News

Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. has signed an advertising contract for the DUNLOP brand with Shohei Ohtani, the renowned baseball player who has consistently surpassed people’s imagination and expectations, astounding the world. The “Babe → Shohei Ver.,” DUNLOP’s new brand commercial, featuring a time-transcending dream collaboration between Ohtani and baseball icon Babe Ruth, will air throughout Japan from July 23. In addition, a new product commercial for “SYNCHRO WEATHER”, the brand’s next-generation all-season tire, titled “The Birth of SYNCHRO WEATHER,” will air across Japan (excluding some areas) starting around fall 2024.

DUNLOP has a long history as a pioneer in the tire industry. Starting with the invention of the world’s first pneumatic tire,^* the brand has introduced a variety of world-first and Japan-first technologies and products over its 136-year history. The catchphrase “Overtake the imagination.” reflects the commitment to continue pursuing and realizing dreams that surpass people’s imagination and create a future beyond anyone’s expectations. In line with this principle, the company has entered into an advertising contract with Shohei Ohtani, a player who defies conventional baseball wisdom by excelling as both a pitcher and a hitter and continues to set historic world-first records and achieve remarkable milestones in the history of baseball. Ohtani will co-star with Babe Ruth, whom he describes as the icon of baseball, in a new brand commercial and feature in a new product commercial for “SYNCHRO WEATHER”, a revolutionary tire designed to adapt to virtually any road surface.

 

The new brand commercial features both Ohtani and Ruth, legendary figures who have set numerous historic records, coming together to transcend the boundaries of time. The DUNLOP brand message—“Overtake the imagination.”—is central to the commercial, which depicts Babe Ruth reacting to Ohtani, who broke Ruth’s historic and long-unbroken record, with the phrase “Who would’ve thought?”

 

By featuring Ohtani, a dual-wielding player who has continually surpassed people’s imagination, the new product commercial highlights the “SYNCHRO WEATHER” tire as a groundbreaking innovation that adapts to any road surface, embodying the message of “Is there anything this tire can’t handle?”

 

The new brand commercial will begin airing throughout Japan on July 23 and will also be featured in outdoor advertisements in Shinjuku (Tokyo) and other locations. The new product commercial is set to air around fall 2024. Also, starting July 23, DUNLOP’s official website and YouTube channel will release the full-length commercials along with behind-the-scenes footage. In pursuit of portraying a realistic and relatable Babe, the footage showcases the process of bringing the character to life. It captures moments of Ohtani chatting with the Babe Ruth actor between takes and watching child actors playing baseball. We hope you will enjoy.

  

*In 1888, J.B. Dunlop commercialized the world’s first pneumatic tire.

■ Overview of new brand commercial

Title: “Babe → Shohei Ver.”

Broadcasting start date: July 23, 2024

Broadcast areas: Throughout Japan

URL：https://youtu.be/yyyT45pUiNM

Babe Ruth: “So, you’re from Japanand broke my record.”	Babe Ruth: “Who would’ve thought?”	Babe Ruth: “Well, I sure wouldn’t have.”
Narration: “There are sights that can only be reached by those who persevere and keep running.”	Narration: “Overtake the imagination.”

■ Overview of new product commercial

Title: “The Birth of SYNCHRO WEATHER”

Broadcasting start date: Around fall 2024

Broadcast areas: Throughout Japan (excluding some areas)

30-second video material URL：https://youtu.be/AYYIPkyisXM

15-second video material URL：https://youtu.be/6A1f0U81elg

	Images representing the sun, rain, snow, and ice are projected onto Ohtani.
	Narration: “The birth of SYNCHRO WEATHER, able to synchronize with any road surface.”

■ Overview of the behind-the-scenes footage

The behind-the-scenes footage URL：https://youtu.be/sntenCKpul4

 

Inspired by the concept of “What if the legendary Babe Ruth were alive today?” the Babe Ruth Foundation played a crucial role in recruiting and selecting an actor to embody a realistic and relatable Babe for the present day. During the January filming in Los Angeles, a Hollywood team employed special make-up techniques to bring the actor’s portrayal to life alongside Shohei Ohtani. The footage was further enhanced with computer graphics, and Babe Ruth’s actual voice recordings were used to help the actor match his pronunciation and accent more closely, achieving a true collaboration between the two. Ohtani, thrilled with the opportunity to co-star with Ruth, shared his excitement on Instagram, posting, “Finally got to meet him!”

 

During filming,

(Babe Ruth actor) “Which do you like better, pitching or batting?”

(Ohtani) 　　　　　“Oh man, that’s a hard one. When it’s batting practice, batting is more fun, but when it’s a game, pitching is more fun.”

(Babe Ruth actor) “What about hitting a home run or striking someone out?”

(Ohtani) 　　　　　“A home run, for sure.”

They exchanged baseball talk and chuckled as they watched the children play baseball, and the event was amicable from start to finish. Toward the end of the video, they shook hands firmly and even posed for a group photo with the children.

 

■Rendering of the advertisement displayed at a station

 

■Interview with Shohei Ohtani

・What sort of significance does Babe Ruth have for you?

He’s a true symbol of baseball. Even though I wasn’t born during his era and never had the chance to see him play, his impact is undeniable. For anyone involved in baseball, he’s a figure that represents the essence of the game. His legacy is such that he remains a central icon in the sport.

 

・How did you feel when you learned you’d be co-starring with such an iconic figure?

It was a tremendous honor. Being compared with him is a compliment I deeply appreciate, but simply being told I’d have the chance to appear alongside him was incredibly humbling.

 

・If you could meet Babe Ruth in person, what would you want to ask him?

I think being able to watch him play firsthand would be an incredible learning experience. There’d be so much to gain from observing his technique and style in action.

 

・I understand that you’re occasionally compared with Babe Ruth. Is there anything specific you keep in mind when facing such comparisons?

As fellow left-handed hitters, we share a common trait, and there are often videos showcasing his batting style. It’s enjoyable to watch these videos, and I believe that the game of baseball today owes a lot to the legends who came before us. For fans, exploring the game’s historical context can be entertaining and enlightening, as it highlights the roots and evolution of the sport.

 

・Expectations for the new product:

I believe this new product aligns perfectly with my trademark dual-wielding play style and my drive to tackle new challenges. With the varied weather conditions in California, including the frequent winter rains, good tires are important. “SYNCHRO WEATHER” is confident that the tire makes it easy to go anywhere without concerns about the weather.

 

・Message to your fans:

 As the season winds down, I’m committed to sticking with my two-way play in the future and making a significant impact in the long run. I’m excited about the opportunity to collaborate with “SYNCHRO WEATHER” to bring even more excitement as part of the DUNLOP family.

■ Shohei Ohtani’s Profile

・April 2012　　　　Joined the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (NPB) as the first overall pick in the 2013 draft from Hanamaki Higashi High School. ・December 2017　 Joined the Los Angeles Angels (MLB) in 2017. ・November 2021　 Selected as the American League Most Valuable Player (MVP). ・ March 2023　　　Awarded the World Baseball Classic MVP. ・October 2023　　 Became the first Japanese player to win an MLB (American League) home run title. ・November 2023　 Selected as the American League MVP. ・December 2023　 Signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Shohei Ohtani Born on July 5, 1994 (age 30), in Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan