Everyone must have heard it at least once! A quintessential ballad number representing the Showa era.
The Showa era was a time when popular music in Japan underwent major changes.
Even today, thanks to revival booms and renewed appreciation overseas, we’re hearing more and more timeless songs born in the Showa period.
In particular, many songs that bring a distinctly Japanese sense of wistful melancholy to the forefront still move the heart even now.
With that in mind, we’d like to introduce some quintessential Showa ballads—why not lend an ear to the good old sounds of Japan?
You might just feel the differences from the Heisei and Reiwa eras!
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Everyone must have heard these at least once! Showa-era signature ballad numbers (11–20)
SWEET MEMORIESMatsuda Seiko
This song is etched in the hearts of many as a ballad that sings of a bittersweet love.
Seiko Matsuda’s clear, translucent voice beautifully paints memories of a love that has passed.
Released in August 1983, it was also featured in a Suntory commercial.
The story of lovers who hurt each other in their youth resonated with many people, turning it into a classic that has been covered by numerous artists.
It’s a moving track you’ll want to listen to when you wish to heal the pain of heartbreak or reflect on memories with someone dear.
My loverGorin Mayumi
This is Mayumi Itsuwa’s signature song, cherished by many as one of the defining ballads of the Showa era.
Released in August 1980, it achieved the remarkable feat of reaching number one on the Oricon weekly chart.
Beloved in countries such as South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, this work is a poignant love song centered on lost love and parting.
Itsuwa’s clear, pure vocals and the lyrically vivid imagery leave a lasting impression.
The lyrics skillfully portray expressions that evoke the changing seasons and the inability to accept a breakup with a lover.
It’s a highly recommended track for anyone who has lost someone important or seeks to heal the pain of a broken heart.
Lullaby of the Holy MothersIwasaki Hiromi
A masterpiece in which Hiromi Iwasaki’s powerful vocals resonate with the heart.
Released in May 1982 as her 28th single, it was used as the ending theme for Nippon TV’s “Tuesday Suspense Theater.” The lyrics liken the city to a battlefield and portray maternal love that gently embraces the men who fight there, reflecting the social climate of the time while depicting a universal form of love.
The song topped the Oricon Singles Chart and became a massive hit, selling over 1.3 million copies.
It also won the 13th Japan Kayō Awards.
With lyrics themed around deep love and devotion, it is a song that seems to stand by those at life’s crossroads.
My Dear EllieSazan Ōrusutāzu
This is the third single by Southern All Stars.
Released in March 1979 as the theme song for the TV drama “Fuzoroi no Ringo-tachi,” the track drew public attention as an emotional number that refreshed the band’s previously cheerful image.
The lyrics, which depict aching love and lingering regret, evoke deep empathy through Keisuke Kuwata’s masterful word choice.
It peaked at No.
2 on the Oricon charts and remains one of the band’s signature songs with enduring popularity.
It’s a perfect track for those who want to experience both the sweetness and the bitterness of love.
contrailArai Yumi
A song loved by many as a quintessential ballad of the Showa era.
Serving as the title track of the album “Hikōkigumo,” it was released in November 1973.
Inspired by a classmate with muscular dystrophy, its lyrics poignantly convey the fragility and preciousness of life.
In 2013, it was used as the theme song for Hayao Miyazaki’s film “The Wind Rises,” drawing renewed attention forty years after its release.
Its gentle melody and delicate arrangement make it a timeless piece that resonates deeply.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to while thinking of someone dear to you.