Seibu Railway Launches "Chichibu: Make Yourself the Subject" Web CM Campaign Featuring Snow Man's Hikaru Iwamoto

Seibu Railway has launched a new web commercial campaign titled "Chichibu: Make Yourself the Subject," featuring Hikaru Iwamoto of Snow Man. The campaign depicts Iwamoto, a Saitama native with a deep love for Chichibu, traveling through the region aboard the comfortable Limited Express Laview. The journey is chronicled across four episodes, which are being successively released on Seibu Railway's official YouTube channel.

Following this announcement, fans flooded social media with expressions of joy and anticipation. Numerous comments were posted, such as "I'm so happy to learn various things about Saitama thanks to Hi-kun (Iwamoto's nickname)" and "I want to ride the Limited Express Laview and go to Chichibu."

What has garnered particular attention is the appealing interior of the Limited Express Laview. As Iwamoto himself described it, "The inside is yellow and cute," and its unique design has captured the hearts of many fans. Furthermore, the spacious windows that offer panoramic views have also been well-received, with comments like "Are the windows really this big!? It's like a room! ✨."

The web commercials feature heartwarming phrases like "Don't rush. Don't rush. That's perfectly fine," and philosophical reflections on travel such as "The real pleasure of train travel is looking out the window." These messages suggest taking time away from a busy daily life to reflect on oneself. Iwamoto's relaxed enjoyment of the trip and his boyish profile as he gazes out the window have become a hot topic among fans, who describe him as "cute" and praise the "beautiful visuals."

Iwamoto's involvement, following his "love for muscles" and "love for sweets," is now seen by fans as his "love for Saitama" taking shape, leading to accolades like "He's a man whose love keeps manifesting!" It is anticipated that this "inevitable and wonderful connection" between Seibu Railway and Iwamoto will significantly contribute to attracting tourists to Chichibu.

The context

For non-Japanese readers, here's some background: Hikaru Iwamoto is a popular member of Snow Man, one of Japan's leading idol groups under Johnny & Associates (now START Entertainment). Known for his athletic physique, love for sweets, and now, his pride in his home prefecture of Saitama, Iwamoto has a significant fan base. Seibu Railway is a major private railway company operating primarily in the western Tokyo metropolitan area and Saitama Prefecture. Its Limited Express Laview is a distinctive, modern train service connecting Tokyo (Ikebukuro) with scenic destinations like Chichibu. Chichibu is a mountainous region in western Saitama Prefecture, famous for its rich nature, temples, shrines, and outdoor activities, making it a popular getaway destination from Tokyo. This campaign leverages Iwamoto's popularity to promote tourism to the Chichibu area.

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