Lovely commercial jingle

[Nostalgic Commercials] A compilation of commercials that aired in the Showa era

Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.
A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerAraki Jakkan
I’ve worked in a variety of roles—regardless of pro or amateur settings—including live event PA, cameraman for video and photography, restaurant staff, and logistics center staff. I now spend my days as a part-time writer. I’ve contributed to music and manga websites with feature/review articles, and wrote the liner notes included as a bonus for 1st PLACE Inc.’s “IA SUPER BEST.” As for my music background, I started playing guitar in junior high and focused on band activities during my school years. For over 15 years since then, up to the present, I’ve continued releasing original tracks as a Vocaloid producer. My areas of expertise are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.

TV commercials vary by era, and when you see them again after a long time, many of them feel nostalgic, don’t they?

In particular, from the 1970s to the 1980s—the latter part of the Showa era—many distinctive commercials were aired.

Catchphrases used in those ads were chosen as buzzwords, and songs featured in them became huge hits, making quite the splash in various ways.

In this article, we’ll introduce a whole collection of those nostalgic commercials from the Showa period.

They range widely from spots with a completely different flavor than today’s commercials to ones that have become enduring classics even now, so please take your time and enjoy.

Nostalgic Commercials: A Compilation of TV Ads from the Showa Era (51–60)

Mitsubishi Hi-Fi Video

La Isla Bonita

This is the track used in a 1987 commercial for MITSUBISHI Hi-Fi Video.

It became a hot topic because Madonna, who was at the peak of global popularity, was hired as the image character.

The way Madonna casually appeared in the commercial gives the impression of a symbol of wealthy Japan during the bubble era.

This song was later used as an insert track for the TV drama “Shasho Taeko.”

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Coca-Cola Japan

Yes Coke Yes Chiharu Matsuyama ♪SING A SONG

This is a Coca-Cola commercial from 1983.

The song “SING A SONG” is by Chiharu Matsuyama, who also appears in the ad.

He was a hugely popular young folk singer at the time and rarely appeared on TV, so his appearance in a commercial drew a lot of attention.

The contrast between his gentle, clean-toned singing voice and his masculine, freewheeling talk was captivating.

The catchphrase, “I’m a Coke guy,” perfectly captures his persona.

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Momoya Edo Murasaki Ishikari “Ochazuke” Version

Momoya Edomurasaki Ishikari “Ochazuke” (1977) [CM]

This is a commercial that introduces Ishikari—one of the variations of Momoya’s Edo Murasaki—by switching between live action and animation.

The animation clearly conveys what’s inside, while the live-action footage directly expresses how delicious it is when made into ochazuke.

The narration, which mainly focuses on explanation, is also striking, making you increasingly curious about what it tastes like.

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Asada Candy

For coughs, voice, and throat — Asada Candy TV commercial, 1980s

This is a TV commercial for Asada Ame, a cough drop long loved for gently caring for throat troubles, which aired in the 1980s.

The familiar phrase “Seki, koe, nodo ni Asada Ame” is sung lightly, strongly emphasizing its effectiveness for the throat.

In a comic twist, an announcer who’s warning viewers about dryness loses their voice, forcing a news program to be interrupted, and they reach for Asada Ame with a hoarse voice.

The constant smiles throughout are also notable, conveying that Asada Ame feels like a close, everyday presence.

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Fujicco Pickle 100 Selections

1987 commercial: Fujicco – I want to eat shibazuke! Mie Yamaguchi

This commercial portrays a woman working under stress and recommends taking a relaxing moment with Fujicco’s pickles.

By contrasting her hardworking demeanor with her at-home self, it effectively conveys the importance of relaxation.

It also suggests a story where the promise of delicious pickles waiting at the end of the workday helps her power through each day.

The smile she shows while eating the pickles directly communicates both their tastiness and their familiar, approachable presence.

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