Lovely hit song

Showa-era songs that are popular on Instagram Reels

DancerFukkun:)Tatsuki Fukuda
Primarily active in Tokyo, I have experience as a backup dancer for artists, a music video dancer, and a commercial dancer. I continue to work as a dancer while also engaging in article production. After discovering Michael Jackson in junior high school, I began dancing in my second year of high school. Since starting dance, in addition to the J-Pop and Japanese rock I had been listening to, I began exploring Western R&B, rap, alternative music, and other tracks commonly used for dance. In elementary school, I spent three years in a choir, and because I love singing, I often go to karaoke for fun. These days, I enjoy a wide range of music, from Japanese rock and rap to K-pop.

You can see that even in the Reiwa era, songs from the Showa period are making a comeback as revival hits, showing how music comes full circle.

So this time, I’d like to introduce some Showa-era songs that are especially popular on Instagram Reels!

Using Showa songs as BGM on Instagram can create a nostalgic vibe and make your posts look wonderful.

We’ll be showcasing a bunch of Showa-era Japanese tracks that are once again attracting attention from young people and overseas audiences, so please read through to the end!

And I’d be thrilled if you used the featured tracks in your Instagram Reels posts.

Alright, let’s get started!

Showa-era songs popular on Instagram Reels (11–20)

Friday ChinatownYasuha

Fly-day Chinatown / Yasuha Official Lyric Video

Friday ChinatownYasuha

This is an exotic, foreign-flavored song set in Chinatown.

Known as a classic from the Showa era, it’s now very popular on Instagram Reels.

The lyrics charmingly portray a lively midnight Chinatown, bursting neon signs, and brief, serendipitous encounters with foreigners.

It was Yasuha’s debut work, released in September 1981.

Rediscovered amid the city pop revival, it also became available via digital distribution in May 2022.

The track is included on the album “TRANSIT,” and a reissued analog record was released in June of the same year.

It’s a perfect pick when you want to feel a touch of the exotic or enjoy the Showa vibe.

It’s also highly popular on Instagram Reels.

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If I’m wrapped in kindnessMatsutoya Yumi

Embraced In Softness / Yasashisa Ni Tsutsumareta Nara

If I'm wrapped in kindnessMatsutoya Yumi

It’s a song many people know as the ending theme of Studio Ghibli’s film Kiki’s Delivery Service.

Released in April 1974 as the third single by Yumi Matsutoya, who was still using the name Yumi Arai at the time.

Its universal theme—that if we don’t forget the pure feelings we had as children, everything we see turns into a precious message—gently warms the hearts of listeners.

The version included on the album MISSLIM features a country-style arrangement, and its friendly, catchy melody is especially appealing.

If you pair it with gentle reels or stories—like posts that capture everyday scenes or memories with someone special—I think it will make the visuals even more moving.

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Tsubpari High School Rock ’n’ Roll (Going-to-School Edition)Yokohama Ginbae

Tsubpari High School Rock ’n’ Roll (Going-to-School Edition)

Tsubpari High School Rock ’n’ Roll (Going-to-School Edition)Yokohama Ginbae

Watch “Tsubpari High School Rock ’n’ Roll (Going-to-School Edition) Yokohama Ginbae” on YouTube

This is a single released in January 1981 that portrays the relationship between a headstrong high schooler and their parent with lively rock ’n’ roll.

The lyrics follow a 7-7-7-5 meter, creating a pleasing sense of rhythm and comically expressing the inner world of a rebellious youth.

While it vividly depicts the style and behavior of a delinquent, it’s also a nuanced work that reveals glimpses of care for the mother and a search for one’s own way of life.

It has remained beloved across generations, appearing in a 2008 commercial for Suntory’s canned chuhai “Calori.” and covered in a 2011 Asahi Soft Drinks “Jurokucha” ad featuring Yui Aragaki.

Today, it’s a trending track for posting dance videos on social media with simple, modern choreography.

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In conclusion

We introduced some popular Showa-era songs on Instagram Reels! How did you like them? From tracks that made a revival hit precisely because we’re in the Reiwa era to timeless classics kept fresh through artist covers, they were all unforgettable tunes.

That nostalgic Showa vibe can give your Reels a warm, retro feel, don’t you think? Be sure to try using the songs we featured as BGM for your Reels posts! I’m sure they’ll make your posts wonderful.

Thank you for watching till the end.