
This dance and and its accompanying catchy little jingle, nicknamed the “brainwashing song,” are currently stuck in people’s heads around Japan.
Nagano Prefecture’s JA Bank has teamed up with an unlikely ally to promote their pension plans: a peppy dancing schoolgirl, who stars in a highly addictive new TV commercial that’s bound to get stuck in your head for hours.
Give the commercial a watch below, but don’t say we didn’t warn you!
Dubbed the “nenkin dance” (nenkin being the Japanese word for “pension”) the short clip’s lyrics are incredibly simple but catchy:
Pension ♪ pension ♪
Enroll in a pension plan at JA Bank
Consultations are free ♪
Pension ♪ pension ♪
We also have plenty of ATMs you can use♪”
The accompanying dance is performed by the sailor uniform-clad Manako, formerly part of the Danceroid dancing team and a member of the Q’ulle idol group since late 2015. Manako just celebrated her 20th birthday earlier this month, but she still looks pretty darn cute in a schoolgirl outfit, wouldn’t you say?
▼ Surprisingly, not everyone seems to be impressed by Manako’s dancing, as the faces of these two JA Bank employees suggest they’re thinking, “Just let me go back to work already!”
If that dance sequence looked a bit familiar to you, it’s probably because Manako drew inspiration from some of her other favorite dance routines, such as when she danced to Yo-kai Watch‘s first ending theme “Yo-kai Taiso Dai-Ichi”:
Catch more of Manako’s dances in her trademark sailor uniform on her official YouTube channel.
Source: Byokan Sunday
Images: YouTube/namcozou011



Stunning central Japan wisteria festival is like a purple fantasy straight out of a Ghibli movie
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
New cherry blossom party picnic essential: This super-handy folding cardboard table
Why you should be adding Calpis to your beer in Japan
Mister Donut wows matcha lovers in Japan with new Dora Matcha doughnuts
Stunning central Japan wisteria festival is like a purple fantasy straight out of a Ghibli movie
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
New cherry blossom party picnic essential: This super-handy folding cardboard table
Why you should be adding Calpis to your beer in Japan
Mister Donut wows matcha lovers in Japan with new Dora Matcha doughnuts
The fish in rural Fukui that rivals Japan’s most auspicious sea bream
Tokyo government organizes food truck event to clear out delinquent/homeless teen gathering area
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Godiva now makes tofu in Japan, and sakura chocolate tofu too![Taste test]
Latest unbelievable chip flavour in Japan captures the runny egg flavour of onsen tamago
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Nine amazing off-the-beaten-path cherry blossom spots in Japan for yaezakura and shidarezakura
When will the cherry blossoms reach full bloom in Japan this year?[Forecast]
7-Eleven Japan’s giant fried chicken skewer would be too big to eat, so it’s really for cuddling
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
The fish in rural Fukui that rivals Japan’s most auspicious sea bream
Tokyo government organizes food truck event to clear out delinquent/homeless teen gathering area
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Godiva now makes tofu in Japan, and sakura chocolate tofu too![Taste test]
Latest unbelievable chip flavour in Japan captures the runny egg flavour of onsen tamago
Tokyo Station’s second-most popular bento is great because of what it isn’t【Taste test】
Japan’s budget chain restaurant Saizeriya might just be the perfect first date location
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Japan’s Mos Burger discontinues old teriyaki burger and rolls out new recipe, but is it as good?
What’s really for breakfast? 20 Japanese people give us a peek at their morning meal【Photos】
Melon bread showdown! Which Japanese convenience store melon pan is the one for you?【Taste test】
We ate all eight kinds of cold noodles from 7-Eleven and here’s our favourites【Taste test】