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.
- Hit songs in Japan in the late 1960s
- Good songs recommended for people in their 50s: classic and popular J-pop tracks.
- Classic and hit songs by nostalgic Japanese idols from the 1970s
- Nostalgic Japanese hit songs from the 1960s. A collection of popular Showa-era classic melodies.
- Classic and hit Japanese pop songs from the nostalgic 1960s
- Cool songs from the Showa era. Masterpieces from Showa that shine with sensuality, passion, and rugged charm.
- Now’s the time to listen! Uplifting Showa-era songs that brightened Japan
- Popular Showa-era pop. Timeless hit songs.
- Dance music in Japanese (J-pop) that people in their 50s used to listen to. Nostalgic classic hits.
- Nostalgic yet fresh!? Classic masterpieces of Japanese rock from the 1970s and 1980s
- Heart-touching, tear-jerking masterpieces from the Showa era
- So nostalgic it feels new? Showa retro classics that colored Japan’s period of rapid economic growth
- [Nostalgic Hits] Smash Hits with the Showa Generation! Classic and Popular Songs Sung by Female Vocalists
[Showa 50s] Summary of Hit Japanese Songs (11–20)
UFOpinku redii
Released in December 1977 as the sixth single by Pink Lady, one of the biggest idols of the Showa era.
It topped the Oricon charts for 10 consecutive weeks and became a million-selling hit.
I was in elementary school when this song came out, and I remember the girls in my class lining up to sing and dance to it.
In addition to the duo’s outstanding vocal skills, the synthesizer sound—evoking the arrival of a UFO—felt remarkably fresh.
It might be fun for readers to try singing and dancing to this song again at karaoke after a long time, don’t you think?
Words of FarewellKaientai
It’s the 16th single by Kaientai, led by Tetsuya Takeda, released in November 1979 (Showa 54)… But rather than explaining it that way, it’s quicker to say it was the theme song for the first season of the Showa-era mega-hit drama “Mr.
Kinpachi: Class 3-B”! When the show aired, I was still in sixth grade, and I vividly remember bursting into tears the moment this song played at my elementary school graduation ceremony.
I’m sure many people who lived through that time in real time had similar experiences.
Perhaps because of that, even more than 40 years after its release, it remains one of the classic songs for graduation ceremonies.
It’s a wonderfully warm masterpiece from the Showa era!
From the northern innMiyako Harumi
This was Harumi Miyako’s 67th single, released in December 1975 (Showa 50).
It’s a song that has earned timeless acclaim as a masterpiece of enka and Showa-era pop.
In terms of sales, it became a major hit, recording over 1.4 million copies sold.
With a heartrending melody and lyrics that conjure vivid scenes just by listening, Harumi Miyako delivers a deeply moving performance with exceptional vocal skill and expressive power.
It’s a classic that we truly want to pass on to future generations.
YosakuKitajima Saburō
A single by Saburō Kitajima, released in March 1978 (Showa 53).
Anyone who lived through that era in real time has surely heard this classic of the Showa period! With a simple melody reminiscent of folk songs and a host of striking onomatopoeic phrases in the lyrics, combined with Kitajima’s outstanding vocal prowess, it became a long-selling, smash hit beloved across generations.
Beyond Kitajima himself, numerous artists have covered it, and even video games—presumably inspired by the song’s success—have been released, underscoring its powerful influence.
It’s a Showa classic that’s fun to sing along to, even if you just join in on the onomatopoeic parts!
A Midsummer Night’s DreamNoguchi Goro
This was Goro Noguchi’s 30th single overall, released in April 1979 (Showa 54).
As the title suggests, it’s a song whose wistful melody evokes the fleeting nature of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and it really sticks in your ears.
The image of Noguchi himself playing the guitar while singing was also very striking.
Listening to it now, the song is, in a sense, complex—constructed from a variety of melodies—but I’m impressed that each and every one of those melodies is so memorable.
Tsubpari High School Rock ’n’ Roll (Going-to-School Edition)Yokohama Ginbae
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.
blue eyesJakkī Yoshikawa to Burū Komettsu
A masterpiece where a wistful melody merges with a stirring band sound.
First released during the dawn of the Group Sounds era—its English version in March 1966 and Japanese version in July—the song portrays a bittersweet romance with a woman encountered at the end of a journey through northern landscapes.
Following the English version’s sales of over 100,000 copies, the Japanese version became a massive hit, surpassing 500,000.
It earned Jackie Yoshikawa and the Blue Comets a spot in the 17th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen and helped ignite the GS boom.
With its polished performance and harmonies, this sonic world is a perfect pick for anyone wishing to bask in memories of first love and youth.
Love is a mirageGam
The debut single of the folk duo Gam, consisting of Kazuto Miura and Toshikazu Nakagawa, was released in September 1980 (Showa 55).
It won the Excellent Song Award at the 19th Yamaha Popular Song Contest held in May of the same year.
It’s a masterpiece of a Showa-era ballad with a wonderfully beautiful melody, lyrics, and arrangement.
I’ve heard it sold over 600,000 copies, which makes perfect sense.
The duo’s vocal abilities and harmonies are exquisite, further enhancing the melancholy and heartrending nature of the song.
Galaxy Express 999Godaigo
This is Godiego’s 11th single, released in July 1979 (Showa 54).
The subtitle, by the way, is “A JOURNEY TO THE STARS.” It was produced as the theme song for the feature-length anime Galaxy Express 999, and the B-side track, “Taking Off!,” was also used as an insert song in the film.
It was especially memorable when this song played at the end of the movie, as the protagonists Tetsuro and Maetel part ways.
During the instrumental break, the Hammond organ solo by keyboardist Mickey Yoshino is absolutely wonderful—definitely a point to listen for.
Also, the way the chorus fades out at the end seems to hint at some kind of new future… doesn’t it give you that feeling?
Tsugaru Strait – Winter SceneIshikawa Sayuri
Sayuri Ishikawa’s 15th single overall, released in January 1977.
Thanks to this smash hit, she received numerous awards, including the 19th Japan Record Awards’ Vocal Performance Award and the Grand Prix/Best Vocal Performance at the 6th FNS Music Festival.
From the intro to the very end, the song vividly depicts the snowy scenery of the Tsugaru Strait, and Ishikawa’s vocal ability and expressive power in delivering it are truly outstanding.
Even listening to it now, it’s easy to understand why it became such a major hit.