Old songs from the Showa to Heisei eras: a collection of timeless classics loved across generations
These days, thanks to the widespread use of Spotify and Apple Music, people of all ages can easily listen to a wide variety of songs.
Social media platforms like TikTok have also sparked an increase in older songs becoming revival hits among young people.
In this article, we’ll be showcasing a selection of hit tracks from the Showa and Heisei eras all at once!
There are plenty of timeless masterpieces that haven’t lost their charm, so take this opportunity to give them another listen.
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- Evokes the charm of the good old days. Showa-era inspirational songs that are still loved today.
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Old songs from the Showa to Heisei eras: A collection of timeless classics loved across generations (31–40)
Spring of the AccordionNakano Tadaharu
This is a song by Tadaharu Nakano, a figure who brightened the Showa-era music scene.
Accompanied by the gentle tones of the accordion, its light, springlike melody sinks into the heart.
Included on the album “Onko Chishin: Showa’s Great Singer Tadaharu Nakano,” released in July 2021, this piece showcases Nakano’s signature refined vocals—befitting an artist who was active before the war and helped popularize jazz chorus in Japan.
It conveys the excitement of new encounters and adventures inspired by the cheerful spring weather.
It’s a perfect track for starting a new chapter in life or turning over a new leaf.
The nostalgic yet hopeful vocals are sure to lift your spirits.
A snap in yellow-green (moegi)anzenchitai
A masterpiece that vividly portrays the scenery of the Showa era.
Released in February 1982 as Anzen Chitai’s major-label debut single, it features Koji Tamaki’s clear, transparent vocals that seem to herald the arrival of spring.
Meltwater flowing, a song in motion, the sparkle of life, and the anticipation of new encounters—its beautiful imagery is truly captivating.
The song was also performed at Anzen Chitai’s 40th-anniversary concert, surely rekindling the spirit of their debut days.
It’s a track you’ll want to listen to with someone special, wrapped in the warmth of spring.
Highly recommended for those looking forward to new encounters or embarking on a new chapter in life.
First loveMurashita Kōzō
It’s Kozo Murashita’s biggest hit, a masterpiece whose lyrics are very easy to understand, come across straightforwardly, and are deeply relatable.
Although it ranked on music shows at the time, he didn’t appear on them because he was hospitalized with hepatitis.
The Flower Girl of TokyoHaruo Oka
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.
To my distant loverSaijō Hideki
A heartwarming medium-tempo ballad by Hideki Saijo that poignantly sings of his feelings for the lover he left behind in his hometown after moving to the city.
Released in November 1978, the song reached No.
8 on the Oricon chart.
With a powerful voice, it gently embraces the yearning for a dear one far away and the hope for the arrival of spring.
The strong will to reunite with his lover after a long winter resonates with a beautiful melody, leaving a deep impression on listeners.
This work stands as a classic that conveys the preciousness of love that remains unchanged despite distance, offering comfort to everyone living apart from their loved ones.
Old songs from the Showa to Heisei eras: A collection of timeless classics loved across generations (41–50)
I’m appearing under my former name.Kobayashi Akira
Sung with Akira Kobayashi’s expansive vocals, this song portrays the poignant devotion of a hostess whose way of life typically dictates moving from nightlife district to nightlife district and leaving the past behind.
Yet she keeps using her old professional name and waits at the bar so that the man she longs for can find her whenever he comes, capturing the touching steadfastness of a woman in love.
windhashida norihiko to shuuberutsu
Released in 1969 (Showa 44).
Even within folk music there are different genres—some anti-war, others about everyday life—and among them, Norihiko Hashida’s songs stood out for their wistful quality, using nature as a theme.
His beautiful melodies helped further popularize folk music among the masses.
Afterward, Hashida continued to change members and group names, producing numerous hit songs.