Masterpieces and hit songs of 80s Japanese pop (kayōkyoku)
The ’80s were full of hit songs, weren’t they?
Here are some especially recommended classics and hits from the era’s signature kayōkyoku tunes.
It’s a timeless, legendary playlist that rewrote the history of Japanese music—one we want both those who spent their youth back then and those who didn’t to listen to.
We feature a wide range of artists, from bands and singer-songwriters to idols.
A karaoke contest limited to this decade would be a blast, wouldn’t it?
- Popular Nostalgic Hits and Classics Ranking [1980s Japanese Music Ranking]
- A collection of nostalgic Japanese hit songs from the 1980s that still linger in our ears
- Classic and hit Japanese pop songs from the nostalgic 80s
- [Songs from the Showa Era] Introducing classic tracks that are easy to sing at karaoke.
- Classic and hit songs by nostalgic Japanese pop idols of the 80s
- Top 1980s Female Singer-Songwriters: Popular Songs Ranking [2026]
- Recommended youth songs for people in their 80s: A collection of nostalgic classics
- A special feature on classic and hit songs by bands that were active in the 1980s
- Nostalgic yet fresh!? Classic masterpieces of Japanese rock from the 1970s and 1980s
- Classic nostalgic summer hits from the ’80s. A roundup of summer songs.
- [1980s J-Pop] Popular winter songs: from chart-toppers to hidden gems!
- Including global hits! 80s songs popular on TikTok
- Thrilling to Cool Showa-Era Tunes! Classic Songs from Female Singers and Artists of the Showa Period
Masterpieces and hit songs of 80s kayōkyoku (41–50)
dragonflyNagabuchi Tsuyoshi
Released in 1988 as Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi’s 20th single.
The song portrays the struggles of a young person who moved to the big city, yearning for urban life, and it was used as the theme song for the TV drama “Tonbo,” in which Nagabuchi himself appeared.
It topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart for five consecutive weeks and remains a beloved karaoke favorite.
Masterpieces and Hit Songs of 80s Kayōkyoku (51–60)
MarionetteBOØWY
This track is packed with an overwhelming rock sound and razor-sharp messages.
Released in July 1987 as a single by BOØWY, it was an ambitious work that topped the Oricon charts.
As the lead single from the album “PSYCHOPATH,” it stirred up the music scene at the time alongside a music video animated by Gainax.
Although BOØWY scarcely appeared in the media, the song is also known as the entrance theme for “Dynamite Shikoku,” a character played by Shozo Endo on Nippon TV’s Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!.
This masterpiece fuses the beat-driven feel of the ’80s with a melodious sound, incorporating danceable elements to distill the essence of rock music into a single track.
It’s a song that evokes nostalgia for those who lived through the era and sounds fresh to younger listeners—please enjoy.
CAT’S EYEAnri
This song was released as a single in 1983 and was chosen as the theme song for the anime Cat’s Eye.
In an interview, they said that at the time of release they weren’t satisfied with the lyrics and couldn’t really get into singing it.
Even so, it became a big hit and one of their signature songs—funny how things work out.
Heartbroken over JuliaChekkāzu
It was released in 1984 as The Checkers’ fifth single.
It became their biggest hit, topping the 1985 year-end Oricon chart.
Originally, the song had a completely different set of lyrics and the title “Kizudarake no Yesterday.” I’d love to hear that version too.
NO. NEW YORKBOØWY
This track, taken from the 1982 debut album MORAL, is an ambitious early work by BOØWY.
Set against the backdrop of New York and themed around a forbidden love, it’s rendered with melodious guitar and a driving rhythm.
It also serves as a tribute to John Lennon, with the original version incorporating a radio broadcast announcing his death.
Balancing the poignancy of romance with the energy of rock in perfect harmony, this song is recommended for anyone looking to bask in memories of their youth.
The hottest summer in the worldPRINCESS PRINCESS
A heart-throbbing love song that unleashes the imagination in the August breeze and sets off on an adventure with a lover.
First released by PRINCESS PRINCESS in July 1987, the song initially received a lukewarm response, but upon its 1989 re-release it topped the Oricon charts and even rose to No.
2 for the year.
It later became familiar as the theme song for TV Asahi’s programs “Sekai Dokkiri Watch” and “Itsuka Iku Tabi,” and in 2012 it was also used in a commercial for Sapporo Beer’s Ice Lager 7.
It’s a track that lets anyone feel as if they’re embarking on a romantic adventure straight out of a movie scene.
TouchIwasaki Yoshimi
Many people cherish “Touch” as an iconic anime song of the Showa era.
It was written specifically as the opening theme for the baseball anime of the same name.
Released in 1985, it became an unprecedented hit.
Set to a folk-style melody, the lyrics portray the bittersweet romance of youth.
Incidentally, the song drew renewed attention in 2021 when a parody version was featured in a McDonald’s commercial.
Be sure to compare the versions.
