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)

Leave 21 2006 TV commercialAkiko Wada

Leave 21 Commercial 2006

This commercial, which aired around 2006, features Akiko Wada interviewing users of Reeve 21 about their experiences.

It starts by asking how they first heard about Reeve 21, and then goes on to ask what it was like to use it and whether they would recommend it to others.

The expressions of the people who actually used it and felt the effects are bright, and it’s striking how confidently they speak.

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Leave 21 2006 TV commercialAkiko Wada, Shinsuke Shimada

Reve 21 commercial featuring Akiko Wada and Shinsuke Shimada

In this commercial that aired around 2006, Akiko Wada and Shinsuke Shimada are shown recording a radio program.

In their conversation, they discuss the high effectiveness of Reeve 21 and the reasons behind it, and because it’s introduced through a natural dialogue, the message is conveyed clearly.

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[Nostalgic Commercials] Heisei-era masterpiece ads. 2000s commercials (31–40)

Reve 21 “Questions for Female Employees” EditionAkiko Wada

Hair Growth Specialists - Reve 21 “Questions for Female Employees” Version, 2005 TV Commercial

This commercial features Akiko Wada interviewing LEAVE 21 employees such as counselors and operators.

They talk about their approach to work and what makes it rewarding, and through their stories you get the sense that they truly empathize with users and respond with genuine care.

Watching this CM, which shows how sincerely they face users’ concerns and share in the joy when results are achieved, can be the push that helps someone who has been hesitating take the first step.

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Kentucky Fried Chicken 2007 commercialRosa Kato

Rosa Kato: Kentucky Fried Chicken (2007-10)

This commercial highlights how you can enjoy a great-value set of Original Chicken and Furi-Furi Fries, conveyed through Rosa Kato’s expressions and presence.

By clearly showing her eating, you can really feel the portion size, which in turn communicates just how good a deal this set is.

The video captures that irresistible urge to keep eating, and the original song makes that feeling stand out even more.

With straightforward lyrics that express both the munching onomatopoeia “mushamusha” and the happiness that follows, sung over a light, buoyant sound, it paints a picture of everyday joy.

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P&G Febreze Stand-Up Air Freshener 2009 Commercial

Febreze tabletop air freshener commercial (2009) Music: HOF DYLAN

Some of you might remember this commercial that aired in 2009 for its super cute direction.

It depicts stand-alone Febreze absorbing unpleasant odors and releasing a pleasant scent, by showing children operating a factory.

And what makes the footage even catchier is the original song by Hoff Dylan.

The catchy melody and vocal work really stick in your head after just one listen.

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Benesse Shinken Zemi High School Course “First Day of School” VersionYuko Oshima

AKB48 Yuko Oshima commercial (Benesse Shinken Zemi High School Course)

This commercial shows Yuko Oshima playing a high school student on her first day of school.

It promotes starting the Shinken Zemi High School Course when you enter high school, and also introduces a limited-time campaign where you can get an electronic Japanese–English dictionary with a listening function.

Oshima’s energetic presence really stands out.

The background music is TOKIO’s “Aiming for Tomorrow!,” written specifically for this commercial.

The lyrics, which encourage pressing forward with hope and looking only ahead, are truly captivating.

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Glico PockyShiori Kutsuna

CM Shiori Kutsuna Glico Pocky 2

If you were born in the 1990s, you might find yourself squinting with nostalgia.

This is a commercial from 2008 featuring Shiori Kutsuna—who is now thriving internationally in films and TV dramas—when she was still in high school, appearing as the “50th Pocky Princess.” Kutsuna cheerfully dances in a cheerleader outfit, and the ORANGE RANGE song playing in the commercial… it all exudes Heisei-era culture, which might feel fresh to today’s teens!

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