Sep 7, 2026
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Today, and September 7th annually, is CM Song Day in Japan. It commemorates the very first commercial jingle broadcast in Japan. The milestone dates back to 1951, when private radio broadcasting had just begun. Stations were experimenting with new ways to capture listener's attention. For the launch of a new program, Sakura Film commissioned lyricist and composer Miki Toriro to create something fresh and memorable; a short, catchy “commercial song” that could introduce their brand without directly naming it. The result was Boku wa Amachua Kameraman, performed by popular singer Katsuhiko Haida, and it became Japan’s first-ever CM song. The idea was simple but groundbreaking: a tune that listeners would remember long after the broadcast ended. It helped shape the future of Japanese advertising, where jingles became part of everyday life.