Connect Anywhere in Japan Even Out of Coverage if You Can See the Sky! 'SoftBank Starlink Direct' Arrives! New CM 'Shirato Family: Otosan Becomes a Satellite' Airs April 10
SoftBank will launch 'SoftBank Starlink Direct,' a service connecting smartphones directly to satellites. A new TV commercial featuring the Shirato family airs nationwide on April 10, 2026.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 10, 2026 at 22:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 11, 2026 at 00:23 (2h 23m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 03:56 (219h 32m after Collected)
SoftBank Corp. will broadcast a new TV commercial titled 'Shirato Family: Otosan Becomes a Satellite' (30-second and 15-second versions) nationwide starting Friday, April 10, 2026. The commercial promotes 'SoftBank Starlink Direct,' a service that connects users across Japan, even in out-of-service areas, as long as they have a clear view of the sky. The commercial features members of the Shirato family (Aya Ueto, Kanako Higuchi, Dante Carver, and Otosan) along with child actor Yuno Nagao.
The story of this new TV commercial involves Aya (Aya Ueto) and her family deep in the mountains sending a birthday message to her brother (Dante), who is fishing at sea, via 'Otosan' who has been launched into space as a pseudo-artificial satellite. By showing the connection between Aya in the mountains with no cell reception and her brother on the ocean, the commercial introduces the upcoming launch of 'SoftBank Starlink Direct,' a satellite communication service that connects all over Japan, even out of coverage, if you can see the sky.
Additionally, an interview and behind-the-scenes making-of video will be released on SoftBank's official YouTube channel at 1:00 PM on Friday, April 10. The video includes heartwarming interactions on set, goals that Yuno-chan (now a 4th grader) wants to achieve, recent outing spots for the cast, and what they would do if they went to space.
■ About 'SoftBank Starlink Direct'
SoftBank Corp. is launching 'SoftBank Starlink Direct,' a direct communication service between smartphones and satellites utilizing 'Starlink.' 'SoftBank Starlink Direct' allows your smartphone to connect directly with Starlink satellites, enabling communication even in out-of-service areas *1. In addition to communication in mountainous and maritime areas where signals previously couldn't reach, it can be used outdoors as a communication tool during emergencies and disasters *2. With 'SoftBank Starlink Direct,' users can send and receive text messages *3, receive emergency alert emails such as Earthquake Early Warnings, and use data communication on eligible apps. Popular apps provided by SoftBank Group companies, such as 'LINE' *4, 'PayPay,' and 'Yahoo! JAPAN,' will sequentially become eligible for 'SoftBank Starlink Direct' starting April 13, 2026.
Customers on specific 'SoftBank' plans and eligible 'Y!mobile' plans *5 can use the service without any application or additional charges.
Furthermore, customers on other 'Y!mobile' plans *6 and 'LINEMO' customers *7 can use the service without application or extra charges until the end of June 2026 (planned). From July 2026 (planned) onwards, subscribing to an optional service (1,650 yen/month) will be required.
For details on 'SoftBank Starlink Direct', visit here:
https://www.softbank.jp//mobile/service/starlink-direct/
The story of this new TV commercial involves Aya (Aya Ueto) and her family deep in the mountains sending a birthday message to her brother (Dante), who is fishing at sea, via 'Otosan' who has been launched into space as a pseudo-artificial satellite. By showing the connection between Aya in the mountains with no cell reception and her brother on the ocean, the commercial introduces the upcoming launch of 'SoftBank Starlink Direct,' a satellite communication service that connects all over Japan, even out of coverage, if you can see the sky.
Additionally, an interview and behind-the-scenes making-of video will be released on SoftBank's official YouTube channel at 1:00 PM on Friday, April 10. The video includes heartwarming interactions on set, goals that Yuno-chan (now a 4th grader) wants to achieve, recent outing spots for the cast, and what they would do if they went to space.
■ About 'SoftBank Starlink Direct'
SoftBank Corp. is launching 'SoftBank Starlink Direct,' a direct communication service between smartphones and satellites utilizing 'Starlink.' 'SoftBank Starlink Direct' allows your smartphone to connect directly with Starlink satellites, enabling communication even in out-of-service areas *1. In addition to communication in mountainous and maritime areas where signals previously couldn't reach, it can be used outdoors as a communication tool during emergencies and disasters *2. With 'SoftBank Starlink Direct,' users can send and receive text messages *3, receive emergency alert emails such as Earthquake Early Warnings, and use data communication on eligible apps. Popular apps provided by SoftBank Group companies, such as 'LINE' *4, 'PayPay,' and 'Yahoo! JAPAN,' will sequentially become eligible for 'SoftBank Starlink Direct' starting April 13, 2026.
Customers on specific 'SoftBank' plans and eligible 'Y!mobile' plans *5 can use the service without any application or additional charges.
Furthermore, customers on other 'Y!mobile' plans *6 and 'LINEMO' customers *7 can use the service without application or extra charges until the end of June 2026 (planned). From July 2026 (planned) onwards, subscribing to an optional service (1,650 yen/month) will be required.
For details on 'SoftBank Starlink Direct', visit here:
https://www.softbank.jp//mobile/service/starlink-direct/