Ichio Suzuki stars in new commercials for a Japanese supplement that features all the hallmarks of a soon-to-be viral video. There's a contrived challenge, shaky camerawork, off-screen cheering, confident execution and just enough reality to make you wonder whether it's fake.

We embed, you decide (after we push our opinions onto you).

Our verdict: The first video is real, setting up viewers to believe the second one is too. There's something about that guy standing near the trashcan that looks too phony. Why is he surprised when the first ball hits the lid?

Viral videos used to feature Kobe Bryant jumping over an Aston Martin or Roger Federer doing a William Tell. Now we have Ichio knocking over bats and throwing balls into a trashcan? What's next: Charlie Batch throwing at Heinz ketchup bottles from six feet away? We need degree of difficulty!

I know Ichiro has a great arm and all, but is this the best way to show it? The ad looks like a Tom Emanski video, minus the Fred McGriff cameo. Couldn't we have him mowing down Central Park joggers with cut-off throws or shattering the mirror ARod is gazing into?

Thanks to Buzzfeed for posting the videos