[Showa × Halloween] A roundup of chilling songs with scary lyrics and an unsettling atmosphere!

Night, night of the assassinHadaka no Rarīzu

Night, night of the assassin

Les Rallizes Dénudés, emblematic of Japan’s underground scene.

What this work depicts is an endlessly disquieting landscape, like a night where an assassin slips into the darkness.

The lyrical worldview—said to be inspired by French poetry—seems to mirror the anguish of one who punishes himself.

Hollow vocals intertwine with eardrum-rattling feedback noise, gradually stoking the listener’s anxiety.

This is a track you should savor on Halloween night precisely if you’re tired of run-of-the-mill horror.

Turn off the lights and lend your ears to this piece, and you may experience a singular kind of fear.

Grab the gun.zunou keisatsu

Brains Police / Take Up the Gun Live

This is a track pierced by a sharp energy that overturns society’s common sense from the ground up.

It’s a work by Zunou Keisatsu, pioneers of radical Japanese rock, included on their album Zunou Keisatsu Second, released in May 1972.

You can almost hear the protagonist’s cry to shatter an oppressive everyday life.

That pure, violent impulse stirs emotions akin to eeriness and fear.

The fact that it emerged after their notorious first album—so extreme it was pulled from release—also speaks to the desperate atmosphere this song radiates.

How about giving it a listen on a night when you want to feel a raw terror born not of cliché horror, but of the suffocating mood of the times?

I’ll eat you up!Gachapin

I'll eat you up!

Released in 1975, this song is scary but somehow a bit addictive.

With lyrics like “I’ll eat naughty kids,” it might have made children feel frightened enough to cry.

But thanks to those lyrics, it might have also turned them into good kids who listen to Mom and Dad! Unfortunately, it was even banned from broadcast at one point, but it’s still talked about today—through memories shared at the DVD release event commemorating the 40th anniversary of Ponkikkies and features on TV programs.

Perfect for those who want to enjoy a spooky vibe on Halloween night.

Once you listen, you just might lose the courage to play any tricks.

The ghost is coming!Yoshi Ikuzo

Ikuzo Yoshi "The Ghost Goes Ikuzo"

Sung by Ikuzo Yoshi, this song debuted in October 1985 as the ending theme for the third season of the anime GeGeGe no Kitaro.

Its story—about ghosts coming to snatch away misbehaving children—can send chills down kids’ spines.

But with its friendly melody and rhythmic phrases, it strikes a perfect balance between spooky and fun.

It might even serve as a song that encourages good behavior in children.

It’s also perfect as background music for a Halloween party.

Even those who don’t like scary stories can enjoy this humor-filled ghost song!

Little Meg the Witch GirlMaekawa Yōko

Majokko Megu-chan OP [HD]

This song, depicting magic and a girl’s growth, is a treasure born in the Showa era.

Yoko Maekawa’s clear, translucent vocals beautifully capture the protagonist Meg’s adventurous spirit and confidence.

Used as the opening theme for an anime that began airing in April 1974, it sparked the “majokko” (little witch) boom.

Its lyrics, which affirm girls’ inner strength and charm, had a major impact on young girls at the time.

It’s a perfect track for anyone looking to liven up a Halloween party or who feels nostalgic for Showa-era anime songs.