How many of the shampoos used in the Showa era do you remember? There are times when memories suddenly come back—like the catchy phrases you’d hum along with every time they played on TV commercials, or the design of those bottles lined up by the sink.
In this article, we’ll look back at a variety of nostalgic shampoos and introduce the beloved items that brightened bath time in the Showa period.
You might even come across a brand that makes you exclaim, “We had this at home!” Please take your time and enjoy.
- Nostalgic foods of the Showa era. Let’s trace the memorable flavors and the memories they evoke.
- [For Seniors] Irresistibly Nostalgic! Let’s Look Back at Drinks from the Showa Era
- Nostalgic chocolates from the Showa era. A lineup of masterpieces that brings back memories.
- A must-see for the Showa generation! Nostalgic popular snacks from the old days
- A roundup of nostalgic Showa-era home appliances, including rare ones you don’t see anymore!
- [For Seniors] Irresistibly Grabbable! A Special Feature on Nostalgic Showa-Era Goods
- Nostalgic cars from the Showa era: A special feature on memorable classic cars spotted on street corners
- A nostalgic feature on Showa-era magazines: looking back at the popular magazines of the time.
- Nostalgic ice cream from the Showa era. From today’s classic staples to old-time favorites.
- [Nostalgic Memories] Popular Menu Items from Showa-Era School Lunches
- Special feature on popular anime from the Showa era. Looking back at the hit shows of the time!
- [For Seniors] Nostalgic! Showa-Era Quizzes Recommended for Reminiscence Therapy
- Heart-pounding! A roundup of nostalgic Showa-era fashion
A nostalgic shampoo special: Those scents loved in the Showa era (1–10)
Tonic Shampoo
@akubikun0 Kao Tonic Shampoo / Song: First Love (1983)Hiroko MitaYasushi TaoNostalgic commercialShowa retro#80sShowa-era idols
♪ Original song – 🥰🥰 Yawning-kun – Yawning-kun 🥰🥰
Sunstar’s Tonic Shampoo, launched in 1968 as Japan’s first shampoo for men, was developed at a time when shampoo was strongly associated with women.
Focusing on the behavior that “men wash their scalp rather than their hair,” the developers thoroughly researched men’s desire for a brisk, refreshing feel and won support by creating a menthol-infused sensation.
It reportedly became a hit product on par with Bon Curry and Kappa Ebisen.
Since its 1968 debut, it has continued to be rebranded and sold, celebrated for its “overwhelmingly refreshing tingle.”
Hair Cologne Shampoo
@senor.masa
Shiseido’s “Hair Cologne Shampoo,” released in 1982.
Its official name, “Koi Cologne, Cologne for Your Hair, Hair Cologne Shampoo,” was a rhyming, lengthy product name that became a hot topic.
The line from idol Yuu Hayami’s TV commercial at the time—“Koi Cologne, Cologne for your hair, Hair Cologne Shampoo, that’s the name, isn’t it funny?”—was catchy.
The fragrance lineup featured pop scents that junior high and high school girls of the time admired, such as “Flower Cocktail” and “Fruit Cocktail.”
Emelon Shampoo
In 1965, Lion released Emeron Shampoo, which emphasized fragrance, helping liquid shampoo become widespread in Japanese households.
The name “Emeron” was reportedly coined by Lion to have an appeal favored by women, combining the gemstone emerald with the company name Lion.
It was known for its glamorous scents, such as lavender and jasmine, and for how clean hair felt after washing.
Speaking of Emeron, it’s all about the TV commercials.
The popular scenes featured approaching a long-haired woman on the street and getting her to turn around, and the Honey Nights’ song “Furimukanaide” (“Don’t Turn Around”) that played in the ads was also a hit.
Shawaran
@akemi1116 Showa-era shampoo#Shawaran brings back memoriesThey used it in the Pink Lady commercial.
♬ Original song – Route20 – Route20🚗
Showeran by Cow Brand Soap was launched in 1977.
It was a shampoo formulated with plant-derived conditioning ingredients based on the concept of being gentle on hair even with daily washing, and its fresh, clean fruity-green fragrance gained popularity especially among young people.
In the TV commercials, Pink Lady was featured, and as their popularity skyrocketed, Showeran’s name recognition also surged, making it a hit product.
Pink Lady-themed novelties such as plastic file boards and posters were also produced and are still listed at auction today.
Top Boy
Lion’s “Top Boy” was a men’s shampoo released in 1984 that became an icon of late-Showa/1980s Japan.
With its refreshing mint fragrance and brisk, cooling feel after washing, it was a popular choice among young men of the time.
The packaging featured a bright, pop illustration by Eizin Suzuki that evokes the West Coast, overflowing with the vibe of the ’80s.
Speaking of Eizin Suzuki, he’s also well known for the album jacket of Tatsuro Yamashita’s 1982 release “FOR YOU.”
Basubon
@user4fmy7x5iiy Chieko Matsumoto#BasponShowa commercialCelebrity Effect
♬ Original song – Route20 – Route20🚗
Busbon, with its soft, fluffy lather and a somehow nostalgic scent, brightened Showa-era bathrooms.
People loved how it cleaned thoroughly yet left hair feeling less squeaky, making it a go-to family shampoo.
The bottle design was simple but practical, offering a sense of reassurance just by sitting in the bathroom.
Its fragrance wasn’t flashy—more like an extension of soap—reflecting the era’s emphasis on a clean, fresh finish.
Compared to today’s multifunctional shampoos, it was simple, but its ease of use really stood out.
Advantages
@volvov702.4 #Nostalgic commercialOld commercial
♪ Original song – 50s old guy 🥸🥸🥸 – 50s old guy 🥸🥸🥸
In 1970, addressing the dandruff concerns of the time, Kao’s “Merit” debuted in Japan as a shampoo that keeps hair and scalp clean based on scalp-care research—the first in the country to include the active ingredient zinc pyrithione.
Focused on convenience as well, it broke from the era’s standard twist-off caps that required both hands, adopting a design that dispensed liquid with a simple push, allowing one-handed use and earning praise for its user-friendly container.
Carrying on the original blue image, “Merit” is one of Kao’s leading long-selling brands.