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Showa-era kayōkyoku: hit songs by male singers, classic masterpieces of Japanese popular music.

Showa-era kayōkyoku have seen revival hits and renewed booms, becoming beloved across generations.

What songs do you like?

In this article, we’re spotlighting songs by male artists from the Showa kayōkyoku scene!

Through our research this time, we discovered a variety of hit songs.

From masterpieces that bring back memories the moment you hear them, to kayōkyoku that feel fresh and comfortably familiar even to younger listeners—there are so many captivating Showa-era songs.

Please use this as a reference when you’re looking for men’s kayōkyoku tracks.

Playlist

Showa-era kayōkyoku: hit songs by male singers, classic masterpieces of Japanese popular music.
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1Do whatever the hell you want.sawada kenji
Do whatever the hell you want.sawada kenjiplay_arrow
Kenji Sawada’s classic “Kassai,” a monumental masterpiece of Showa-era kayōkyoku (Japanese pop)
2Imperial Regent Declarationsadamasashi
Imperial Regent Declarationsadamasashiplay_arrow
Masashi Sada's 'Teishu Kanpaku' (The Lordly Husband)
3Until we meet againOzaki Kiyohiko
Until we meet againOzaki Kiyohikoplay_arrow
The Appeal of Kiyohiko Ozaki’s Classic Song “Mata Au Hi Made” (Until We Meet Again)
4ChampionArisu
ChampionArisuplay_arrow
Alice’s “Champion” tops the Oricon chart
5Journey of the Heartchūrippu
Journey of the Heartchūrippuplay_arrow
Tulip’s hit song “Kokoro no Tabi” (A Journey of the Heart)
6The Scent of CyclamenFuse Akira
The Scent of CyclamenFuse Akiraplay_arrow
Akira Fuse’s classic song “The Scent of Cyclamen”
7Ruby RingTerao Akira
Ruby RingTerao Akiraplay_arrow
Akira Terao’s Showa-era classic, a smash-hit single
8interaction; friendly contact; bondingNakamura Masatoshi
interaction; friendly contact; bondingNakamura Masatoshiplay_arrow
Masatoshi Nakamura’s classic song “Fureai” resonates with the heart.
9A Member of the Fire BrigadeRATS&STAR
A Member of the Fire BrigadeRATS&STARplay_arrow
The funky classic by Rats & Star
10A long nightMatsuyama Chiharu
A long nightMatsuyama Chiharuplay_arrow
Chiharu Matsuyama's “Long Night” is a masterpiece.
11Blue ChateauJakkī Yoshikawa to Burū Komettsu
Blue ChateauJakkī Yoshikawa to Burū Komettsuplay_arrow
A classic from the ’50s, with a melody full of rises and falls.
12I look up as I walkSakamoto Kyu
I look up as I walkSakamoto Kyuplay_arrow
I’ll walk looking up, overcoming my sadness.
13Heartbroken over JuliaChekkāzu
Heartbroken over JuliaChekkāzuplay_arrow
The Checkers’ classic song “Juliette ni Shoushin” is still popular today.
14Kanda Riverkaguya hime
Kanda Riverkaguya himeplay_arrow
Kousetsu Minami’s classic song “Kandagawa,” a poem of youth
15Stardust StageChekkāzu
Stardust StageChekkāzuplay_arrow
The Checkers' classic song 'Stardust Stage'
16Azusa No. 2karyūdō
Azusa No. 2karyūdōplay_arrow
“Azusa No. 2” is a classic hit by the duo Kariudo, and the highlight is their brotherly harmonies.
17Look up at the stars in the nightSakamoto Kyu
Look up at the stars in the nightSakamoto Kyuplay_arrow
Kyu Sakamoto’s signature songs and the charm of his gentle singing voice
18Elegy of SpringShōji Shirō
Elegy of SpringShōji Shirōplay_arrow
A classic song from the Showa era that sings of the bittersweetness of love and spring.
19To my distant loverSaijō Hideki
To my distant loverSaijō Hidekiplay_arrow
Hideo Saijo of the city: a classic song about love from his hometown