[1970s] Classic and hit songs of Japanese rock that blazed through the dawn era
When it comes to the era that laid the foundation for Japanese rock music, isn’t it the 1970s? The musicians and bands that emerged during this time had a tremendous impact on later Japanese rock.
Here, we introduce supreme masterpieces that colored the 1970s.
From famous bands everyone knows to musicians known only to the initiated, we’ve picked a wide range—so please find the tracks that suit you.
Now, please sit back and enjoy!
- [1970s] Collection of Japanese hit songs. Nostalgic masterpieces of Japan
- Dawn of Japanese Rock: A Collection of Debut Songs by 1970s Japanese Rock Bands
- Nostalgic yet fresh!? Classic masterpieces of Japanese rock from the 1970s and 1980s
- A collection of nostalgic hit songs and classics from the 70s
- Legendary Japanese rock masterpieces and hit songs of the 1960s
- Nostalgic Japanese hit songs from the 1970s: the golden age of idols and kayōkyoku (Japanese pop songs)
- The 1970s were the golden age of Western rock! Recommended classics and hit songs
- Debut songs by Japanese male artists from the 1970s
- Heart-touching, tear-jerking masterpieces from the Showa era
- [Classic Hits of the 70s] A Compilation of Western Songs Used in Commercials
- A roundup of debut songs by Japanese female artists from the 1970s
- Cool band: A rock band that represents Japan
- So nostalgic it feels new? Showa retro classics that colored Japan’s period of rapid economic growth
[1970s] Masterpieces and Hit Songs of Japanese Rock That Raced Through the Dawn Era (31–40)
Fantasy of the White Balltoranzamu
It was a band that included Chito Kawachi and Tsugutoshi Goto.
They recorded over 100 commercial jingles; rather than appearing prominently in the spotlight, they were the kind of band that consistently created songs everyone from that era would remember.
“Shiroi Ball no Fantasy” (White Ball Fantasy) is a bit of an oddball track.
It was produced in 1978 as a non-commercial single, serving as the official theme song of Nippon Professional Baseball’s Pacific League.
In 2004, when the Orix BlueWave and Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes merged, talk emerged about the possible dissolution of the Pacific League and a proposal to unify pro baseball into a single league.
To bolster momentum for maintaining the two-league system, leading players from the teams at the time covered the song and distributed it on CD.
As a result, it became a track that caught the attention of baseball fans and the general public alike.
Love on the Seibu Shinjuku Lineainu
This is the band that the popular musician Shogo Hamada belonged to.
It was formed by Hamada, who was attending a university in Tokyo, along with his business partner Kanji Machishi and others, and there’s an anecdote that he dropped out of university, returned to his hometown of Hiroshima, and began his activities there.
Their second single, “Koi no Seibu Shinjuku-sen,” was released in 1975.
Its lyrics depict a bittersweet love story set on the Seibu Shinjuku Line, carried by a very pop melody.
The song was later remade by Shogo Hamada himself on his album “Kimi ga Jinsei no Toki…”.
In conclusion
The 1970s are an absolutely indispensable and important era when discussing Japanese rock music. From modern hard rock to more ennui-tinged rock, the foundations for a wide range of rock genres were laid during this time. In addition to this article, Rug Music has published other pieces themed around the 1970s. Be sure to check those out as well!