[iichiko Commercials] Popular and All-Time Commercials Collection [2026]
Iichiko, an authentic shochu known for its catchphrase “The Napoleon of Downtown,” is a popular shochu you can find at convenience stores and supermarkets.
It’s a long-selling product that has been loved for many years, and in fact, TV commercials have been airing since 1986.
There are several series, including ones featuring landscapes from around the world and others with period-drama-style direction, and all of them evoke a sense of nostalgia when you watch them.
In this article, we’ll introduce those past commercials along with the music used in each.
Of course, we’ve also included the latest commercial, so be sure to check it out.
- The Iichiko commercial song. A popular jingle.
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- Catchy commercial jingles. A roundup of those songs grabbing attention in ads!
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- A roundup of commercials featuring enka singers—from ones where you can hear their singing to fun and quirky spots.
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[iichiko CM] Popular Commercials and Historical Ads Summary [2026] (41–50)
Sanwa Shurui iichiko “The Vienna Woods” Episode
When people hear “the Vienna Woods,” many classical music lovers will probably think of Tales from the Vienna Woods by Johann Strauss II, the composer who was active in and around Vienna, Austria.
But the music playing here isn’t classical—it’s Billy BanBan’s Too Late a Season, the song synonymous with iichiko’s TV commercials.
The ad shows the boundless, majestic greenery of the Alps, and an iichiko bottle set on a table bathed in light filtering through the trees appears with such utter naturalness that it’s startling.
If you think about it objectively, it’s an extremely contrived situation, yet it never feels that way.
That deft touch is quintessential Shūya Kawakita—the renowned art director who conceived, directed, edited, and narrated the piece.
Sanwa Shurui iichiko “Talkeetna, Alaska” version
This is the “Talkeetna, Alaska” segment that aired in 2003.
The commercial song is Billy BanBan’s “Ima wa, Kono Mama.” It shows a man energetically pedaling a bicycle, with nature unfolding around him as he rides.
You can even see quintessentially Alaskan wildlife like moose and beavers.
As is customary for this series, iichiko makes a subtle appearance at the end—but this time it’s strapped to the bike’s cargo rack!
iichiko by Sanwa Shurui, “Aegean Sea” version
In the 1993 “Aegean Sea” edition, a day on the beautiful Aegean unfolds.
From the slightly pale morning sea, to the sun rising and the water gleaming a vivid blue, and finally the sea bathed in the colors of sunset, the scenes are so beautiful they soothe the heart.
Along the way, shots of someone reading a book and a large ship cruising across the Aegean convey an unhurried flow of time.
The commercial’s BGM is Billy BanBan’s signature song, released in 1972 and a major hit; with this song, they appeared in that year’s 23rd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
The younger brother, Susumu Sugawara, once had mixed feelings because the song was written by an external lyricist and composer, but as an unfading masterpiece, it has naturally been covered by many artists—as well as by the duo themselves—and continues to be sung across generations.
Sanwa Shurui iichiko “Portugal” Edition
Set against the seas of Portugal, which dominated regions around the world during the Age of Discovery and reigned as a maritime empire, this video impresses with a clever move: weaving in illustrations of carracks, the ships that flourished in that very era.
It’s also amazing how casually it slips in iichiko’s illustration, creating a mood as if it were something favored in Portugal during the Age of Discovery.
The sensibility of Shuuya Kawakita, who oversaw iichiko’s product planning and commercials, truly shines.
Combined with the narration, “There was a time like that long ago,” and the wistful melody of Billy BanBan’s song ‘Ososugita Kisetsu’ (Too Late a Season), it all feels deeply nostalgic.
Sanwa Shurui iichiko ‘Yulia Path’ version
The 1990 “Julier Pass” segment is set on the Julier Pass, a mountain pass in Switzerland.
It’s said that the name Julier comes from Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar.
We look out from the train window at the fertile lands of the Julier Pass, but outside it’s pouring rain.
Even in those rainy scenes, you can clearly see the lush green beauty of the Julier Pass.
It makes you feel that no matter the weather, there are times when it’s good to go with the flow.
At the end of the commercial, a bottle of iichiko is placed by the train window.
Sipping iichiko while swaying along with the train and taking in the beautiful scenery must be something special.