JRA releases new commercial featuring Ichiro Suzuki and Masami Nagasawa

The Japan Racing Association (JRA) has released a new commercial titled ‘Athlete,’ featuring a reunion between baseball legend Ichiro Suzuki and actress Masami Nagasawa after 20 years.

The campaign, part of the JRA’s 2026 promotion theme ‘Horse racing is...!’, aims to reframe horse racing as a high-level sport. The advertisement draws parallels between the rigorous daily training of thoroughbreds and the disciplined routines of elite athletes like Ichiro.

In the commercial, Nagasawa provides narration emphasizing the mental and physical preparation required to reach peak performance. Ichiro, who describes himself as a ‘demon of routine,’ discusses the importance of consistent preparation rather than relying on effort only during major events.