[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!
- Showa-era nostalgic songs: Popular ranking
- A classic Showa-era kayōkyoku song sung by a female vocalist. A nostalgic tune passed down through the years.
- Thrilling to Cool Showa-Era Tunes! Classic Songs from Female Singers and Artists of the Showa Period
- [Songs from the Showa Era] Introducing classic tracks that are easy to sing at karaoke.
- Heart-touching, tear-jerking masterpieces from the Showa era
- Popular Showa-era pop. Timeless hit songs.
- When you can’t decide what to sing at karaoke: Easy-to-sing classic hits from the Showa era
- [Classic Showa Kayō Hits] The captivating Showa-era pop songs beloved even by younger generations
- Popular 80s hits for karaoke. Sing kayōkyoku and pop songs!
- Karaoke songs sung by female artists recommended for Gen Z
- Love songs that resonate with women in their 60s: gem-like romance tunes that revive memories of youth.
- [Revisited] A roundup of popular and classic Showa-era songs that are trending now [2026]
- [For Women] A roundup of enka songs that can score high in karaoke
[Nostalgic Songs] Hits with the Showa Generation! Classic and Popular Songs Sung by Female Singers (21–30)
SWEET MEMORIESMatsuda Seiko
Seiko Matsuda is one of Japan’s most iconic idols.
If you’re a woman in your late 50s or older, chances are you had the “Seiko-chan cut” back in your school days.
Her songs are all catchy and easy to sing, but the one I especially recommend is Sweet Memories.
Its relaxed melody has no particularly high notes, so if you sing it in a whisper, you can cleverly mask any pitch issues.
With that in mind, give it a try.
Surely more than anyone else in the worldNagayama Miho
Released in 1992, this duet by Miho Nakayama and WANDS gained attention as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Dareka ga Kanojo o Aishiteru” (“Someone Loves Her”).
Their sweet yet heartrending vocals leave a strong impression, and the love story—beginning with imagery that evokes the end of summer—strikes a chord.
Its message of a fateful reunion and the resolve to keep dreaming with a passion hotter than anyone’s blends perfectly with the drama’s narrative.
The song was also a commercial success, topping the Oricon weekly singles chart and selling over one million copies within just 20 days of its release.
Even now, thanks to frequent use on television and numerous artist covers, it remains widely recognized across generations.
Highly recommended for those who want to resonate with powerful feelings for a loved one and the pure determination to pursue one’s ideals.
[Nostalgic Hits] Big with the Showa Generation! Classic and Popular Songs Sung by Female Vocalists (31–40)
ShipwreckNakamori Akina
An emotionally rich ballad depicting a woman’s heart adrift in deep loneliness after losing the one she loves.
Originally released by Tokiko Kato in 1984, the song was covered by Akina Nakamori in 1987 and performed at the 38th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
While her mind tells her to “give up,” her emotions overflow and drive her to want to chase after her beloved—feelings that Nakamori’s sultry vocals express to perfection.
The song won the Gold Prize at the 29th Japan Record Awards and topped the Oricon charts, achieving an astonishing 410,000 copies sold.
It has also inspired numerous covers by renowned artists such as Kaori Momoi and Tomomi Kahala.
A gem of a masterpiece to listen to alone, quietly, when heartbreak leaves you on the verge of breaking.
Boat SongYashiro Aki
One of Aki Yashiro’s signature songs, it was released in May 1979.
It has received numerous awards, including the Gold Prize at the 21st Japan Record Awards and the Broadcast Music Award at the 10th Japan Song Awards.
It’s no exaggeration to call this a treasured masterpiece of Japanese enka and kayōkyoku.
Yashiro’s vocals are truly magnificent—her powerful technique and expressive singing are something anyone can appreciate from the very first listen.
Fall in LoveKobayashi Akiko
A gem of a love song that portrays the aching feelings of a woman in love.
With moving lyrics by Reiko Yukawa and a beautiful melody composed by Akiko Kobayashi herself, this work harmonizes perfectly to vividly depict the delicate emotions of a woman suffering from a forbidden love.
Released in August 1985, it was also used as the theme song for the TBS drama “Friday Wives.” It topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart seven times and became a massive hit, ranking third on the 1985 year-end chart.
Even today, it continues to be beloved by people of all ages as a song that stays close to the hearts of those who harbor secret affections and wavering emotions.
Heavenly KissMatsuda Seiko
This song is filled with the sparkling thrills that make your heart flutter at the moment love begins.
Composed by Haruomi Hosono, its boldly shifting key changes are innovative, guiding listeners into a dreamy world.
Takashi Matsumoto’s lyrics depict the genuine feelings of a young woman, her heart racing as she imagines a future with the one she loves.
Released in April 1983, the track was featured as the theme song for the film “Legend of Plumeria,” among others, and became the artist’s 11th consecutive No.
1 hit.
It is also included on the album “Utopia.” It might be the perfect song to accompany that blissful moment when you feel your relationship with someone special is about to take a step forward.
My loverGorin Mayumi
It’s a heartbreaking farewell song that trembles the heart, reflecting on a beloved person you can no longer meet.
It’s a piece by Mayumi Itsuwa, a singer-songwriter who enjoys great popularity overseas, released in 1980 as her 18th single.
The lyrics are deeply moving, as if she carefully sent out each word that rose from within her heart.
It shows just how much she was thinking about that person.
The model for this “lover” was Takasuke Kida, a musician who was active as a member of the band Jacks and sadly passed away in 1980.
