Autumn songs from the Showa era: A collection of classic masterpieces that colored the J-POP scene

Cosmos Highwaykaryūdō

Cosmos Kaido (2015 Remaster)

Set in a breezy autumn resort town, this is a poignant number that looks back on a love that has passed.

Through scenes like a roadside ablaze with cosmos and a larch forest, you can feel the protagonist quietly reminiscing about the happy days once spent with a former lover.

The duo’s hallmark—beautiful sibling harmonies—blends perfectly with the refreshing, nostalgic melody.

Released in August 1977 as their second single, it reached No.

5 on the Oricon weekly chart and is also included on the album “Kariudo FIRST: Deatta Hito ni.” It’s a song you’ll want to play on an autumn drive, especially if you’re in the mood to bask in sweet, bittersweet memories.

Autumn afternoonMinami Saori

Autumn Afternoon – Saori Minami (1973)

It’s a song that gently wraps itself around the wistful air of an autumn afternoon.

While it lets your thoughts drift to days gone by, it also portrays an introspective world where you quietly face yourself.

The philosophical lyrics by Mieko Arima, the Western-influenced melody by master composer Kyohei Tsutsumi, and Saori Minami’s crystalline vocals come together to resonate deeply in the listener’s heart.

Although this track was the B-side of the single “Irodzuku Machi,” released in September 1973, its inclusion on the classic album “20-sai Mae” attests to a level of craftsmanship that hardly feels like a B-side.

It’s no wonder it has been loved for so long, having later been covered by artists like Hiroko Mita.

It’s the kind of masterpiece you’ll want to savor on a solitary autumn afternoon.

It’s almost September.Kawai Naoko

It’s almost September.

While thriving as an immensely popular idol, Naoko Kawai also showcased her talent as a composer, deftly handling piano and synthesizer.

Featured on her July 1982 album “SUMMER HEROINE,” this track is memorable for its poignant melody that evokes the end of summer.

Its lyrics depict the close of a fleeting summer romance—like parting words written in the sand, washed away by the waves—resonating deeply with listeners.

It’s a song you’ll want to hear at dusk, when the first hints of autumn begin to drift in, as you reflect on bittersweet days of youth.

The sophisticated arrangement delicately captures the protagonist’s emotional nuances—not only the sentimentality, but also the resolve to look ahead.

Moonlit Night over the Great Tone RiverTabata Yoshio

Moonlit Night over the Great Tone River

This is a famous song by Yoshio Tabata that depicts a somewhat wistful scene, like the moon floating in the autumn night sky.

The melancholic tone of the guitar and the deep, soul-stirring vocals are striking, aren’t they? The lyrics portray a samurai who has left his hometown, gazing up at the moon and thinking of his distant family—a poignant image.

The moon he once looked upon with a smile now appears blurred by tears, a feeling that makes many of us overlay it with memories of our own hometowns.

Released in October 1939 and re-recorded around 1952 after the war, the piece has been loved for many years.

It’s a number that gently keeps you company on an autumn night when you want to sit quietly and reflect.

MissingKubota Toshinobu

Toshinobu Kubota – Missing [Official Video]

This is a gem of a ballad by Toshinobu Kubota, known for his uniquely groovy style, perfect for an autumn night.

It poignantly conveys, with a soulful voice, the helpless love between a man and a woman who care deeply for each other yet can never be together.

The struggle of wanting to forget but being unable to, and the regret of wishing they had met earlier, really hits home.

The song was included on his debut album, “SHAKE IT PARADISE,” released in September 1986, and was used as an ending theme for shows like World Pro Wrestling.

Though it wasn’t released as a single, it remains one of his most beloved signature songs.

It feels like a gentle companion to the quiet loneliness that follows the bustle of summer.

Late Summer (A Season for One)Arai Yumi

Late Summer 2021 Yumi Arai

This is a song by Yumi Arai that overlays the changing seasonal scenery with the end of a romance and the beginning of time alone.

The sight of leaves blazing with color and delicate flowers swaying in the wind seems to reflect the protagonist’s loneliness.

The song was included on the album “The 14th Moon,” released under the name Yumi Arai in November 1976, and it also served as the theme song for the NHK dramas “Natsu no Furusato” and “Maboroshi no Budōen.” Its poignant melody—mingling a lingering affection for the summer that has passed with a quiet resolve for the seasons to come—resonates deeply with listeners.

Whether you play it on a drive while reminiscing about summer or during a slightly chilly evening stroll, it will gently keep you company.

The Koshu Highway is already in autumn.RC sakuseshon

RC Succession – Koshu Kaido Is Already Autumn (1976)

“Kōshū Kaidō wa Mō Aki Nanosā,” a song by RC Succession about the changing scenery along the Kōshū Highway as it runs from Tokyo through Yamanashi to Nagano, is included on their 1976 album Single Man.

Its melody, rich with a folk-like melancholy, also evokes the feeling of autumn.

The lyrics depict someone carrying a deep pain, driving along the Kōshū Highway and speaking reflectively about how autumn has already arrived.

If you’re feeling pent-up and want to blow off some steam, why not give it a listen?

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