We see advertising daily—perhaps always. Palaceside Building's Mainichi Newspapers has published ads since its predecessor Tokyo Nichinichi Shimbun launched—long, close ties to advertising.
So—the world's oldest ad?
I searched online without a clear answer. Ancient Egypt is often cited: from Thebes, "A slave escaped—please capture. (abridged)—Hapu, Thebes's finest weaver" is called the oldest surviving ad.
What about Japan's IT advertising history? That might be traceable to recent years.
Internet ads in Japan began with banner ads—Yahoo Japan in April 1996; listing ads from 2002. Behavioral targeting emerged around 2005—using cookies to deliver needed ads. Ever notice banners that fit you perfectly? That's latest net advertising.
Japan's oldest advertising pillar?
Unknown too—but Meiji literary giant Mori Ogai's novel Alone, about his Kokura years, lists among "things from the West reaching Kokura directly, not in Tokyo" an advertising pillar. "A round post stands at Tokiwa-bashi's edge; ads are pasted on it." Photo: one-third scale replica at Tokiwa-bashi, eastern terminus of the Nagasaki Kaido.
Ogai spent nearly four years from 1899 (Meiji 32) as medical director of the 12th Division in Kyushu/Kokura. He commuted daily on horseback—a ten-minute ride. Kitakyushu preserves his residence as Ogai's Former Home =main photo.
Aside: Ogai's meticulous Kokura Diary was once lost; Matsumoto Seicho's Akutagawa Prize winner A Certain "Kokura Diary" Legend tells a disabled youth who devoted his life to finding it.