Spring songs from the early Showa era: a collection of kayōkyoku and shōka that evoke spring
When you hear “spring,” what songs come to mind?In the early Showa era, spanning from before to after the war, many popular songs, school songs, and children’s songs were created that delicately captured the changing seasons.In this special feature, we present a rich selection of songs and school songs about spring from that time.Some of the linked audio-video materials use original recordings from the era, so please savor the spring air of those days along with the retro sound.We hope you enjoy a gentle springtime, humming along to these nostalgic melodies.
- [Spring Songs Born in the Showa Era] A Curated Selection of Kayōkyoku That Colored the Times and Timeless Classics Still Sung Today
- [For Seniors] Spring Songs You'll Want to Hum: Feel the Season with Nostalgic Classics
- [For Seniors] Classic spring songs to sing in April: A heartwarming moment with nostalgic children’s songs and kayōkyoku (Japanese popular songs)
- [For Seniors] Recommended spring songs for people in their 90s: A collection of Shōwa-era spring tunes
- Nursery rhymes to sing in spring: a collection of classic songs you'll want to sing with your children
- [Spring Songs] Classic and Latest Hit Collections Perfect for a Bright, Gentle Spring
- [Spring Songs] Masterpieces to Listen to in April: Classic Tracks that Color the Month
- Moving songs to listen to in spring. Classic and popular spring tracks.
- [2026] Enka Spring Songs to Savor: A Collection of Classic Enka That Evokes the Japanese Spring
- 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.
- [Spring Songs] Masterpieces for Mid-Spring to Listen to in March. Spring Tunes
- [2026] Time-Travel to Your Memories Just by Listening! Recommended Spring Songs for People in Their 50s
Spring songs from the early Showa era: A collection of kayōkyoku and shōka that evoke spring (41–50)
tricolor violetSakurada Junko
This is a song by Junko Sakurada, released in February 1974, that entrusts the tender feelings of first love to tricolor violets.
Singing of a fleeting romance, the track reached No.
10 on the Oricon chart and sold approximately 186,000 copies.
The fusion of Akuyu’s delicate lyrics and Taiji Nakamura’s evocative melody beautifully captures the aching innocence of a young girl’s love.
The work depicts the emotions of adolescence—where hope and anxiety intertwine—with elegance, while Sakurada’s clear, translucent voice adds depth to the story.
It is a gentle companion for anyone who holds close the longing of waiting and the poignancy of an unfulfilled love.
We Look Up to You with Respectshouka
A classic song for spring is Aogeba Tōtoshi, familiar from graduation ceremonies.
For many people, hearing this song brings back the feeling that spring has arrived.
Although the details of the song are unclear, it was first published in the 1884 collection Shōgaku Shōka (Elementary School Songs).
Spring has come.
The children’s song “Haru ga Kita” is a classic that evokes the beauty of Japan’s four seasons.
It depicts spring arriving in the mountains, villages, and fields through simple, familiar melodies and lyrics.
You can almost see spring scenes of flowers blooming and birds singing.
Composed in the Meiji era, the song has been cherished for over a hundred years in Japanese music education and cultural events.
The lyrics, filled with the joy of spring’s arrival, convey the happiness of having endured a long winter.
It’s the perfect song when you want to feel the coming of spring along with nostalgic memories.
Spring Stream
As a children’s song about spring, this is surely the first one that comes to mind for many people.
The piece “Haru no Ogawa” (Spring Stream) was released in 1912 as a Ministry of Education school song, and it has been loved for many years as a seasonal children’s song.
The 1912 version has lyrics up to the third verse, but the lyrics were revised in 1942 and again in 1947, resulting in the version we know today.
Rather than a song you want to listen to in spring itself, it’s one that makes you feel excited as spring approaches—perfect to start incorporating around February to boost that mood.
Come, spring
Many of you were probably longing for winter to end and waiting eagerly for spring.
Haru yo Koi captures that yearning for spring and the buoyant feeling as it draws near.
It was composed in 1923, yet it remains a beloved classic today.
Its slow melody makes it easy to sing, and the short lyrics are easy to remember.
It’s also a song that lets you feel spring’s warmth.
By the way, the little girl who appears in the song is said to be the daughter of Gofū Sōma, the lyricist.
Sakura, sakurashouka
When you think of spring, isn’t the first thing that comes to mind cherry blossoms? There are many other famous flowers, but when you close your eyes, what you picture behind your eyelids is a row of cherry trees in bloom.
And this piece, “Sakura Sakura,” is a quintessential Japanese song—a classic sakura song.
It’s also well known as a practice piece for the koto.
You often hear it as background music in scenes meant to symbolize Japan.
It seems that the lyrics were a bit different before 1941, and singing it with the old lyrics can be fun too.
It’s a song that represents Japan’s beautiful four seasons—especially spring.
Happy Hinamatsuri
In 2006, in Japan, 101 songs selected from children’s songs, school songs, and popular songs—chosen by the Agency for Cultural Affairs with the aim of being passed down between parents and children for generations—were announced as the “100 Selections of Japanese Songs.” The piece introduced in this article, “Ureshii Hinamatsuri,” is one of those 101 selections.
It hardly needs explanation as it is a famous children’s song that everyone has heard.
Released in 1935 as a children’s song with lyrics by Hachiro Sato and music by Chokurei Kawamura, “Ureshii Hinamatsuri,” as its title suggests, is themed around the Doll Festival (Hinamatsuri).
Interestingly, despite its lyrics evoking the joy and sentiment of spending a delightful time during Hinamatsuri, the song is set primarily in minor keys—what is commonly called a “minor mode.” It is also true that the lyrics contain some inaccurate depictions of actual Hina dolls.
Nevertheless, the excellence of the composition remains unchanged, which is why, as mentioned at the beginning, it continues to be loved as one of Japan’s representative spring children’s songs.
