off to America mid-season to accompany his sick child (the second time he got stiffed - the first time was when the Giants pitched him out to protect Oh's home run record).

Anyway, the first pro baseball game I saw ever, was the Giants vs. the Swallows some time in 1990. We went along to the Dome and watched the Crow doing his warmups and batting practice. I remember him screaming out before the game that he would put on show. I think he went 4 for 4 and tore up the other team. I remember seeing a sports shimbun the next day that had him on front and back pages next day under the headline "The Flight of the Crow" (there was a great photo of him going into third base head-first.

In my time in Japan (20+ years) I reckon the Crow was the most entertaining foreign baseball player to ply his trade here. Him and Bobby Rose with the Bay Stars. The big thing about the Crow was that he was King of the Kids. He used to hang around for hours signing autographs, shaking hands, etc. Great ambassador for the game.

@SamuraiBlue

Unfortunately Bass was finished in Japan by the time I got here. He was the biggest thing in Osaka but it didn't stop the Tigers shopping him because he ran off to America mid-season to accompany his sick child (the second time he got stiffed - the first time was when the Giants pitched him out to protect Oh's home run record).

Anyway, the first pro baseball game I saw ever, was the Giants vs. the Swallows some time in 1990. We went along to the Dome and watched the Crow doing his warmups and batting practice. I remember him screaming out before the game that he would put on show. I think he went 4 for 4 and tore up the other team. I remember seeing a sports shimbun the next day that had him on front and back pages next day under the headline "The Flight of the Crow" (there was a great photo of him going into third base head-first.

In my time in Japan (20+ years) I reckon the Crow was the most entertaining foreign baseball player to ply his trade here. Him and Bobby Rose with the Bay Stars. The big thing about the Crow was that he was King of the Kids. He used to hang around for hours signing autographs, shaking hands, etc. Great ambassador for the game.

love this ad!

All very fake.

"Despite her somewhat restrictive businesswoman attire..."

I think you just pinpointed the secret to this commercial's success... hint, it's not the swing, it's the shwing.

Pure class.

Another of the interesting impressions that is done within the vid is the first pitcher that goes against Kakefu ang got hit is Egawa and how he turns his head as he is hit. The other is the last pitcher who is doing a impression of Murata "Sunday" Choji with his distinctive pitching form showing his back as he winds up for a pitch.

Man the Kakefu vs Egawa show down really brings back fond memories.

Very nice

I love the grandmother taking a crack, and the idol singer climbing the fence to make a grab. The bunt that injures the catcher was funny, as was the guy arguing he was safe when he slid across home... sewer lid? But yeah, after getting to the famous swing at the end, I was impressed. A mighty cut, much better than I expected! All in all, a fun, energetic commercial that makes me want to play baseball with all of Tokyo.

OK Mr Toyota now let's just bring the cars design to the same creative level

Phenomenal! Very eye-opening swing. No wonder the video is getting so much attention. Hope Toyota can also swing the product sales well and get the same level of the actress's batting.

GREAT! just GREAT!

Filmed in the Kokura area of Kitakyushu City in southern Japan, this anything-goes style of baseball game has its players running down alleyways and shopping streets, jumping chain-link fences in dresses, and sliding on asphalt in business in business suits.

It's called "Stickball"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stickball

American car commercials should be so entertaining... loved it and would watch it many times over... next do it with a soccer ball.