Autumn songs from the Showa era: A collection of classic masterpieces that colored the J-POP scene
On a somewhat wistful autumn evening, standing by the window and watching the sunset, it’s the season when you feel like listening to nostalgic Showa-era pop songs.
As the maples and ginkgoes turn color, a trove of gem-like autumn classics soothes the heart.
Songs of autumn we heard as children reveal a strangely different expression when we listen to them now as adults.
In this article, we’ll introduce beloved autumn-themed masterpieces from the Showa period, along with numbers that evoke an autumnal mood.
Whether you’re reminiscing about your youth or discovering them for the first time, please enjoy the wonderful world of song.
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Autumn Songs of the Showa Era: A Collection of Classic Hits That Colored the J-POP Scene (11–20)
Stranger in SeptemberTokunaga Hideaki
With its sweet-and-sour yet bittersweet melody that evokes the arrival of autumn, this is a hidden gem by Hideaki Tokunaga.
Opening his second album RADIO, released in August 1986, the track is an ambitious work produced just six months after his debut.
Unlike his later, more seasoned vocals, his youthful, soaring voice at age 25 paints a poignant scene of summer’s end.
The brisk, somewhat New Wave-influenced sound blends exquisitely with the melancholy lyrics, stirring the listener’s heart.
The song was later included on the ballad best-of album Ballade of Ballade, evidence of its enduring popularity among fans.
It’s the perfect track for a long autumn night when you want to sink into a sentimental mood.
The Door of Autumnhigurashi
This is a song by Higurashi, a group that colored the folk scene of the 1970s, and it captures the aching melancholy of autumn.
It traces the delicate feelings of a woman quietly trying to accept that her relationship with the one she loves is coming to an end.
The song skillfully paints wistful autumn scenes—fallen leaves dancing on the wind, a lonely dusk—drawing listeners deeply into its world.
Released as a single in September 1978, it was later included on the 1979 album “Fruits of Memory.” Naomi Sakakibara’s clear, translucent voice blends with the refined melody to leave an unforgettable afterglow.
It’s the kind of track you’ll want to listen to softly on a long autumn night when you’re in a sentimental mood.
A withered-leaf-colored smileMoriguchi Hiroko
Hiroko Moriguchi, who also shines on variety shows, is equally captivating as a singer.
Her fourth single, released in November 1987, is a classic that perfectly suits the season when the autumn breeze seeps into the heart.
It delicately portrays a wavering maiden’s heart: wanting to smile in front of the one she loves, yet quietly harboring loneliness and fragility.
The earnest wish to be embraced with warmth is so touching it tightens the chest.
The song is also known for being used as the image song for Kirin Lemon Witty.
Listen to it on an autumn evening lost in thought, and Moriguchi’s clear, translucent voice will gently nestle close to your heart—a sentimental piece indeed.
The blue sky in OctoberMorikawa Miho
Under a crystal-clear autumn sky that only heightens the ache of parting, this is a hidden gem by Miho Morikawa.
The song is a finely crafted ballad included on the single “Himesama Zoom-In,” released in October 1986, with lyrics and composition by Kyoko Matsumiya.
You can almost see the protagonist stepping onto a bus—resolute about never meeting again, yet looking up at a sky so blue it nearly brings her to tears.
It showcases the depth of expression Morikawa was developing as she moved from idol to serious artist.
The track was later included on the album “Nude Voice.” It’s a song that gently accompanies you on long autumn nights when you want to drift into thought and quietly bathe in memories of the past.
Sunset HillYujiro Ishihara · Ruriko Asaoka
This is a duet by two silver-screen stars who epitomized the Showa era, Yujiro Ishihara and Ruriko Asaoka.
On a bus running over a hill at dusk, the narrator happens to notice a mole at the conductor’s collar—just like the one on a former lover.
From that bittersweet coincidence, the feelings they had been holding back well up, painting a picture of travel and longing.
Their voices are like a scene from a movie, and as you listen you feel as if you’ve become the story’s protagonist.
Released in September 1963, this classic is also included on Ishihara’s best-of compilation Original Best 40.
It’s the kind of song that draws you deeply into its lyrical world—perfect for a long autumn night spent in quiet reflection, or for gazing at the sunset from a bus window while traveling.
Signs of autumnofukōsu
When it comes to autumn songs by Off Course, the band fronted by Kazumasa Oda, this is the one that comes to mind! It was released in 1977, during the middle period of Off Course’s career.
The melody, woven by Oda’s gentle and soft vocals, is pleasant to the ear, and combined with the light, upbeat accompaniment, it’s very soothing to listen to.
At the same time, the lyrics depict a bittersweet breakup between a man and a woman.
It portrays the man leaving the woman, and Oda later looked back on the male character in the lyrics, calling him “a terrible man.”
Burning Autumnhaifaisetto
Here is a masterpiece that beautifully captures the emotions of autumn.
Released by Hi-Fi Set in 1978, this song exquisitely fuses Hiroyuki Itsuki’s poetic lyrics with Toru Takemitsu’s beautiful melody.
It was also used as a movie theme song and received high acclaim, including winning Best Music at the 2nd Japan Academy Prize.
Loved by many as a perfect song for long autumn nights, it has inspired numerous jazz covers, attesting to its timeless appeal.
As the season of autumn approaches, why not listen to it in a calm, reflective mood? It’s sure to be an experience that resonates deeply in your heart.
Autumn has a pastel touchNakamori Akina
It might not be widely known, but this song was actually composed by none other than Masayoshi Takanaka, the renowned guitarist.
It’s an exciting collaboration between a fusion legend and the queen of pop.
The briskly played guitar riffs over the period’s programmed sound, as well as the tone and melody of the solo at the end, are quintessential Takanaka—naturally.
The lyrics were written by Etsuko Kisugi, which is another highlight you can’t overlook.
Perhaps to match the fusion vibe of the track, Akina delivers her vocals with a lighter touch than usual.
SeptemberTakeuchi Mariya
This song is etched deeply in many people’s hearts as a classic that colors the long nights of autumn.
Mariya Takeuchi’s clear, translucent voice delicately captures the shift from summer to fall.
Set in September—the month that symbolizes parting—the lyrics portray the end of a romance and the changes of the heart, resonating deeply with listeners.
Released in 1979, this track has long been cherished as one of Takeuchi’s signature works.
It appears on multiple releases, including the album “LOVE SONGS,” attesting to its enduring popularity.
It’s a perfect listen when you begin to feel autumn’s arrival and find yourself in a contemplative mood.
This is a song that will let you feel the autumn breeze in your heart.
The Wind RisesMatsuda Seiko
Seiko Matsuda’s seventh single, released in October 1981 (Showa 56).
Composed by Eiichi Ohtaki, it was also used as the theme song for a Glico Pocky commercial in which Seiko herself appeared.
The bright timbre of her voice, rich in high overtones, the cheerful melody, and the luxuriously arranged string-backed track come together as one to evoke the refreshing breezes of autumn just by listening.
At the same time, the melody and lyrics that subtly convey autumn’s wistful melancholy are superb as well!
