Fuma Kikuchi debuts as ‘-196 Man’ for Suntory commercial

Fuma Kikuchi, a member of the group timelesz, appeared at a promotional event in Tokyo to announce his appointment as the new character ‘-196 Man’ for Suntory’s ‘-196 Muto’ beverage. Kikuchi made his debut in the character's costume, appearing heroically through a silhouette to mark the launch of the new television commercial scheduled to air starting August 31.

During the event, Kikuchi expressed surprise at the appointment but noted that he felt he was a natural fit for the role. He will partner with Nagisa Shibuya, who has previously served as the ‘-196 Woman’ character. Kikuchi also shared personal reflections, mentioning that while he takes pride in his acting work, he feels a sense of ‘moyamoya’ (unease or frustration) when people label him solely as a variety show personality.

The event concluded with a celebratory demonstration where Kikuchi used a bat to strike a lemon-shaped object, successfully breaking a celebratory ball to mark the brand's milestone of surpassing 10 billion bottles sold.