Just listening to it purifies the heart... A healing song born in the Showa era.
Masterpieces born in the Showa era all carry a certain wistfulness that reflects the spirit of their time, don’t they?
That nostalgic atmosphere alone can stir the heart just by listening.
This time, we’ve put together a list of especially soothing songs from among those Showa-era classics.
From songs that celebrate great love to ones steeped in melancholy, we selected them with a focus on melody and ensemble, so we hope you’ll find tracks that match your mood.
Just listening purifies the heart... Healing songs born in the Showa era (1–10)
I can’t put it into wordsofukōsu
Kazumasa Oda of Off Course captivates many listeners with his delicate, translucent singing voice.
This track, released as a single from the album “over,” is a ballad that expresses emotions beyond words, leaving a quiet and profound afterglow.
Released in February 1982, it was also performed during the band’s ten consecutive days of concerts at the Nippon Budokan that same year, and has since been cherished as one of Off Course’s signature songs.
Its simple structure and heartfelt lyrics will soothe the listener’s soul.
It’s a recommended song for moments when you want to quietly savor your feelings for someone special.
Graduation Photohaifaisetto
A song by Hi-Fi Set distinguished by vocal harmonies as rich and fragrant as a fine aroma.
Their debut track, also included on the album of the same name, was written by Yuming (Yumi Arai) and released in 1975.
Its lyrics delicately portray memories of youth and life’s turning points, gently embracing the feelings of students approaching graduation.
With its sophisticated arrangement and outstanding choral work, this piece offers a moment to reflect on the past and face oneself.
It’s a recommended listen for those who want to bask in nostalgia or reaffirm their gratitude to someone special.
Look up at the stars in the nightSakamoto Kyu
Songs by Kyu Sakamoto, who released timeless classics known to all such as “Ue o Muite Arukō (Sukiyaki)” and “Ashita ga Aru sa.” This piece, which Sakamoto covered from a musical’s title song first performed in 1960, is a famous number that instantly brings the night sky to mind.
The piano and string arrangement creates a sensation of being wrapped in starlight, and Sakamoto’s distinctive voice resonates deeply in the heart.
Released in 1963, it won the Composer’s Prize at the 5th Japan Record Awards.
It’s no wonder that many artists continue to cover this masterpiece to this day.
It’s a song that makes you want to listen while gazing up at the night sky with someone special.
cosmos (flower)Yamaguchi Momoe
A song in which a bride-to-be expresses her feelings for her mother, Momoe Yamaguchi’s gentle voice touches the heart.
Released in October 1977 as her 19th single, this masterpiece was written and composed by Masashi Sada.
The complex emotions of a daughter about to marry are likened to cosmos flowers, poignantly conveying her gratitude to her mother.
It also resonates with aspects of Momoe Yamaguchi’s own life, making it all the more moving.
This piece is often performed at weddings and other life milestones, and is a number we highly recommend to anyone who wants to feel the bond between parent and child.
Our FailureMorita Doji
Singer-songwriter Doji Morita, whose translucent voice and delicate lyricism continue to move many listeners.
The song released in November 1976 is a classic imbued with a nostalgic atmosphere, as if capturing a moment of youth spent in the gentle spring sunlight.
The vivid, concrete imagery in the lyrics is striking, and those of that generation may find the scenes fondly familiar.
In 1993, it was used as the theme song for the drama “High School Teacher,” becoming a major hit with about 900,000 copies sold.
Delicately portraying universal emotions such as loneliness, melancholy, love, and heartbreak, this work offers solace, gently accompanying anyone carrying something in their heart.
Scat at DawnYuki Saori
A signature song by Saori Yuki featuring striking scat singing.
Released in 1969, it topped the Oricon weekly singles chart for eight consecutive weeks and became a million seller.
The track was originally created as the opening theme for TBS Radio’s late-night program “Ballad of the Night,” and due to numerous listener inquiries, it was released as a single.
It also marked her first appearance on that year’s NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, cementing Saori Yuki’s status as a singer.
Its delicate, emotive melody evokes the moments before dawn, making it perfect for times when you want to calm your mind or for waking up in the morning.
Sugarcane fieldchiaki naomi
Known as an anti-war song, this piece begins with lyrics that evoke the sound of wind blowing through sugarcane fields.
From the perspective of a girl who lost her father in the Battle of Okinawa, it conveys the tragedy of war and the wish for peace quietly, yet powerfully.
Naomi Chiaki’s emotionally rich singing further enhances the song’s profound message.
When it was featured on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” starting in April 1975, a short version was broadcast that included only three of the eleven stanzas.
Gently appealing to the horror of war and the preciousness of peace, this work continues to resonate with many people to this day, and has even been used as teaching material in school music classes.