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.
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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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- 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. Featuring classic hits recently used in ads, too! (31–40)
Wansaka GirlHirota Mieko
Singer Mieko Hirota, who was even called the Japanese R&B girl for releasing hit songs that covered Western music, recorded Wansaka Musume as a commercial song for the apparel company Renown, which closed its long history in 2020.
The song is praised as having “raised the level of Japanese commercial production to an international standard,” as it was the first Japanese commercial to win an advertising award overseas.
The commercial, featuring powerful vocals over animation, is memorable for its concept that fully emphasizes femininity.
It’s a gem of a commercial song that has been performed by numerous artists, including French singer Sylvie Vartan.
Stop the night once moreSakiya Kenjirō
This is a commercial for Lighthouse, known for its appealing simple, traditional design, which had been on sale since 1986.
The scene where a woman extends her arm wearing a Lighthouse watch out of a car window to call out to a man is especially striking, isn’t it? The BGM in this commercial is Kenjiro Sakiya’s 1987 song “Mou Ichido Yoru o Tomete” (“Stop the Night Once More”).
Its lyrics, poignantly depicting a couple drifting apart against their true feelings, captured the hearts of many listeners.
After being featured in this commercial, the song went on to be used as a theme and insert song in numerous dramas and films.
Yodobashi Camera Song
Speaking of major electronics retailer Yodobashi Camera, that theme song you hear not only in their commercials but also in the stores really leaves an impression, doesn’t it? The song reportedly started airing in commercials in 1975, with the lyrics written by the company president at the time.
Listening to it gives you a kind of excited, upbeat feeling, but in fact it’s a parody song that uses the melody of the American folk tune “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” It’s said to have been used as a march as well, and its crisp, snappy melody is pleasing to the ear.
What was happiness again?Akashiya Sanma
Also known as the Comedy Monster and still active at the forefront of variety shows today, singer Sanma Akashiya.
“Shiawase tte Nandakke,” included as the B-side to his sixth single “Thank You,” was used as the commercial song for Kikkoman’s “Ponzu Shoyu,” in which he himself appears.
His husky vocals and the lyrical melody are the kind that make you stop and watch when they come on TV.
A catchy number that many in younger generations have likely heard as well, thanks to a remake of the commercial featuring Sanma Akashiya that aired in 2009.
I feel Coke 87Satō Chikuyoshi
Among Showa-era commercials, the 1987 Coca-Cola ad is especially acclaimed as a masterpiece in the advertising world.
Its nostalgia-filled footage, packed with the atmosphere of the time, will likely bring memories flooding back at a single glance.
The background song “I feel Coke 87” is also a timeless classic among commercial jingles, and it drew attention again in 2023 when a cover version of the song was featured in a new commercial.
Catchy Showa-era commercial jingles: Featuring classic songs recently used in ads (41–50)
radianceOkamura Takako
This commercial highlights the cleansing power of Merit to remove dirt and protect the scalp, conveying that this leads to brighter days.
It features Yuriko Ishida washing her hair with Merit and letting her hair flow, with her smile expressing the joy of beautiful hair.
Enhancing the refreshing atmosphere of the visuals is Takako Okamura’s song “Kagayaki” (Radiance).
The piano-centered, dazzling sound and her soaring vocals convey not only a sense of freshness but also a positive, uplifting feeling.
Morning of PartingPedoro & Kapurishasu
Pedro & Capricious’s “Wakare no Asa” (Morning of Parting) was released in 1971 and is known as one of the group’s signature songs.
The original is “Was Ich Dir Sagen Will” by Austrian singer Udo Jürgens, to which Rei Nakanishi added Japanese lyrics for this version.
The sound leans strongly toward kayōkyoku, giving it a different vibe from the original, and over this powerful arrangement the sorrow of parting is sung.
Because the song conveys a kind of strength that tries to shake off loneliness, when it’s used in commercials it tends to create an impression of emphasizing the power to move forward.