Higuchi Hina stars as a V-STROM 250SX rider in the drama! Suzuki’s web short drama “First Wind’s Miracle” is now available. All 9 episodes are now available on YouTube.

A watch party will be held on Instagram on Monday, March 24th, 2025 at 9pm!

Higuchi Hina Instagram　https://www.instagram.com/higuchi_hina_official

To commemorate the release of the short drama, a watch party will be held where the main character, Higuchi Hina, will talk in detail about her feelings, memories of filming, highlights of the work, etc.

・Date and time: Monday, March 24, 2025, 9:00 PM

・Media: Higuchi Hina Instagram　https://www.instagram.com/higuchi_hina_official

Story of the web short drama “The Miracle of the First Wind”

Higuchi Hina touring on a Suzuki V-STROM 250SX (a scene from the drama).

Suzuki Web Short Drama “The Miracle of the First Wind”　https://www.youtube.com/@suzukicojpmotor

The nine-episode short drama “First Wind’s Miracle” is available on YouTube. It focuses on the lifestyles of young people living today. It was created with the desire to support young people who, despite their hesitation, carve out their own path, rather than simply following a set path.

The main character, Sakina, is struggling with her job search, unable to find what she wants to do, and feeling a sense of dissatisfaction in her daily life. After meeting Kaede, who loves motorcycles and dreams of traveling around the world on one, Sakina begins to search for the meaning of “freedom” and “true self.”

As Sakina continues to walk her path, searching for the right answer despite her wavering thoughts, her Suzuki motorcycle gently accompanies her. The highlight of the film is the story of a woman reexamining herself and growing.

The lead role is played by Higuchi Hina, a former member of Nogizaka46 who is currently active as an actor.

The protagonist, a university student struggling with job hunting and worried about her future, is played by Higuchi Hina, a former member of Nogizaka46 who is currently active as an actress.

Model and actor Taira Minori plays Kaede, who dreams of traveling around the world on a motorcycle.

The protagonist, a university student struggling with life, is played by Higuchi Hina, a former member of Nogizaka46 who is currently active as an actor. Kaede, a motorcycle enthusiast who dreams of traveling around the world on a motorbike, is played by Taira Minori, a model and actor who became popular on the TV program “Pre-Bato!!”. The film was produced and directed by THINGMEDIA, known for producing music videos, commercials, and short dramas.

The theme song is performed by the three-piece band “Chilli Beans.”, who captivate viewers with their large-scale, free-flowing expression. The theme song, “escape,” is a straightforward song about “my escape with you,” and the warm, soft-sounding acoustic guitar expresses the worldview of the drama.

Higuchi, who obtained her regular motorcycle license four years ago in 2021, expressed her joy, saying, “I had always wanted to work in a job that involved riding motorcycles, so my dream has come true.” Regarding the V-STROM 250SX used in this shoot, she commented, “It’s a bike that’s very easy to ride, even for a beginner like me, and it gives me confidence.”

“Obtaining my license has broadened my conversations with people I normally don’t have anything in common with, and it’s really brought me closer to them. I’ve never gone on a solo motorcycle trip, but there are a lot of people around me who are traveling by motorcycle. I feel like it’s broadening the possibilities for my travels.”

“The V-STROM 250SX gave me the confidence to know that I can ride a motorcycle during this shoot. Places like Hokkaido have single roads that seem to go on forever. I would also like to ride a motorcycle with 360-degree nature on both sides.”

The web short drama “First Wind’s Miracle” will begin streaming on Friday, March 21, 2025. Keep an eye out for the expressions on Higuchi Hina’s face as she grows and changes after encountering Suzuki motorcycles!

Overview of the web short drama

Suzuki Web Short Drama “The Miracle of the First Wind”　https://www.youtube.com/@suzukicojpmotor

・Title: “The Miracle of the First Wind”

・Episodes: 9 episodes in total (all 9 episodes will be released at once on YouTube)

・Release Date: Friday, March 21, 2025, 10:00 AM

・Director: Dai Shirakawa

・Cast: Hina Higuchi, Minori Taira, Kyoko Kataoka, Kyoko Mitamura, Ayane Kimura, Wataro Hashimoto, TAIGA

・Theme song: “escape” by Chilli Beans.

・Release URL　: https://www.youtube.com/@suzukicojpmotor

Cast Profile

Higuchi Hina (the main character, Sakina)

Born in Tokyo in 1998, she has been active as a member of Nogizaka46 since 2011, and after graduating, she starred as an actor in the drama “Hatsukoi Fuurin: Kono Koi wo Hatsukoi to Ii Desuka.” She has appeared in numerous shows, including “Tokyo Camouflage Hour,” the stage production “Boilerman” produced by Akahori Masaaki, and the film “Yukiko aka.” She has a wide range of activities, including a serial essay in the TV magazine “TV LIFE” and a regular appearance on the popular gourmet program “Machi Chuka de Nomrouze.” She has also been confirmed to appear in the Gekidan Shinkansen stage production “Kouki Monogatari,” which will open in May 2025. Her hobbies are reading, traveling alone, and walking.

(Comment)

I will never forget the moment I sped through the endless ocean and the endless roads on my Suzuki motorbike. I was happy to be able to film the touring scenes with the refreshing breeze that cleared away any gloomy mood. It was a motorbike that somehow gave me confidence, making me think, “I want to go on a trip on my motorbike, I can go anywhere!” In fact, the story of the short drama is also about a protagonist with a cloudy heart. I hope you will look forward to seeing how a person changes when they encounter a motorbike, and what answers they will find.

Taira Minori (A woman who dreams of traveling around the world on a motorcycle)

She is an exclusive model for Seventeen. She starred in the stage play “Mukudomo” and played the role of Kirara Hikosaka, the protagonist’s friend, in the film “The Sun is Salty.” She has also shown her talent in the arts, winning first-degree master rank in the watercolor painting category and first place in the colored pencil category on MBS’s “Pre-Bato!!.”

(Comment)

Kaede is a cool girl who dreams of traveling around the world on a motorcycle. Kaede connects with Sakina, played by Higuchi Hina, through a Suzuki motorcycle, and I think this story will give courage to those who are anxious about their future or future. Suzuki motorcycles are so cool, they gave me a lot of courage too. Please check it out!

Chilli Beans. (Theme song)

Formed in 2019, this three-piece band consists of Moto (Vo), Maika (Ba&Vo), and Lily (Gt&Vo). The members themselves write the lyrics, compose the music, arrange the music, and even create the creative side of things. They have created a wide-ranging “Chiribi” worldview that is not bound by genre, and have gained popularity for their freely expressed, life-sized songs and live performances. In December 2024, they will release the mini album “blue night,” which includes the song “escape.” Starting in May 2025, they will hold their solo live show “upside down tour” in seven cities across Japan.

(Comment)

In “escape,” I depicted a world where just the two of us could escape, with no one to disturb us, wanting to escape this world just for tonight. This short drama depicts a man running with someone he cares about, feeling scared, but opening his eyes and seeing a beautiful landscape unfold before him, and I thought that this is similar to life. I would be happy if this work inspires people to encounter new scenery.

Making-of and interview footage also available!

Public URL: https://youtu.be/0dmNbvKFIlI

To coincide with the release of the web short drama, a behind-the-scenes video including an interview with Higuchi Hina has been released on a special website. It’s packed with fascinating details that couldn’t be contained in the main story, such as the filming process and behind-the-scenes stories!

Read the full interview

Q: What are your thoughts after finishing filming?

Although the filming time was packed into two days, the staff were all warm and I was happy to be able to work with such a wonderful team. Ever since I got my motorcycle license, I had always wanted to work in a job that involved riding a motorcycle, so I was excited throughout the two days to be involved in Suzuki’s short drama, which made that dream come true.

– Please explain the appeal of motorcycles to people who have never ridden one before.

I don’t ride motorcycles on a daily basis, but this time I rode the V-STROM 250SX and found it very easy to ride and not scary at all. Even as a beginner, I found it very easy to ride and felt that it was a bike that gave me confidence. The bike I rode had a red color scheme, and even when photographed from a distance with a drone, the bike stood out beautifully against the scenery, which was appealing. When I go on a trip, I definitely want to take photos with my motorcycle.

Q : What made you decide to get a regular motorcycle license?

There is a collection of short stories by Harada Maha called “The Girl at the End of the World,” in which a girl who appears rides a motorcycle. Even while reading the book, I felt the exhilaration of riding a motorcycle and the pleasant feeling of the breeze. I got my license with the sole desire to actually get that experience.

– “The Girl at the End of the World” is a story in which encounters and journeys become turning points in a person’s life. Could you tell us about a journey that changed your life, or an experience in which you felt the world opened up or you connected with people because of your motorcycle?

Thanks to the fact that I have a motorcycle license, I was able to broaden my conversations with people I normally wouldn’t have anything in common with, and it really brought me closer to them. I’ve never been on a solo touring trip before, but when I hear stories from people who have gone on touring trips, I think it’s cool, and I feel like motorcycles have broadened the possibilities for my own travels. This short drama really gave me the confidence to ride a motorcycle on the V-STROM 250SX, and it made me want to go on a motorcycle trip.

– By the way, is there anywhere you would like to go on a touring trip?

I would love to ride my motorcycle in Hokkaido on a single road that seems to go on forever, with nature on both sides of me in all directions.

Q : In this short drama, you play the role of Sakina, who is worried about her future. Higuchi-san, you have dreamed of becoming an idol since you were a child and have been active in Nogizaka 46. I understand that you were unsure whether to go to university from a preparatory school, and decided on Nogizaka. When you made that decision, did you consult with those around you?

When I was in Nogizaka46, the hardest part was balancing my studies with my work. I thought I was doing both things with all my might, but when I looked at myself objectively, I felt like I was only doing both half-heartedly. I realized that it was important to make up my mind at this point. I spoke to my teachers and family about it, but in the end, it was my own decision. I thought about everything, like whether I was ready, whether I had any regrets, and whether I would be able to be someone who doesn’t blame others if something were to happen, and I decided to pursue a career in entertainment.

Q : You turned 27 on January 31st. Is there anything you want to do or challenge yourself with this year?

Of course, a motorcycle trip. I still feel a bit unsure about traveling alone, but there are quite a lot of women around me who ride motorcycles. These include senior actors and people I’ve worked with on stage. They usually travel alone on large bikes. Their families all ride motorcycles, so if I ever want to go on a tour, they’ve said, “We’ll make sure you ride in front and behind us, so let’s go together for the first time,” so I’d like to go on a motorcycle trip this year.

-By the way, is there a role or genre you would like to play in your work?

The role of a woman who rides a motorbike and has a cool lifestyle! If I had a license, I’d be at the starting line, and it would broaden my opportunities if I had a role that required me to ride a motorbike for work, and I think it would be a strong role. I would love to play the role of someone who rides a motorbike and drives briskly, and I also dream of getting a large vehicle license someday.

– Have you seen a lot of movies in the past, are there any that feature motorcycles that made an impression on you?

When I appeared in the TV drama “Kyojo II,” there was a scene where someone with a motorcycle license was riding a police motorcycle. I was envious of the idea that if I had gotten a license at the time, I could have become a police motorcycle officer, and I remember thinking how cool they looked. But I also really liked the red vehicle I rode this time, so I would love to play the role of the V-STROM 250SX I rode this time! I’d love to play a woman who travels on it.

Q : Finally, please give a message to the viewers.

The character I play, Sakina, is worried and looks down because she doesn’t know what she wants to do, but I hope you will enjoy this short drama to see how she grows after discovering her motorcycle. During filming, I rode the V-STROM 250SX, and that moment when my eyes really looked up was the catalyst for me to gain confidence in myself, and it was an experience that made me feel excited and thought, “I want to go on a tour or a trip! I want to take another step now!” I hope that everyone will also discover such a wonderful motorcycle. Let’s go on a wonderful journey in life together!