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Ghibli Animator Yoshiharu Sato Directs Commercial for Satsuma Shiranami

Satsuma Shuzo began streaming an animated commercial directed by Yoshiharu Satō last week. The commercial, titled Oyaji no Imo no Kamisama. (Dad's Potato God.), advertises the company's Satsuma Shiranami sweet potato shochu (traditional japanese hard liquor).

In the commercial, the man sees a liquor store that reminds him of home. He finds a glass that looks like one his father used to have, which his father called a shrine to the potato god. As a child, he broke the glass and used all his money to buy a new one with a different drawing, but his dad said he didn't need it. At the time he thought that, somewhere, the potato god was angry. Now that he brings the new glass back home, though, his dad says he doesn't need it because he has the glass his son gave him as a child. The text at the end of the video says "the potato god is right here" and "the home town is always new."

Sato worked on key animation for Studio Ghibli films such as The Cat Returns, Kiki's Delivery Service, and The Secret World of Arrietty. He also worked on character design on My Neighbor Totoro, The Dog of Flanders, and Lupin III: Chi no Kokuin Eien no Mermaid.

[Via Catsuka]