Pocari Sweat commercials: A collection of ads that evoke summer and youthful vibes.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical’s sports drink, Pocari Sweat, has been producing commercials since the 1980s, and we still see new ones every year.
Featuring invigorating direction—like summery scenes set against the ocean or youth-filled stories centered on school clubs—Pocari Sweat’s commercials are known for stirring your emotions.
The cast and the background music used in the ads also draw attention as key attractions.
In this article, we’ll introduce all the Pocari Sweat commercials produced to date, so don’t miss this opportunity to check them out.
Pocari Sweat commercials: A roundup of ads that evoke summer and youth (1–10)
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Pocari Sweat Inter-High 2024 “That Place Is Watching”
The song chosen for the Pocari Sweat commercial supporting the Inter-High, titled “That Place Is Watching,” is “Mita Koto mo Nai Keshiki” (A Scenery I’ve Never Seen) performed by singer-songwriter Cena.
It’s a cover of Masaki Suda’s track, depicting a headlong charge into the future.
Cena’s vocals—imbued with a gentle warmth—layer over a powerful band sound, leaving a strong impression and conveying not just desperation, but each person’s dedicated approach to effort.
By overlapping the performance of a young singer-songwriter with the hard work of young athletes, the commercial emphasizes the image of youthful energy forging a path to the future.
“Pocari Blue Dance: Cry of the Soul” Version
The original song created for the Pocari Sweat commercial is “Sweat Flows for You.” The commercial features powerful dancing by students, and the music enhances it with a strong sense of youth.
The bold, straightforward lyrics channel everyday frustrations head-on, which is why the students’ authentic selves come through clearly in the song.
The way the voices gradually layer not only conveys the momentum to carve out the future, but also evokes the importance of the time spent with friends.
“No Wings Needed” Edition
The song used in Pocari Sweat’s web movie “We Don’t Need Wings” is called “Pale Rain.” In addition to imase—known for hits like “Tōhikō” (Runaway), which broke out on social media—the production also involves PUNPEE, who is active as a rapper and trackmaker, and Toby Fox, the creator of the globally popular RPG “UNDERTALE,” whose background music is also widely loved.
The game-inspired sound, cool track, and sophisticated vocal work are truly captivating.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Pocari Sweat “Pocari NEO Chorus” Version
This commercial portrays students completing a choir performance remotely, conveying a refreshing sense of youth.
Amid the COVID-19 situation that keeps them from attending school, their ingenuity in creating the piece showcases the students’ resilience.
The key point is how they pour their all into making something fun despite the uncertainty, giving the impression of a strong will to sprint through their youth.
You can feel the careful craftsmanship in many elements, such as lyrics that depict an enjoyable school life and lines that evoke the image of Pocari Sweat.
TV commercial 1999
“Sunny Day Sunday” is Sentimental Bus’s fourth major-label single.
Chosen as the theme song for a 1999 Pocari Sweat commercial, it became a smash hit, selling 510,000 copies.
It is the only Sentimental Bus single to reach the top 10 on the Oricon Singles Chart.
A poppy, humorous number, it matched the swimsuit-clad boys and girls in the commercial, resulting in a brisk, youthful feel.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Pocari Sweat “Blue in Flight”Tsubaki, Anji Ikebata
Tsubaki and Anji Ikebata appear in Otsuka Pharmaceutical’s Pocari Sweat commercial “Blue Dances.” It portrays high school students savoring their youth as countless cherry blossom petals flutter around them.
Playing in the background is a gentle song: “Blue Dances,” written specially by Ruki Kitaya, inspired by the content of the commercial.
With no spoken lines in the piece, the music gives voice to the characters’ feelings.
I hope you’ll watch it along with the special behind-the-scenes video capturing the making of the shoot.
TV commercial, 1996
This was the Pocari Sweat commercial song in 1996.
It was FIELD OF VIEW’s second single, selling 1.224 million copies and achieving million-seller status—their biggest hit.
The lyrics were written by Izumi Sakai of ZARD, and the music was composed by Tetsuro Oda, the golden duo of the Being label who were hugely popular at the time.
The commercial featured Emiri Nakayama as the image character, with scenes of her riding an ostrich and attempting a flying trapeze—capturing a girl enjoying her youth.