Catchy Showa-era commercial jingles. Introducing famous songs recently featured in commercials, too!
From the Showa era to the present day, countless commercials have aired, and among them are many catchy jingle songs that you just can’t get out of your head.
In this article, we’ll introduce not only original CM songs that were frequently heard back then, but also classic Showa-era hits that have been featured in commercials over the years.
We’ve selected tracks not only from Showa-era commercials, but also songs that were newly used in ads during the Heisei and Reiwa periods.
For those who remember the time, it’s nostalgic; for younger listeners, it feels fresh.
We’ve put together a playlist you can enjoy, so please have a great time exploring it.
Catchy Showa-era commercial jingles. Introducing famous songs recently featured in commercials, too! (1–10)
Until we meet againNEW!Ozaki Kiyohiko
This is a Yamaha “Youthful Pops” commercial that highlights its perfectly balanced positioning with the tagline “More than karaoke, not quite a lesson.” It shows women in their 60s, who have finished raising their children and reached a new stage in life, singing and dancing with joy.
It’s striking that they describe it not as just another cultural class, but as “my place.” In the commercial, they sing Kiyohiko Ozaki’s “Mata Au Hi Made” (“Until the Day We Meet Again”), which portrays the final moments of a couple who decide to break up and end their cohabitation.
While the lyrics depict a heartrending scene, the song is characterized by a bright, catchy melody—a track that invites listeners to imagine the two people’s emotions.
A Good Day to Set Out on a JourneyYamaguchi Momoe
Released in 1978, Momoe Yamaguchi’s “Ii Hi Tabidachi” was composed for a Japan National Railways commercial that aired the same year.
Shinji Tanimura wrote both the lyrics and the music, capturing the image of setting off on a journey at the end of winter, sung over a beautifully bittersweet melody.
The song became a major hit, selling over a million copies, and not only became one of Yamaguchi’s signature numbers, but also one of the defining tracks of the Showa-era pop scene.
Many people who lived through that time know it well, and even among younger generations, a great number are likely familiar with the song.
Hee, hee, hee, hee,NEW!EPO
This commercial shows Aoi Miyazaki, dressed in a spring-like outfit, dashing into McDonald’s to eat the Setouchi Lemon Tartar Bacon Teritama.
For many people, seeing the Teritama ads—McDonald’s spring tradition—may be a reminder of the changing seasons.
The familiar BGM is “U, Fu, Fu, Fu,” a song released by EPO in 1983.
Its lyrics, portraying the feelings of a composed, mature woman against a spring backdrop, are particularly memorable.
Heart of the blue sky (No me? More no!)Sazan Ōrusutāzu
In 1979, the MITSUYA CIDER commercial featured “Aoi Sora no Kokoro (No me? More no!).” The following year, it was released as the B-side of a single.
Southern All Stars have continued to appear in MITSUYA CIDER commercials, so there’s a long history between the band and the cider brand.
This “Aoi Sora no Kokoro (No me? More no!)” was created specifically for the commercial, and notably includes the word “cider” in its lyrics.
Its alluring vocal work set over a mid-tempo accompaniment is particularly captivating.
Dream FlowerEn Hiroshi
Hiroshi Madoka is a singer-songwriter who is widely beloved as a TV personality in the Kansai region.
His debut single “Musouka,” which was used in numerous commercials including Japan Airlines’ “COME TO AMERICA ’78,” is also known as his biggest hit.
The impactful, polyrhythmic refrain of the chorus is so catchy that it captivates viewers no matter what commercial it’s in.
Today, it’s often used in variety shows as well—a classic masterpiece from the Showa era.
