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 J-POP Gems (21–30)
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!
Songs of Autumn from the Showa Era: A collection of classic masterpieces that colored the J-POP scene (31–40)
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.
Cosmos Highwaykaryūdō
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
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.
Departing AutumnMatsutōya Yumi
Above all, it’s astonishing to think this song was written when she was just around twenty.
It’s an early work by Yumi Matsutoya, back when she performed as Yumi Arai, and it’s included on the classic album “MISSLIM,” released in October 1974.
The scene of autumn slipping through the trees and disappearing into the night seems to delicately depict farewells to cherished people and places, as well as the start of a new chapter.
You can picture the protagonist setting off with quiet resolve, even while steeped in sentimentality.
Set against the sophisticated sound crafted by Caramel Mama and others, this hidden gem evokes a gentle, lingering emotion through Yuming’s poetic world and expressive power.
It’s a perfect song for an autumn night when you find yourself at a crossroads in life, lost in thought.