Oronamin C facts for kids
Oronamin C Drink is a popular fizzy drink from Japan. It's made by Otsuka Chemical Holdings, but Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. helps sell it. Most people just call it Oronamin C or Oronamin. Its name comes from another famous Otsuka product, Oronine H Ointment, and its main ingredient, vitamin C. The company hoped Oronamin C would be just as successful as the ointment!
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About Oronamin C
Oronamin C first came out in February 1965. It was sold in a 120 ml glass bottle with a special cap. This drink has important ingredients like isoleucine and other essential amino acids. It also contains many vitamins, such as vitamin B2, vitamin B6, and vitamin C. You can find Oronamin C in many places in Japan. These include supermarkets, convenience stores, and even special vending machines from Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co.
The bottle cap has changed over the years. First, it was a screw cap. Later, it became a "pull-cap" that you can't close again after opening. This change was made to make sure the bottles couldn't be tampered with after opening.
In 2000, a new version called Oronamin C Royal Polis was launched. This drink includes special ingredients like royal jelly and propolis extracts.
When Oronamin C first came out, it was sold as a health drink. However, the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare decided it couldn't be called a "medical health drink." This was a tough time for the company. But then, a famous TV ad campaign started. It featured a comedian named Kon Omura and used the slogan Genki hatsuratsu (meaning "full of vitality"). This campaign became very famous across Japan. Thanks to these ads, Oronamin C became one of the best-selling health drinks in the country.
Many other companies have tried to make similar drinks to compete with Oronamin C. But so far, none have been as successful.
Oronamin C Commercials
The main slogan for Oronamin C is Genki hatsuratsu, which means "full of vitality" or "lively." The first person to promote this slogan was the comedian Kon Omura. He appeared in the ads for about 10 years. In the 1960s, Oronamin C was advertised on TV and on billboards.
Even Japanese baseball players from the Yomiuri Giants helped promote the drink. They used the phrase "Oronamin is a small giant!" Another slogan used in some ads was "C power becomes G power!"
In the mid-1990s, the popular Japanese singing group SMAP had their songs featured in Oronamin commercials. Later, around 2001, a TV campaign called "Let's find the Yujiro of the 21st century!" started. It featured actors from Ishihara International Productions. Since then, many famous celebrities have promoted Oronamin C. For example, baseball player Hideki Matsui was a spokesperson for Oronamin C Royal Polis when he played for the Yomiuri Giants.
Other famous people like Yūzō Kayama and the Southern All Stars also appeared in Oronamin ads. Their campaign slogan was "Clear distinction Oronamin C."
Since 2004, Oronamin C has teamed up with the popular Japanese Kamen Rider Series. Actors from shows like Kamen Rider Blade, Hibiki, Kabuto, Den-O, Kiva, and Kamen Rider Decade have all appeared in special Oronamin C commercials. In 2009, the animators of the Fresh Pretty Cure! series also made ads for the drink. More recently, in 2015, Kamen Rider actors started appearing in commercials as trios. Many different trios from various Kamen Rider shows have promoted the drink.
Today, the main person in Oronamin C TV commercials is the Japanese idol Aya Ueto. She appears with different sports stars or other celebrities. Their conversations are the main part of these ads. The slogan also changed slightly to Genki hatsuratsū?. At first, her co-stars would answer "Of course!" But now, they say Sugē hatsuratsu! (meaning "Super lively!").
Here are some of the famous people who have appeared with Aya Ueto:
- Tsuyoshi Shinjo (a baseball player)
- Bae Yong-joon (a Korean actor)
- Hideaki Takizawa (an actor)
- Bobby Ologun (a martial artist and celebrity)
- Kamenashi Kazuya and Jin Akanishi (from the group KAT-TUN)
- Shunsuke Nakamura (a soccer player)
- Michelle Wie (a professional golfer)
- Obi Tenaka (an actor)
- Kazuo Umezu (a manga artist)
- Ryo Nishikido and Tadayoshi Ohkura (from the group Kanjani∞)
- Hakuhō Shō (a sumo wrestler)
- Daisuke Takahashi (a figure skater)
- Tohoshinki (a Korean boy group)
- Jackie Chan (a famous actor and stuntman)
- Jun Hyun-moo (a host)
Genki hatsuratsū? Ad Contest
From May 2005, a special ad contest called Genki hatsuratsū? was held. Young performers from the Yoshimoto Kogyo entertainment company took part. They had to plan and create their own original TV commercials. These commercials then competed against each other. The winners received money and the right to broadcast their ad in their hometown. The group Nibunnogo! won the contest, with Tōtarutenbosu coming in second place.
Oronamin Shake
In 1971, a TV ad called "Home Party" showed a new recipe: the Oronamin Shake. This shake is made by mixing Oronamin C with a raw egg. Even today, this recipe is on the Oronamin C website. However, now it's recommended to use only the egg yolk. The old TV ad described the shake like this: "My older sister and I have Oronamin and juice. Mom puts in an egg and has an Oronamin shake. Dad has Oronamin and gin." In 2004, a new TV ad featuring model Ai Tominaga and singer-songwriter Shigeru Izumiya brought the Oronamin shake back into the spotlight.
Similar Drinks
Many other companies make drinks that are similar to Oronamin C. Here are a few examples:
- Minnamin C Drink
- Bonnu C
- Vitamin C Drink
- Origomin C Drink (which includes oligosaccharide)
- Vita Lemon C Drink
- Top Value C
- Vita Amin C
- Vita Shii (Vitakku) Drink
- Vita To C
- Turbo C / New Turbo C
- Baomin X / Dekavita C
- Miracle Body V
- Real Gold
- Dodekamin / Dodekamin V
- Nice C
- Royal Top
- Oligomin C
- Citrumin C
- Vitaene C
- C1000
- C+
- Pocari Sweat (also from Otsuka Pharmaceutical)
