Hayato Sano and Mizuki Yamashita Enjoy a Generational Talk! A Moment of Honesty as They Say, "I'm Having the Best Time Right Now" Kirin Hanayoi New TV Commercial "The Honest Two" to Air Sequentially Nationwide from Tuesday, April 14th

Kirin Brewery Company, Limited (President Hideki Horiguchi) will sequentially broadcast the new TV commercial "The Honest Two" for "Kirin Hanayoi" (hereinafter "Hanayoi"), a light fruit sparkling drink that allows easy enjoyment of a good mood and good times with alcohol, featuring actor/artist Hayato Sano and actress/model Mizuki Yamashita, nationwide from Tuesday, April 14th, following the renewal of "Hanayoi." In addition, interview and making-of footage documenting the behind-the-scenes of the filming will also be released on the same day.

New TV Commercial "The Honest Two" (30 seconds) URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxHEOtnmEE8

CM Overview and Highlights

Hayato Sano and Mizuki Yamashita Talk Honestly About Their Generation! Pay Attention to Their "Good Faces"

In this commercial, instead of having Mr. Sano and Ms. Yamashita play roles, they were allowed to talk freely as their true selves, expressing the concept of "Hanayoi" as a delicious alcoholic beverage that allows one to unleash their true self and show a "good face." The two, reunited after a long time, talked with "Hanayoi" in hand, and the conversation turned to their dreams. To Mr. Sano, who said, "It might be a dream to enjoy alcohol in a place like this even when we're old," Ms. Yamashita replied somewhat innocently, "So, in 80 years?" Mr. Sano immediately retorted, "80 years!? That would make me 107!" Their relaxed relationship is conveyed through their natural and lively conversation, interspersed with jokes. "Hanayoi," with its 3% alcohol content, brought them a "just right time" to relax and face each other honestly, concluding with "I feel like I can do my best tomorrow too." Throughout the filming, a moment of relaxation and positive outlook for tomorrow was naturally expressed.

▼Storyboard

New TV Commercial "The Honest Two"

Behind-the-Scenes Filming & Interview Content

●Behind-the-Scenes Filming / On-Site Report

Even during breaks in filming, the two got excited talking about episodes from their past collaborations, and during filming, they showed perfectly synchronized interactions with the same atmosphere, creating a harmonious mood on set due to their good relationship. The two, being close in age, had a lively generational talk, and having worked together before, they empathized with each other's stories, saying, "We're the same type," and sometimes interjected with playful remarks, resulting in a video filled with constant smiles. Ms. Yamashita spoke about her work values, saying, "I'm more energetic when I'm working," and Mr. Sano expressed his love for his M!LK members, saying, "My dream is to continue being good friends with the M!LK members." Pay attention to the real "good faces" of the two as they enjoy "Hanayoi" while talking honestly about their work and dreams.

●Interview (excerpt)

The two reunited for the first time since November last year. Reflecting on their first impressions of each other, they praised each other, with one saying, "I thought he was cool, but he actually talks a lot," and the other saying, "I thought she was a mood-maker, but she's surprisingly quiet and down-to-earth." They revealed that the "Hanayoi" commercial shoot was completely stress-free, with Ms. Yamashita laughing as she recalled the incident where Mr. Sano's bottom hurt, and Mr. Sano playfully retorting, indicating that the filming proceeded in a relaxed atmosphere throughout. When asked about their favorite "Hanayoi" flavors, Mr. Sano answered "Lemon" and "White Peach," and Ms. Yamashita answered "Grape" and "Lychee." They both described the gentle 3% alcohol content and refreshing fruit flavors as a perfect everyday drink, with Ms. Yamashita confessing an anecdote from her part-time job days about her love for lychee. Also, when asked who they would like to drink with after the shoot, Mr. Sano immediately replied, "Mizuki Yamashita," while Ms. Yamashita answered, "My parents." They showed lively banter while being considerate of each other, and their well-matched conversation enlivened the shoot.

Q. What were your first impressions of each other?

Yamashita: I don't really remember. It was about two or three years ago, I think.

Sano: For me, it was that she talks a lot. I thought she'd be quieter, cooler, but she's really playful and has great communication skills, that was my impression.

Yamashita: I thought Sano-san was the "manly type." But surprisingly, he doesn't talk much. The opposite, actually.

Sano: I get that a lot.

Yamashita: I thought he'd be a big mood-maker, the boisterous type, but he's surprisingly quiet and down-to-earth. "Down-to-earth" is a good word, right? Very realistic.

Sano: Well, when the set is boisterous, I'm quiet, but when it's quiet, I talk. I can adapt.

Yamashita: I think he's someone who really reads the atmosphere.

Q. Were you nervous during the shoot? Were there any memorable scenes?

Sano: Honestly, not nervous at all.

Yamashita: We'd been working together on the same set for about three months, so I wasn't that nervous.

Sano: It's hard to put into words, but it felt like, "Oh, there are commercial shoots where you can just relax and do your thing." I thought, "Is it over already?" It felt a little unsatisfying.

Sano: Which scene left an impression on you? The same one? Let's say it together. Ready, set, go.

Yamashita: Piglet.

Sano: The end.

Sano: For me, it was the last scene on the embankment, or rather. Hopscotch, that was fun.

Yamashita: I remember Sano-san sitting on the piglet and saying his bottom hurt a lot.

Sano: That has nothing to do with the commercial!

Q. Hanayoi has four fruit flavors, do you have a favorite? When do you want to drink it?

Sano: I particularly liked Lemon and White Peach. I like carbonation, so when I want some stimulation, the alcohol content is just right. I'd want Lemon when eating, and White Peach for dessert after a meal.

Yamashita: For me, it's Grape and Lychee, I guess. I hadn't really had lychee-flavored alcohol before. I originally really love lychee. I used to work part-time at a Chinese restaurant in high school. They called me "Lychee Thief" at work.

Sano: Lychee Thief?! You can use that story.

Yamashita: No, no, I wasn't actually stealing. I just ate so much lychee during my staff meals that they called me "Lychee Thief," that's how much I love lychee. So I'm really happy that lychee came out. And I originally really like grape-flavored things. I really like drinking something refreshing.

Rather than just drinking alcohol, I often want to drink it with a meal, so it goes well with various dishes because it's not too sweet.

Q. After today's shoot, who would you like to have your first drink with?

Sano: I'd like to drink with Mizuki Yamashita.

Yamashita: Eh?! Why? What's the reason?

Sano: Because we worked hard together today, didn't we?

Yamashita: That's true. We worked hard a lot. I'd like to drink with my mom and dad.

Sano: Wow! That's good PR.

Yamashita: After all, I want to drink with my parents, who raised me as their only daughter and cherish their family so much.

Sano: I feel a bit silly now. Like, "It was fun, let's drink!"

Yamashita: No, no, of course I want to drink with Hayato Sano too.

Sano: Our distance never shrinks, does it?

New TV Commercial Overview

• CM Title: "The Honest Two" (30 seconds)

• Cast: Hayato Sano, Mizuki Yamashita

• Music: imase "Utopia"

• Broadcast Start Date: Tuesday, April 14, 2026

• Broadcast Area: Nationwide (excluding some regions)

• YouTube URL

  CM 30 seconds: https://youtu.be/AxHEOtnmEE8

  CM 15 seconds: https://youtu.be/PcLcMR9CFB0

  CM LONG MOVIE (2 minutes 55 seconds): https://youtu.be/YWfRr8ZJnTw

  Interview: https://youtu.be/76JpD7WPbJk

  Making-of: https://youtu.be/zv488hITYAc

• Brand Website: https://www.kirin.co.jp/alcohol/rtd/hanayoi/

Cast Profiles

Hayato Sano

Born March 23, 1998. From Aichi Prefecture.

Actor and artist. Belongs to Stardust Promotion. Appears in a wide range of works as an actor, including films and dramas.

Recently, he starred in "ESCAPE: It Was Supposed to Be a Kidnapping" and made a main appearance in "The Rice Woman: National Tax Agency Document Investigation Division, Miscellaneous National Tax Office," appearing in notable works. In addition to acting, he is also a member of the five-member dance and vocal group M!LK.

Mizuki Yamashita

Born July 26, 1999. From Tokyo. Passed the "Nogizaka46" 3rd generation audition in 2016.

Active as a central member, including serving as center, and graduated from the group with a graduation concert at Tokyo Dome in May 2024.

Has appeared in numerous dramas and films while in the group, and is also active as an actress.

Her main works include NHK's continuous TV novel "Maiagare!", "Gekokujo Kyuji", "Eye Love You", "Shin Tokyo Suijo Keisatsu", "Rokunin no Usotsuki na Daigakusei", "Yamada-kun to Lv999 no Koi wo Suru", "Hikuibird wo Kuu", "Orokamono no Mibun", "Shin Kaishaku Bakumatsu-den", etc.

Also appeared as a guest voice actress in "Detective Conan: The Afterimage of the One-Eyed Man."

She also serves as an exclusive model for the women's fashion magazine "CanCam."

In July 2026, her starring stage play "Naruse wa Tenka wo Toru ni Iku" will open.

About "Kirin Hanayoi"

"Kirin Hanayoi" is an ALC.3% fruit sparkling drink that allows you to easily enjoy a moment of blossoming joy.

With "hidden" fruit-infused liquor, where the aroma and umami of the fruit are concentrated, it achieves both easy drinkability and a moderate alcoholic sensation.

By combining a rich flavor with a light effervescence, it has a refreshing taste.

While maintaining the popular gorgeous fruitiness and refreshing taste, we have revamped the packaging and brand communication to convey "the joy of time with alcohol," thereby creating contact points with new customers, including younger generations.

■ Kirin Hanayoi Details