Fight songs from the good old days! Showa-era classics you should listen to when starting school

Before anything else, from atop the roadNEW!Isseifubi Sepia

Issei Fubi Sepia “Dear Sir/Madam, From Above the Road” [Official]

It’s a rousing fight song whose festival-like energy and distinctive chants give listeners a powerful push forward.

Any anxiety about diving into a new world feels like it could be blown away by this rhythm, doesn’t it? Released as a single in June 1984, it was also well known as the commercial song for SUZUKI’s scooter “Love THREE.” As the debut work of Issen Fubi Sepia, a group born from a street performance troupe, it became a major hit, reaching No.

5 on the Oricon weekly chart.

I think it’s the perfect track for new students about to forge their own path.

How about listening to it on the morning of your entrance ceremony when you want to get fired up? Savor the lyrics that depict stepping forward with resolve, and take that first step.

Until today and from tomorrowNEW!yoshida takurou

Until today and from tomorrow

Spring, when new chapters of life begin, brings not only excitement but also a touch of anxiety, doesn’t it? In moments like that, you may find yourself humming Takuro Yoshida’s classic.

Its unadorned words tracing the journey of life gently support you when you’re feeling lost.

Released as a single in July 1971, the song also appears on the album “Seishun no Uta” (Poem of Youth).

Many people may recognize it as an insert song in the film “Crayon Shin-chan: The Storm Called: The Adult Empire Strikes Back.” In August 2008, a monument featuring the song was erected at Hiroshima Shudo University, Yoshida’s alma mater—proof of how enduringly beloved it is.

This piece, which reminds you to walk at your own pace without rushing, will be a reassuring companion to all of you preparing to start school!

Over the hillNEW!Fujiyama Ichirō

Over the hill

In the bright sunshine, when it’s the season to dive into a new world, this kind of light, buoyant rhythm is just perfect.

This work, marked by a delightful mandolin timbre and a soaring vocal, stands as a pinnacle of Showa-era pop, celebrating the joy of moving forward with hope in one’s heart.

Released in December 1931 as the theme song for the film “Ane” (“Sister”), it’s a masterpiece completed by pairing lyrics by Yoshifumi Shimada with a melody that Masao Koga had conceived as an ensemble piece for Meiji University’s Mandolin Club.

Ichiro Fujiyama’s refined singing drew great acclaim, and the song is also known for defining his career.

It was featured again in 2020 in the NHK morning drama “Yell,” drawing renewed attention.

Be sure to give it a listen on entrance ceremony day, the perfect moment to take a fresh step forward!

SOMEDAYSano Motoharu

Motoharu Sano “SOMEDAY” MUSIC VIDEO

A classic by Motoharu Sano that sings of the radiance of youth and hope for the future.

Its poetic lyrics capture the struggles of being young and a nostalgic longing for days gone by.

Released as a single in June 1981 and included on an album of the same name the following year, it gained renewed attention in 1989 when it was featured in a JR Tokai commercial.

Characterized by a Phil Spector–style Wall of Sound, it has been covered by many artists.

A recommended track for those stepping into a new environment or looking back on their past selves.

Farewell, youthogura kei

Saraba Seishun

It’s a classic that holds both a powerful resolve and a touch of melancholy—bidding farewell to the shimmering season of youth and choosing to move forward without calling out to the past.

Sung by Kei Ogura, a singer-songwriter who created numerous masterpieces while working as a bank clerk, the song was released in February 1971 as the B-side to his debut single Shiosai no Uta and later included on the album Seishun — Sabaku no Shōnen.

In 1993, a remade version was released as the theme for NTT’s “Telewise” commercial, showing how it has been loved across generations.

This piece, which sings of a clean break from days gone by, is one to hear especially during graduation season as you take a new step forward.

If you overlay it with your younger self, your heart is sure to be stirred.

Galaxy Express 999Godaigo

Galaxy Express 999

Created as the theme song for a theatrical animated film, this is a send-off anthem loved across generations.

Its lyrics, woven from both English and Japanese, and the exhilarating arrangement by Mickey Yoshino vividly capture the thrill of stepping into the unknown along with a touch of loneliness.

Released in July 1979, it is one of Godiego’s signature singles and became a record-breaking hit, topping the music show “The Best Ten” for seven consecutive weeks.

The original author, Leiji Matsumoto, reportedly said that the song’s brightness, heard during a sorrowful farewell scene, conveyed the protagonist’s hope for the future.

It’s recommended for everyone standing at a crossroads in life—be it graduation, a job transfer, or any new beginning.

In times of uncertainty, surrender yourself to this powerful melody; it will surely give you the courage to move forward.

Our JourneyNakamura Masatoshi

Our Journey

This single was released in October 1975 as the theme song for the TV drama “Our Journey,” starring Masatoshi Nakamura, who enjoyed immense popularity from the very start of his acting career.

The lyrics and music were written by Kei Ogura, who likens the long life ahead to a journey, vividly portraying both the hopes of young people pursuing their dreams and the moments of sudden loneliness and melancholy.

Capturing the hearts of the youth of its time, it became a long-running hit, staying on the Oricon charts for 45 weeks.

Nakamura’s warm, enveloping voice seems to gently nudge you forward, even when you’re filled with uncertainty.

It’s an unfading classic that we hope those taking a new step at graduation—and those who wish to reminisce about their youthful days—will listen to.