[Showa Era] A roundup of nostalgic folk song classics and popular tracks you’ll want to sing at karaoke
What kind of image do you have of the music genre known as “folk songs”? Perhaps many of you picture Showa-era singers with an acoustic guitar in hand, singing lyrics like private diaries of everyday life—and at times delivering political messages.
In Japan, folk songs became a booming trend from the 1960s to the 1970s, and countless classic tracks that made music history were born as the style evolved.
In this article, we’ve curated a wide selection of nostalgic Japanese folk song classics that you’ll definitely want to try singing at karaoke.
Whether you experienced them in real time or you’re a younger listener who loves Showa-era music, be sure to check them out!
- [Japanese Music] A Collection of Heart-Touching Hit Folk Songs from the 1970s
- A classic Japanese folk song passed down through generations of acoustic performances
- A collection of nostalgic hits from the ’70s to 2000s that are perfect for livening up karaoke
- Timeless classics only! Showa-era hit songs perfect for acoustic sing-alongs
- When you can’t decide what to sing at karaoke: Easy-to-sing classic hits from the Showa era
- Evokes the charm of the good old days. Showa-era inspirational songs that are still loved today.
- [2026] Songs I Want to Try at Karaoke! A Roundup of Popular Showa-Era Kayōkyoku
- [Songs from the Showa Era] Introducing classic tracks that are easy to sing at karaoke.
- A lineup of classic hits! Karaoke songs recommended for the yutori generation
- Easy-to-sing youth songs for karaoke: recommended classics and popular hits
- [For People in Their 50s] Ranking of Easy-to-Sing Karaoke Songs [2026]
- Karaoke songs everyone can sing: Japanese tracks that are easy to enjoy with a group.
- Must-see for men: Songs that look cool if you can sing them at karaoke—numbers that women can’t help but be captivated by.
[Showa Era] A roundup of nostalgic folk song classics and popular tracks you’ll want to sing at karaoke (61–70)
Our Journeyogura kei
Ogura, the lyricist and composer, actually graduated from the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Law and is a former elite banker.
He said that writing songs was like keeping a diary, and even though the bank prohibited side jobs at the time, he convinced his boss to let him continue composing.
He is the writer of a Japan Record Award-winning song and even served as a branch manager at the bank.
This song is the theme for “Oretachi no Tabi,” starring Masatoshi Nakamura, and Nakamura also sings it.
Since the lyrics and other details differ slightly, feel free to choose between the Masatoshi version and the Ogura version according to your preference.
Whenever I arrive, it’s always raining.moppusu
It was released on July 5, 1972.
It’s The Mops’ 12th single.
Originally, the band Downtowns, which Takuro Yoshida was part of, performed it.
This version is arranged in a rock style.
It’s the kind of song that still sounds cool at karaoke even if you’ve had a few drinks and sing a bit off-pitch.
Windy CityYamada Panda
It’s the theme song of a drama that featured an all-star cast of idols at the height of their popularity.
Hiromi Go, Junko Sakurada, and Miyoko Asada also appeared.
In the drama, Panda Yamada, who played the role of a coffee shop owner, ended up writing the lyrics, and Takuro Yoshida said, “If you’re writing the lyrics, I’ll compose the music,” leading to the creation of this song, which evokes Harajuku and Omotesando at the time.
It’s a hidden gem that even charted at No.
20 on Oricon.
Spirit Boat (Shoro Nagashi)gureepu
It was released on April 25, 1974.
It is an autobiographical song by Masashi Sada.
Sada’s cousin died in a drowning accident, and the song was written on the theme of the spirit boat (Shōryōnagashi) held at that time.
With this song, Masashi Sada won the Lyrics Award at the 16th Japan Record Awards.
Blue sky, all aloneInoue Yosui
It was released on November 25, 1975.
It’s also included on the album “An Invitation-less Show.” This album was the first release from For Life Records, the label launched by Takuro Yoshida, Shigeru Izumiya, Hitoshi Komuro, and others.
This song, featured on that milestone album, powerfully captures the poetic world of Yosui Inoue in a single track—it’s a cool classic.
If you can nail just the chorus—the part about the blue sky and being all alone—it’ll look effortlessly cool.