[Nostalgic Hits] Smash Hits with the Showa Generation! Classic and Popular Songs Sung by Female Vocalists
Saying “Those were the good old days” might make you feel a bit old—but honestly, there are times when remembering the past really does make you happy, right?
The TV shows you watched when you were young, the streets you walked, and the music you listened to…
In this article, I’ve put together a list of nostalgic Showa-era hit songs sung by female artists.
Feel free to reminisce about the past, find fresh motivation—and of course, use it as a reference for your next karaoke selection!
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[Nostalgic Songs] Hits with the Showa Generation! Masterpieces and Popular Songs Sung by Female Singers (1–10)
From the northern innMiyako Harumi
This masterpiece, whose lyrics portray a woman’s loneliness and lingering attachment, resonates deeply thanks to Harumi Miyako’s powerful vocals.
Through the image of a woman knitting a sweater, it depicts her thoughts for the lover who has left.
Released in 1975, the song was a massive hit, selling over 1.4 million copies.
In 1976, it won the Japan Record Award and became one of Miyako’s signature songs.
The melody evokes the quiet beauty of the northern provinces, perfectly matched by Miyako’s deeply expressive voice.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to when you need to heal the pain of heartbreak or reflect on someone dear.
It’s also very popular at karaoke, so why not give it a try?
I’ll wait.amin
The debut single by Aming, a female duo known for their strikingly clear, refreshing harmonies.
Released in July 1982, the song topped the Oricon year-end sales chart and became a massive hit, selling over 1.2 million copies.
The lyrics, which express the heartache of feelings that cannot reach a loved one, resonated deeply with many listeners and drew widespread empathy.
The portrait of a lonely woman whose true feelings no one can see is rendered with delicate nuance.
The track was featured in numerous commercial and TV drama tie-ins, including Toyota’s “Duet.” It’s a recommended song for those troubled by love or wishing to reminisce about a past romance.
Sailor Suit and Machine GunYakushimaru Hiroko
This was Hiroko Yakushimaru’s debut single, portraying a girl taking her first steps into the adult world.
Released in November 1981, it became a major hit as the theme song for the film of the same name.
It sold around 1.2 million copies on the Oricon charts and ranked second on the 1982 year-end list.
Its distinguishing features are a pure, clear vocal tone and a simple arrangement.
The lyrics are memorable for framing parting not as something sad, but as a source of hope for the future.
Centered on the themes of a girl’s growth and transformation, the song feels like an anthem of encouragement, expressing the latent strength of youth and the will to set out on a new journey.
Highly recommended for anyone about to take a new step forward.
[Nostalgic Songs] Hits with the Showa Generation! Masterpieces and Popular Songs Sung by Female Vocalists (11–20)
lover; mistress; extramarital partnerTeresa Ten
A heartrending love song that portrays the inner feelings of a woman who lives for love.
It’s a track by the popular Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng, released in 1985 as her 15th single.
As one of her signature works, it won the Japan Cable Radio Awards.
Even knowing it’s a forbidden love, she can’t stop thinking about it… Perhaps only she could sing so gracefully of such wavering emotions.
How about listening to it and reminiscing about a past romance?
Longing for RainYashiro Aki
There was a time when Hiroshi Itsuki and Aki Yashiro alternated releasing hit songs, and the popular music scene was truly known as the “Era of Itsuki and Yashiro.” If Aki Yashiro’s previous smash hit, “Funauta,” powerfully expressed a man’s heart, then “Ame no Bojo” is surely lyricist Yū Aku’s ultimate “woman’s song.” Yashiro’s performance is exquisite, turning a sad song—with lines like, “Rain, don’t fall so sadly; bring him back to me”—into something more than mere sorrow.
With this song, Yashiro closed out the 1980 NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen as the final performer.
Dancing HeroOginome Yōko
Yoko Oginome’s seventh single, released on November 21, 1985.
In 2017, the dance club of Osaka Prefectural Tomanokō High School used it as the song for their “bubble era” dance at a competition, sparking a revival hit! The original song, “Eat You Up,” was sung by British vocalist Angie Gold and became a massive hit.
It’s an upbeat track that incorporates the classic disco sound popular at the time of its release.
The distinctive moves in the intro and interlude are said to have been inspired by Madonna! The choreography is easy to learn, so it seems perfect to show off at karaoke, too!
EnchantedJudi Ongu
A signature song by Judy Ongg, a singer and actress from Taiwan.
It was used in a commercial for the lingerie brand Wacoal.
For many listeners, it likely brings to mind her distinctive white stage dress.
The song is inspired by Aegean Sea scenery, and the ocean appears in the lyrics as well.
Judy’s gentle, graceful, and enveloping voice is simply mesmerizing! It’s a masterpiece that deserves to be passed down through the generations.
Perfect for when you want to immerse yourself in an oriental atmosphere.