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 classics (31–40)
White StraitŌtsuki Miyako
This is a single released by Miyako Otsuki in 1992, which was used as the theme song for the TBS daytime drama 30 series “Yurusare nu Uta” (“The Unforgiven Song”).
It won the Grand Prize in the Kayōkyoku/Enka category at the 34th Japan Record Awards.
Although it peaked at No.
30 on the Oricon charts, it enjoyed a long run with 40 chart appearances.
It is one of Miyako Otsuki’s signature songs, performed at the 43rd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Your BluesYabuki Ken
Sung with such rich emotion it feels as if infatuation has crossed into a curse, this song—with its overly simple chorus that repeats “you, you…” like frantic scrawl in a notebook—evokes the madness of a woman reliving nights of lament, sending chills down your spine.
applausechiaki naomi
Released in 1972 (Showa 47).
Younger people may know her from Korokke’s impressions, but her actual singing ability was said to be on par with the legendary Hibari Misora—or some even claimed Naomi Chiaki surpassed her.
After her husband, who was also the older brother of Jo Shishido, passed away in 1992, she effectively retired, which is truly a shame.
KASSAI (Applause) won the 14th Japan Record Award, and it’s one of those songs where winning felt only natural—it’s really that good.
America BridgeYamakawa Yutaka
Released in 1998 as Yutaka Yamakawa’s 19th single.
The song depicts the scenery of the real Ebisu Minami Bridge (commonly known as the American Bridge) and tells of the reunion of former lovers and their bittersweet parting.
It was used as the theme song for the MBS-produced TBS drama series “From the Scene of Life” (Drama 30) Season 5, and it won the 31st Japan Lyricist Award.
Isezakicho BluesAoe Mina
It was released in 1968 as Mina Aoe’s seventh single.
Isezakicho refers to a downtown entertainment district in Yokohama.
After her debut, she had struggled to produce hits, so lyricist Kawanaka Kōhan instructed her to include a sigh—“Haan”—within the song.
The idea worked brilliantly, and the single became a major hit.
With this song, she received the Singing Award at the 10th Japan Record Awards and the Excellent Star Award at the 1st All Japan Cable Broadcasting Awards.