Lovely commercial jingle

Nostalgic Commercials: Masterpiece Ads of the Heisei Era. TV commercials from the 2000s.

Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICKeisuke Hane
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. After working at a music studio and in wedding sound engineering, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with various instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in middle school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on personal music activities and professional experience, produces daily articles, including song introductions, features on music festivals around Japan, and live reports. Enjoys a wide range of music, from domestic and international rock to, more recently, a broad spectrum of J-pop.
music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and have been contributing to music magazines and web media for over 15 years. Although Western music is my main field, I always strive to stay curious with the motto, “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in a band, where I was a bassist responsible for songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve performed on include bass, guitar, and piano. I resumed piano lessons after turning 40 and have been continuing ever since!

When you watch TV, you inevitably see commercials, right?

Even if we only half-watch them, those commercials often leave a surprisingly strong impression!

Commercials may be ads, but they’re impactful works in their own right.

In this article, we’ll focus on some especially memorable commercials from the 2000s.

Back in the 2000s, online content wasn’t as widespread as it is today, and many people watched a lot of television.

So among the commercials we’re about to introduce, you’ll likely find some that look familiar or feel wonderfully nostalgic.

Enjoy!

Nostalgic Commercials: Masterpiece Ads of the Heisei Era. TV Commercials from the 2000s (21–30)

Nissin Foods Cup Noodles “FREEDOM” Version

Nissin Cup Noodles Freedom

As part of the FREEDOM-PROJECT, this is one of the commercials that aired between 2006 and 2008.

The animation, created with Katsuhiro Otomo—known as the author of Akira—was used, and many viewers likely paid close attention to its animation style and story.

Even now, watching it is exciting—it’s a captivating commercial.

The BGM features Hikaru Utada’s 2007 release “Kiss & Cry,” a love song with strikingly unique lyrics that even include the words “Nissin Cup Noodles!”

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Panasonic VIERA 2005Light snow

[CM] Koyuki — Panasonic “VIERA” (2005)

This commercial talks about how a good TV is one that makes black look beautiful, and that with a VIERA that achieves this, your immersion in movies increases.

It features Koyuki speaking candidly and directly about the allure of black, building anticipation about what kind of black you’ll be able to see.

The piece of music that accentuates the gently tense mood of the visuals is Nocturne No.

20 in C-sharp minor, “posthumous.” Precisely because it’s a simple composition played only on piano, it adds a distinctive tension within its softness.

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Panasonic VIERA 2003

Panasonic TV VIERA early version: 2003 broadcast commercial

This commercial grandly hypes just how new Panasonic’s VIERA is, building a sweeping sense of anticipation.

Its thin profile and picture quality are major selling points, conveying a thrill as if the future were drawing near.

The music that further highlights the epic yet refreshing atmosphere of the visuals is Sarah Brightman’s “Dans La Nuit.” With gently resonant piano layered with her crystal-clear vocals, the moving progression creates a majestic ambiance.

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Kewpie Mix-in Pasta Sauce Tarako (cod roe)

Tarako Kewpie

Speaking of Kewpie’s cod roe pasta sauce commercials, the one that really stands out is “Tarako Tarako Tarako,” sung by the music duo Kigurumi! That uniquely catchy melody stuck in so many people’s heads.

In this commercial, two girls are happily swimming in the sea when a giant Kewpie dressed as a cod roe suddenly emerges from the water! And it’s not just one—several appear—so it’s nothing short of terrifying.

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The girls who were playing in the sea look utterly dumbfounded, beyond fear.

The scene then shifts to making pasta with the pasta sauce.

It’s a little scary, but it’s a highly impactful commercial.

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Japan Coca-Cola Qoo

Coca-Cola Qoo Commercial 2001

The commercial for Coca-Cola’s beverage “Qoo” made a splash with its cute character and the signature “Kuu!” exclaimed after finishing the juice.

The product and its ads became hits not only with children but also with adults charmed by Qoo’s adorable look.

The character design was created by Momoko Maruyama, known for works like “Dekoboko Friends.” The laid-back, mellow theme song is catchy as well, and the ad also resonated with kids who wanted to imitate grown-ups enjoying their drinks.

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Panasonic VIERA 2005Light snow

Panasonic VIERA IPS LCD TV LX500 2005 commercial

This commercial focuses on the fact that VIERA is an IPS LCD TV, conveying—through narration by Koyuki—how its picture looks different from before.

It especially emphasizes the view from an angle, highlighting that images which used to feel off now appear beautiful.

Enhancing this sense of a grand, near-futuristic atmosphere is Enya’s “Amarantine.” The gentle rhythm marked by strings and the crystalline vocals are striking, and even as the piece unfolds softly, it conveys a moving sense of emotion.

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Panasonic VIERA 2008Light snow

Panasonic 30sec koyuki (08,02)

This commercial highlights that VIERA was selected as the official high-definition television for the Beijing Olympics, conveying the passion for continuous evolution behind that choice.

Just as Olympic athletes strive for greater heights, VIERA also pursued the ideal television, powerfully asserting this by interweaving the message with footage of athletic events.

Further amplifying the grandeur of the visuals is Sarah Brightman’s song “Running.” Her powerfully resonant voice is a major draw, and its beauty evokes a sense of hope for the future.

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