The Iichiko commercial song. A popular jingle.
Speaking of the TV commercials for Iichiko, the barley shochu from Oita Prefecture, they’ve been on the air for many years.
The cool, subdued narration set against footage from around the world has earned a devoted following.
The music used in Iichiko’s commercials has drawn attention alongside the visuals as well, featuring a variety of songs—primarily by Billy BanBan and Fuyumi Sakamoto, among others.
In this article, we’ll introduce all the songs that have been featured in Iichiko’s commercials so far!
They’re all tracks that really tug at the heartstrings and invite a touch of nostalgia, so take this opportunity to give them another listen!
Iichiko’s commercial songs: popular CM tracks (1–10)
Someday, beyond the rainbowbiriibanban
The commercial for iichiko, Sanwa Shurui’s flagship product, has been getting attention not only for its beautiful visuals but also for the moving music that gives it a nostalgic feel.
This is the “We Love Sports” version released in the summer of 2024, featuring ocean scenes as well as tennis footage.
The visuals convey a refreshing, summery vibe.
The background music is a familiar song by Billy BanBan, newly produced for this CM: “Itsuka Niji no Mukou e” (Someday Beyond the Rainbow).
It’s a perfect match for iichiko’s commercials—a track that somehow evokes a sense of nostalgia when you listen to it.
connectSasanomarii
Iichiko posters displayed in train stations began being produced in 1984, and it’s said that a new poster has been created every month since.
The total has now surpassed 500 works, and this is the fourth installment in the series that translates the unique world of those Iichiko posters into a TV commercial.
The ad depicts a story between the protagonist and their carpenter grandfather, and it’s as compelling as a trailer for an animated film.
The background music features “Tsunagu” by singer-songwriter Sasanomarii, a track written specifically for this commercial, whose lyrics weave a narrative that connects with the CM’s content.
A Tale of Twobiriibanban
The iichiko commercial “We Love Family,” composed of footage of animal parents and children along with rugby scenes, aired in 2023 and conveys a warm atmosphere, doesn’t it? The background music features “Futari Monogatari,” released by Billy BanBan in 2021 as their first new song in five years.
It’s said to be a song about someone dear to you who is far away, so please listen to it while thinking of someone special in your life.
I’m falling in love with you againSakamoto Fuyumi
A song by Fuyumi Sakamoto, a female singer who pursued a career as an enka vocalist while working as an office employee and is now a grand figure in the genre, known to a wide range of listeners.
This track is known as a cover of the brotherly folk duo Billy BanBan, and like the original, it has been used in a commercial for Iichiko, an Oita-made barley shochu.
Unlike Billy BanBan’s version, which is ethereal and spacious, this arrangement feels more intimate and close, revealing the song’s charm from a different angle.
Also, having it sung by a woman changes the nuance of the lyrics—it’s a number you’ll want to compare with the original.
Goodbye, tearsbiriibanban
Seeing a bird flying through the sky and a horse galloping across the grassland, you can’t help but think for a moment, “Huh? What commercial is this?” But as you watch, it somehow soothes you—that’s the charm of iichiko’s “2019 iichiko Equestrian” commercial.
The product appears near the end of the ad, perched on the horse’s saddle.
It wobbles so much you feel an urge to steady it (lol).
The featured song is Billy BanBan’s “Sayonara Namida” (“Goodbye, Tears”).
As the title suggests, it’s themed around heartbreak, and the lyrics are highly lyrical, steeped in a sense of sorrow.
The melody has a classic kayōkyoku vibe, exuding allure in every section—the A verse, B verse, and chorus.
If you’re into songs with a mature atmosphere or want to reminisce about the bittersweet romances of the past, definitely give it a listen.
I’m falling in love with you againbiriibanban
This is an iichiko commercial that aired on television in 2009.
Throughout the ad, footage of Arizona’s beautiful natural landscapes is used.
The background music is Billy BanBan’s 31st and 32nd single, “Mata Kimi ni Koishiteru” (“Falling in Love with You Again”).
The cover version by enka singer Fuyumi Sakamoto is also well-known.
The brothers’ distinctive, beautiful harmonies and the spacious, dreamlike tone linger in the ear, and many people probably associate this song with iichiko.
It’s one of Billy BanBan’s signature songs, and it’s no surprise it received a third single release in 2010.
If this is what they call lovebiriibanban
A classic by Billy BanBan used in commercials such as the “LIFESAVER” spot, ‘Kore ga Koi to Iu nara’ (If This Is What They Call Love).
While many of Billy BanBan’s songs focus on inner emotions, this one stands out with lyrics rich in metaphor.
The melody blends elements of folk music with Japanese kayōkyoku.
Among the Billy BanBan songs used in iichiko commercials, this one is particularly famous, so many of you may already know it.
Beyond sorrowAimer
A commercial filmed in New Zealand.
It opens with an irresistibly adorable shot of four alpacas.
Just seeing them lined up makes for a very catchy image.
Then the screen fills with the vibrant flowers of the four seasons and the fresh, mystical beauty of nature.
As this is an updated new product, the music has also changed, and the video takes a slightly different approach from before, giving it a botanical feel.
The BGM features Aimer’s “Beyond the Sorrow.” It’s a beautiful piano ballad that lets you savor Aimer’s clear vocals, with a memorable melody that conveys both warmth and poignancy.
IT’S NICE TO BE WITH YOUSugawara Susumu
The commercial titled “Wales,” aired in 1992, features a man playing rugby on the Welsh landscape in the United Kingdom.
The camera follows the rugby ball as it soars through the air and bounces along the ground, creating footage that feels just like an actual rugby match.
The CM’s background music is a solo piece by Susumu Sugawara, the vocalist of Billy BanBan.
His gentle voice blends beautifully with the calm, reflective atmosphere.
I’ve always liked you.Sakamoto Fuyumi
In the 2010 TV commercial for iichiko Hita Zen-Koji, actor Koji Matoba appeared.
The theme was likely a period-drama-style world, with Matoba dressed in traditional attire and riding a ferryboat.
Since the commercial has almost no dialogue, the background music—Fuyumi Sakamoto’s “Zutto Anata ga Suki Deshita”—really stands out.
If you like songs with a mature atmosphere, be sure to check it out.