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[Oita Mugi Shochu Nikaido] A collection of nostalgic past commercials
Nikaido is a shochu made in Oita Prefecture using 100% barley.
Nikaido’s commercials have been airing since 1987, with a new one released every year.
They hardly ever show product introductions or drinking scenes; instead, they’re characterized by artistic visuals that strikingly capture nature, townscapes, and everyday scenery from various regions.
What’s even more iconic—so much so that it defines “a Nikaido commercial”—is the narration with its unique atmosphere.
Evoking nostalgia and speaking straight to the heart, these commercials have built a devoted following since they first began airing.
In this article, we’ll catalog Nikaido’s commercials and introduce their distinctive worldview.
[Oita Mugi Shochu Nikaido] Compilation of Nostalgic Historical Commercials (1–10)
Nikaido Shuzo Oita Barley Shochu Nikaido 'Red Brick of Memories' Version
The Nikaido commercial “Red Brick of Memories,” which began airing in the fall of 2024.
As the title suggests, it features many red-brick buildings and captures that nostalgic atmosphere so characteristic of Nikaido’s ads.
The visuals, music, and narration all come together beautifully, creating a Nikaido commercial that really resonates with us—no wonder it has so many fans.
Nikaido Shuzo Oita Barley Shochu Nikaido “Toward the Night” Version
This commercial conveys, through visuals and words, a sense of contemplation toward the moon gently illuminating the night town.
By depicting the moon not only alongside natural scenery such as the sea and sky, but also in homes and stage sets, it communicates the close relationship between people and the moon.
The light, rhythmic BGM “Namban Planetta (Planet)” is also striking, evoking the moon’s gentle glow and the slow passage of nighttime.
Finally, by highlighting the product name “Oita Mugi Shochu Nikaido,” it suggests a desire for the brand to be casually incorporated into everyday life.
Nikaido Shuzo Oita Barley Shochu Nikaido “Whispers of the Wind” Edition
Train platforms, mountains and rivers, a harbor, a school—scenes that evoke a certain nostalgia appear one after another in the 2025 commercial “Whisper of the Wind.” The line “A melody is a diary without words” leaves a strong impression, making you want to reflect on your own memories and ponder what that means.
Every scene is captured with beautiful, striking composition, resulting in visuals you’ll want to pause and take your time to appreciate.
Nikaido Shuzo Oita Barley Shochu Nikaido “Sigh of Water” Version
The “Sigh of Water” version features the soothing sound of a river flowing.
The music carried along by the water is a classical guitar arrangement of “Córdoba, Op.
232-4” from Songs of Spain.
Narration is by Junichi Sato, whose deep, warm voice enhances the commercial’s nostalgic mood.
All the rivers shown in the ad are located across Kyushu.
The commercial focuses on the sound of rivers that flow unchanged through both old townscapes and modern cities.
It’s a CM that makes you want to pause and listen to the river flowing near you.
Nikaido Shuzo Oita Barley Shochu Nikaido 'Crystals of Memory' Edition
The 2020 “Crystals of Memory” edition, with its wistful music and tender, melancholy narration, likely evokes nostalgic memories for everyone.
Sounds and scents are deeply tied to memory and can suddenly trigger recollections, can’t they? Though it’s a commercial, it feels luxuriously like listening to a poetry reading.
It makes you want to sip a drink under a crescent moon and reminisce about the good old days.
The footage features locations such as the Miike Coal Mine and Nata Coast in Fukuoka Prefecture, as well as Takashi Matsuura’s studio at the former Kuno Residence.
Nikaido Shuzo Oita Barley Shochu Nikaido 'Showa Mother' Edition
The “Showa Mother” version released in 2012.
The narration that speaks of things “taken in exchange for the future” deepens the sense of nostalgia in this commercial.
If you remember that era, you’ll recognize many familiar items that evoke the Showa period: a kitchen with a retro feel, a kappogi apron, and a foot-operated sewing machine.
She gets angry often, but she’s stronger and more dependable than anyone—an affectionate mother.
Watching this commercial makes you remember that kind of mother and want to go see her.
The footage features locations such as Tagawa-Ita Station in Fukuoka Prefecture, Gado-an, and Fukuoka City Zoological Garden.
Nikaido Shuzo Oita Barley Shochu Nikaido “Lines that Engrave the Heart” (version)
When you watch this commercial that aired in 2013, doesn’t it bring back memories of your elementary school days? As the narration says, those days were ordinary, but looking back now, they feel truly irreplaceable.
Once you become an adult and start to see the world differently, many of us find ourselves wishing we could go back to those days.
The footage features locations such as Hiramatsu in Asakura City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Momochiya Stationery Store, and the Tsue-tate Onsen Hall in Kumamoto Prefecture.