Revival among the youth? Japanese dance music that was a hit in the 1980s. Showa-era dance tracks.
Due to American influence, in the 1980s Japan also saw dance music that heavily used drum machines and synthesizers become popular as it was incorporated into pop and other genres.
Behind the scenes, a wealth of superb, funky disco tracks were produced in large numbers, many of which remain timeless classics still talked about today.
In this era of retro revival, why not listen to the dance music that was in vogue in the ’80s?
For those who spent their youth back then, it will sound nostalgic; for generations who didn’t experience the era, it will sound fresh and new!
In this article, we’ve selected recommended dance tracks from that time.
Enjoy!
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Revival among the youth? Japanese dance music hits from the 1980s. Showa-era dance tracks (21–30)
Lucky LoveWada Kanako
It’s a very catchy song featuring the vocals of Kanako Wada, an idol who epitomized the ’80s.
Set to a lively melody, it portrays the wavering feelings caught between an ideal love and the reality of romance.
Released in November 1988, this track was also used as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Ie to Nyobo to Otoko no Meiyo,” and it left a lasting impression on many listeners.
It’s the perfect song for anyone struggling with love or feeling nostalgic for their youth.
Just one listen will lift your spirits—like a little bit of magic.
Late-blooming girlTogawa Jun
A song included on the 1985 album “Suki Suki Daisuki.” Jun Togawa, with her distinctive persona and style, was an extraordinary presence even in the 1980s—her image was “avant-garde,” though she herself was apparently aiming for mainstream success.
This work is unusual for her in that it’s a poppy, exuberant track.
However, when you listen to the lyrics, it’s still a decidedly idiosyncratic piece.
Revival among the youth? Japanese dance music hits from the 1980s: Showa-era dance tracks (31–40)
Jenny is in a bad moodJūshii Furūtsu
A single released in 1980.
Juicy Fruits is a band formed around Haruo Chikada.
For its time, the piece—sung entirely in a whispery voice by the female vocalist Illya—was innovative, and it was very cute and danceable.
TOP SECRET MANThe Plastics
In the 1980s, Plastics were known alongside P-MODEL and Hikashu as the “Techno Big Three.” The sound of this work carries hints reminiscent of the B-52’s.
Their singular style was unrivaled, and their sole female member, Chika Sato, was a former stylist.
It’s no wonder many young women imitated her hairstyles and fashion.
Midnight Down TownSugiyama Kiyotaka & Omega Tribe
The intro that evoked a samba rhythm was also a hallmark of Kiyotaka Sugiyama & Omega Tribe.
That positive kind of lightness—beyond just being breezy—must have fit the times.
Instead of heavy dancing, it’s a groove that just sways lightly; a pleasant track from an era when the word “languid” wasn’t even used all that much yet.
VenusNagayama Yōko
A big hit by Yoko Nagayama, who has firmly established herself as an enka singer.
Just hearing the sha-la-la-lan…
sound in the intro makes you excited, doesn’t it? The original was a song by the Dutch rock group Shocking Blue, which Bananarama covered and turned into a huge hit.
It’s still a staple dance track at discos.
A good song is embraced in any era.
Wine Red Heartanzenchitai
This sumptuous song portraying the perilous intricacies of adult romance was released as a single by Anzen Chitai in November 1983.
It gained wide recognition as the image song for Suntory’s Akadama Punch commercial and as the opening theme for the Fuji TV drama “Machigai Darake no Otto Erabi” (“Choosing the Wrong Husband”).
With lyrics by Yosui Inoue and music by Koji Tamaki in perfect harmony, it exquisitely captures the delicate nuances of mature love swaying between reason and passion.
Blending a smooth, moody melody line, an irresistibly swaying beat, and lyrics that exude a sense of danger, the track topped the Oricon weekly chart and sold 714,000 copies, becoming one of Anzen Chitai’s signature songs.
It’s an ideal pick for those who yearn for the allure of adult romance or are seeking a bittersweet, passionate love song.