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

The Flower Girl of TokyoHaruo Oka

Haruo Oka / The Flower-Selling Girl of Tokyo (sung by the artist himself)

A classic from 1946 that paints a single flower of hope blooming at a Tokyo crossroads where blue willows are budding.

Sung with the warmth of Haruo Oka’s voice, the melody gently embraced people’s hearts during the turmoil of the postwar era.

Through the figure of a young flower seller with a gentle demeanor, the image of Tokyo rising from the ashes comes into view.

The lyrics by Sasa Shio and the composition by Gento Uehara blend beautifully, creating a gem of a song in which a definite hope can be felt even amid loneliness.

This work gracefully depicts the feelings of those seeking to take a new step with the arrival of spring.

It is a moving masterpiece recommended for anyone who wishes to spend a heartwarming moment in the spring sunshine.

When the white flowers bloomOkamoto Atsurō

When the White Flowers Bloom – Song by Chieko Baisho (Japanese actress, singer, and voice actress)

Let me introduce “Shiroi Hana no Saku Koro” performed by Atsuo Okamoto! It’s a perfect song for March, a month that hints at the arrival of spring while still retaining traces of winter.

Its memorable lyrics poetically depict parting from a loved one, evoking each person’s own landscape of memories.

How about listening to this song together with older adults in the gentle spring sunlight and reflecting on the past? It may spark warm, nostalgic conversations.

It’s a heartwarming piece that can also be used in music therapy.

Nineteen SpringsKagurazaka Uki

Nineteen Springs - Kagurazaka Ukiko

There is also a song of the same name known as an Okinawan folk tune, but the “Jūkyū no Haru” introduced here is the version that became a huge hit in 1956, sung by Ukiko Kagurazaka, who was called the “last geisha singer.” For Kagurazaka, it was also her breakthrough as a singer; the success of this song catapulted her to stardom and led to an active career as an actress as well.

As the title suggests, the lyrics center on a nineteen-year-old woman, and they richly portray the tender feelings of a young girl who likely suffers a heartbreak without ever confessing her love.

It reminds us that spring is not only a season when things begin, but also when some things come to an end.

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Suzhou SerenadeWatanabe Hamako, Kirishima Noboru

Suzhou Serenade - Noboru Kirishima & Hamako Watanabe

“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.

Early Spring Odeshouka

Early Spring Ode | With Lyrics | One Hundred Selected Japanese Songs | Spring in name only, the chill of the wind

Composed in 1913 by Kazumasa Yoshimaru (lyrics) and Akira Nakata (music), this piece vividly captures both the anticipation for the warm season and the lingering chill of early spring.

With delicate imagery—such as the song of the bush warbler, melting ice, and reeds beginning to sprout—you can truly feel the breath of spring.

Familiar to many older adults, this work is perfect for recreational singing, allowing people to enjoy the music while reminiscing about fond memories.

The Apple SongNamiki Michiko

Apple Song, 1945 (Sung by Michiko Namiki)

This masterpiece, woven by Michiko Namiki’s clear singing voice, is a celebrated song that lit a beacon of hope in postwar Japan.

Brimming with gentleness, the piece sings of love with a pure heart while gazing up at the blue sky, resonating deeply with people of the time.

The memories of sound etched in monaural audio vividly convey the atmosphere of early Showa.

Released to the world as the theme song for the film “Soyokaze,” which premiered in October 1945, it was issued as a record the following January.

The warm melody crafted by lyricist Hachirō Satō and composer Tadashi Manjōme became a source of comfort for people living through the postwar reconstruction period.

It is a song to be enjoyed while sensing the arrival of spring, together with fond memories.

Song of Springtsukimura mitsuko

Spring Song by Mitsuko Tsukimura

Released in 1937 (Showa 12), “Haru no Uta” (Song of Spring) became a major hit as one of the “National Popular Songs” broadcast over the radio before the war to promote wholesome music to the public.

It is a representative spring song from the early Showa period.

The vocalist was Mitsuko Watanabe, who at the time was a teacher at Tokyo Music School and also recorded as a singer.

When “Haru no Uta” was released, it was issued under the name Mitsuko Tsukimura, reflecting her marital status, but Watanabe is also known for using multiple stage names throughout her career.

Her radiant singing, together with lyrics depicting cheerful townspeople welcoming the arrival of spring, conveys the timeless atmosphere of the season—a time that, in any era, naturally lifts people’s spirits.

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