In recent years, Japan has seen an increase in disasters caused by localized heavy rainfall. Against this backdrop, the famous meteorologist Minoru Kihara has lent his voice to a new commercial for the manga Kaijin Fugeki (by Oh! great), urging caution. This marks Kihara's first experience narrating a manga commercial, and he emphasizes the importance of questioning information during disasters, stating, "Doubt anything you haven't verified yourself first."

Since mid-August 2024, the TV commercial for Kaijin Fugeki, featuring Kihara’s narration, has been airing. In the commercial, Kihara warns of the formation of the "Chi no Yoru (Typhoon) Catherine" over Japan. His delivery, set against background music, is reminiscent of his popular weather segments, as he advises, "Please refrain from going out and prioritize your safety."

When asked about his thoughts on Kaijin Fugeki, Kihara shared, "I found it very interesting. In the past, natural disasters were often depicted as yokai (supernatural beings) in art, anthropomorphized like floods and storms. The arrival of 'Yoru (Night) ' is particularly fascinating. And the artwork is simply amazing. I can’t wait to read the second volume."

Regarding handling information correctly during disasters, Kihara advises, "First, doubt anything you haven’t verified yourself. Check whether the source of the information is official or personal. Compare multiple sources to understand the timing of the information and how it has evolved over time. That’s a good starting point."

In the CM, Kihara provides narration as a weather forecaster in a fantasy world. When asked about his approach to delivering weather forecasts, he noted, "When there's too much information, I tend to speak too quickly, so I deliberately reduce the amount of information. I believe viewers can only remember about three points during a weather forecast, so I carefully choose my words. Though, I haven’t quite mastered it yet (laughs)."

As for his first experience recording a manga commercial, Kihara reflected, "Usually, I provide narration for reality-based content like gourmet reports or club activity documentaries captured on camera. This was my first time narrating over 'art,' and I was so nervous that my tongue got tied."

Source : ORICON NEWS