[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: A Compilation of TV Ads from the Showa Era (51–60)
Mitsubishi Hi-Fi Video
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.”
Fujifilm Fujicolor Print: “If not… it will come out accordingly.”
Speaking of Kirin Kiki, what comes to mind are the Fujicolor commercials.
It’s a long-running series of ads.
This one aired in 1980.
The banter between a woman who comes to have her matchmaking photo printed and the shop clerk is amusing, and the line, “The beautiful will be made more beautiful, and those who aren’t will be made accordingly,” is comical and memorable.
It’s a fun commercial that feels like watching a short sketch.
Takeda Pharmaceutical – Benza Ace: “Colds are a nuisance to society.”
This is the 1983 TV commercial for Takeda Pharmaceutical’s cold medicine, Takeda Benza Ace D tablets, titled “A Cold Is a Nuisance to Society.” It features three performers from very different fields: Marian, Seiroku Saito, and Masatoshi Nakamura.
The lines seem scripted, yet for some reason they come out haltingly, even prompting laughter.
It feels like a commercial with an improvised vibe, doesn’t it? The jingle is an original CM song composed by Yasuo Higuchi.
Ishimaru Denki
This is a commercial for Ishimaru Denki, a consumer electronics retailer that operated mainly around Akihabara in the Kanto region during the Showa era.
Even people in other regions where there were no stores may recognize the “dekkai wa” line spoken by the narrator at the end of the ad.
After being absorbed by Aiden in 2009, the brand was consolidated into Edion in 2012, and the company name disappeared.
In a 1986 commercial, lively scenes show adults and children happily shopping inside Ishimaru Denki.
The original jingle features a bright, friendly, and memorable melody.
[Nostalgic Commercials] A Collection of TV Ads from the Showa Era (61–70)
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.”
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.
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.