A roundup of commercials featuring enka singers—from ones where you can hear their singing to fun and quirky spots.
When watching TV commercials, you sometimes see ones featuring enka singers, don’t you?
There are not only legendary performers loved across generations, but also many younger singers who are widely known among various age groups.
So it’s no surprise that many people find themselves glued to the screen when a commercial featuring them comes on.
In this article, we’ll showcase a range of commercials starring enka singers all at once.
From spots where you can hear their singing voices to those with entertaining and clever concepts, there’s plenty to enjoy.
A roundup of commercials featuring enka singers, from ones where you can hear their singing to funny ones (1–10)
Hyogo Prefecture Silver Human Resources Center AssociationTokunaga Yuuki
This is a commercial for the Hyogo Prefecture Silver Human Resources Center Association featuring Yuuki Tokunaga, an enka singer from Osaka who gained attention on “Chidori no Oni Renchan,” showcasing his singing voice.
It has an impressive structure, with a recruitment narration over Tokunaga’s vocals.
The line “We’re looking for your experience” is lovely and seems likely to resonate with those who are thinking, “I still want to keep working.”
MEGA BIG “Sea Bream” VersionTendō Yoshimi
Yoshimi Tendo, known for songs like “Dotonbori Ninjō” and “Jindo Monogatari,” appeared in the MEGA BIG commercial “Sea Bream” as a customer buying a MEGA BIG ticket.
Yuriko Ishida plays the sales clerk, and the two exchange lines that include puns and lighthearted humor.
While it makes you chuckle, at the end of the commercial Tendo sings the sound logo, and her powerful, dynamic voice is truly overwhelming.
Treasure LULUON “Lululu” VersionOka Midori
This is the LULUON commercial that became a hot topic for the scene where Midori Oka sings while soaking in a hot spring.
Since the cosmetics contain hot spring water, they incorporated that kind of presentation! In the commercial, inspired by the product name, Oka sings “Lu-lu-lu,” and even in that brief moment, her beautiful voice really sticks with you.
True to a cosmetics ad, it conveys a sense of radiant skin, and it also lets you fully enjoy Oka’s singing voice.
Asahi Beer Clear Asahi: “We’re giving it to 500,000 people!” version / “For Fuyumi Sakamoto, easy to drink and delicious is best.” versionSakamoto Fuyumi, Yoshioka Riho, Kitamura Takumi
Fuyumi Sakamoto appears in the Clear Asahi commercials “We’re giving it to 500,000 people!” and “For Fuyumi Sakamoto, easy to drink and delicious is best.” In both ads, her happy expression as she drinks Clear Asahi and exclaims, “Delicious!” is memorable.
The commercials feature the song “Clear Boogie-Woogie,” a jingle that rewrites “Tokyo Boogie-Woogie,” the signature hit of Shizuko Kasagi, sung by the cast.
In particular, in the “We’re giving it to 500,000 people!” version, you can actually see them singing, so be sure to check it out.
Japan Post New Year’s card song: ‘Big House Cleaning’ version / ‘Kotatsu’ versionShimazu Aya, Imada Kōji
This commercial, in which Koji Imada uses Japan Post’s New Year’s card printing service to get his nengajo ready, features Aya Shimazu.
In a striking twist, she appears outside the window near the end and sings a New Year’s card song.
Her powerful vocals are truly overwhelming.
A behind-the-scenes video of the shoot is also available on YouTube, so fans should definitely check it out.
DAIICHIKOSHO The Park “Don’t leave it vacant” EditionMikawa Ken’ichi
In the commercial “Don’t Leave It Vacant” for The Park, a coin-operated parking lot operated by Daiichi Kosho, Kenichi Mikawa appears.
Mikawa plays the role of an enka singer named Katsuyo Tochio, and the commercial is styled like a music show.
He performs a song titled “Don’t Leave It Vacant,” with strikingly direct lyrics like “Why not make it a parking lot?” You can fully enjoy Mikawa’s charm and his richly resonant singing voice.
Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Hakutsuru MaruHikawa Kiyoshi
From 2009 to 2015, Kiyoshi Hikawa appeared in commercials for Hakutsuru Maru.
They used a sea-themed production known as the “Fisherman Series,” which perfectly matched Hikawa’s distinctly enka-style singing voice.
For many people, the Hakutsuru commercials are strongly associated with Hikawa, aren’t they?