Can't Stop the Sentimentality! Emo Songs Released in the Showa Era
“Emoi,” a youth slang term that describes a state of tender, bittersweet, or nostalgic feeling.
The word itself is modern, but songs that could be called emoi have surely existed in every era.
So this time, we’re introducing emoi songs released in the Showa period.
We’ve selected tracks from various angles—songs with emotional lyrics distinct from today’s style, and arrangements that reflect the era—so we hope you enjoy them.
- Heart-touching, tear-jerking masterpieces from the Showa era
- Evokes the charm of the good old days. Showa-era inspirational songs that are still loved today.
- The nostalgic atmosphere tugs at your heartstrings. Tear-jerker songs from the Showa era.
- Cool songs from the Showa era. Masterpieces from Showa that shine with sensuality, passion, and rugged charm.
- When you can’t decide what to sing at karaoke: Easy-to-sing classic hits from the Showa era
- Guaranteed to move your emotions! Emo songs released in the Reiwa era
- Now’s the time to listen! Uplifting Showa-era songs that brightened Japan
- A heart-wrenching story that tightens the chest! A Showa-era unrequited love song
- Timeless classics only! Showa-era hit songs perfect for acoustic sing-alongs
- Just listening to it purifies the heart... A healing song born in the Showa era.
- Showa-era masterpieces roundup: A must-listen collection of nostalgic oldies and hit songs
- [Showa-Era Graduation Songs] Nostalgic? Emotive? A curated selection of timeless classics loved across generations
- Showa-era love songs: A roundup of timeless love songs cherished across generations
Can't stop the sentimentality! Emo songs released in the Showa era (11–20)
Under the big onionbakufū suranpu
Known as one of Bakufu Slump’s signature songs, this track is a heartfelt ballad that poignantly portrays a bittersweet love.
It features Sunplaza Nakano’s memorable vocals and lyrics so vivid they paint scenes before your eyes.
Included on the album “Shiawase,” released in November 1985, it was later remade and released as a single, becoming a major hit.
The song was also used as the theme for the film “Battle Heater” and in a commercial for Cosmo Oil.
It’s a recommended listen for those who want to empathize with pure feelings of love and the emotions of young people standing at a crossroads in life.
The lyric that describes the iconic roof of the Budokan as a “big onion” is especially striking and has captured the hearts of many listeners.
Strawberry Statement, Once Againbanban
Filled with the bittersweetness of youth and pure first love, this work is a classic that symbolizes the folk-song boom of the 1970s.
Set against the lingering aftereffects of the student protest era, it delicately portrays the feelings of young people.
Released in August 1975, the song became Banban’s only Oricon No.
1 hit and was a major success, ranking 13th in annual sales.
It’s the perfect track for when you want to bask in the nostalgia of love and youth, or when you’re in the mood to look back on the past.
Its heartfelt melody and lyrics will gently wrap themselves around the listener’s heart.
Beyond the GoodbyeYamaguchi Momoe
This work is the retirement single of Momoe Yamaguchi, who left a profound mark on the Japanese music scene.
Its lyrics are striking, symbolizing both transience and eternity: even when a beautifully bloomed flower withers, it continues to blossom forever in the hearts of those who saw it.
Released in August 1980, the song became a major hit, peaking at No.
4 on the Oricon charts.
Also serving as a message to her fans, it has continued to be covered by various artists even after Yamaguchi’s retirement.
It is a classic of the Showa era that resonates with those standing at life’s crossroads or who have experienced parting from someone dear.
boyhoodTakeda Tetsuya
Takeda Tetsuya’s singing voice soaks into the heart in this timeless song.
Set to a nostalgic melody, it delicately portrays the complex emotions of the transition from childhood to adulthood.
Feelings of sadness, loneliness, and anxiety are sure to resonate with listeners.
Released in March 1985, it was also used as the ending theme for the animated film Doraemon: Nobita’s Little Star Wars.
The lyrics, which express the pure sensibilities of childhood and the resistance to growing up, are bound to strike a chord with many.
It’s a recommended track for moments when you want to look back on fond memories or sort through the complex emotions that come with growing up.
If I Could Play the PianoNishida Toshiyuki
A signature song by Toshiyuki Nishida that beautifully conveys delicate sensibilities and a yearning for the piano.
Released in 1981, the track was used in the NTV drama “Ikenaka Genta 80 kg” and was also performed as Nishida’s debut number on that year’s Kouhaku Uta Gassen.
Its lyrics, which sing of aching desire, resonate with many.
Written as an anthem for clumsy, awkward men, the song seems to speak for those who want to express their love but can’t.
With Nishida’s warm voice and heartfelt words, it’s a timeless classic that anyone can relate to.