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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- [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. Featuring classic hits recently used in ads, too! (31–40)
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.
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.
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.
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.
At HomeNakajima Miyuki
Miyuki Nakajima’s “Home nite (At the Platform)” is a song included on the B-side of the single “Wakare Uta,” released in 1977.
Despite being a B-side, it gained popularity thanks to numerous tie-ins, including being used as insert music for the drama “From the North Country” (Kita no Kuni Kara).
Set to a quiet, acoustic guitar–centered sound, it depicts the scene of a train platform bound for one’s hometown, imbued with both loneliness and warmth.
It was also used in a JR East commercial as a CM song; as a track themed around train stations, it conveys a warm atmosphere that evokes thoughts of one’s hometown.
Catchy Showa-era commercial jingles: Featuring classic songs recently used in ads (41–50)
Sexual Violet No. 1Kuwana Masahiro
Masahiro Kuwana was a singer who flourished not only as a musician but also as an actor, TV personality, and entrepreneur across a wide range of fields.
His fourth single, “Sexual Violet No.
1,” created under the concept of making a ‘Hideki Saijo of the rock world,’ was featured in a Kanebo campaign commercial and became a massive hit.
The commercial’s imagery—conveying that women are beautiful no matter the setting—paired with Kuwana’s sensual vocals likely captivated the eyes and ears of many viewers.
It stands as a classic of the Showa era, representing the popular music scene at the height of rock kayō’s golden age.
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.