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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.

Playlist

Spring songs from the early Showa era: a collection of kayōkyoku and shōka that evoke spring
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastGreen breezesakushi: shimizu katsura / sakkyoku: kusakawa shin
Green breezesakushi: shimizu katsura / sakkyoku: kusakawa shinplay_arrow
A Shōwa-era children's song depicting the arrival of spring and children's play
2eastFlowers of the trifoliate orangeSakushi: Kitahara Hakushū / Sakkyoku: Yamada Kōsaku
Flowers of the trifoliate orangeSakushi: Kitahara Hakushū / Sakkyoku: Yamada Kōsakuplay_arrow
The changing seasons in the famous works by Hakushū and Kōsaku
3eastSpring somewhereSakushi: Momota Sōji / Sakkyoku: Kusakawa Shin
Spring somewhereSakushi: Momota Sōji / Sakkyoku: Kusakawa Shinplay_arrow
Introduction to a children's song that sings of the arrival of spring
4eastHaze or cloud?shouka
Haze or cloud?shoukaplay_arrow
The history and charm of the song that symbolizes the voices of small birds heard in the spring fields and mountains
5eastFlower Towndōyō
Flower Towndōyōplay_arrow
The children’s song that represents spring after the war, “Hana no Machi” (Flower Town)
6eastPleasant spring breezedikku mine
Pleasant spring breezedikku mineplay_arrow
A sprightly spring jazz song, a masterpiece performance from early Showa era
7eastJapanese bush warblerdōyō
Japanese bush warblerdōyōplay_arrow
The bush warbler, the spring-announcing bird, children's song
8eastGion Little SongSakushi: Osada Mikihiko / Sakkyoku: Sasa Kōka
Gion Little SongSakushi: Osada Mikihiko / Sakkyoku: Sasa Kōkaplay_arrow
A Showa-era classic song depicting a Kyoto maiko
9eastThe city is a spring breezeNakano Tadaharu
The city is a spring breezeNakano Tadaharuplay_arrow
A song of Western jazz Japanized by the spring breeze
10eastPlum blossoms in the spring breezeShinbashi Kiyozo
Plum blossoms in the spring breezeShinbashi Kiyozoplay_arrow
A popular song from the early Showa era themed around plum blossoms and the spring breeze
11eastspring breeze, spring rainYamaguchi Yoshiko
spring breeze, spring rainYamaguchi Yoshikoplay_arrow
Showa ballads sung by Yamaguchi Yoshiko
12eastTulipdōyō
Tulipdōyōplay_arrow
The History and Charm of Children’s Songs Depicting Spring Flowers
13eastSpring breeze blowing at nightsayo fukuko
Spring breeze blowing at nightsayo fukukoplay_arrow
Theme song of the Takarazuka Moon Troupe’s 1941 (Showa 16) performance
14eastEdo is a spring breezeTakada Kōkichi
Edo is a spring breezeTakada Kōkichiplay_arrow
A fusion of Japanese and Western styles with an Edo-period aesthetic
15eastThe Flower Girl of TokyoHaruo Oka
The Flower Girl of Tokyo Haruo Okaplay_arrow
A 1946 classic that portrayed hope in postwar Tokyo
16eastNineteen SpringsKagurazaka Uki
Nineteen SpringsKagurazaka Ukiplay_arrow
Kagurazaka Ukiko’s 1956 hit song depicting a nineteen-year-old woman’s heartbreak
17eastEarly Spring Odeshouka
Early Spring Odeshoukaplay_arrow
A composition that delicately depicts a spring scene
18eastThe Apple SongNamiki Michiko
The Apple SongNamiki Michikoplay_arrow
A classic song that sings of postwar hope: Blue Skies and Love
19eastSong of Springtsukimura mitsuko
Song of Springtsukimura mitsukoplay_arrow
Spring Song is a representative spring piece from the early Showa era.
20eastFlowershouka
Flowershoukaplay_arrow
A cherry blossom song celebrating the arrival of spring, a heartwarming classic
21eastHate and the spring breezeFujimoto Nisankichi
Hate and the spring breezeFujimoto Nisankichiplay_arrow
A Showa-era (early) jazz school song that dreams of the spring breeze
22eastWhen the white flowers bloomOkamoto Atsurō
When the white flowers bloomOkamoto Atsurōplay_arrow
Scenes of spring and parting, when white flowers bloom
23eastElegy of SpringTōkairin Tarō
Elegy of SpringTōkairin Tarōplay_arrow
The elegy of spring sings of an unfulfilled love
24eastThough the white roses bloomFujiyama Ichirō
Though the white roses bloomFujiyama Ichirōplay_arrow
A Showa-era popular song composed by Masao Koga
25eastElegy of SpringShōji Shirō
Elegy of SpringShōji Shirōplay_arrow
“Spring Elegy” is a classic song from the early Showa era that expresses love and parting.
26eastWhite Plum Blossoms of YushimaObata Minoru
White Plum Blossoms of YushimaObata Minoruplay_arrow
Minoru Obata’s “Yushima no Shiraume” is a prewar popular song.
27eastSuzhou SerenadeWatanabe Hamako, Kirishima Noboru
Suzhou SerenadeWatanabe Hamako, Kirishima Noboru
A popular Showa-era song set in Suzhou, China before the war
28eastOver the hillFujiyama Ichirō
Over the hillFujiyama Ichirō
The origins and appeal of the classic song “Over the Hills,” sung by Ichiro Fujiyama
29eastBlue MountainsFujiyama Ichirō
Blue MountainsFujiyama Ichirōplay_arrow
The birth and significance of a masterpiece that sang of hope after the war
30eastA Hazy Moonlit Nightshouka
A Hazy Moonlit Nightshoukaplay_arrow
An old Japanese song that depicts a spring evening
31eastSong of SpringUchida Hajime
Song of SpringUchida Hajimeplay_arrow
A heartwarming national song that sings of the arrival of spring
32eastFlowers and Sunshine of a Spring DayAirurando min’yō
Flowers and Sunshine of a Spring DayAirurando min'yō
A song that gently embraces love as it changes
33eastWhere are you, spring?Futaba Akiko, Fujiyama Ichirō
Where are you, spring?Futaba Akiko, Fujiyama Ichirōplay_arrow
A melancholic popular song released by a famed Showa-era hit-making duo
34eastcarp streamer
carp streamerplay_arrow
Koinobori is a children's song with lyrics by Miyako Kondo.
35eastWe Look Up to You with Respectshouka
We Look Up to You with Respectshoukaplay_arrow
Aogeba Tōtoshi, a spring classic at graduation ceremonies
36eastSpring has come.
Spring has come.play_arrow
A famous Japanese children's song that sings of the arrival of spring
37eastCome, spring
Come, springplay_arrow
The classic song 'Come, Spring' that sings of the yearning for spring
38eastThe Night Wind of the JourneyKirishima Noboru, Misu Koromubia
The Night Wind of the JourneyKirishima Noboru, Misu Koromubiaplay_arrow
It became a movie theme song of Showa-era popular music in 1938.
39eastMaiden’s SpringAwaya Noriko
Maiden’s SpringAwaya Norikoplay_arrow
Noriko Awaya’s song from 1934 of the Showa era
40eastPlum Blossoms and SoldiersTabata Yoshio
Plum Blossoms and SoldiersTabata Yoshioplay_arrow
A Showa-era pop song in which a soldier at the front sings of his feelings for his mother
41eastThe Hill Where Mandarin Orange Blossoms BloomKawada Masako
The Hill Where Mandarin Orange Blossoms BloomKawada Masakoplay_arrow
The Birth and Popularity of “Mikan no Hana Saku Oka”
42eastTokyo RhapsodyFujiyama Ichirō
Tokyo RhapsodyFujiyama Ichirōplay_arrow
Ichirō Fujiyama’s signature song that symbolizes Shōwa-era kayōkyoku (popular songs)
43eastSpring Stream
Spring Streamplay_arrow
A Nostalgic Children’s Song That Evokes Spring: “Spring Stream”
44eastHas the plum blossomed?
Has the plum blossomed?play_arrow
Have the plum blossoms bloomed? A song about romantic feelings for the opposite sex.
45eastSpring of the AccordionNakano Tadaharu
Spring of the AccordionNakano Tadaharuplay_arrow
Tadaharu Nakano's Showa-era Kayōkyoku Album
46eastBlue MountainsFuji Yama Ichirou, Nara Mitsue
Blue MountainsFuji Yama Ichirou, Nara Mitsueplay_arrow
Blue Mountain Range is a postwar national song.
47easthometownshouka
hometownshoukaplay_arrow
A song that symbolizes the Japanese spirit, expressing feelings for one’s hometown
48easttricolor violetSakurada Junko
tricolor violetSakurada Junkoplay_arrow
A song that entrusts a faint first love to tricolored violets
49eastComrades-in-arms cherry blossomsItō Hisao
Comrades-in-arms cherry blossomsItō Hisaoplay_arrow
“同期の桜” is a wartime military song that continues to be sung today.
50eastMaiden of the LakesideKikuchi Akiko
Maiden of the LakesideKikuchi Akikoplay_arrow
Akiko Kikuchi’s signature song “Maiden by the Lakeside”
51eastSpring NightMiyagi Michio
Spring NightMiyagi Michioplay_arrow
A spring night, a scene enchanted by the sound of the koto.
52eastSpring is still young.Arishima Michio
Spring is still young.Arishima Michioplay_arrow
A 1936 film theme song that uses a poem by Takuboku Ishikawa
53eastSakura, sakurashouka
Sakura, sakurashoukaplay_arrow
The quintessential spring cherry blossom song, “Sakura Sakura.”
54eastHappy Hinamatsuri
Happy Hinamatsuriplay_arrow
Features and appeal of the delightful Hinamatsuri
55eastSakura DōjōjiMikado Junko
Sakura DōjōjiMikado Junkoplay_arrow
A song themed on the legend of Anchin and Kiyohime
56eastSpring at the BorderHaruo Oka
Spring at the Border Haruo Okaharuplay_arrow
Haruo Oka’s debut song “Spring at the Border”
57eastHappy HinamatsuriKawamura Junko
Happy HinamatsuriKawamura Junkoplay_arrow
The Charm and History of Happy Hinamatsuri
58eastThe Port Town of Red CamelliasKirishima Noboru
The Port Town of Red CamelliasKirishima Noboruplay_arrow
A signature song by Noboru Kirishima and his first appearance on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
59eastSmiling Backkyandīzu
Smiling Backkyandīzuplay_arrow
Spring songs of parting and memories, timeless melodies that touch the heart
60eastSakura OndoKouta Katsutaro, Mishima Issei, Tokuyama Tamaki
Sakura OndoKouta Katsutaro, Mishima Issei, Tokuyama Tamakiplay_arrow
There are multiple versions of the Sakura Ondo.
61eastWhen the violets bloomTakarazuka Shōjo Kageki Tsukigumi
When the violets bloomTakarazuka Shōjo Kageki Tsukigumiplay_arrow
When the Violet Flowers Bloom is a song of German origin.
62eastThe country where cherry blossoms bloomOSK Nihon Kagekidan
The country where cherry blossoms bloomOSK Nihon Kagekidan
The country where cherry blossoms bloom is a traditional song of the Spring Troupe Theater Company.