Showa Era Popular Artist Rankings [2026]

This time, we’ll be introducing Showa-era artists all at once in a ranking format!

The Showa period was also a time when the spread of television gave rise to many music stars.

Be sure to check out which artists were popular.

Playlist

Showa Era Popular Artist Rankings [2026]
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	ShipwreckNakamori Akina		A classic song that poignantly portrays the sorrowful feelings of a woman who has lost her loved one
2	Blue Coral ReefMatsuda Seiko		Seiko Matsuda’s classic summer love song
3	Be kind to othersTHE BLUE HEARTS		Timeless masterpieces continue to be loved across generations.
4	Do whatever the hell you want.sawada kenji		Kenji Sawada's heartbreak ballad smash hit
5	Two People’s Summer Story – NEVER ENDING SUMMER –Sugiyama Kiyotaka & Omega Tribe		Kiyotaka Sugiyama’s Summer Love Story City Pop
6	MPRINCESS PRINCESS		The heartrending ballad that chronicles the pain of heartbreak is abou...
7	I can’t stop this sadnessAnri		Anri’s heartbreak-themed single is a big hit
8	Dancing HeroOginome Yōko		A classic of 80s disco-pop is back in the spotlight
9	First loveMurashita Kōzō		Kozo Murashita’s “Hatsukoi” is easy to sing within a narrow vocal range.
10	stationTakeuchi Mariya		Reunion at the station, the bittersweet pain of a past love
11	Playback Part 2Yamaguchi Momoe		The successor to Momoe Yamaguchi, the songstress who epitomized the Showa era...
12	Graduationsaitou yuki		Yuki Saito’s debut song, a youth anthem
13	Wine Red Heartanzenchitai		Anzen Chitai’s adult love song
14	Ruby RingTerao Akira		Akira Terao’s biggest hit song, “Ruby no Yubiwa” (Ruby Ring)
15	Lullaby of a Serrated HeartChekkāzu		The Checkers’ debut song is popular right now.
16	Goodbyeofukōsu		Off Course, a classic folk song of a heartrending farewell
17	Full of memoriesH₂O		H2O’s signature youth-themed song, a graduation song
18	Paradise GalaxyHikaru GENJI		Hikaru GENJI’s historic hit song(s)
19	Chaco’s Seaside StorySazan Ōrusutāzu		A classic by Southern that refreshingly sings of summer love
20	Christmas EveYamashita Tatsuro		Christmas Eve, a bittersweet love song
21	Distance of the Starry SkyTHE ALFEE		Rooted in good old rock and folk songs…
22	MarionetteBOØWY		A classic by BOØWY—a masterpiece that encapsulates the allure of rock.
23	Season in the SunTUBE		TUBE, singing refreshingly about summer love and youth...
24	Roppongi HeartbreakAn Ruisu		Ann Lewis's wistful love song about romance
25	Midnight Door ~ Stay With MeMatsubara Miki		Miki Matsubara’s debut song, the masterpiece that thrilled the world
26	summer vacationyoshida takurou		A folk rock piece depicting Takuro Yoshida’s summer memories
27	Limit LoversSHOW-YA		Expressing women's true feelings and emotions through heavy metal
28	Cotton HandkerchiefŌta Hiromi		A classic song that captures the heartache of a long-distance relationship
29	Friday ChinatownYasuha		A classic gem of exotic charm from the Showa-era Chinatown
30	MasqueradeShonentai		The emotions of Kamen Butokai and the charm of Shonentai
31	GLORIAZIGGY		ZIGGY’s second single, a masterpiece that conveys the allure of rock
32	atonementTeresa Ten		Teresa Teng’s signature song won two crowns in 1984
33	JUST ONE MORE KISSBUCK-TICK		He drew attention with his look of hair spiked up high, and th…
34	MissingKubota Toshinobu		Toshinobu Kubota’s heartrending ballad that sings of deep love.
35	youKozaka Akiko		A masterpiece about unrequited love written by a high school student
36	Close your eyes and come here.BARBEE BOYS		When it comes to BARBEE BOYS’ signature works, it would have to be…
37	Sinbad on the Shorepinku redii		In the late 1970s, Japan’s disco boom…
38	Love is overŌyō Fifi		Ouyang Fei Fei’s signature song, a heartbreaking love song about farewell
39	Sentimental ChristmasHamada Shogo		Shogo Hamada’s winter masterpiece, a heartwarming singing voice
40	Lullaby of the Holy MothersIwasaki Hiromi		A classic Showa-era hit song celebrating maternal love became a smash hit
41	There’s always tomorrowSakamoto Kyu		A classic song that sings of the clumsiness of youth and the hope it holds
42	I LOVE YOUOzaki Yutaka		A beautiful ballad with Yutaka Ozaki’s restrained piano
43	Can’t Stop the RomanticC-C-B		The quintessential hit song representing the ’80s is C-C-B’s da—
44	Journey of the Heartchūrippu		A bittersweet love song of departure, a timeless masterpiece that resonates with the heart
45	Embraced by the wintry windKoizumi Kyoko		A wistful winter love song themed around unrequited love by Kyoko Koizumi
46	ambushIshikawa Hitomi		A signature work by Hitomi Ishikawa that portrays the poignancy of unrequited love
47	DAY BREAKotoko		The passionate debut song by Otokogumi sings of hope.
48	applausechiaki naomi		The appeal of Naomi Chiaki’s signature songs and the classic hits of the Showa era
49	era; age; time; periodNakajima Miyuki		Miyuki Nakajima’s masterpiece, loved across time
50	MUGO… so sexyKudō Shizuka		Shizuka Kudo’s single that expresses feelings beyond words
51	younger boykyandīzu		The pure emotions and allure of an age-gap romance
52	Light Blue RainYagami Junko		Introducing classic songs by Junko Yagami, known for her translucent/clear singing voice
53	Love Song of LumMatsutani Yūko		A classic song that sings of the bittersweet feelings of first love
54	Sake, Tears, Men, and WomenKawashima Eigo		A socially conscious masterpiece that depicts the feelings of men and women
55	The Last Holy NightSugiyama Kiyotaka		Kiyotaka Sugiyama’s hit song used in multiple commercials
56	loveMatsuyama Chiharu		This piece, known as one of Chiharu Matsuyama’s signature songs, is...
57	FriendsREBECCA		A classic song that sings of REBECCA’s youth, resonating in the heart
58	I’ll wait.amin		Amin's debut single was a big hit.
59	Sonnet of the Clownsadamasashi		A heartwarming song, one of Masashi Sada’s signature works
60	A Member of the Fire BrigadeRATS&STAR		A love story that unfolds by the seaside in summer
61	You’re Kiwi, Papaya, and Mango, aren’t you?Nakahara Meiko		Masterpieces of Showa-era kayōkyoku: the origins of their distinctive titles and the background of their production
62	Lingering Snowiruka		Dolphin-san’s depiction of a farewell in the falling snow…
63	TouchIwasaki Yoshimi		Showa-era classic hits are trending again on Instagram.
64	Two People’s Love IslandIshikawa Yuko & Chage		Yuko Ishikawa and Chage’s classic song “Futari no Airando” (Our Love Island)
65	You are in full color.Ohtaki Eiichi		Eiichi Ohtaki’s classic: a bittersweet yearning for love
66	High-Teen BoogieKondō Masahiko		A 1982 smash-hit classic that captures the brilliance of youth
67	Until we meet againOzaki Kiyohiko		A breakup-themed, upbeat classic
68	White ChristmasJUN SKY WALKER(S)		They boosted their profile through live performances on pedestrianized streets, and 19...
69	foreignerKUBOTA Saki		The allure of Saki Kubota’s classic song “Ihōjin” (Stranger)
70	Get WildTM NETWORK		A sound that runs through the night, a song of adventure and challenge
71	The Day the Seagulls FlewWatanabe Machiko		A Machiko Watanabe classic depicting heartbreak in a port town
72	YOUNG MAN (Y.M.C.A.)Saijō Hideki		Hideki Saijo’s passionate singing gives young people the courage to pursue their dreams.
73	A street corner where even lovers get wetNakamura Masatoshi		An adult love song set in Yokohama
74	You are more beautiful than a rose.Fuse Akira		A classic by Akira Fuse that praises the beauty of women
75	My lover is Santa ClausMatsutōya Yumi		Spend time with a loved one with Christmas songs
76	You’re 1000%1986 omega toraibu		Omega Tribe's nostalgic classic songs are popular with a new generation
77	SOMEDAYSano Motoharu		A classic song that sings of the brilliance and hope of youth, Motoharu Sano
78	Boat SongYashiro Aki		Aki Yashiro's classic Showa-era ballads
79	bullseyeYamamoto Rinda		Yamamoto Linda’s signature song is in the spotlight again.
80	CHA-CHA-CHAIshii Akemi		Akemi Ishii's debut single was a big hit
81	Tsugaru Strait – Winter SceneIshikawa Sayuri		Sayuri Ishikawa’s classic song is popular on Instagram Stories.
82	Summer HornsInagaki Junichi		Released in 1983, this work is urban and so...
83	Lonely Tropical FishWink		Wink, Panasonic commercial song, 1989 Oricon No. 1
84	School HeavenFingā 5		A youth song expressing the bittersweetness of school life.
85	Shake Hip!kome kome CLUB		A hot Kome Kome Club hit of the summer
86	Sailor Suit and Machine GunYakushimaru Hiroko		Hiromi Yakushimaru's debut song is a big hit
87	CheersNagabuchi Tsuyoshi		A representative Japanese song that cheers on new beginnings in spring
88	heavy rainTHE MODS		A classic that sings of burning passion, battered by the rain
89	huge nuisanceUNICORN		Disbanded in 1993, and achieved a reunion in 2009…
90	Asakusa KidBīto Takeshi		A moving anthem of support that portrays the dreams and friendships of a downtown neighborhood
91	My loverGorin Mayumi		Beloved by many as a quintessential ballad of the Showa era…
92	Tsubpari High School Rock ’n’ Roll (Going-to-School Edition)Yokohama Ginbae		Rebel youth rock, love that transcends generations
93	Wax MuseumSeikima II		Demon Kogure and Seikima-II’s terrifying classic, perfect for Halloween
94	240 Million Eyes -Exotic Japan-Gō Hiromi		A classic song by Hiromi Go that sings about the charms of Japan
95	ChampionArisu		Alice's signature songs from the 1970s
96	A café in a student districtGaro		A nostalgic classic song about memories of a coffee shop
97	Rainy BlueTokunaga Hideaki		A masterpiece that was Hideaki Tokunaga’s major-label debut song
98	SHOW MEMorikawa Yukari		“Tanabata,” the classic song that changed the Showa era’s view of romance
99	Unstoppable ha~haYazawa Eikichi		Eikichi Yazawa's powerful rock song
100	Message of RougeArai Yumi		A classic by Yumi Arai, an iconic song of love and growth