Enthralling mood kayō: A collection of classic Showa-era songs
Suddenly, but what kind of image do you all have of “mood kayō” (mood ballads)?
If you’re from a younger generation, you may not have even heard of the genre “mood kayō” in the first place.
Born in the postwar era, mood kayō is, as the name suggests, a form of kayōkyoku (Japanese popular song), but its definition is actually quite ambiguous.
You could say it’s a genre that values sentiment—indeed, the very “mood”—more than strictly musical elements.
This time, we’re focusing on this uniquely alluring, adult music born of the Shōwa era—mood kayō—and have gathered some representative classics.
Whether you’re a young music fan curious about Shōwa-era kayōkyoku or someone who lived through those times, please enjoy!
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Enthralling mood kayō: A collection of Showa-era masterpieces (51–60)
The one I still love even after we’ve broken upRosu Indiosu & Shiruvia
Portrayed from a fresh angle as if the romance between a separated couple were reigniting, this song became an explosive hit.
Despite the lyrics, the two singers’ clean, beautiful voices give it an easy, un-gritty appeal that glides smoothly into the ears and won over listeners.
rainMiyoshi Eiji
As the postwar years wore on, even mood enka songs released in 1972 began to feature a different kind of lyricism.
It’s a sad love song about a woman who isn’t the lawful wife, yet what left a strong impression was Eiji Miyoshi standing perfectly still, singing in a slightly higher register, calmly delivering a difficult piece with dramatic interval leaps.
The line that describes umbrellas as flowers in bloom conveys the beauty of the Japanese language.
Yokohama TwilightItsuki Hiroshi
It was Hiroshi Itsuki’s 11th single overall, released in 1971.
Itsuki has a deep attachment to this song, calling it “my starting point, the song that launched everything.” Thanks to its success, he received numerous awards, including the Vocalist Award at the 13th Japan Record Awards, and made his first appearance at the 22nd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Fortune-telling for womenMinami Yuji to Furuseiruzu
This song, with the unique gimmick of lyrics that read like a fortune-telling for women, is a kind of secret weapon packed with various episodes that could instantly liven up the mood if played when conversation stalls at a night bar, showcasing the wide expressive range of mood kayō (Japanese mood-pop).
I’m praying for you.Satoi Ito to Happī & Burū
It was released in 1974 as the fourth single by Satoshi Itō and Happy & Blue.
It reached a peak position of No.
4 on the Oricon Singles Chart.
The original version of the song is “Shiawase ni Nattene,” released as a new single in September 1970 by Naoki Matsudaira and Blue Roman, and it has become one of Satoshi Itō and Happy & Blue’s signature songs.