Spring songs from the early Showa era: a collection of kayōkyoku and shōka that evoke spring
When you hear “early Showa era,” what period do you imagine?
In this special feature, we’ve focused on the early Showa years from before the war to just after it, selecting songs centered on popular tunes, school songs, and children’s songs from that time.
To help you fully enjoy the “retro Showa vibe,” we’ve tried to choose linked audio/video materials that use the original recordings whenever possible.
We hope to convey the spring atmosphere of the early Showa era along with the nostalgic mono sound quality.
As you recall those days, please join us in humming along and enjoy!
- [Spring Songs Born in the Showa Era] Carefully Selected: Hit Tunes That Colored Their Times and Timeless Masterpieces Still Sung Today
- [For Seniors] Popular Spring Songs: A Collection of Nursery Rhymes and Kayōkyoku Also Recommended for Music Therapy
- [For Seniors] Recommended spring songs for people in their 90s: A collection of Shōwa-era spring tunes
- [For Seniors] Spring Songs Perfect for the Warm Month of April
- [Spring Songs] Spring tunes and classic spring hits. Popular spring songs.
- [Children’s Songs] Let’s Sing of Spring! A Fun Collection of Nursery Rhymes, Folk Songs, and Children’s Songs
- [Spring Songs] Masterpieces to Listen to in April: Classic Tracks that Color the Month
- Enka spring songs you want to listen to carefully: classic pieces that evoke the feeling of spring in Japan.
- Moving songs to listen to in spring. Classic and popular spring tracks.
- Spring song medley. The best classic tunes to listen to in spring.
- A roundup of classic Showa-era kayō songs: a comprehensive introduction to timeless tracks loved across generations.
- Time-travel back to your memories just by listening! Spring songs recommended for people in their 50s
- [Spring Songs] Masterpieces for Mid-Spring to Listen to in March. Spring Tunes
Spring songs from the early Showa era: A collection of kayōkyoku and shōka that evoke spring (11–20)
When the violets bloomTakarazuka Shōjo Kageki Tsukigumi
Known as an emblematic signature song of the Takarazuka Revue, “When the Violets Bloom” is truly a spring classic that lets you feel the breath of early Showa.
In 2014, the milestone year marking the Revue’s 100th anniversary, it was even adopted as the departure melody at Takarazuka Station on the Hankyu Takarazuka Line—evidence of their deep connection.
Interestingly, this piece is not an original song of the Takarazuka Revue; it actually has an original version.
The original is a song released in Germany in 1928 titled “When the White Lilacs Bloom Again.” Among the various covers across Europe in different languages, the French version, “When the White Lilacs Bloom,” was brought back to Japan by Takarazuka Revue director Tetsuzō Shirai, who happened to be staying in Europe at the time.
When the song came to be sung in Japan, “white lilacs” were changed to “violets,” a flower more familiar to the Japanese.
With that historical background in mind, it’s fun to listen and compare the differences with the original!
Spring of the AccordionNakano Tadaharu
Tadaharu Nakano’s “Spring of the Accordion” is a wonderful selection that evokes the tradition of early Showa-era popular songs.
Also included on the album “Onko Chishin: Master Singers of the Showa Era – Tadaharu Nakano,” released on July 28, 2021, this piece is characterized by a light, Western-style melody.
Its pastoral atmosphere carries a poignant depth, as if it has passed through many spring days.
We hope you enjoy it under the gentle spring sunshine, feeling the arrival of a new season.
Blue MountainsFuji Yama Ichirou, Nara Mitsue
“Blue Mountain Range” is a song loved by many Japanese people, a Showa-era popular tune released in 1949, shortly after the war.
It was created as the theme song for a film directed by Tadashi Imai, based on the novel of the same name by Yojiro Ishizaka.
The original performance was a duet by Ichiro Fujiyama and Mitsue Nara.
Because Ms.
Nara passed away early, Mr.
Fujiyama’s solo rendition became more famous, and the song transcended its role as a movie theme to become a truly national anthem of hope for postwar Japan.
The lyrics were written by Yaso Saijo and the music composed by Ryoichi Hattori.
Notably, both Fujiyama and Hattori later received the People’s Honor Award, making it interesting that this song involved two such honorees.
Incidentally, Blue Mountain Range has been adapted multiple times into films and TV dramas, and each time this song has been used as the theme, with many other singers also performing it—so be sure to check those versions out as well!
Where are you, spring?Futaba Akiko, Fujiyama Ichirō
Haruhai Izuko (Where Is Spring?) is a song released in 1940 (Showa 15) by the golden combo of Showa-era popular music: lyrics by Saijō Yaso, composition by Koga Masao, and vocals by Akiko Futaba and Ichirō Fujiyama.
A film of the same title was released in the same year, and, as was common with popular songs of the time, this piece served as its theme song.
Incidentally, there is another theme song for the same film, Natsukashi no Utagoe (Nostalgic Singing Voice), for which the lyricist, composer, and singers are all the same; in fact, Haru yo Izuko was issued as the B-side to the Natsukashi no Utagoe record.
While both sets of lyrics share a sentimental tone in keeping with the film’s story, Haru yo Izuko is characterized by a more melancholy, plaintive melody and mood compared to the bright, up-tempo feel of Natsukashi no Utagoe.
If you’re interested, I encourage you to listen to both and compare them.
The Hill Where Mandarin Orange Blossoms BloomKawada Masako
Announced on August 25, 1949—one year after the end of the war—Mikan no Hana Saku Oka (The Hill Where the Orange Blossoms Bloom) enjoyed such popularity that it is said to be the biggest hit among children’s songs released in the postwar era.
While mikan (mandarin oranges) are often associated with winter fruit, their blossoms actually bloom in May, making this song, which focuses on orange blossoms, very much a springtime children’s song.
The lyrics were written by Shogo Kato, editor-in-chief of the music magazine Music Life, and the music was composed by Minoru Kainuma.
The singer was 12-year-old Masako Kawada, who was extraordinarily popular as a children’s song vocalist.
Although the piece was created for a radio program featuring Kawada, remarkably, the song was completed only the day before it was broadcast.
In Shizuoka Prefecture, Kato’s home region, there are several monuments inscribed with the song’s lyrics; if you’d like to learn more about the song’s background, a visit is highly recommended.
Comrades-in-arms cherry blossomsItō Hisao
“Dōki no Sakura,” a Japanese military song.
It portrays the brilliant, pure way of falling as cherry blossoms, and this expression also became the origin of the term referring to classmates who enlisted in the same year.
The original song was “Sen’yū no Uta (Nirin no Sakura),” released by King Records in 1939.
It was later covered by artists such as Koji Tsuruta, Hibari Misora, and Saburo Kitajima.
It is a piece that, while valiant, carries a hidden sense of fragility and sorrow, and perhaps it continues to be sung so we do not forget the hardships of war.
Spring songs from the early Showa era: A collection of kayōkyoku and shōka that evoke spring (21–30)
White Plum Blossoms of YushimaObata Minoru
Minoru Obata, who sang many big hits and was very popular in the early Showa era, released the song “Yushima no Shiraume” in 1942.
It’s a prewar popular song performed to accompany the film “Yushima no Shiraume,” written by Kyoka Izumi, which portrays a love story between a writer and a geisha.
Obata’s smooth, flowing vocal style is very pleasant to hear.
The lyrics follow a 5-7-5 rhythm, giving them a good tempo that matches the melody well.
As a hit song, it has been covered by many singers over the years; more recently, Kiyoshi Hikawa has done a cover.
