JR’s CM song roundup, including SKISKI and more
When it comes to JR commercials, there are all kinds: ones that showcase beautiful footage of tourist spots around Japan, ones that capture trains in motion, and of course the classic “JR SKISKI” series that appears every winter!
These commercials use music that perfectly matches their imagery—gentle tracks that highlight the beauty of the visuals, or upbeat tunes that convey the exhilarating speed of a train.
Many of the songs featured in the “JR SKISKI” series go on to become beloved winter staples, so there are quite a few standout CM tracks.
In this article, we’ll introduce all the songs that have been used in JR commercials so far.
You’re sure to find those buzzworthy tracks or the ones you heard in a CM and couldn’t get out of your head.
[Including SKISKI] Summary of JR Commercial Songs (1–10)
SNOW SOUND[Alexandros]
![SNOW SOUND[Alexandros]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/e7GvXNOxhng/sddefault.jpg)
A medium-tempo track by [Alexandros] that was featured in JR East’s “JR SKISKI” campaign from 2016 to 2017.
Its sound, which paints a picture of snow falling silently, and its wistful lyrics are endlessly beautiful, and when winter comes, you can’t help but long for “SNOW SOUND.” Some of you may have heard it at ski resorts.
It captures feelings that arise precisely because it’s an extraordinary experience you can’t usually have, and the love that places wishes upon the snow makes your heart skip a beat.
Be sure to pay attention to the realistic depictions and the dreamy atmosphere as well.
Let's go see (someone).NEW!UA
People boarding the Shinkansen to head to all kinds of event venues—music concerts, comedy shows, baseball games—are shown alongside the charged atmosphere at those venues.
The commercial conveys the message that they’re not just going to a venue or a gathering; they’re going to meet someone.
It’s a lovely expression that makes you feel as if the distance between you and your favorite performer has suddenly grown much smaller.
The background music is an instrumental brass arrangement of UA’s “Ai ni Ikou” (Let’s Go Meet).
Its flowing melody really sticks in your head after just one listen.
AMBITIOUS JAPAN!TOKIO
When it comes to songs that match the Shinkansen, it’s got to be this one! It’s a classic released in 2003 by TOKIO, a band that has truly transcended boundaries.
Many people will vividly recall the TV commercial, since it was used as a tie-in song for JR Central.
Produced by the master lyricist Rei Nakanishi, with composition by the legendary Kyohei Tsutsumi, who created countless hits.
The chorus is so catchy that you can’t help but hum along when the song or the commercial comes on.
It paints the image of the Nozomi racing ahead and fills you with a sense of a bright future!
We’ve gotta do what seems impossible.Sambomaster
Rock ’n’ roll at its best! Sambomaster’s “Dekikkonai wo Yaranakucha” has been loved for years as a go-to cheer-up song since its 2010 release, and it was even used as the theme song for the 2018 drama Cheer☆Dan.
It also played in JR East Group’s “Overseas Railway Project” commercial.
It’s unbelievably fiery—but that heat is exactly what makes it great! Its message helps you hold on when you’re about to falter or feel like giving up.
The powerful band sound and vocalist Yamaguchi’s passionate singing are overwhelming.
The ending of the chorus, overflowing with affirmation and hope, is wonderful—it makes you want to shout along!
Heroineback number
From the very origin of their band name—said to come from frontman Iyori Shimizu’s own heartbreak stories as the group’s primary lyricist and composer—back number has produced many breakup and love songs.
Their 2014 single “Heroine,” used as the CM song for JR East’s “JR SKISKI” campaign featuring Suzu Hirose, has become one of the band’s beloved signature tracks.
Beyond the song’s inherent appeal, the string arrangements characteristic of co-producer Takeshi Kobayashi and the organ timbre introduced in the intro add a distinctive flavor.
Even now, well into the 2020s, many back number fans probably find this song coming to mind whenever they see a ski resort.
Christmas EveTatsuro Yamashita
When it comes to this exceptionally famous song, explaining it almost feels unnecessary.
Among the works of the genius musician Tatsuro Yamashita, this is one of the most popular, and as the nationally beloved Christmas song “Christmas Eve,” it first appeared on the 1983 album MELODIES.
It was released as a single the same year and became a long-running hit.
A few years later, in 1988, it was used in a JR Tokai commercial featuring Eri Fukatsu, who was 15 at the time, which propelled it to nationwide recognition.
The following year, in the 1989 CM series “Christmas Express,” Riho Makise, then 17, also appeared—something many will fondly remember.
It’s no exaggeration to say that this song transcended the bounds of a mere hit and helped establish in Japan the cultural notion of Christmas as a time for couples to spend together.
Don’t Stop Me NowQueen
This is a superb masterpiece that bursts with the dazzling pop sensibility of Queen, the world-famous band born in the UK! Led by melodious yet rhythmic piano, the driving bass and drums create an exhilarating sense of speed, and the brief but memorable guitar solo is quintessential Queen.
It’s included on the classic 1978 album Jazz, and was released as a single the following year, in 1979, becoming one of the band’s signature songs.
The lyrics and music were written by Freddie Mercury, the frontman whose name is etched in music history.
Beyond the characteristically beautiful yet urgent melody that is so Freddie, the lyrics—shouting raw, instinctive desire straight out—are quite striking.
This track was also used in a TV commercial for the Tokaido Shinkansen N700S, which debuted as a fully redesigned model in July 2020, and the song’s structure—balancing stillness and motion—was skillfully employed in the ad.