Nostalgic Japanese hit songs from the 1960s. A collection of popular Showa-era classic melodies.
The Tokaido Shinkansen opening, the advent of color TV, the Beatles’ visit to Japan, Astro Boy, the Apollo 11 moon landing, and more…
The 1960s were a decade energized by a wide array of new cultural phenomena amid the era of rapid economic growth.
In 1964, Tokyo also hosted the Olympic Games.
In music, from kayōkyoku to sounds influenced by foreign styles, one of the charms of the ’60s is that you can actually enjoy a rich variety of tastes.
Some legendary artists from that time are still active today! From among the classic songs that lit up the hit charts of the tumultuous Shōwa era, we’ve thoroughly researched a selection of nothing-but-recommended nostalgic tracks from the ’60s.
You might rediscover a longtime favorite or stumble upon a wonderful new tune! Please enjoy these timeless masterpieces that continue to resonate in the hearts of the Japanese people, even as the times keep changing.
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Nostalgic Japanese hit songs from the 1960s: A collection of popular Showa-era old favorites (1–10)
Angel’s TemptationMayuzumi Jun
It was released in 1968 as Jun Mayuzumi’s fourth single.
The song became a major hit, winning the 10th Japan Record Award in 1968, and it was performed at the 19th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Based on this song, a film of the same title, Angel’s Temptation, starring Mayuzumi, was released by Shochiku.
It is known as one of Jun Mayuzumi’s signature songs.
Hello, baby.Azusa Michiyo
This is a song released by Michiyo Azusa in 1963 that became a massive hit, selling over one million copies.
It won the 5th Japan Record Award that same year, and with this song she made her first appearance at the 14th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
In 1964, it was used as the entrance march for the opening ceremony of the 36th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament, and it remains a beloved classic to this day.
Goodbye, TearsWada Hiroshi to Mahina Sutāzu
Originally released in May 1965 as a song by Kyu Sakamoto, this track became a big hit when Johnny Tillotson covered it in September.
Hiroshi Wada and the Mahina Stars covered it in December of the same year, and the Johnnys followed in April of the next year, establishing it as one of the signature songs of the Group Sounds era.
Many artists have covered it since, but its lyrics and melody wonderfully evoke the good old days of the Showa period.
Silver RoadZa Pīnattsu
Prompted by NHK’s program “Yume o Anata ni,” this song—released as a collaboration between The Peanuts and Dark Ducks—features lyrics by Shigeru Tsukada and music by Hiroshi Miyagawa, and later became a celebrated Japanese classic included in music textbooks.
According to the composer Miyagawa, he became convinced that the image for the piece came from seeing the moon reflected in a puddle along the remains of the rails at Sumitomo Metal Mining’s Konomai Mine in Monbetsu, Hokkaido.
The phrasing of the lyrics is distinctive and is said to have served as a reference when writing the lyrics for THE ALFEE’s “Merī Ann.”
Blue Light Yokohamaishida ayumi
It was released in 1968 as Ayumi Ishida’s 26th single.
As a representative local song of Yokohama and one of Ishida’s signature tracks, it became a million-seller with total sales exceeding 1.5 million copies.
Thanks to the success of this song, she made her first appearance at the 20th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 1969.