Wieden+Kennedy Tokyo collaborates with artist Miliyah Kato to create new campaign that brings Japan’s best Karate athletes into the spotlight

In 2021, the martial arts sport of Karate will join the biggest international sports competition and, for the first time in history, be part of the games celebrated in Japan. To acknowledge this iconic moment, Wieden+Kennedy Tokyo wanted to shine a light on the strength, passion, and sacrifice that the practice of karate demands.

Along with The Japan Karate Federation, W+K Tokyo created a film starring the six best Karate athletes representing Japan: Ryo Kiyuna, Kiyou Shimizu (both for Kata), and Ryutaro Araga, Ken Nishimura, Ayumi Uekusa, Miho Miyahara (all for Kumite).

With Miliyah Kato’s song “The Fate” as an official support song, written by the artist for the occasion, the film features footage from past athlete’s matches throughout their careers and powerful visual metaphors representing the hard paths they’ve had to endure before finally stepping into the biggest stage of all this year.

Inspired by the background stories of each athlete, Miliyah Kato’s lyrics will be the official support song for the Karate Federation, celebrating how the athletes are finally stepping into the light from the darkness of years of training and anonymity. The film is directed by Xavier Tera and Twin Brains Films.

Miliyah Kato said: “I think music and sports are very close. And I wrote this song for everyone who loves Karate. I feel any sounds can be incorporated into music, so I sampled the sound of athletes’ movements to take in the power of their souls into the song. It was a great honor to be able to work with the athletes representing our country and to be able to make the song “Shukumei (Destiny)”. I think this song can be a strong feel-good song that can support and cheer up the hearts of all people living under varieties of pressures and hardships in this day and age. Please enjoy.”

VIEW THE FILM

Executive Creative Director: Scott Dungate
Managing Director: Yosuke Suzuki
Creative Director: Curro de la Villa
Head of Production: Kerli Teo
Agency Producer: Ty Demura
Account: Kensuke Suemasa
Agency Editor: Vinod Vijayasankaran
Translator: Toshiko Iida
PR: Midori Sugama
Talent: Miliyah Kato
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Twin Brains
Executive Producer: Janie Chartier
Director: Xavier Tera
Director of Photography: Erwan Cloarec
Producer: Saka Matsushita
Production Assistant: Lina Petitjean, Ryoma Nagata
Production Design / Props: Saka Matsushita
Offline Editors: Laura Cairney-Keize, Eiji Iwakawa
Colorist: Tom Mangham
Stylist: Ribbon
Hair & Make-up: Junko Kobayashi
Gaffer: Jun Tanaka
Best Boy: Makoto Kashiwakura
Stylist: Carlin Brown
Make-up Artist: Yayoi Sasaki
AD: Jimbo Hideaki
1st AC: Anthony Rilocapro, Flavio Gusmao, Kaze
2nd AC: Usman Kawazoe, Yuji Suzuki, Jason, Rem Egura
Driver: Genma Hiroaki, Shibusawa Raki, Yabuki Keisuke, Ibaraki Kenji, Goto, Yamazaki, Hamasaki, Kushima Rin
MUSIC PRODUCTION
Words & Music: Miliyah Kato
Producer: Shuntaro Tsuneta, Shizuo Harada, D.O.I.
Violin: Shuntaro Tsuneta
Cello: Sonoko Muraoka
Sax: Hiromuucho
Trumpet: Atsuki Yumoto
Trombone: Toshihiro Kawashima
Piano, Synth: Toshitaka Shibata
E.Bass, Key Bass: Yusuke Morita
Drums: Genki Hashimoto, Naoki Takeda