A Collection of Hit Japanese Songs from the Late 1970s to 1980s
When we think of the late Showa era (the late 1970s to 1980s), it was a time when Japan had successfully achieved postwar recovery from World War II and was rapidly heading into the bubble economy—a period brimming with energy.
In music, too, it felt like an era when entirely new sounds and expressive techniques emerged in music production, thanks to the development and spread of synthesizers and sequencers, as well as advances in multitrack recorders.
Perhaps reflecting that backdrop, the charts were a dazzling free-for-all, with hit songs blooming in profusion across a vast range of genres—from enka to New Music.
Amid such fierce competition, many masterpieces have survived and continue to be enjoyed to this day.
I hope you’ll take pleasure in listening to them.
[The 1975–1984 era] Summary of Japanese hit songs (1–10)
Goodbyeofukōsu
This is the 17th single by Off Course, led by Kazumasa Oda, released in December 1979.
It’s a classic Showa-era ballad where you can enjoy Oda’s captivating high-tone vocals.
In particular, his high notes in the chorus have a crystalline clarity that almost evokes the crisp, cold air of winter, reminding you that his voice is truly one of a kind.
Please enjoy this masterpiece of a Showa ballad.
Your MorningKishida Satoshi
This was Satoshi Kishida’s (now Toshiyuki Kishida) eighth single overall, released in March 1979 (Showa 54).
It was used as an insert song in the TBS TV drama “Ai to Kassai to,” in which Kishida himself also appeared.
The gentle piano phrase in the intro begins, and Kishida’s tender, translucent vocals layered on top vividly evoke the feeling of a morning atmosphere.
Yet it’s not merely a refreshing depiction of morning; elements like the lyrics in the B section convey something profoundly weighty, giving the song a distinctly dramatic quality.
Another unquestionable masterpiece of the Showa era—please enjoy!
ChampionArisu
It was Alice’s 14th single, released in December 1978, and it became the band’s biggest hit.
Although Alice is often seen as a driving force behind the New Music boom of the time, this was apparently their only song to reach No.
1 on the Oricon charts.
In the opening section, Shinji Tanimura and Takao Horiuchi alternate as lead vocalists, highlighting the differences in their appeal as singers, and then the chorus soars with the two of them harmonizing—an excellent vocal arrangement that makes this a true classic.
Do whatever the hell you want.sawada kenji
This was Kenji Sawada’s (Julie’s) 19th single, released in May 1977 (Showa 52).
If you lived through the Showa 50s era in real time, it’s probably a hit song everyone knows.
For many men, there are likely fond memories of singing this at elementary school parties back then and tossing a hat just like he did.
I was one of those elementary school kids myself (lol).
I’m listening to the song again now as I write this, and I’m once more moved by the excellence of the melody and arrangement, and by Kenji Sawada’s outstanding vocal ability!
TechnopolisIerō Majikku Ōkesutora (YMO)
Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO)’s first single, released in October 1979 (Showa 54).
The sound of the word “Tokio,” which was likely created with a vocoder (a synthesizer that processes a voice through a microphone), is incredibly striking.
I still remember hearing this song on FM radio at the time and immediately rushing to the record store to buy it.
Listening again now to write this piece, I’m reminded of how captivating the sounds of those analog synthesizers were.
They have a certain organic expressiveness you don’t find in today’s digital synthesizers.
A classic of Japanese technopop—please enjoy!