[Nostalgic Commercials] A compilation of commercials that aired in the Showa era
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.
- Catchy Showa-era commercial jingles. Introducing famous songs recently featured in commercials, too!
- [Funny Commercials] Hilarious! Memorable Ads
- Commercial songs from the 70s. Nostalgic TV commercial jingles.
- Catchy commercial jingles. A roundup of those songs grabbing attention in ads!
- Unforgettable! Memorable commercial jingles. Popular commercial songs.
- [Kansai Region Local] A compilation of local commercials broadcast in Kansai
- [From timeless classics to the latest hits] A roundup of catchy commercial songs
- Compilation of candy commercials: from the latest to nostalgic ones
- Nostalgic commercials from the 2000s: revisiting ads that left a lasting impression
- A must-see for people in their 30s and 40s! A roundup of nostalgic 1990s commercial jingles
- Funny commercial song. Popular funny commercial songs.
- Shampoo commercials: A roundup of popular products’ ads from each manufacturer
- [I want to hear it again!] Songs from Suntory commercials. Popular commercial jingles
[Nostalgic Commercials] Compilation of TV ads aired in the Showa era (21–30)
Meiji Chelsea
Meiji’s candy “Chelsea,” inspired by Scottish sweets, is known for its striking floral illustrations in pink and green on a black background.
The familiar song from the Chelsea commercials is called “Chelsea no Uta,” and it was first performed by the female duo Simons.
It was later sung by various artists, including Saori Minami and Junko Yagami, and in the 1985 commercial broadcast, Agnes Chan provided the vocals.
The line spoken by a foreign girl appearing in the commercials aired during the Showa era—“Anata ni mo Chelsea agetai” (“I want to give you Chelsea, too”)—became a major talking point at the time.
Fujiya Milky
Since it features Peko-chan, the cute character who sticks out her tongue, it’s a commercial for Fujiya’s Milky.
It’s a candy that has been sold since 1951 and loved for decades.
Since 2000, various limited-time and regional flavors have also been released.
In a commercial that aired in the 1980s, when Peko-chan flies through the sky, a flower appears that pops out Milky candies one after another.
Peko-chan is delighted by the scene, but it turns out to be her dream.
It seems to express how Milky’s delicious taste can be enjoyed in many varieties without getting bored.
At the end, you can also hear the familiar catchphrase: “Milky is the taste of Mom.”
[Nostalgic Commercials] Compilation of commercials aired in the Showa era (31–40)
Nissin Yakisoba U.F.O.
This is a commercial for Nissin Foods’ Cup Yakisoba UFO that aired in 1978.
Pink Lady appears, singing and dancing.
It seems to be a collaboration connected to Pink Lady’s 1977 single “UFO.” They sing and dance on top of the Cup Yakisoba UFO.
The sound effects and the space-themed background really give it a vintage feel.
Milk Soap
This is a commercial promoting the company’s main product, “Milk Soap,” which is also reflected in the name Cow Brand Soap Kyoshinsha.
The CM uses the song “Gyuunyuu Sekken Yoi Sekken” (“Milk Soap, Good Soap”), and the titular phrase sung at the end has continued to be used in their commercials across generations.
The content features an animated depiction of interactions with cows, conveying a gentle atmosphere as a key point.
The soft tone of the vocals and visuals also clearly evokes the mild, smooth feel of Milk Soap on the skin.
Suntory White
The commercial song for Suntory White features the King of Soul, Ray Charles, covering Southern All Stars’ classic “Itoshi no Ellie” in English.
Believe it or not, there’s a rock ’n’ roll urban legend that Ray Charles, without ever hearing the original, used a singing style similar to Keisuke Kuwata’s—and when Kuwata found out, he exclaimed, “I wasn’t wrong!” in delight.
Acecook Wonton NoodlesMasao Sen
Acecook is famous for its little pig character dressed as a chef.
This is a 1980s commercial for Acecook’s hugely popular product, Wontonmen.
The person singing and dancing with children on a farm—and enjoying Wontonmen—is enka singer Masao Sen.
His lively, uninhibited moves leave a striking impression, quite different from his usual image when performing enka! The commercial also features a little pig not wearing a chef’s outfit.
It ends with the familiar Wontonmen tagline: “Acecook wa Wontonmen.”
Kanebo Cosmetics Fitnet Eye
It’s surprising to think that in the Showa era, the major cosmetics company Kanebo actually released a product for drawing eyebrows in soft purple—something unimaginable in the Reiwa era.
They featured Shizuka Kudo, who was hugely popular at the time.
She has a long, slim face, but her plump cheeks give a youthful impression.
Purple eyeshadow with thick purple brows, pearly whitish lips, and long one-length hair—all of it was cutting-edge fashion back then.