Hiroyuki Nakayama

We produced a marketing campaign for Slack’s launch in Japan. We created 15-second TV commercials, online videos, posters, and other OOH materials for a multi-layered rollout. Using live action and motion graphics, we depicted the before-and-after of introducing Slack, expressing in a simple before-and-after format how Slack makes people’s work more efficient. We highlighted the platform’s features, such as bringing team communication and business apps together in one place and storing all conversations, decisions, files, and tools in Slack’s searchable archive. After this campaign was released, the number of users in Japan became second only to the United States, making a significant contribution to Slack’s growth in Japan.

What Coleman, the U.S. brand with more than 100 years of history, conveys in this film is the spirit of “dive into nature and have fun with whatever unexpected things come your way.” The piece is composed of two parts: the first is a road-movie segment in which four rappers search for a campsite while overcoming unforeseen mishaps, and the second is a session around the campfire at the end of the day, featuring improvised rap. Especially noteworthy is the “cypher” scene from 2:32 onward, where words are connected entirely on the spot through pure improvisation. (*A cypher is a word art form similar to a jazz session, in which rappers gathered in the same place build on one another’s words, layering inspiration and creating a chain reaction.) To realize an authentic cypher in the midst of unpredictable nature, JKD selected four highly skilled rappers: “Tagaryu” and “Big Ben” from Stillichimiya, who are based in Yamanashi and actively engaged in wide-ranging work; “Chirpuso,” a new-generation freestyler drawing attention for his exceptional skills; and “Chinza DOPENESS,” a genius rapper known for his broad and diverse activities. The result is a work in which these four singular talents weave together an improvised Japanese-language art form, allowing viewers to feel its groove and creativity. The video director is Sojiro Kamatani, who also drew attention for the web movies “Girl’s High School Ninja” and “The World’s First Cute Miso Soup.” With outstanding taste and a vivid sense of realism, he captures the outdoor magic that turns any mishap into a cherished memory. The trackmaker is Olive Oil.

A global campaign originating from Japan for Asics Tiger. In conjunction with the worldwide launch of shoes made from a special material that changes color depending on the viewing angle, the creative work co-produced by JKD and Beacon Communications was rolled out in July 2016 as a global campaign spanning North America, Asia, and Europe. In the video, the story of a protagonist like a chameleon, who blends into the bustle of the city and disappears or stands out with a striking presence, is expressed using a technique called slit-scan. In collaboration with director Hiroshi Kondo and composer Yoshiteru Himuro, it was completed as a powerful branded music video.