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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Songs of Autumn from the Showa Era: A collection of classic masterpieces that colored the J-POP scene (31–40)
Autumn’s Pensive GazeItō Maiko
Celebrated as a classic that captures the bittersweet emotions of autumn love, this song has long continued to resonate with listeners.
Maiko Ito’s gentle vocals and the mellow arrangement vividly evoke autumn scenes, leaving a strong impression.
Released in September 1983, the track reached No.
41 on the Oricon charts and sold approximately 33,000 copies.
The jacket photo, shot by Kishin Shinoyama, drew visual attention as well.
Loved by many as a song to enjoy on long autumn nights, it’s especially recommended when you feel the end of a romance yet want to bask in nostalgic memories.
Autumn-colored townKunizane Yuri
A wistful and beautiful song inspired by an autumn cityscape.
Yuri Kunimi’s transparent vocals gently embrace the lyrics that layer the changing seasons with the end of a romance.
The sophisticated sound, a fusion of synth-pop and city pop, evokes Japan’s late-’80s music scene.
Released in March 1989, it reached No.
22 on the Oricon chart and ranked No.
19 on the popular music program “The Best Ten.” A track you’ll want to hear on an autumn evening, when you’re in a reflective mood.
Recommended both for those newly in love and for those looking to heal the pain of heartbreak.
Your eyes are 10,000 voltsHoriuchi Takao
With lyrics by Shinji Tanimura and music by Takao Horiuchi, this song is distinguished by its dynamic, impactful chorus.
The lyrics, inspired by an overwhelmingly beautiful woman, are conveyed with disarming directness alongside an evergreen melody, making it a classic that feels like a refreshing autumn breeze as you listen.
Originally commissioned as Alice’s song for Shiseido’s autumn campaign, it ended up being released as Horiuchi’s solo after Tanimura, due to an illness at the time, was unable to sing.
It’s a superb pop song, perfect for those moments under a pleasant autumn sky when you find yourself recalling the sparkling days of a distant summer.
Photo Mail for OctoberIwasaki Yoshimi
It is a masterpiece that beautifully portrays autumn scenery and the bittersweetness of love.
The emotions of the protagonist, who receives a letter in October, are exquisitely expressed through Yoshimi Iwasaki’s delicate vocals.
Released in September 1984, this song carries the refined atmosphere of city pop and evokes an urban autumn landscape.
Included on the album “Cyclamen,” it has long been cherished as one of Iwasaki’s signature songs.
This work will deeply resonate with those who have experienced a breakup or are in a long-distance relationship.
It’s perfect for listening alone on a long autumn night, but it might also be lovely to listen to it with someone special and reaffirm each other’s feelings.
The wind is autumn-colored.Matsuda Seiko
This song marked the beginning of the “Seiko legend” that Seiko Matsuda would go on to build.
Starting with this track, she achieved 24 consecutive No.
1 singles on the Oricon charts! It was also her first double A-side single and even featured in a Shiseido commercial, making it a constant topic of conversation.
The lyrics recall a love that ended with summer, remembered in autumn.
Although the romance has ended, Seiko expresses the feelings with her trademark brightness so they don’t turn somber.
It’s a wonderful early-autumn song that supported Seiko in her early years—one that makes you want to listen while reminiscing about the past.
Summer Time from AutumnNitō Yūko
Yuko Nito’s “Summer Time from Autumn” can be counted among the classic songs that color the autumn of the Showa era.
Keiko Aso’s sensitively crafted lyrics and Hideya Nakazaki’s melody harmonize beautifully, creating a piece that conveys feminine delicacy and love.
Yet beneath it all there is a sense of sorrow and poignancy, giving the song real depth.
Expressing the unique charm of the autumn season through music, this track offers a refreshing, gentle comfort.
Lend your ear to its tender melody and let Yuko Nito’s clear, translucent voice soothe your heart.
Look up at the stars in the nightSakamoto Kyu
This is the smash hit by Kyu Sakamoto, who passed away in the Japan Airlines Flight 123 crash on August 12, 1985.
It happened just as people were looking forward to seeing even more from him, both as a singer and a TV personality.
Countless listeners have surely been comforted by the lyrics that say, “If you’re feeling sad, look up at the night sky.” Autumn can be a melancholy season, but listening to this song will surely lift your spirits.
It has been covered by many artists, including Four Leaves, DEEN, and Yuzu.
A truly monumental track in Japanese pop music, loved across generations.
Perfect for a long autumn night!
Embraced by the wintry windKoizumi Kyoko
A wistful and beautiful song about unrequited love, written and composed by Toshihiko Takamizawa of THE ALFEE.
The marching drum–like intro is striking, isn’t it? The interlude also features bagpipe-like sounds, and the arrangement—evoking the melancholy and nostalgia of Celtic music—feels fresh and really complements Kyoko Koizumi’s ennui-tinged vocals.
While many Showa-era kayōkyoku build to a big, dramatic chorus, this song doesn’t go that far; its gentle, flowing restraint is one of its charms.
It’s a masterpiece that’s perfect for those long autumn nights.
Autumn wind is you.Shimura Kaori
You can’t leave this song out when talking about classic autumn hits from the Showa era.
Kaori Shimura’s crystal-clear voice captures the atmosphere of fall beautifully.
The lyrics—melding vivid autumn scenery with the flutter of romance—are sure to leave a deep impression on listeners.
Released in October 1985, it was Shimura’s third single.
With its refreshing melody and sophisticated, European-style arrangement, the track stood out from other idol pop of the time and drew considerable attention.
It’s a perfect song for quiet autumn nights spent with a loved one, or for reminiscing about the gentle ache of unrequited love.
A deserted seaToa e moa
Toi et Moi’s “Daremo Inai Umi” (No One at the Seaside) depicts a seascape after summer has passed, when no one comes to play anymore.
Released in 1970, the song was originally created for Julie Itō to sing on a program featuring singer Jerry Itō.
In addition to Julie Itō, it has been performed by chanson singer Yasuko Ōki and Fubuki Koshiji, and by Mao Daichi in the drama Koshiji Fubuki Monogatari.
It portrays a lonely autumn sea, as if everyone has forgotten it, while conveying a strong will: I, at least, remember, and I will live strongly through the coming seasons.
