The theme song for Merit’s commercials. A popular jingle.
Since its release in 1970, Merit shampoo has been beloved as Kao’s flagship product.
Over the years, many commercials have been produced, featuring a wide variety of songs as CM tracks.
Some were original songs created specifically for the commercials, others used popular hits, and more recently, cover versions of iconic Japanese rock songs have also drawn attention.
In this article, we’ll introduce all the songs that have been featured in Merit commercials to date!
Merit’s commercial songs. Popular commercial songs (1–10)
The Theory of HappinessRingo Sheena
This is a memorable commercial for Merit with the catchphrase “Family, Love, and Merit.” Two versions have been produced: the “Gentle” edition and the “The Day I Became a First Grader” edition, both of which convey the love from parent to child.
In the commercial, Yuna Ishii’s cover of Ringo Sheena’s ‘Happiness Theory’ plays in the background.
Her innocent singing voice is so adorably sweet!
DoodleMrs. GREEN APPLE
Mrs.
GREEN APPLE’s pleasant high-tone vocals shine.
The commercial that uses their youthfully pop song “Doodle” is Kao Merit × Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, “Sweat of Enthrallment.” The song’s refreshing vibe nicely evokes the image of a clean, freshly washed feel!
radianceTakako Okamura
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.
StaRtMrs. GREEN APPLE
A song by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE, led by Motoki Omori, has been chosen as the CM song for Merit.
The fresh, clean shampoo commercial is enhanced by the breezy track.
“StaRt” has been a popular song since their early days, and its bright vibe makes it very approachable.
Circus
This commercial promotes the benefits of achieving fresh, beautiful hair through the presence of Yuriko Ishida.
The way the product thoroughly removes dirt and transforms hair to a radiant shine comes across clearly in the shopping scene, where her hair gleams.
The refreshing atmosphere of her smiling and letting her hair flow is accentuated by the song from Circus.
The overall emphasis on smiling is also an important point, giving the impression that positive emotions are being expressed.
Original songMiyazon
It addresses the fact that even with adorable children, there are times when odor becomes a concern and parents worry about whether they’re washing properly.
With Merit, it’s gentle on the scalp and can clean thoroughly even with a light touch—something that’s also conveyed through the expressions of Shunsuke Kazama and Kumiko Aso.
The parents’ concerns are further expressed through Miyazon’s original song performed as a piano-and-vocal piece.
His bright singing voice, which matches the light, airy piano tones, is striking and conveys a positive feeling, as if those worries are being resolved.
Like tonight's moonElephant Kashimashi
It’s a warm-toned commercial that looks back on various family memories and the days when they used Merit.
The time spent with family is depicted in soft animation, and the characters’ smiles clearly convey a sense of happiness.
Further emphasizing the gentle atmosphere of the visuals is a cover of Elephant Kashimashi’s “Koyoi no Tsuki no Yō ni.” While the original song leaves a strong impression of power and resolve, intentionally switching it to a cute vocal style brings out a nostalgic feeling.