Tokyo, Japan - On December 25, 2024, actors Ryoma Takeuchi and Ai Miura took the stage at the '2025 JRA New CM Announcement' event held in the capital, marking their roles as the new promotional characters for the Japan Racing Association (JRA) for the upcoming year. Both actors expressed their excitement and commitment to the campaign, which aims to captivate audiences with its engaging content.
During the event, Takeuchi, donning a sleek black suit, declared, "2025年竹内涼真が参戦します！ すてきなメンバーに加われてうれしい," conveying his enthusiasm for joining such esteemed colleagues including Masami Nagasawa and Kuranosuke Sasaki, who continue in their roles. The talented actor reflected on his previous connection to JRA dating back to his participation as presenter at the Kokura Kinen event six years ago. He noted, "周りに競馬好きな方が多くて『JRAの仕事をやってほしい』と言われていたので、『ついに決まった！』と思って、すごくうれしかった," adding to the emotional weight of his new role.
Miura, who has served as JRA's promotional character since 2022, shared her aspirations for 2025, stating, "柔軟な思考でいられる一年にしたい," emphasizing her desire for adaptability as she navigates her professional growth. She expressed admiration for horse-racing culture and her goal of embodying the graceful and flexible attributes of racehorses both physically and mentally.
Interestingly, the event also featured playful banter between the two stars. Takeuchi humorously remarked about Miura's handwriting: "佳選手の字が力強いもん。" Miura's reflective nature of wanting to maintain flexibility, as she noted about the difficulty of being trapped by one's own rules as one matures, was met with admiration from Takeuchi, who encouraged her passion for achieving new physical goals.
The festivities continued with excitement as the new theme for JRA's promotional campaign for 2025 was revealed to be "Hello, Special Times." This concept promises to forge memorable experiences for both participants and spectators alike, aiming to reconnect people with the thrill of horse racing.
Newly released promotional content will star the entire cast, with plans for engaging television advertisements set to air nationwide starting December 28. The music accompanying the CM will be the lively track "Mela!" by the band Ryokushaka, adding to the promotional campaign's vibrant branding. Takeuchi expressed his thrill at participating in large-scale shoots at iconic racing venues, sharing, "神聖な場所に踏み入れることはドキドキしました。"
Miura also recounted how her experience with JRA has evolved over the past few years, noting, "3年前はお馬さんだったり、騎手の方に注目してレースを見ることがすごく多くて," acknowledging her deepening connection with the myriad of professions involved within the horse racing industry.
Overall, the upcoming year promises to bring fresh engagement strategies through JRA's new promotional characters as they inspire audiences to discover and enjoy the elegance and thrill of horse racing. With the commitment from these talented individuals, JRA hopes to capture the essence of racing culture, creating shared memorable moments.
