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.
- [Songs from the Showa Era] Introducing classic tracks that are easy to sing at karaoke.
- Showa-era love songs: A roundup of timeless love songs cherished across generations
- Showa-era songs that went viral on TikTok / revival hit songs
- [Classic Showa Kayō Hits] The captivating Showa-era pop songs beloved even by younger generations
- Songs from the Heisei retro era that will get any generation excited! Timeless tracks you’ll want to listen to now.
- Popular Showa-era pop. Timeless hit songs.
- Revival hits driven by social media! Classic Showa-era songs popular with Gen Z
- [Nostalgic Songs] A compilation of classic anime themes that hit home for those born in the Showa and Heisei eras
- Evokes the charm of the good old days. Showa-era inspirational songs that are still loved today.
- Hits that resonate across generations! Popular 1990s songs on TikTok
- [Showa Era] A Collection of Enka Hits: Timeless Classics Loved Across Generations
- Thrilling to Cool Showa-Era Tunes! Classic Songs from Female Singers and Artists of the Showa Period
- Songs to Enjoy in Summer! Classic Hits Special (Showa & Heisei)
Old songs from the Showa to Heisei eras: A collection of timeless classics loved across generations (51–60)
Yakuza ElegyWakayama Tomisaburō
Listen to this song that extols the aesthetic of die-hard yakuza chivalry, and you’ll understand why, in the Showa era, yakuza were treated as film protagonists and even idolized.
Not only the more famous Shintaro Katsu—please also keep in mind his elder brother, the esteemed Tomisaburo Wakayama.
Twilight feels lonely.N.S.P
Released in 1974 (Showa 49).
The three-member group hails from Iwate Prefecture and formed a band during their high school years.
They were regarded as representatives of lyrical folk and enjoyed enduring popularity.
This song was inspired by a river in Iwate, the members’ home prefecture, and it conveys a pleasant sense of wholesome, rustic simplicity and innocence in the best sense.
Blue Light Yokohamaishida ayumi
This is Ayumi Ishida’s 26th single.
Released in 1968, it became a million-seller with 1.5 million copies sold.
It also ranked first as a local song of Yokohama City, and it continues to be covered by many artists and notable figures.
In a Tokyo like a desertishida ayumi
About three years after the hit “Blue Light Yokohama,” which made her a popular beauty with a cute charm and impeccable fashion sense among men, this song released in May 1971 may have been Ayumi Ishida’s attempt at an image change.
Although she’s now active as an actress, back then she was a hit-making singer.
Still, whether the makeover succeeded is debatable.
I personally liked this song with its calm, understated delivery, but at the time it overlapped with Chiyo Okumura, who was working in a similar style, and it ended up leaving a weaker impression.
Old songs from the Showa to Heisei eras: A collection of timeless classics loved across generations (61–70)
Season of LovePinkī to Kirāzu
This is a song by Pinky and the Killers, released in 1968, brimming with a mature charm that epitomizes mood kayō (mood-style pop).
It even won the Japan Record Award, and I’ve heard there was debate over which side to place them on for the Red and White Song Contest, since it was the first time a mixed-gender group appeared.
You’re My Only Shinin’ StarNagayama Miho
A classic from the Showa era is enjoying a resurgence on YouTube Shorts in the Reiwa era! This song by Miho Nakayama is a gem of a ballad released in February 1988.
Crafted by Toshiki Kadomatsu, its beautiful melody and lyrics conjure up a starry-sky world that’s truly captivating.
It was also used as an insert song for the TBS drama “Mama wa Idol,” and became a major hit at the time.
The simple, heartfelt lyrics gently express feelings for someone special.
It’s a perfect pick for making videos on social media—recommended for when you want to share the feeling of being in love or look back on memories with someone important.
TATTOONakamori Akina
This song, where nostalgia and freshness coexist, is back in the spotlight thanks to YouTube Shorts.
Akina Nakamori’s powerful vocals and distinctive worldview are captivating a new generation.
Released in May 1988, the track topped the Oricon charts and held the No.
1 spot on The Best Ten for two consecutive weeks.
Its innovative arrangement—fusing big band sounds with jungle beats—is another major draw.
The lyrics, centered on self-transformation and the pursuit of love, carry a message that resonates with today’s youth.
It’s a perfect pick for anyone who wants to express their individuality on social media.