Autumn songs that were hits in the 80s. Classic and popular tracks from Japanese music.
The Showa-era pop scene produced countless masterpieces—what kind of songs do you like? Even after decades, there are so many wonderful tunes whose lyrics you still remember and find yourself humming, etched in your heart.
Among them, this article will introduce songs perfect for autumn, selected from popular hits of the 1980s.
Whether you listened to them in real time back then or are from a younger generation who didn’t experience that era, please enjoy these timeless classics that will resonate with your heart.
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Autumn songs that were hits in the ’80s: classic and popular Japanese tracks (31–40)
Autumn at eighteenKikuchi Momoko
A song that symbolizes Momoko Kikuchi’s youth.
Released in September 1986, this track captures a page from the autumn of her eighteenth year.
The lyrics and melody, which fully bring out Kikuchi’s charm—pure and earnest—are striking and won the hearts of young people at the time.
Included on the album “Say Yes!,” the song played an important role in establishing her status as an idol.
It expresses the transience of adolescence and the many emotions felt during the process of growing up, making it a piece that resonates deeply with listeners.
It’s a heartwarming song perfect for listening to on long autumn nights.
September That Came LateMatsubara Miki
A celebrated song that poignantly sings of autumn’s melancholy is known as one of Miki Matsubara’s signature works.
Strongly influenced by city pop, it stands out for its urban atmosphere and delicate arrangement.
Its lyrics, reflecting on a lost love, are sure to resonate with many listeners.
Included on the album “REVUE,” released in June 1983, this track is one of Matsubara’s ambitious works in which she took on self-production for the first time.
Its gently flowing melody and vocals that are both powerful and delicate are especially captivating.
It’s a piece you’ll want to play on a long autumn night, when you quietly sink into your thoughts.
Highly recommended for those who want to bask in memories of romance.
Autumn is burningIshikawa Hitomi
“Autumn on Fire” is a song by idol Hitomi Ishikawa, who debuted in 1978, and it was released in 1980 as her ninth single.
It was used as the ending theme for the TV Tokyo variety show “Obake no Samba,” in which Ishikawa also appeared.
The lyrics, overflowing with feelings for a man she broke up with after a summer romance, are particularly striking and beautifully express a woman’s passion.
“Autumn on Fire” is a song that leads into her hit two years later, “Machibuse,” so be sure to give it a listen!
Summer Time from AutumnNitō Yūko
Yuko Nito, a former idol who made her singing debut in 1987 with “Okorinbo no Ningyo” (“The Grumpy Mermaid”).
Her second single was this track, “Aki kara no Summer Time” (“Summer Time from Autumn”).
The lyrics were written by Keiko Aso, with music composed by Hideya Nakazaki.
The song captures a girl’s cute, heartfelt feelings toward her lover.
As an autumn-themed song, it has a slightly calmer mood for a love song.
It’s about two people who have made it through a summer romance.
Listening to it with your partner might bring you even closer.
MissingKubota Toshinobu
This is a gem of a ballad by Toshinobu Kubota, known for his uniquely groovy style, perfect for an autumn night.
It poignantly conveys, with a soulful voice, the helpless love between a man and a woman who care deeply for each other yet can never be together.
The struggle of wanting to forget but being unable to, and the regret of wishing they had met earlier, really hits home.
The song was included on his debut album, “SHAKE IT PARADISE,” released in September 1986, and was used as an ending theme for shows like World Pro Wrestling.
Though it wasn’t released as a single, it remains one of his most beloved signature songs.
It feels like a gentle companion to the quiet loneliness that follows the bustle of summer.
Autumn songs that hit in the ’80s: Japanese classics and popular tracks (41–50)
Blue PhotographMatsuda Seiko
Although it was originally a B-side single, this celebrated ballad won overwhelming support as a TV drama theme song.
The poignant melody blends beautifully with the world of the TBS drama “Ao ga Chiru,” and it likely remains deeply etched in many hearts.
When it was first released in October 1983, it was a B-side, but due to its strong reception it was reissued as a double A-side, and it held the No.
1 spot on TBS’s “The Best Ten” for eight consecutive weeks.
Seiko’s crystal-clear vocals express pure feelings for friends who part ways upon graduation.
It’s a gem of a song to revisit at life’s crossroads, as you look back on a radiant youth.
autumn and winterMizue Takada
Singer Mizue Takada, who debuted as an idol after becoming the 18th Grand Champion on the audition show “You Are the Star!”, is known for her 22nd single “Shūtō” (Autumn/Winter), a cover song that has been performed by various artists throughout the 1980s.
The lyrics, which depict a lover’s changing emotions along with the shifting seasons, grow more poignant as time moves from autumn into winter.
It’s a wistful number whose melancholic vocals and ensemble stir the heart.
