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.
- Commercial songs from the 70s. Nostalgic TV commercial jingles.
- [Nostalgic Commercials] A compilation of commercials that aired in the Showa era
- A must-see for people in their 30s and 40s! A roundup of nostalgic 1990s commercial jingles
- 80s commercial songs. A roundup of Japanese songs from the 80s that have been used in commercials.
- Catchy commercial jingles. A roundup of those songs grabbing attention in ads!
- Heartwarming nostalgic commercial jingles: a special collection of timeless hits that take you back.
- [I want to hear it again!] Songs from Suntory commercials. Popular commercial jingles
- Western songs from the 90s featured in commercials. A roundup of CM songs.
- Nostalgic commercials from the 2000s: revisiting ads that left a lasting impression
- [Classic Hits of the 70s] A Compilation of Western Songs Used in Commercials
- [From timeless classics to the latest hits] A roundup of catchy commercial songs
- Funny commercial song. Popular funny commercial songs.
- Classic enka songs featured in commercials, along with original CM tracks, introduced together!
Catchy Showa-era commercial jingles. Also featuring classic songs recently used in ads! (21–30)
Among the seasonsMatsuyama Chiharu
Released in 1978, Chiharu Matsuyama’s “Kisetsu no Naka de” was featured in a Glico Almond Chocolate commercial.
In 1979, it also drew major attention when it was selected as the entrance march for the 51st National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament, making it a particularly prominent work in Matsuyama’s discography.
True to its folk roots, the song begins with a subdued vocal over acoustic guitar accompaniment, but the mood shifts dramatically at the chorus, where Matsuyama’s passionate voice rings out.
The dynamic contrasts make it highly engaging, so be sure to listen to the whole track.
Chelsea’s SongShimonzu
This is the commercial jingle for Meiji’s popular candy Chelsea, which went on sale in 1971 and was discontinued in March 2024.
From its debut, when you thought of Chelsea commercials, you thought of “Chelsea no Uta.” It has been passed down through the years by many artists—including the duo Simmons as well as Garo, Saori Minami, and Junko Yagami—and can truly be called a classic Showa-era jingle.
It could be fun to compare the various versions of the jingle sung by different artists over the years.
bullseyeYamamoto Rinda
This is a commercial announcing UNIQLO’s 2025 Year-End Festival.
As Atsuto Uchida walks through a shopping street muttering, “I should probably buy some new clothes for the year-end and New Year,” a beckoning cat and Haruka Ayase appear.
With its right paw beckoning, the cat encourages him to head to UNIQLO.
The cute, catchy CM features an arranged version of Linda Yamamoto’s signature song ‘Neraiuchi’ as the BGM.
Released in 1973, the song is a staple at baseball games, and this commercial also uses a brass band performance of it.
The Tree of HitachiAsa Kōtarō, Hide Yuuki, Shingāzu Surī
The song “The Tree of Hitachi,” performed by singers Kotaro Asa and Hide Yūki along with the vocal group Singers Three, has been used as a commercial jingle for the Hitachi Group, including Hitachi, Ltd., since 1973, just as its title suggests.
Its catchy lyrics and melody—memorable after just one listen—play a major role as a CM song.
It’s a commercial tune that likely evokes nostalgia for everyone, with the image of the tree shown in the ads differing by generation, which itself conveys a sense of history.
Sekisui House SongSurī Gureisesu
Since their formation in 1985, Three Graces, a female vocal trio, have produced numerous commercial jingles.
True to its title, “The Sekisui House Song,” created for Sekisui House’s commercials, leaves a lasting impression with its lively ensemble and beautiful choral work.
It is still used today with changes to the lyrics and arrangement, so people across a wide range of demographics have likely heard its melody at least once.
With its catchy melody and phrases that instantly let you know which commercial it is, this is a jingle that has been used for many years.
Astro BoyTakasai Tatsuo
This content celebrates actor Masahiro Motoki’s 60th birthday, who has appeared for many years in commercials for Suntory’s green tea, Iyemon Tokucha.
Starting with the 2013 debut commercial for Tokucha, you can enjoy Motoki’s appearances over the years.
The song used in the commercial is the anime theme for Osamu Tezuka’s masterpiece Astro Boy.
It’s known that Tatsuo Takai completed the piece in about 15 minutes; the song is about the protagonist, Atom.
Using this track seems to further highlight Motoki’s ever-youthful energy.
Mone Kamishiraishi’s emotion-filled narration is wonderful as well.
Original song
This is a commercial for the HATOYA Hotel, headquartered in Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
It gained nationwide attention with the catchy phrase “If you’re going to Ito, go to Hatoya,” set to a light, upbeat sound.
The ad repeatedly highlights the phone number, and it’s memorable that the Hatoya hotels in Tokyo and Osaka share the same last digits as the one in Ito.
The layered chorus creates a fun atmosphere that strongly underscores Hatoya’s desire for guests to simply enjoy their travels.
While the song is the focus of the commercial, the detailed narration explaining the hotel’s appeal also conveys a sense of reassurance.
