Songs that were popular in the early Showa era, hit songs [Japanese songs]
I want to know the early Showa-era songs! For those who feel the same, we’ve put together a list of hit songs from the early Showa period.
We’ve selected tracks from Showa Year 1 to Showa Year 20.
They have a different charm from the Showa kayō songs that became widely loved from the 1970s onward, even as the times changed.
Many of the pieces have a relaxed tempo and a solid, dignified atmosphere—songs that truly invite you to “listen to the singing.”
As you take it in, savor the profound resonance of the Japanese language, and please listen at your leisure.
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Songs that were popular in the early Showa era, hit songs [Japanese songs] (1–10)
Tree-Lined Road of LifeDick Mine
A classic song representing the early Showa era, Dick Mine’s “Jinsei no Namikimichi” (“Tree-Lined Road of Life”).
Since its release in 1937, it has continued to be loved by many.
The moving lyrics by Sonosuke Sato and the richly expressive melody by Masao Koga blend beautifully in this piece.
Its unusual focus on the bond between siblings also captured the hearts of people at the time.
Dick Mine’s highly expressive singing brings the world of the lyrics to life even more vividly.
As one of Mine’s signature songs from the worlds of jazz and popular music, it continues to shine without losing its luster.
It’s a wonderful piece that conveys the depth of Japanese song.
Tokyo RhapsodyIchiro Fujiyama
“Tokyo Rhapsody” is a classic from the early Showa era, with Ichiro Fujiyama’s warm, heartfelt voice touching the soul.
Set to a relaxed melody, it vividly paints scenes of Tokyo’s bustling districts like Ginza and Asakusa.
From its opening line, “On evenings when blossoms bloom and blossoms fall,” a mood that feels both nostalgic and fresh unfolds.
The lyrics, which evoke the urban culture and modernism of the time, still feel vibrant today.
Why not listen to the beautiful resonance of Fujiyama’s Japanese and take a time slip to Showa-era Tokyo? It’s sure to be a heartwarming experience.
Suzhou SerenadeHamako Watanabe, Noboru Kirishima
“Suzhou Nocturne” is a popular song from the Showa era, composed in 1940 as an insert song for the film “China Nights,” and released on record the same year sung by Hamako Watanabe and Noboru Kirishima.
In the film, it is performed by actress Yoshiko Yamaguchi, known as Li Xianglan, who was born in prewar China and lived through a turbulent era.
The song was, in fact, originally created with the premise that the movie star “Li Xianglan” would sing it.
Suzhou—called the “water city of the East”—and the feelings of a man and a woman are depicted in beautifully crafted lyrics characteristic of Showa-era popular music.
Songs that were popular in the early Showa era, hit songs [Japanese songs] (11–20)
Yearning for youTeiichi Futamura
Influenced by overseas popular songs, Sadaichi Futamura taught himself vocal techniques and became one of Japan’s leading jazz singers.
His song “Kimi Koishi,” released on December 20, 1928 (Showa 3), became one of the defining hits of the early Showa era and is known as his signature piece.
Its slightly wistful lyrics and melody are suffused with the atmosphere of the transition from the Taisho to the Showa period.
In the latter part of the Showa era, it was covered by various artists, becoming a timeless number loved across generations.
The two are young.Dick Mine, Reiko Hoshi
Futari wa Wakai (The Two Are Young) is a duet song by singer Dick Mine and actress Reiko Hoshi, released in 1935 as the B-side to the theme song of the comedy film The Peeped-at Bride.
A duet between a major pre- and postwar star—who was even labeled delinquent for singing jazz before the war—and a movie star drew widespread attention.
With lyrics by Hachirō Satō and music by Masao Koga, its sweet words and bright, light melody resonated with the public, and it reportedly became a bigger hit than the A-side.
The Path of Suzukake (Tree)Katsuhiko Haida
Katsuhiko Haida was a singer who gained popularity with Hawaiian music, yodeling, and pop songs, and also thrived as an actor.
Released in September 1942 during World War II, “Suzu Kake no Michi” became a hit as one of the rare songs of the wartime era that lacked any noticeable military overtones.
The ensemble featuring ukulele and strings, contrasted with his resonant, deep vocals, has an alluring charm despite its dark atmosphere.
Covered by renowned artists such as Keiko Fuji and Sayuri Ishikawa, it is a quintessential number from the early Showa period.
Habu HarborYoshie Fujiwara
Beloved as “our tenor,” Yoshie Fujiwara was a vocalist who traveled across many countries and enjoyed popularity in the opera world both before and after the war.
His song Habu no Minato, released in July 1928, drew attention at the time for being issued as a high-priced red-label record.
Set against a piano-only accompaniment, his rich, resonant voice evokes vivid images of Habu Port Village, the setting of the piece.
It’s a nostalgic number marked by a melody that leaves a lingering sense of melancholy.