It's always fun to compare TV commercials in the West and Japan. While most people probably judge Japan's "CMs" (as they're called here) by a few really bizarre examples, commercials in Japan are often very subtle, striving to create an appealing visual image to tie a product to, or amuse the viewer in a way that makes them feel favorably about the company. Another common approach is to use indirect images to communicate abstract meaning, often making the viewer wonder what the commercial is even about. NTT is currently running a commercial showing a CG frog swimming in a swimming pool with beautiful opera music playing as he takes each stroke. Towards the end, a message displays on the screen: "Are you satisfied with your company's ability to 'change?'" They were making a common pun on the word kaeru, which means "to change" but also (with different kanji) "frog." As is often the case, the company tries to create buzz for the commercial itself, publishing the "making of" on their website showing how difficult it was to make a frog appear to swim like an Olympic swimmer.
A TV commercial featuring a swimming frog, which will make you feel at peace.
