Suntory Ltd. on Oct. 10 will launch a new "happoshu" -- a low-malt, beer-like alcoholic beverage -- that has about half of the calories of its other happoshu products.
Kotaro KoizumiIt also announced that actor Kotaro Koizumi, 23, son of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, will promote the product in TV commercials.
The company said Kotaro has a fresh image that is ideal for the new product.
The new product, called "Suntory Diet Nama," has 21 calories per 100 milliliters, compared to 45 calories per 100 ml in its Magnum Dry happoshu drink.
The company said the beverage has an alcohol content of around 3.5 percent and uses about 1.3 times more hops than is used in its other happoshu products, providing added flavor.
The drink will come in 350 ml cans priced 145 yen and 500 ml cans priced 195 yen, Suntory said.
According to his production company, about a dozen companies have asked to have the younger Koizumi appear in TV commercials.
During his interview with Kyodo News last week, the younger Koizumi quoted his father as saying in reaction to his decision to enter show business: "It is not an easy world. Listen to what your elders say and do your best."
Prime Minister Koizumi is divorced and the father of three sons. He raised two of the boys, while his former wife brought up the third, who was born after the couple separated.
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