Thrilling to Cool Showa-Era Tunes! Classic Songs from Female Singers and Artists of the Showa Period
Showa-era songs are now loved by the younger generation too.
Many people probably think they’re “cool,” don’t they?
No wonder—there were so many timeless hits by female stars radiating overwhelming charisma, like Momoe Yamaguchi and Akina Nakamori.
Beyond their outstanding vocal ability, you can’t help but be drawn to their astonishing allure.
From Showa kayō and enka to rock and city pop, and more.
This is a playlist featuring cool Showa-era tracks across genres!
- Cool songs from the Showa era. Masterpieces from Showa that shine with sensuality, passion, and rugged charm.
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- Nostalgic yet fresh!? Classic masterpieces of Japanese rock from the 1970s and 1980s
- A classic Showa-era kayōkyoku song sung by a female vocalist. A nostalgic tune passed down through the years.
- Popular Showa-era pop. Timeless hit songs.
- Heart-touching, tear-jerking masterpieces from the Showa era
- An iconic song by a female artist that Gen Z can get hyped about with their peers
- When you can’t decide what to sing at karaoke: Easy-to-sing classic hits from the Showa era
- Timeless classics only! Showa-era hit songs perfect for acoustic sing-alongs
- Songs by Showa-era idols that you’ll want to listen to now, in the Reiwa era!
Thrilled by cool Showa-era tunes! Classic Showa songs by female singers and artists (21–30)
bullseyeYamamoto Rinda
When you think of Linda Yamamoto, isn’t she the very embodiment of a cool woman from the Showa era? Although she started out as a model, she later debuted as a singer.
The provocative yet realistic lyrics—almost as if only her exotic, dominatrix-like persona were permitted to sing them—carry real conviction.
Beyond this song, Linda has released many tracks that break conventional norms, and it’s the combination of her musical style, costumes, and choreography that creates her unmistakable coolness.
Light Blue RainYagami Junko
Released in 1978, this song has a Latin pop feel.
Junko Yagami, singing in a speedy, high register while playing the piano, gives a strong and cool impression.
For this track, Yagami composed the music first, and among the lyrics later written by several lyricists, Noriko Miura’s version was selected.
This pairing went on to produce numerous hits, including Polar Star and Purple Town ~You Oughta Know By Now~.
WOMANAn Ruisu
When you hear this title, many of you might think of Hiroko Yakushimaru’s song, but Ann Lewis’s track by the same name is also a classic.
Speaking of Ann, her way of life, fashion sense, and personality made her one of the cool, aspirational women of that era.
Released in 1989, this song is a measured-tempo hard rock number, and Ann’s commanding vocals vividly portray a woman who remains strong even when hurt.
It still sounds incredibly cool today.
Roppongi Junjō-haOginome Yōko
Speaking of Yoko Oginome, her song “Dancing Hero,” famous for the Bubble-era dance craze, had a revival too, didn’t it? When you think of Roppongi during the bubble economy, it must have been incredibly lively.
Yoko Oginome is perfectly suited to sing a pure-hearted story set in that very Roppongi.
Her boyish look and glossy high notes are so cool.
With a voice that remains unchanged even now, Oginome is, for young people too, an ideal woman who makes you think, “I want to be an adult like her.”
Crossing Amagi PassIshikawa Sayuri
Speaking of cool songs from the Showa-era enka scene, surely Sayuri Ishikawa’s “Amagi-goe” comes to mind.
While this song can be considered a regional anthem as it sings of crossing Mount Amagi in Izu, it is even more so a piece that seethes with a woman’s passionate emotions.
Even Sayuri Ishikawa—often seen as the quintessential cool enka singer who could handle such material—reportedly thought at first, “I can’t believe I’m going to sing a song with such intense emotion.” Today, it stands as one of her signature songs.
telephone numberOhashi Junko
Speaking of Junko Ohashi, she’s one of the stylish and cool singers of the Showa era, isn’t she? While Ohashi is strongly associated with “Silhouette Romance,” here’s a song she released in 1981.
The opening where the phone number is repeated and her refreshing high-tone voice are really cool.
After this song came out, the first mobile phone was released in 1985—one of those very large, shoulder-carried types.
Thinking about that, this song also brings to mind the historical background of telephones.
RASPBERRY DREAMRebekka
This song is one of REBECCA’s signature hits from the 1980s.
It’s pop, yet it had a fresh, cool edge that set it apart from the idol-style kayōkyoku of the time.
NOKKO’s vocals—husky yet glossy in the high register—together with the solid band sound, brought a new breeze to the Japanese music scene.
Although they broke up once, they reunited in 2015.
I hope they’ll continue to bring us wonderful songs.