JR’s CM song roundup, including SKISKI and more
When it comes to JR commercials, there are all kinds: ones that showcase beautiful footage of tourist spots around Japan, ones that capture trains in motion, and of course the classic “JR SKISKI” series that appears every winter!
These commercials use music that perfectly matches their imagery—gentle tracks that highlight the beauty of the visuals, or upbeat tunes that convey the exhilarating speed of a train.
Many of the songs featured in the “JR SKISKI” series go on to become beloved winter staples, so there are quite a few standout CM tracks.
In this article, we’ll introduce all the songs that have been used in JR commercials so far.
You’re sure to find those buzzworthy tracks or the ones you heard in a CM and couldn’t get out of your head.
- [From timeless classics to the latest hits] A roundup of catchy commercial songs
- JR East commercial. A compilation of commercials showcasing beautiful scenery.
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- 80s commercial songs. A roundup of Japanese songs from the 80s that have been used in commercials.
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- A commercial song with memorable dancing. A commercial that makes you want to start dancing.
- JTB commercial. A collection of commercials that make you want to go on a trip.
- [February 2026] Summary of Trending Latest Commercial Songs
- Nostalgic commercials from the 2000s: revisiting ads that left a lasting impression
[Including SKISKI] Summary of JR Commercial Songs (1–10)
Christmas EveYamashita Tatsuro
When it comes to this exceptionally famous song, explaining it almost feels unnecessary.
Among the works of the genius musician Tatsuro Yamashita, this is one of the most popular, and as the nationally beloved Christmas song “Christmas Eve,” it first appeared on the 1983 album MELODIES.
It was released as a single the same year and became a long-running hit.
A few years later, in 1988, it was used in a JR Tokai commercial featuring Eri Fukatsu, who was 15 at the time, which propelled it to nationwide recognition.
The following year, in the 1989 CM series “Christmas Express,” Riho Makise, then 17, also appeared—something many will fondly remember.
It’s no exaggeration to say that this song transcended the bounds of a mere hit and helped establish in Japan the cultural notion of Christmas as a time for couples to spend together.
Hokuriku Romance ~Premium Duet Version~Tanimura Shinji/Nakama Yukie
Although it’s a 2015 song, its arrangement and melody sit squarely in the heart of classic Showa-era pop, and the lyrics evoke a sense of travel.
Hokuriku Roman is the 56th single by Shinji Tanimura, who rose to fame as a member of the music group Alice and has remained a beloved national singer-songwriter throughout his solo career.
It was written specifically as a theme song for a JR West commercial, and when it was released on CD, a “Premium Duet Version” was issued featuring a duet with Yukie Nakama, who actually appeared in the commercial.
Tanimura’s hallmark blend of mature allure, gravitas, and dandyism contrasts beautifully with Nakama’s clear, luminous vocals.
It’s not the easiest time to travel casually these days, but listening to this song will surely make you want to set off for Hokuriku.
Don’t Stop Me NowQueen
This is a superb masterpiece that bursts with the dazzling pop sensibility of Queen, the world-famous band born in the UK! Led by melodious yet rhythmic piano, the driving bass and drums create an exhilarating sense of speed, and the brief but memorable guitar solo is quintessential Queen.
It’s included on the classic 1978 album Jazz, and was released as a single the following year, in 1979, becoming one of the band’s signature songs.
The lyrics and music were written by Freddie Mercury, the frontman whose name is etched in music history.
Beyond the characteristically beautiful yet urgent melody that is so Freddie, the lyrics—shouting raw, instinctive desire straight out—are quite striking.
This track was also used in a TV commercial for the Tokaido Shinkansen N700S, which debuted as a fully redesigned model in July 2020, and the song’s structure—balancing stillness and motion—was skillfully employed in the ad.
[Including SKISKI] Summary of JR Commercial Songs (11–20)
The railroad tracks go on forever.Hanbaato Hanbaato
This song, best known for the famously ubiquitous phrase “The railroad goes on forever,” actually originated as the American folk tune “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.” Although it began as a folk song with a serious theme as a work song, a parody version was used as the theme for the American TV drama “Texas Rangers,” which helped it spread widely in Japan.
Later, it was introduced on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” under the title “Senro wa Tsuzuku yo Dokomademo,” gaining nationwide recognition.
The melody is even used for approaching-train chimes, and it has blended into the soundscape of our everyday lives.
The version featured here is an arrangement of this beloved home song, used as the commercial tune for “Mamo-Rail,” JR East’s child safety monitoring service.
The performers are the husband-and-wife duo Humbert Humbert.
In addition to its pastoral arrangement, be sure to pay attention to the lyrics, which align with the commercial’s theme.
Winter, againGLAY
Even now, past the 2020s, the brilliance of the tagline “Snow for love, white for romance” never ceases to amaze.
JR East’s “JR SKISKI” ski-travel campaign, launched in 1991, featured many hit songs in its commercials, and the one introduced here is from 1998, set to GLAY’s massive hit “Winter, again.” It’s one of the quintessential winter songs of the 1990s and the band’s best-selling single.
A song that could only come from Hokkaido-born GLAY, it also showcases the distinctive lyrics of TAKURO, the band’s guitarist and primary songwriter.
Beyond TERU’s soulful vocals and TAKURO’s melodious lead guitar, HISASHI’s exquisite phrasing using the Talbo instrument manufactured by Tokai Gakki, JIRO’s bass lines that generate the track’s core groove, and the arrangement by famed producer Masahide Sakuma all coalesce into a flawless classic born from GLAY’s rock-solid band ensemble.
DEPARTURESglobe
I’m the same way, but if you spent your youth in the 1990s, you probably remember how Tetsuya Komuro’s songs were like the soundtrack of everyday life, playing everywhere you went.
Back then, as part of the “Komuro Family,” many groups and artists kept delivering massive hits, and among them, globe—the group Komuro himself was in—became hugely popular, releasing one hit after another since their 1995 debut and leaving their mark on Japanese music history.
DEPARTURES, used as the theme song for JR East’s ski trip campaign “JR SKISKI,” was globe’s best-selling single, with an astonishing total of 2.288 million copies sold.
It’s a classic masterpiece where Komuro’s characteristically wistful piano tones blend perfectly with digital beats, and KEIKO’s clear, high-toned voice rings out beautifully over the track.
Many people were surely captivated by the commercial featuring Yutaka Takenouchi and Makiko Esumi as a couple.
Sound of SnowGReeeeN
GReeeeN, which became a nationally beloved band with the theme song for NHK’s morning drama series “Yell,” released this song in 2012 as the CM song for JR East’s “JR SKISKI.” The multiple key changes throughout the track are striking, and the unexpected modulations make it a very fun listen.
The lyrics depict that bittersweet yet happy moment when you realize you’ve fallen for someone—a feeling everyone has experienced.
It’s a song that will make your heart flutter as you overlay it with your own memories.
