A Showa-era duet song. A timeless karaoke/snack-bar classic!
Do you like duet songs?
Some of you may have sung together with friends or even other customers at karaoke or in a snack bar.
Singing your favorite song solo is certainly fun, but duet songs—where two people weave harmonies—have a unique charm all their own.
In this article, we’ve gathered classic Showa-era duet songs that just about everyone has heard at least once.
Even if you’ve never tried a duet, take this chance to learn one and try singing it with a friend.
Playlist
| A nostalgic duet song | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| show_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1east | Lonely ChaplinSuzuki Masayuki & Suzuki Kiyomi |  | Released in 1987. From Ginza Jewelry Maki… |
| 2east | The Day Love Was BornFujitani Miwako, Ouchi Yoshiaki |  play_arrow | This song could be called a classic duet number. Love is... |
| 3east | A Love Game Between a Man and a WomanAoi Shirō & Hino Mika |  play_arrow | A duet song with a fun back-and-forth between a man and a woman… |
| 4east | In a corner of the Tokyo desertKurosawa Toshio / Kano Wakiko |  play_arrow | A duet portraying the loneliness and warmth of the city |
| 5east | The third-year affairHiroshi & Kībō |  play_arrow | Speaking of male–female duets, the first one that comes to mind is this… |
| 6east | Shianbashi BluesNakai Akira / Takahashi Masaru to Kororatīno |  play_arrow | A classic song depicting an adult romance set in Nagasaki |
| 7east | Osaka Love TourMasuiyama Daishirō / Hino Mika |  play_arrow | A heartbreaking love classic set in Osaka |
| 8east | Spring LoversYamamoto Akira / Sakurada Junko |  play_arrow | Akira Yamamoto and Junko Sakurada’s “Spring Lovers…” |
| 9east | Maybe PART 2Kobayashi Sachiko & Miki Katsuhiko |  play_arrow | When it comes to classic songs by a legendary duo from the Showa era, this is the one!… |
| 10east | Breakup in the fifth yearHiroshi & Kībō |  play_arrow | A duet song depicting a breakup between a man and a woman |
| 11east | Naomi’s DreamHedoba to Dabide |  play_arrow | A gem of a love song by a man-and-woman duo that plays love |
| 12east | Michinoku ShigureToba Ichirō / Murakami Sachiko |  play_arrow | A bittersweet love between a man and a woman painted against the scenery of Tohoku |
| 13east | Women live for loveMiura Hiroshi to Hanī Shikkusu |  play_arrow | Mood Kayōkyoku Songs by Hiroshi Miura and the Honey Six |
| 14east | Two People’s Love IslandIshikawa Yuko & Chage |  play_arrow | Although they’re talented, they took the main vocal hi… |
| 15east | Tokyo Meguri-ai (Tokyo Serendipitous Encounters/Love by Chance in Tokyo)Ishikawa Sayuri / Kotokaze |  | A duet song by Sayuri Ishikawa and Hōki Kotofū |
| 16east | Bar-hopping for men and womenTakeda Tetsuya / Ashikawa Yoshimi |  play_arrow | A classic snack-bar duet song. Sung by Tetsuya Takeda and Yoshimi Ashikawa. |
| 17east | You’re lying—again tonight.Rosu Indiosu & Shirubia |  play_arrow | A kayōkyoku song that portrays the bittersweet love between a man and a woman |
| 18east | The Two of Us in 5 Minutes and 5 SecondsRōzu to Yūsuke |  play_arrow | A tipsy farewell, a duet weaving tender love |
| 19east | Naniwa Love DrizzleOka Chiaki / Miyako Harumi |  play_arrow | “Naniwa Koishigure” is about a domineering, patriarchal husband and the patience/endurance… |
| 20east | Modern Golden DemonKasagi Shizuko / Sakai Shunji |  play_arrow | An unconventional boogie-woogie number by Kasaogi and Sakai |
| 21east | White is the color of lovers.Bettsi & Kurisu |  play_arrow | Colors of nature and clear harmony |
| 22east | North AirportKatsura Ginshuku, Hama Keisuke |  | “Kita Kuukou” (North Airport), released in 1987, was composed by Keisuke Hama… |
| 23east | Angels of the CityHoriuchi Takao / Katsura Ginshu |  | City Angels is kind of like an ordinary kayōkyoku (Japanese pop) song... |
| 24east | elder sister and younger brotherAsaoka Ruriko / Hamada Mitsuo |  play_arrow | Depicting the compassion between a sister and brother in a classic Showa-era song |
| 25east | IzakayaItsuki Hiroshi / Kinomi Nana |  play_arrow | It ranked second in copyright royalty distributions during the Heisei era… |
| 26east | So tonight…Masuiyama Taishirō & Sawada Katsue |  play_arrow | The famous ... by Mr. Taishirō Masuiyama and Ms. Katsue Sawada |
| 27east | Two People in OsakaMiyako Harumi / Miyazaki Masashi |  | An enka duet by Harumi Miyako that depicts a mature breakup. |
| 28east | Azusa No. 2karyūdō |  play_arrow | Harmony Singing Techniques of Azusa No. 2 |
| 29east | Blue MountainsFujiyama Ichirō/Nara Mitsue |  play_arrow | A timeless song that captured the hearts of the Japanese people after the war was by Ichiro Fujiyama... |
| 30east | Ozasiki SongWada Hiroshi to Mahina Sutāzu, Matsuo Kazuko |  play_arrow | Led by steel guitarist Hiroshi Wada… |
| 31east | I loved you, loved you, I ended up falling so in love.Tashiro Miyoko & Wada Hiroshi to Mahina Sutāzu |  play_arrow | “Aishite Aishite Aishichatta no yo” is, very... |
| 32east | The one I still love even after we’ve broken upRosu Indiosu & Shiruvia |  play_arrow | A duet portraying the love of a man and woman who were once lovers… |
| 33east | red glassAi George, Chinami Shima |  play_arrow | Sing in a sequence where No. 1 is a man and No. 2 is a woman... |
| 34east | Tokyo Night ClubFuranku Nagai, Matsuo Kazuko |  play_arrow | A duet by Mr. Nagai Frank and Ms. Kazuko Matsuo... |
| 35east | Anemone flaccida (nirinsō; literally “two-flowered anemone”)Gen Tetsuya/Kawanaka Miyuki |  play_arrow | This duet song doesn’t really fit into what you’d call enka... |
| 36east | A Love Story in GinzaIshihara Yujiro / Makimura Junko |  play_arrow | A poignant love song echoing through the streets of Ginza |
| 37east | A Letter from CanadaHirao Masaaki / Hatanaka Yoko |  | Masao Hirao’s 1978 release, … |
| 38east | Men and women, no matter how old they are.Sugi Ryōtarō & Murata Yuri |  play_arrow | Ryotaro Sugi and Yuri Murata’s duet song… |
| 39east | You Can Forget It ~The End of Love~Ogawa Tomoko / Tanimura Shinji |  play_arrow | Mr. Tanimura’s album “Embrace - SATIN R…” |
| 40east | elegyTakakura Ken & Yashiro Aki |  play_arrow | This work is woven together by a legendary actor of the Showa era and the queen of the enka world... |
| 41east | Because tonight is up to youOoki Hideo/Ninomiya Yoshiko |  play_arrow | As the Grand Champion of NHK Nodo Jiman (Singing Contest)... |
| 42east | Lovestruck MidosujiEmoto Tsuneki & Irie Machiko |  play_arrow | As one of the duet songs that typify the Showa era, ... |
| 43east | Dreaming while cryingKayama Akio/Kimi |  play_arrow | A song about a love story between adults who can’t be honest with each other… |
| 44east | That’s a tearjerker.Ishihara Yūjirō & Kawanaka Miyuki |  play_arrow | As one of the iconic duets that embellished numerous classic songs of the Showa era... |
| 45east | Always keep your dreamsHashi Yukio / Yoshinaga Sayuri |  play_arrow | A duet by Yukio Hashi and Sayuri Yoshinaga... |
| 46east | I won’t let you go tonight.Abe Riitsuko / Hashi Yukio |  play_arrow | It's Yukio Hashi's astonishing 149th single... |
| 47east | The Apple Murder CaseGō Hiromi / Kiki Kirin |  play_arrow | Hiromi Go and Kiki Kirin had a unique da... |
| 48east | The two are young.dikku mine, hoshi reiko |  play_arrow | “Futari wa Wakai” (The Two Are Young) is by the singer Dick Mine… |
| 49east | silver ringIshihara Yujiro & Ai Machiko |  | A duet by Yujiro Ishihara and Machiko Ai... |
| 50east | Two People in GinzaIzumi Masako/Yamauchi Ken |  play_arrow | This song is by the American band The Ventures... |
| 51east | The Night Wind of the JourneyKirishima Noboru, Misu Koromubia |  play_arrow | A popular song released in 1938, from the Shochiku film ‘…’ |
| 52east | Maybe PART IIMiki Katsuhiko / Kobayashi Sachiko |  play_arrow | This is Sachiko Kobayashi, a regular performer on the NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen... |
| 53east | Miracle of LoveHide to Rozanna |  play_arrow | As one of the most iconic duet songs of the Showa era, many... |
| 54east | Raised in ShinjukuTsuyama Yoko / Oki Hideo |  play_arrow | A duet that makes me imagine a somewhat lonely man and woman... |
| 55east | A Love Story in GinzaMakimura Junko / Ishihara Yūjirō |  play_arrow | As an insert song in the film 'From Town to Town Like a Whirlwind'... |
| 56east | AmanSugawara Yoichi / Shiruvia |  play_arrow | A duet by Yoichi Sugawara and Sylvia... |
| 57east | Two-Person ClubTonosama Kingusu & Takano Keiko |  play_arrow | This one by Tonosama Kings and Keiko Takano… |
| 58east | Just a little…Shimakura Chiyoko & Meguro Yūki |  play_arrow | It’s a classic song that depicts a heartrending moment of farewell. Chiemi Shimakura… |
| 59east | Secret tryst with DioMARIE, Hiroshi Itsuki |  play_arrow | A singer who performed under the name MARIE… |
| 60east | Dreaming of the day we meet somedayMasuiyama Taishirō & Nagasawa Kaoru |  play_arrow | A duet by Taishiro Masuiyama and Kaoru Nagasawa... |
| 61east | Love is vulnerable.Hide to Rozanna |  play_arrow | Hide and Rosanna's ... released in 1970 |
| 62east | Cleopatra’s DreamKobayashi Akira & Yashiro Aki |  play_arrow | A song collaborated on by Akira Kobayashi and Aki Yashiro... |
| 63east | Summer Girl Soniamonta yoshinori / ohashi junko |  play_arrow | The duet by Junko Ohashi and Yoshinori Monta... |
| 64east | Rain in Kanazawakawanaka miyuki / miyamoto ryuji |  play_arrow | Miyuki Kawanaka’s release in 2006… |
| 65east | Withered Susuki Grass of the Shōwa Erasakura to ichirō |  play_arrow | This is about the male–female duo Sakura and Ichiro, who in 197... |
| 66east | I know it’s bothersome, but…Tonneruzu |  play_arrow | Now, having secured his place as a legendary comedian... |
| 67east | Meoto KaidoTendō Yoshimi & Ichikawa Shōsuke |  play_arrow | An enka ballad by Yoshimi Tendo and Shosuke Ichikawa… |
| 68east | Liquor of the LovelornIshikawa Sayuri & Sugimoto Masato |  play_arrow | Ishikawa Sayuri and Sugimo... sang about heartbreak in adulthood. |
| 69east | Ladybug Sambacherisshu |  play_arrow | From the married duo Cherish's hit song, 7... |
| 70east | Sunset HillIshihara Yūjirō/Asaoka Ruriko |  | The great Showa-era superstar Yujiro Ishihara and that irresistible allure... |
| 71east | white guitarcherisshu |  play_arrow | Loved by many as a classic of the Showa era and continuing to be cherished... |
| 72east | The stars were watching.Hosokawa Takashi & Takeyama Akiyo |  play_arrow | The classic song by Takashi Hosokawa and Akiyo Takeyama… |
| 73east | If the spring wind is blowingyoshida takurou/ yoshida keiko |  play_arrow | The original, released in June 1973… |
| 74east | Osaka RhapsodyUminara Senri · Mari |  play_arrow | Speaking of Senri and Mari Umihara’s signature song, it would be this one... |
| 75east | Now, the Earth awakens.Naosumi Kamata, Yuko Yamaji |  play_arrow | Duet of the opening theme song from Future Boy Conan |
| 76east | A Nighttime EncounterIshihara Yūjirō / Yashiro Aki |  play_arrow | A duet by Yujiro Ishihara and Aki Yashiro... |
| 77east | Summer LovebirdsToshi & Naoko |  play_arrow | Toshihiko Tahara and Naoko Ken are Toshi ... |
| 78east | Ghost RockGō Hiromi, Kigeki Kirin |  play_arrow | Through the extraordinary existence of ghosts, humans… |
| 79east | A heart that says “my dear, my dear.”Kobayashi Akira / Asaoka Ruriko |  play_arrow | A duet by Akira Kobayashi and Ruriko Asaoka… |
| 80east | wheat fieldOyonēzu |  play_arrow | "Barley Field" is among the many duet songs, bu... |
| 81east | Dawn of PartingIshihara Yūjirō / Yashiro Aki |  play_arrow | “Dawn of Parting,” released in 1974.… |
| 82east | Both hands to the starry skyShimakura Chiyoko / Moriya Hiroshi |  play_arrow | Hiroshi Moriya, known for his sweet yet husky vocals, and… |
| 83east | Before winter comeskami fuusen |  play_arrow | Weaving a poignant love story that heralds the arrival of winter... |