Takehisa Asahina

Board Director / Senior Executive Producer

Not acting is not an option

I have been working at companies for over 25 years now, and working all night has become difficult. Even so, I wake up at 5 a.m. every morning even without setting an alarm. I still have dreams about my days working in production. Most of them are not very good.

Back in junior high school I only thought about girls, but now I only think about work. When I make an interesting commercial I feel happy, but smiling feels a little awkward.

If we were only given fifty years to live, I’d be coming to the end, but that doesn’t seem to be the case, so I continue to work hard. There are some things that only young people can accomplish, but I believe the same holds for older folk like me. Not acting is not an option, not matter how long we live.

Biography
Born in Shizuoka. Became obsessed with theater while at Keio University, from which I barely managed to graduate after six years. I weaseled my way into TYO right after college, where I started as a commercial planner. I aimed, but failed, to become a commercial director. After working as a production manager for six years, I became a producer. With the support of all those around me, I have continued to produce commercials to this day.

Award

2001
41st ACC Commercial Festival, Silver
2006
Wacoal Love Bra. “Unmei wo asobō” [“Playing with fate”] 46th ACC Commercial Festival, Finalist
2007
Nissin Food Products, Nissin Donbei, “Gerira shizuru” [“Guerrilla sizzle”], Cannes Lions, Bronze
2009
McDonald’s Japan, Quarter Pounder, “Big mouth”, 49th ACC Commercial Festival, Bronze
2010
McDonald’s Japan FIFA WC Coke glass, “Fingā sakkā” [“Finger soccer”], 50th ACC Commercial Festival, Finalist
2011
McDonald’s Japan Breakfast Chicken Muffin, “Ii combi” [“Good combination”, 64th Dentsu Advertising Awards; 51st ACC Commercial Festival, Finalist
2013
Kirin Beer, Nodogoshi Nama, “Nodogoshi yume no dorīmu” [“A dream of Nodogoshi”], 66th Dentsu Advertising Awards
Kirin Beer, Nodogoshi Nama, “Nodogoshi yume no dorīmu” [“A dream of Nodogoshi”], 51st Galaxy Awards for Programs, highly recommended
Kirin Beer, Nodogoshi Nama, “Nodogoshi yume no dorīmu” [“A dream of Nodogoshi”], 53rd ACC Commercial Festival, Gold; AdFest, Silver; Spikes Asia, Silver
Kirin Beer, Nodogoshi Nama, “Nodogoshi yume no dorīmu” [“A dream of Nodogoshi”], 53rd ACC Commercial Festival, Bronze
2014
Kirin Beer, Nodogoshi Nama, “Nodogoshi yume no dorīmu” [“A dream of Nodogoshi”], 54th ACC Commercial Festival, Bronze