[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
- 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
- Funny commercial song. Popular funny commercial songs.
- Commercial songs from the 70s. Nostalgic TV commercial jingles.
- Shampoo commercials: A roundup of popular products’ ads from each manufacturer
- [I want to hear it again!] Songs from Suntory commercials. Popular commercial jingles
- Commercials by Coca-Cola Japan: A collection of ads for popular products like Coke and I LOHAS.
[Nostalgic Commercials] A Compilation of TV Ads from the Showa Era (41–50)
Toyota CrownSatoshi Yamamura, Kunio Murai, Koji Moritsugu, Koji Ishizaka
This commercial portrays a strong longing for the Toyota Crown and the excitement of getting the new model.
With refreshing scenes of the Crown driving through various places, it convincingly highlights the car’s aspirational status by showing people who take notice and strike up conversations.
It also explains the various features it’s equipped with, conveying that it’s an excellent car not just in looks.
The scenes where the driver, slightly bashful yet responsive when approached by others, leave a memorable impression.
Mobil gasoline
This commercial shows people desperately pushing a car that’s run out of gas; it’s for Mobil Gasoline, the oil company that has since become ENEOS.
Two men keep walking along, pushing the car down a rough, natural road that isn’t really paved.
Along the way, one of them slacks off, blows dandelion fluff, knocks over a tree and goofs around, and they keep moving without any real sense of urgency.
What makes this heartwarming scene feel even more easygoing is the song playing in the background: Maki Maki’s “Take It Easy.” And the final narration, which casually reminds viewers that cars run on gasoline, adds to that laid-back vibe.
Sato Pharmaceutical Yunker: “Do your best with Yunkerumba.”
This is a commercial for Sato Pharmaceutical’s Yunker Kotei-eki that aired in 1988.
When you think of Yunker commercials, you think of Tamori, who has served as the long-time face of the brand.
In it, Tamori trains a sea lion to do tricks while striking the same poses himself.
Both Tamori and the sea lion are adorable (lol).
The original jingle is kind of laid-back, and it really sticks in your head.
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.
Onoden
This is a commercial for Onoden, an electronics retail store in Akihabara, Tokyo.
Since it’s a Tokyo shop, people from other regions might not be very familiar with it, but it seems a character parodying Onoden’s mascot, Onoden Boy, appears in the anime Sgt.
Frog (Keroro Gunso)! Set to a bright, resonant vocal, the commercial is primarily animated.
Onoden Boy rides a vacuum cleaner and zips around through various home appliances.
By the way, the singer is Noko Inoko, known for performing many commercial jingles.
It ends with Onoden’s catchphrase, “All kinds of electronics—Akihabara Onoden,” sung to its distinctive melody.
Sapporo Beer
This is a Sapporo Beer commercial that portrays someone quietly facing their beer without unnecessary words.
The phrase “Men should be silent and drink Sapporo Beer” conveys the company’s desire for people to simply taste it first.
Toshiro Mifune’s expressions are another highlight, communicating the beer’s deliciousness as his face turns into a smile while savoring Sapporo.
The way the bottle is opened, the beer is poured, and even the typography together express a sense of boldness throughout the ad.
The moment he blows away the foam clinging to his lips comically conveys a flavor you can get completely absorbed in.
Nintendo Famicom Wars
This commercial expresses the rising excitement for the release of Nintendo’s title Famicom Wars.
From the repeated cadence calls of the drill instructor, it’s immediately clear that the motif is inspired by the film Full Metal Jacket.
The straightforward chant phrases that convey pure anticipation, along with the synchronized, distinctive rhythm, make it stick in your ears.
It’s also striking that it’s a pre-release ad that doesn’t use footage from the game itself, which really communicates the message: just play it and see for yourself.