Bunta Sugawara: Tough guy salesman

by Chris MaGee

There he is, gun in hand with a scowl on his face. That's how so many of us think of Bunta Sugawara, from his yakuza tough guy roles, especially in Kinji Fukasaku's "Battles Without Honour and Humanity" series, but a quick look through YouTube this week revealed a different side to the now 76-year-old actor. Check out Sugawara selling everything from beer, solar panels and refrigerators in the commercials below. Frankly, I don't think they took full advantage of his hand-selling abilities. They should have just had him threaten consumers at gunpoint. The six-packs and ice boxes would have been flying out the door!


Solar Energy Panels (1980's)



Slim 300 Refrigerator (1985)



Suntory Hops Beer (1997)