Akane Hotta: "I was so nervous." She talks about what went on behind the scenes of the commercial and her love for Shochu.

The first episode of "#MeetTheOshiKiri" features Akane Hotta, who is active in a wide range of fields including modeling, acting, and even variety shows.
She appeared in the Kuro Kirishima commercial "Kurokkiriball Shuwatto Kiritto" in 2021, and in the Akane Kirishima commercial "Akane Therapy" the following year in 2022.

"I was actually very nervous!" says Hotta, looking back on the time she appeared in the commercial.
"Kurokkiriball" is a commercial that proposed a new style of mixing shochu with carbonated water, which was not yet familiar at the time: "Enjoying sweet potato honkaku shochu Kuro Kirishima with carbonated water." On the day of the commercial shooting, the set was designed to resemble carbonated bubbles, and the shoot featured Hotta and her co-star, Tori Matsuzaka.
"The set with all the floating glass balls was fantastical, and I was moved, but at the same time, I was very nervous. It was my first time acting with Matsuzaka-san, and when I look back at the commercial now, I feel a little embarrassed at how nervous I was."

However, she was delighted that appearing in the commercial introduced her to a new way to enjoy Kuro Kirishima.
"I knew about Kuro Kirishima before appearing in the commercial, and I had tried it before, but most people around me drank it on the rocks, so I thought, 'Wow, you can drink it like this way too!' It felt really fresh back then."

The following year, the Akane Kirishima "Akane Therapy" commercial began airing, depicting Akane Kirishima as a part of everyday daily life through Hotta's expressions of joy, anger, sadness, and happiness. She admitted to feeling quite anxious during the shoot.
"I don't have much experience acting in the short time frame of a commercial, so I was worried about whether I would be able to express emotions well using just my facial expressions. But when I saw the finished work, I was able to see that the charm of Akane Kirishima was expressed through various effects, such as the beautiful crimson sky that matches the label of Akane Kirishima. I was relieved at the wonderful result, but at the same time, I also felt a little regretful that I didn't take on the challenge more confidently without being nervous. If I have the chance, I would definitely like to try again!"

Contrary to Hotta's humble and stoic self-evaluation, she says that she received a great deal of reaction from those around her to her appearance in the commercial.
"Lots of people said to me, 'You're in the Kirishima commercial!' 'That's great!' 'Do you get free products?' It really brought home to me how many fans Kirishima Shuzo has. For me personally, the commercial made me rediscover the deliciousness of shochu, and I've started drinking it more often. Diluting Kuro Kirishima with carbonated water brings out the nice aroma and freshness, and it goes well with greasy dishes like gyoza. Also, Akane Kirishima is very mellow and easy to drink even on the rocks. I've been promoting it by bringing it to home parties with friends."

She particularly highlights Akane Kirishima's "exquisite aroma " as her favorite "Oshi" point.
"I'm often conscious of scents in daily life—perfume on my skin, herbs in cooking. Scents can act as a switch that instantly changes your mood. When you drink Akane Kirishima, the scent that gently wafts through the air is soothing, almost like an aromatic fragrance."

In addition to Kuro Kirishima and Akane Kirishima, she also has other particular favorites from Kirishima Shuzo.
"Ax Kirishima, KIRISHIMA No.8, and <Gyoku>Kin Kirishima. These three are the products that I was particularly impressed with."
Ax Kirishima is Kenrei-shu^*that stands out with its vibrant ruby red color derived from astaxanthin.
"It's very refreshing and easy to drink. Since it's a shochu infused with natural ingredients that are gentle on the body, so in my case, on nights when I can't seem to get to sleep well, I'll have a sip or two of Ax Kirishima before going to bed."
*Spirits made by infusing honkaku shochu with natural ingredients from around the world, such as cordyceps, chaga, and astaxanthin.

Furthermore, KIRISHIMA No.8 differs from the image of sweet potato honkaku shochu in that its main feature is its "fruity." It is the first product in Japan^*in which a shochu manufacturer independently cultivated a variety of sweet potato as an ingredient, and then produced and sold shochu using that variety.
"Not only is the taste great, but the label design is also stylish and different from other shochu. I think it's very creative."
*Researched by Kirishima Shuzo in January 2023

Read the article about KIRISHIMA No.8 here

Hotta was particularly impressed by <Gyoku>Kin Kirishima, a long-aged sweet potato shochu made in 1998 that has been infused with six natural ingredients: fucoidan, cordyceps sinensis, organic blue agave syrup, coprinus, vanilla, and bird's nest.

"The first thing that surprised me was the aroma. The rich, sweet aroma of vanilla spread throughout the air, and it was an experience like no other. I felt it would be a waste to mix it up, so I sipped it slowly on the rocks. I also heard that it's delicious poured over vanilla ice cream, so I gave it a try and I was hooked. Before I knew it, this large, substantial bottle was empty. I was surprised at how quickly it went (laughs). It's a high-end product among Kirishima Shuzo's products, and the bottle design is a little on the bold side for a woman in her 30s to have at home, but even someone at my age can enjoy it and it gives off an extraordinary feeling. I'm glad I discovered it at this time in my life."

All of the Kirishima Shuzo's products loved by Hotta are crafted in the company's own factories in Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture, using the blessings of nature. She also has unforgettable memories of Miyazaki Prefecture.
"When I was 18, I actually stayed in Miyazaki for about two weeks for a driving license training camp. At that time, I was walking with a friend when a woman spoke to me on the street. We hit it off as we talked, and the woman then drove us around Miyazaki City to show us around various places. We ate delicious chicken nanban and enjoyed the beautiful nature—it became a really wonderful memory. I haven't been able to go back since, so I've always wanted to take another private trip there."

「堀田茜さん「“挑戦”がライフスタイル」。自分に飽きない生き方と、霧島酒造への共感。」へ続く