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.

Playlist

Can't Stop the Sentimentality! Emo Songs Released in the Showa Era
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Embraced by the wintry windKoizumi Kyoko		A wistful winter love song themed around unrequited love by Kyoko Koizumi
2	BAN BAN BANKuwata Keisuke		The debut song of KUWATA BAND, the bittersweetness of a broken heart
3	SWEET MEMORIESMatsuda Seiko		Seiko Matsuda’s classic love ballads
4	STILL LOVE HER (A Lost Landscape)TM NETWORK		A melancholic ballad song by TM NETWORK
5	Give Up on SummerNaoko Ken		A ballad that depicts the poignant scenery at summer’s end
6	Goodbyeofukōsu		Off Course’s seminal work on the theme of heartbreak
7	Stardust StageChekkāzu		A heartbreak song by The Checkers
8	The Days of Rainbows and Sneakerschūrippu		Tulip's classic youth pop song
9	A street corner where even lovers get wetNakamura Masatoshi		An adult love song set in Yokohama
10	Graduation PhotoArai Yumi		A famous song that sings about Yumi Arai’s youthful memories
11	Under the big onionbakufū suranpu		A bittersweet love ballad by Bakufu Slump
12	Strawberry Statement, Once Againbanban		A classic coming-of-age love song from the 1970s folk era
13	boyhoodTakeda Tetsuya		A classic song by Tetsuya Takeda. Delicately portrays growth and change.
14	Beyond the GoodbyeYamaguchi Momoe		Momoe Yamaguchi’s retirement single, a classic song
15	If I Could Play the PianoNishida Toshiyuki		Expressing admiration for the piano, a representative song by Toshiyuki Nishida
16	That wonderful love once moreKatō Kazuhiko, Kitayama Osamu		An earnest longing for lost love and youth
17	Seychelles sunsetMatsuda Seiko		A summer ballad from a classic 1983 album
18	Let yourself go with the flow of timeTeresa Ten		Teresa Teng’s classic that portrays deep love
19	Listening to OliviaAnri		Anri’s classic ballad that heals the pain of heartbreak