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)
Song of the Blue CloudsMorita Kōichi
Koichi Morita is known as a composer who has provided songs for numerous artists and also served as a judge on the legendary audition program “Star Tanjō!” As the title suggests, “Seiun no Uta,” used as the commercial song for Nippon Kodo’s “Seiun,” is likely a tune that many people have heard at least once, even those not from the Showa generation.
The refreshing melody, carried by a warmly enveloping vocal, leaves a lasting impression together with the commercial’s imagery of kites soaring high in a long line across the sky.
Since 2020, it has remained a timeless CM song that drew attention again when rakugo performer Taihei Hayashiya became its new singer.
Kappa KizakuraKusunoki Toshie
Showa-era commercial jingles really pack a punch when you look at them now.
I’m sure many people remember this one as having a huge impact on them as kids.
It’s the commercial for the sake producer Kizakura—the kappa animation is striking, and the jingle that goes with it is titled “Kappa Kizakura.” It aired on TV from the 1960s through the 1980s, filling living rooms across Japan.
You can tell the lyrics were written specifically for the ad.
Even if you’re hearing it for the first time, it’ll stick in your head after a single listen! And the commercial’s animation, with its distinctly Showa-era vibe, is absolutely mesmerizing.
Catchy Showa-era commercial jingles. Featuring classic hits recently used in ads, too! (31–40)
From the Orange Village to Springririi
Lily’s “From Orange Village to Spring” is a song released in 1976, included as the B-side of “Ie e Oide yo” (“Come Home”).
Set to a gentle sound that evokes elements of country music, it portrays the calm scenery of a village.
The song’s rhythm has a buoyant lightness, and the overall gentle yet cheerful atmosphere conjures a sense of love for one’s hometown.
As a commercial jingle, it’s best known for being used in a Shiseido ad, where the music and visuals together depict the rising excitement as the season turns toward spring.
Song of Milk Soap
This commercial promotes Cow Brand Soap, the company’s main product that’s also reflected in the name Cow Brand Soap Kyoshinsha.
The song used is “The Cow Brand Soap Song,” and its titular closing phrase has continued to appear in the commercials across generations.
The ad features animated scenes depicting interactions with cows, conveying a gentle atmosphere as a key point.
The soft tone of the vocals and visuals also clearly evoke the mild, pleasant feel of Cow Brand Soap on the skin.
Original song
This commercial spotlights “Marukome-kun,” the character who also appears on Marukome miso packaging, along with the sixth live-action Marukome-kun.
Child actors from various regions—who all look like Marukome-kun—gather and pass miso in a relay.
By showing the places where each child lives, the ad conveys how many similar-looking kids there are while making Marukome-kun feel familiar and close.
And once you hear the original song repeating “Marukome,” it’s irresistibly catchy!
Windday, Taking You AlongTHE ALFEE
This commercial, themed around a Passionate Summer Madonna, powerfully yet refreshingly captures the exhilaration of spending summer in Okinawa.
By depicting various activities you can enjoy there, such as yachting and diving, it also conveys the excitement of imagining what to do in Okinawa.
The song that firmly underscores the passion and vigor of the visuals is THE ALFEE’s “Kazeyōbi, Kimi o Tsurete.” With its striking sense of speed and powerful band sound, the forward-driving music paired with a refreshing vocal evokes a distinctly positive attitude.
A Good Day to Set Out on a JourneyYamaguchi Momoe
This is a TV commercial from the Japan National Railways’ “A Good Day to Set Out” campaign, broadcast in 1978.
Multiple JNR trains appear, making it a delightful video for railway enthusiasts.
The background music is another highlight: the song ‘Good Day to Set Out’ was created specifically for this commercial.
After its release, it became one of Momoe Yamaguchi’s signature songs and has continued to be cherished as a classic of the Showa-era pop canon.
