Spring songs from the early Showa era: a collection of kayōkyoku and shōka that evoke spring

hometownshouka

Furusato (♪ The mountain where we chased rabbits ~) by Himawari ×4 [Chorus] With Lyrics [One of Japan’s 100 Famous Songs] FURUSATO Hometown |

Blue mountains, pure waters, and memories of childhood play.

The gentle melody that wraps these scenes of a beloved hometown, along with feelings for family and friends living far away, holds a universal appeal that resonates with everyone.

First published in 1914 as a Ministry of Education school song, this piece was created by Tatsuyuki Takano and Teiichi Okano, vividly reflecting the rural landscapes and lifestyles of Japan at the time.

It was sung at the closing ceremony of the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, moving countless people.

Its simple, memorable melody in G major and triple meter continues to be sung at life’s milestones, such as graduation and coming-of-age ceremonies.

With lyrics and melody that evoke nostalgia, it is truly a song that stands by all who live away from their hometowns—a work that can be said to symbolize the heart of Japan.

Maiden’s SpringAwaya Noriko

Maiden’s Spring by Noriko Awaya

This is a song by Noriko Awaya, a pioneer of chanson in Japan who was also affectionately known as the “Queen of Blues.” Otome no Haru (Maiden’s Spring) was released in 1934 (Showa 9), with music by Yuji Koseki and lyrics by Yoshifumi Shimada.

Strongly imbued with the atmosphere of the Showa era, its gentle sound by the Columbia Orchestra is striking, evoking the warmth of spring.

The lyrics depict a woman in scenes related to spring, expressing moments such as gazing into the distance in contemplation and shedding tears.

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kappamaki

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When the violets bloomTakarazuka Shōjo Kageki Tsukigumi

When the violets bloom

Known as a signature song symbolizing the Takarazuka Revue, “When the Violets Bloom” is truly a classic spring piece that evokes the spirit of early Showa.

In 2014, the milestone year marking the Revue’s 100th anniversary, it was even adopted as the departure melody at Hankyu Railway’s Takarazuka Station on the Takarazuka Main Line, underscoring their deep connection.

In fact, did you know this piece isn’t an original song by the Takarazuka Revue? There is an original version.

It began as a 1928 German song titled “When the White Lilacs Bloom Again,” which was covered across Europe in various languages.

Among these, the French version, “When the White Lilacs Bloom,” was brought back to Japan by Takarazuka Revue director Tetsuzo Shirai, who happened to be staying in Europe at the time.

When performed in Japan, the flower was changed to “violet,” chosen as a blossom more familiar to the Japanese public.

With that historical background in mind, it’s fun to compare and listen for the differences from the original!

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KOH-1

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Has the plum blossomed?

Has the plum blossom bloomed? (Higashiyama geiko)

Ume wa Saita ka has been sung as an Edo hauta.

Nowadays, it’s best known as a parlor song performed to shamisen accompaniment, with geisha dancing to it.

The plum blossom is a flower that heralds spring and makes us feel its approach, yet the plum season is still quite cold.

One might expect the song to be about yearning for what comes after the plums—the scene of cherry blossoms in bloom and the mild weather of that time—but in fact it sings of the changing of human hearts and expresses feelings toward the opposite sex.

Lyrics that seem neatly tied to spring—like references to clams and short-necked clams—turn out, on closer reading, to carry quite different meanings.

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utatane

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Comrades-in-arms cherry blossomsItō Hisao

Comrades-in-arms cherry blossoms

“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.

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hiyori

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We Look Up to You with Respectshouka

We Look Up to You with Respect

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).

Come, spring

♪ Come, Spring – Haru Yo Koi | ♪ Come, spring, come quickly. Little Mii-chan, who has just begun to walk [Japanese song/children’s song]

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.

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yamamoto

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