[Showa × Halloween] A roundup of chilling songs with scary lyrics and an unsettling atmosphere!
Back in the Showa era, when Halloween hadn’t yet really caught on in Japan—even though it’s now a huge annual celebration—there were actually plenty of songs that perfectly fit the spooky vibe of ghosts, witches, and skeletons dancing about, even if they didn’t directly use Halloween as a theme! In this article, we’ve gathered Showa-era songs that are perfect for Halloween.
Enjoy tracks that capture the distinct “Showa feel,” from anime theme songs featuring witches and yokai to tunes whose lyrics and atmosphere are delightfully eerie.
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[Showa × Halloween] A roundup of chilling songs with scary lyrics and an unsettling vibe! (11–20)
Delightful and Cheerful Kaibutsu-kunkaibutsukun (Nozawa Masako)
This song captures Kaibutsu-kun’s bright personality just as it is.
It was used as the opening theme for the anime that aired from 1980 to 1982.
Its brisk phrases and cheerful, rhythmic melody leave a strong impression.
In this work, Kaibutsu-kun is depicted as a prince, with his humorous and optimistic character brought to the forefront.
Even if you’ve never seen the anime, just listening to this song will let you enjoy Kaibutsu-kun’s world.
It’s also perfect as BGM for a Halloween party!
Wax MuseumSeikima II
Seikima-II’s songs, created as part of their long-running mission to conquer the Earth since the Showa era, are perfect for Halloween.
This particular track, a shocking piece released in April 1986, depicts the terror of a girl being turned into a wax doll in a mansion deep in the forest.
The lyrics hint at a brutal incident and the fear of losing tomorrow within it, sending chills down the listener’s spine.
The song was also used as an insert track in the anime Beelzebub.
It’s a highly recommended pick when you want to create a scary atmosphere at a Halloween party.
Message of RougeArai Yumi
Known as one of Yumi Arai’s signature songs, this track was released in February 1975.
Lauded for its American pop style, it features prominent artists such as Tatsuro Yamashita and Minako Yoshida on backing vocals.
The piece is characterized by deep emotional expression and delicate melodies, and is interpreted as symbolizing love, longing, and a young girl’s coming of age.
It has been used in various commercials and was featured as an insert song in the 2022 film “Suzume.” It’s a perfect pick for those who want to relax and immerse themselves in music on Halloween night.
Ghost RockGō Hiromi, Kigeki Kirin
This song sung by Hiromi Go and Kiki Kirin features lyrics inspired by old-fashioned ghosts, and it’s absolutely adorable.
A ghost falling in love with a girl… but since he’s a ghost, he can’t talk to her, leaving him all flustered.
With its much-talked-about comical choreography, the song was released in September 1977 and was used as the theme for TBS’s Wednesday Theater series “Muu.” It’s perfect for getting everyone hyped during the Halloween season.
You might even feel the bittersweet ache of love by getting into the ghost’s feelings!
Town of TerrorZa Buressun Fō
An eerie song where the strange and the terrifying intertwine.
Known as the theme song for the 1968 tokusatsu drama “Kaiki Daisakusen” (The Files of Unnatural Phenomena), it leaves a powerful impression, especially when paired with its suspenseful developments.
Showcasing The Blessen Four’s distinctive choral work, the piece features a tense melodic line and a sound design that stirs unease.
Lyrics evoke chilling images—screams echoing in the dark, sinister laughter, and something mysterious crawling through the city—repeating to send shivers down the listener’s spine.
It’s perfect as background music for telling scary stories on Halloween.
A person hurrying into the nightchiaki naomi
This song carries a creepy, mysterious atmosphere reminiscent of Showa-era ghost stories.
Naomi Chiaki’s “Yoru e Isogu Hito” is a single released in September 1977.
Its lyrics sharply depict the darkness of the human heart, and combined with Chiaki’s distinctive vocal delivery, they leave a powerful impression on listeners.
In particular, her performance at the 28th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen in 1977 astonished many viewers.
It’s the perfect track for when you’re walking through the city at night and find yourself pondering human nature.
[Showa × Halloween] A roundup of chilling songs with scary lyrics and an unsettling vibe! (21–30)
It’s the person we met at the museum, right?P-MODEL
Would you like to get chills from the unsettling rhythm carved out by an inorganic beat? It’s a track defined by a sharp sound where cold synthesizer tones collide with aggressive guitars.
Set against the intellectual backdrop of an art museum, it portrays a one-sided obsession and a destructive impulse simmering within, the warped emotions sending shivers down your spine.
It’s not about ghosts or yokai, but the scarier madness that humans carry—you might just get a taste of it.
Released in July 1979, this piece is also included on the classic album IN A MODEL ROOM.
On a lively Halloween night, why not deliberately brush up against the cold madness lurking in the city with this track?