TBWA\Hakuhodo Japan’s Kazuaki Kuribayashi only person based in Asia to be recognised in Advertising Age’s 40Under40
Advertising Age has included TBWA\Hakuhodo’s Kazuaki Kuribayashi (pictured) on its prestigious global list, 40 under 40, which recognises the high achievements of individuals working across the industry. Kuribayashi is just 29.
He is well-known within the Japanese industry as the ‘Buzz Machine’, a title earned for his innate ability to identify cultural trends and insights around the internet, then translating this knowledge into breakthrough ideas for clients, creating both impact and buzz.
Kuribayashi’s most recognisable work includes Nissan’s ‘Intelligent Parking Chair‘ – an office chair that automatically resets to its original position, at the clap of a hand. The idea enabled Nissan’s complex car parking technology to be easily understood by the millions on social media.
He also developed ‘Knock Knock Cat’ a CSR-focused project for Nissan after following conversations on social media about cats dying when seeking shelter from the cold by curling up near car engines. The campaign was so successful it even engaged Nissan’s competitors.
Kurabayashi also contributed to the agency’s award winning work, ‘GIGA SELFIE’ for Tourism
Australia, and ‘Native Mobile Music Video’ for King Records.
Kuribayashi joined Hakuhodo in 2011, as a social media specialist and planner, and then
joined TBWA\Hakuhodo in 2014. Using a monitoring tool, Kurabayashi analyses over 30,000
videos annually and developed ‘Buzz Acupuncture Points’, a principle that can be used across
various platforms. Through the application of his own theory, he forensically observes
conversations on social media and identifies what specific aspects will create buzz for our
clients.