[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 collection of nostalgic folk song masterpieces and popular karaoke picks (31–40)
I saw a grasshopper in Katsushika.nagira kenichi
Released on August 10, 1974.
It’s more like Kenichi Nagira’s spoken narration than a song.
Interweaving scenes of Katsushika, he quietly talks about his circumstances and feelings at the time; the singing style makes you chuckle, yet it’s a nostalgic tune.
Into the DreamInoue Yosui
Though Yosui Inoue has many classic songs, if you’re singing folk songs together at karaoke, Yume no Naka e is perfect.
Later, in 1989, Yuki Saito also covered it, and even quite recently the song has been used in commercials, so even if people don’t know the lyrics, I think younger listeners are at least somewhat familiar with the melody.
Sanae-chanFurui do
While Furuido had a devoted folk-song fanbase, the only song that became widely known was Sanae-chan.
Later, Reiichi Nakaido, Furuido’s vocalist, joined RC Succession, and Kiyoshiro Imawano also sang it.
It was a hit thanks to its unique lyrics, and it’s perfect for making parody versions.
If you’ve got a sense of humor, try singing a parody of this song.
The melody is very simple, so you can learn it quickly.
Aoba Castle Love Songsatou muneyuki
Muneyuki Sato, who hosted a radio program in Sendai, had a segment where he invited listeners to submit lyrics and then set them to music.
“Aoba Castle Love Song” was written by a listener, Shoichi Hoshima, and came about when he took a demo tape to Tokyo.
Later, Yu Aku—who went on to create one hit after another—praised the beauty of the song’s lyrics.
In the Showa era, words were carefully expressed in lyrics, so even when taken as a heartbreak song, it paints a vivid picture.
It’s also used as the departure melody for the Shinkansen at Sendai Station.
bridehashida norihiko to kuraimakkusu
It was a hit song that even took the No.
1 spot on the Oricon chart for two consecutive weeks at the time.
The tempo is good and it has a lively, upbeat feel, but it’s actually about what you might call an elopement.
The lead vocalist, Mie Fujisawa, sings in a surprisingly low key, making it an easy song to sing.
They also appeared on the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen with this song; up to then, female vocalists were on the Red Team, but for some reason they appeared with the White Team.