Pick-up of famous lyricists who left their mark on the history from Showa-era kayokyoku to J-POP!
When we recall the masterpieces that have colored the history of Japanese popular music and have been loved for so long, it’s the wonderful lyrics—awakened alongside the melodies—that linger in listeners’ hearts.
They give us a powerful push forward, put into words worries we can’t tell anyone…
No matter how great a melody is, many hits owe their success to the lyrics being what they are.
This time, we’re shining a spotlight on the renowned lyricists who brought such remarkable words into the world—along with their signature works.
- [Classic Showa Kayō Hits] The captivating Showa-era pop songs beloved even by younger generations
- [2026 Edition] Songs Loved by People in Their 60s: Classic Hits from Their Youth
- Cool songs from the Showa era. Masterpieces from Showa that shine with sensuality, passion, and rugged charm.
- Heart-touching, tear-jerking masterpieces from the Showa era
- Great songs recommended for people in their 80s: a collection of tracks with lyrics that touch the heart
- Evokes the charm of the good old days. Showa-era inspirational songs that are still loved today.
- A collection of iconic, cool Showa-era kayōkyoku classics sung by male vocalists
- Showa-era nostalgic songs: Popular ranking
- So nostalgic it feels new? Showa retro classics that colored Japan’s period of rapid economic growth
- Showa-era masterpieces roundup: A must-listen collection of nostalgic oldies and hit songs
- [Feeling Despair] Classic Showa-era Songs with Dark Lyrics
- Good songs recommended for people in their 60s: classic and popular Japanese tracks
- Coming-of-age songs for your 50s: heart-thumping × heartwarming classics and popular tracks [2026]
Pick-up of famous lyricists who left their mark on the history from Showa-era kayōkyoku to J-POP (21–30)
Rumba of ExcitementMizuki Reiji
I am a lyricist born and raised in Okayama Prefecture who moved to Tokyo after winning the grand prize in a magazine’s open competition.
I debuted as a writer in 1974 and have been working under my current pen name since 1981.
I have provided numerous songs to leading enka singers, including Yoshimi Tendo’s “Jinsei Michizure,” Kiyoshi Hikawa’s “Sakura,” as well as Hiroshi Itsuki and Miyuki Kawanaka.
I also achieved the remarkable feat of winning the Japan Lyricist Award two years in a row with “Tokimeki no Rumba” in 2009 and “Jinsei Michizure” in 2010.
Having served as a judge on television programs, I am a lyricist who captivates many listeners with portrayals of life and travel, depicted through an objective perspective and a rich sensibility.
Let yourself go with the flow of timeAraki Toyohisa
Toyohisa Araki boasts a brilliant career, having received numerous prestigious awards such as the Japan Lyricists’ Award and the Japan Record Awards’ Lyricist Prize.
In 2005, he was honored with the Medal with Purple Ribbon in recognition of his long-standing career and achievements.
It’s fascinating that Araki’s start as a lyricist traces back to “Shiki no Uta” (Song of the Four Seasons), a piece he wrote while he was a member of a ski club and forced into two and a half years of long-term recuperation after an accident.
He has said he felt the song “took on a life of its own,” and indeed, “Shiki no Uta,” for which Araki wrote both the lyrics and the music, spread by word of mouth, gained acclaim, and—through an unusual turn of events—was finally released as a record in 1972.
In his twenties, Araki also continued band activities in parallel, but from his thirties he devoted himself fully to a professional career as a lyricist.
He won the Excellence Award at the Japan Lyricists’ Awards for “Kanashimi Honsen Nihonkai,” sung by Masako Mori.
“Koiuta Tsuzuri,” self-covered by Takao Horiuchi, went on to achieve a double win at the Japan Record Awards and the Japan Cable Radio Awards.
As a master of words, Araki released countless works written in exquisite Japanese, making a tremendous contribution to the history of Japanese popular music.
His works can be found across an impressively wide range of fields—not only enka and Showa-era pop songs, but also commercial jingles, corporate image songs, company anthems, and school songs—so there’s every chance that one of your favorite tunes might well have lyrics by Araki.
Hare Hare YukaiHata Aki
Aki Hata is active as a singer-songwriter.
At the same time, she excels at writing lyrics for games and anime.
Her appeal lies in positive lyrics like the ending theme of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Hare Hare Yukai.
However, she also writes enigmatic and quirky lyrics like the opening theme of Lucky Star, Motteke! Sailor Fuku, and you can’t help but admire the breadth of her range…!
Get WildKomuro Mitsuko
Mitsuko Komuro is a lyricist who wrote many songs for TM NETWORK, including Get Wild (released in 1987) and BE TOGETHER, which is widely known through Ami Suzuki’s cover.
At the time, the media sometimes featured her together with TM NETWORK’s charismatic keyboardist, Tetsuya Komuro, as the “Komuro siblings.” However, they actually aren’t related by blood—it’s just a coincidence that they share the same surname, which is a bit surprising! By the way, outside of TM NETWORK, she also wrote the lyrics for access’s Higher Than Dark Sky; her lyrics pair perfectly with techno!
Crossing Amagi PassYoshioka Osamu
Osamu Yoshioka was a figure who made major contributions to the lyricist community, serving as vice president of the Japan Songwriters Association, among other roles.
He was also active as a scriptwriter for broadcast programs, handling both composition and poetry for the Tokyo Broadcasting System radio show “Ballad of the Night.” Because Sayuri Ishikawa’s “Amagi-goe” is often cited as his signature work, he is strongly associated with enka, but he was a lyricist who worked across a wide range of genres, including popular songs, children’s songs, and anime songs.
His work in children’s songs is especially noteworthy: he wrote many timeless classics beloved across generations, such as “Omocha no Cha-Cha-Cha” and “Awatenbō no Santa Claus,” securing his place in history as a distinguished lyricist.
In conclusion
Thinking that many of the famous songs born from the Showa through the Heisei and Reiwa eras were crafted by the lyricists introduced this time makes me want to once again pay tribute to their remarkable work.
Even if you haven’t really thought about who writes the lyrics for the music you listen to every day, please take this opportunity to pay attention to lyricists!