Shohei Ohtani is appointed as Ito En’s “Oi Ocha” Global Ambassador.As a first step, a campaign inviting people to watch a game in L.A. has started.
The company will promote Japan’s tea culture to the world.
Ohtani: “Everyday, there’s a green tea that stands by my side”.
ITO EN Ltd. (President and Representative Director: Daisuke Honjo, Headquarters: Shibuya, Tokyo), the world’s No. 1 unsweetened green tea beverage brand “Oi Ocha”(*1), has signed a global contract with Shohei Ohtani, the player of the Los Angeles Dodgers. As part of this activity, we are pleased to announce his appointment as ITO EN’s “Oi Ocha” Global Ambassador and unveil a new key visual.
The main copy, ” Everyday, there’s a green tea that stands by my side,” uses the haiku on the back of the bottle in the full-page ad for the letter from ITO EN to Ohtani, released on April 30 and became a hot topic on social media in Japan.
ITO EN is starting activities with Ohtani to spread Japan‘s tea culture worldwide. The first of these activities as ITO EN’s “Oi Ocha” Global Ambassador will be the “#OiLAOhtani-san” campaign, which will begin on Monday, May 20. The campaign will invite people to visit LA to watch Ohtani’s match. After that, there will be activities to contribute to the earth’s future through green tea. ※Please note that this campaign will be conducted in Japan only.
■Shohei Ohtani is now ITO EN’s “Oi Ocha” Global Ambassador!
We are pleased to announce that Shohei Ohtani has been appointed ITO EN’s “Oi Ocha” Global Ambassador” from Monday, May 20.
His main activities as ITO EN’s “Oi Ocha” Global Ambassador will be twofold: promoting Japan’s tea culture to the world and contributing to the future of the earth through green tea. We look forward to Ohtani’s global success as the “Oi Ocha Global Ambassador.”
To commemorate this appointment, we will be releasing a comment from Ohtani expressing his enthusiasm and launching the “#OiLAOhtani-san” campaign, which will invite fans to watch a game in LA.
■”Shohei Ohtani” ✖️ “Oi Ocha” New Key Visuals Released
The new key visual is a collaboration between Shohei Ohtani, the world’s top baseball player, and “Oi Ocha,” the world’s most consumed green tea. Shohei Ohtani, wearing a seasonal white T-shirt, stands gallantly in a magnificent tea field where “Oi Ocha” is produced. In his left hand, he holds a bottle of “Oi Ocha,” his longtime companion, which he has enjoyed from his days in Japan and throughout his life in Los Angeles. His relaxed expression as he contemplates the distant sky is striking in this pose. The main copy is “My green tea, My soul.” The new key visual will be used in stores, social media, special landing pages, and various advertisements.
■Shohei Ohtani’s Statement on Becoming ITO EN‘s “Oi Ocha” Global Ambassador Released ※Newspaper Ads Released Simultaneously
The newspaper advertisement, released on Monday, May 20, commemorating the appointment of Shohei Ohtani as ITO EN’s “Oi Ocha” Global Ambassador includes his statement. Below is the full text:
My green tea, My soul.
So much is happening these days.
It makes sense to take a break for green tea
to soothe both mind and body.
I want to share this experience with everyone around the world.
The next step, the goal for Oi Ocha.
ITO EN’s “Oi Ocha” Global Ambassador Shohei Ohtani
This newspaper advertisement will appear in domestic newspapers, including the Nikkei, Asahi Shimbun, Sankei Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun, and Yomiuri Shimbun, as well as in international newspapers such as the ‘LA Times’ in LA where Ohtani plays, the ‘Financial Times’ distributed in 62 countries worldwide, and the ‘Honolulu Star-Advertiser’ in Hawaii. In addition, in South Korea, where Shohei Ohtani is particularly popular, we have decided to place the article in all five major newspapers, including the Chosun Ilbo and the Dong-a Ilbo.
Newspapers list
Nihon Keizai Shimbun / Asahi Shimbun / Sankei Shimbun / Mainichi Shimbun / Yomiuri Shimbun / Sports Hochi / Sankei Sports / Sports Nippon / Tokyo Sports / Nikkan Sports / Daily Sports / Tokyo Chunichi Sports / Financial Times / LA Times / Honolulu Star-Advertiser / Chosun Ilbo / Dong-a Ilbo / JoongAng Ilbo / Maeil Business Newspaper / The Korea Economic Daily
■Shohei Ohtani Inaugural Comment
My name is Shohei Ohtani, and I am honored to be appointed as ITO EN’s “Oi Ocha” Global Ambassador.
When the global partnership with “Oi Ocha” was announced on April 30, I myself saw the newspaper ad in the LA Times and got a sense of the scale of this partnership. I was also surprised at the response I received from social media and people around me.
The first phase of my activities as ITO EN’s “Oi Ocha” Global Ambassador is a campaign to invite everyone to a drawing to watch a game in LA. I would be thrilled if you could watch the game at the stadium in LA while drinking “Oi Ocha.”
In the future, as ITO EN’s “Oi Ocha” Global Ambassador, I am preparing new initiatives such as a project to spread Japan’s tea culture to the world and further contribute to the future of the earth with green tea together with everyone around the world. I hope you are all looking forward to it.
ITO EN’s “Oi Ocha” Global Ambassador Shohei Ohtani
■” Let’s Go to LA, where Ohtani is” Special campaign
To commemorate Ohtani’s appointment as ITO EN’s “Oi Ocha” Global Ambassador, from Monday, May 20, a promotion where 25 pairs of 50 people will win round-trip air tickets to LA, where Ohtani is playing, hotel accommodations (for three nights), and tickets to see a baseball game in LA will start. ※This campaign is conducted in Japan only.
＜Campaign Details＞
Let’s Go to LA, where Ohtani is! #OiLAOhtani-san Campaign
Details:
Aiming at all Ohtani supporters, “Oi Ocha” will support the opportunity to cheer loudly for Ohtani in the local LA area.
Prize:
Round trip economy ticket for two persons between Haneda/Narita and Los Angeles
Accommodation in Los Angeles for 2 persons in a twin room for 3 nights
Baseball game tickets in LA for 2 persons
Application method：
(1) Follow Oi-Ocha-kun’s official X account (@oiochakun) and Post a support tweet with “#お～いLAの大谷さん”（OiLAOhtani-san）
(2) Apply through the website: https://www.ITO EN.jp/oiocha/ohtani/en.html
(3) Entries from postcards placed in stores
※A total of 25 pairs of 50 people will win a trip to LA through these three entry methods!
Campaign Period：
May 20 (Mon.) Project announcement and application period start
July 15 (Mon.) Application deadline
Mid-July Winners Presentation
■In-store POP featuring Ohtani’s visual will be displayed!
In addition, a limited number of clear files will be given away as a prize for purchases of “Oi Ocha.”
Starting on Monday, May 20, posters and other materials featuring Ohtani’s visual will be displayed at “Oi Ocha” stores throughout Japan.
A life-size cutout of Ohtani will also be displayed in the future. In addition, a limited clear file (two types) featuring Ohtani will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis when four bottles of “Oi Ocha” are purchased in select stores. (The number of prizes is limited.)
※This campaign is conducted in Japan only.
＜In-store tool designs＞
(*1)Guinness World Records™ Certified
Intage SRI+ Unsweetened Tea Beverage Market Data January-December 2023 “Oi Ocha” Brand Sales Value
Record name: “Largest unsweetened green tea beverage brand (latest annual sales)
Official English record name: Largest unsweetened green tea RTD brand – retail, current
Recorded brand: Oi Ocha brand (excluding Oi Ocha hojicha products)
Year covered: January-December 2023