If you're familiar with Japanese voice actors, you'll know just how incredibly talented many of them are. They can master any role, not just human characters, but also animals, inanimate objects, and even environmental sounds. It's no wonder many netizens jokingly call them "monsters."
Today, legendary voice actor Koichi Yamadera took on an unprecedented challenge in Suntory's new animated commercial, "The Temptation of Late-Night Ramen" (深夜ラーメンの誘惑). He single-handedly performed 26 different sound effects, a feat he himself described as the "most difficult" in his 40-year career. The animated ad has already premiered on Suntory's official YouTube channel, generating massive buzz.
▼ The ad has also sparked widespread discussion on social media.
Now 63, Koichi Yamadera boasts an immeasurable list of roles. He's widely known for characters like Ryōga Hibiki in "Ranma ½," Ryoji Kaji in "Neon Genesis Evangelion," Akihiko Kayaba in "Sword Art Online," and Beerus in "Dragon Ball Super." His vocal range is incredibly versatile, allowing him to transform his voice to suit any character, from young to old, clumsy to cool, comedic to villainous.
The commercial stars YouTuber SUSURU, who eats ramen daily. It animates his late-night ritual of cooking ramen and enjoying it with Suntory's "All-Free non-alcoholic beverage for body care" (からだを想うオールフリー), beautifully capturing the comforting moments of a late-night meal.
This time, Yamadera wasn't voicing character lines; he was purely creating sound effects. From a phone notification sound to the fridge opening, the stove igniting, and the noodle bag tearing – every single sound was imitated by his own voice! On set, he laughed and asked, "Can I really do this? (laughs)" But before the recording, he had secretly practiced intensely, repeatedly opening and closing his fridge at home to study the intricate details of the sounds. The production team raved, "It's a perfect recreation!"
When asked about taking on this project, Yamadera shared, "I've loved imitating sounds since I was a kid, so at first, I thought this project was really interesting and fresh! But when I saw the materials they sent, I couldn't help but think, 'This is ridiculous! (laughs).' The production team also asked me to make it 'as realistic as possible,' so I practiced every day. Voicing the fridge, plastic bags, and even green onions (?!)... I truly tried to embody the feeling of each object."
Asked which sound he was most satisfied with, Yamadera replied, "It would probably be the social media notification sound. I know many people imitate it with a whistle, but I wanted to challenge myself to perform it with my voice, so I practiced that part the most (laughs). I really hope everyone pays attention to that performance."
You should definitely check out the commercial and see if you can tell that all these sounds are coming from Yamadera himself. The sheer realism will truly show you the extent of his incredible talent.