A roundup of classic Showa-era kayō songs: a comprehensive introduction to timeless tracks loved across generations.
Songs released in the Showa era—what we call Showa kayokyoku—are truly full of timeless masterpieces!
If you’re an adult born in the Showa period, you probably know just how wildly popular Showa kayokyoku was with the entire nation back then.
Meanwhile, even for younger people born in the Heisei era and later, there are still plenty of Showa kayokyoku songs you hear all the time today, and I’m sure many of you can sing quite a few of them without looking at the lyrics.
In this article, we’ll introduce a whole lineup of Showa kayokyoku classics that have continued to be loved across generations.
Take this opportunity to listen again with fresh ears and immerse yourself fully in the world of kayokyoku.
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A roundup of classic Showa-era kayōkyoku hits: a comprehensive introduction to timeless songs loved across generations (41–50)
Polishka PoleNaka Masami
Arranged from a Russian folk song, this track catapulted Masami Naka to stardom.
It was used as an insert song in the 1971 TBS TV drama “Fuyu no Kumo” (Winter Clouds) and became a major hit.
The original was a military song composed in Russia in 1934, but the Japanese version rewrites the lyrics around the theme of romance.
Set against a vast grassland, the song expresses longing for a beloved far away.
Naka’s powerful yet heartrending vocals convey the couple’s eternal love with rich emotion.
In 1998, a cover by another artist was chosen as the opening theme for the TBS drama “Ao no Jidai” (The Blue Era), cementing its status as a timeless classic beloved across generations.
Red spider lilyYamaguchi Momoe
This is a song included on the B-side of the 1979 record “Bi・Silent.” With lyrics by Yoko Aki and music by the married duo Ryudo Uzaki and Yoko Aki, it’s a majestic masterpiece worthy of its title.
The album of the same name also includes “Ii Hi Tabidachi,” and it became the biggest hit on the album.
At this time, she was, as the spoken line says, just 20 years old, yet she had an astonishing presence.
Purple TownYagami Junko
A heart-stirring classic that portrays urban loneliness and longing for a loved one, set against the backdrop of New York City.
Crafted by Junko Yagami from her own time living in Los Angeles, this gem tenderly wraps the warmth of human connection within the chill and solitude of city life, carried by her clear, luminous voice.
Released in July 1980, the song was also featured in a Japan Airlines commercial and became a major hit, reaching No.
2 on the Oricon chart and selling over 600,000 copies.
It is also known as Yagami’s debut performance piece on that year’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
To this day, it remains beloved across generations.
The Flower Girl of TokyoHaruo Oka
A classic from 1946 that paints a single flower of hope blooming at a Tokyo crossroads where blue willows are budding.
Sung with the warmth of Haruo Oka’s voice, the melody gently embraced people’s hearts during the turmoil of the postwar era.
Through the figure of a young flower seller with a gentle demeanor, the image of Tokyo rising from the ashes comes into view.
The lyrics by Sasa Shio and the composition by Gento Uehara blend beautifully, creating a gem of a song in which a definite hope can be felt even amid loneliness.
This work gracefully depicts the feelings of those seeking to take a new step with the arrival of spring.
It is a moving masterpiece recommended for anyone who wishes to spend a heartwarming moment in the spring sunshine.
Merry-go-roundMakiha Yumi
The song itself didn’t become much of a hit, but it’s quite well known as the one Momoe Yamaguchi sang at her audition.
It was released in 1972, and it’s also a cult favorite because Junko Sakurada sang “Mishiranu Sekai” at her audition as well.
Why did the two of them choose this song? At the time, if you sang a senior idol’s song—like Mari Amachi or Saori Minami—it inevitably came off as an imitation, and the judging was strict about that.
Choosing a less well-known artist’s song was likely a strategy.
To my distant loverSaijō Hideki
A heartwarming medium-tempo ballad by Hideki Saijo that poignantly sings of his feelings for the lover he left behind in his hometown after moving to the city.
Released in November 1978, the song reached No.
8 on the Oricon chart.
With a powerful voice, it gently embraces the yearning for a dear one far away and the hope for the arrival of spring.
The strong will to reunite with his lover after a long winter resonates with a beautiful melody, leaving a deep impression on listeners.
This work stands as a classic that conveys the preciousness of love that remains unchanged despite distance, offering comfort to everyone living apart from their loved ones.
Forever with youKayama Yūzō
It was released in 1965 as Yuzo Kayama’s fifth single.
It became a massive hit, selling over three million copies, and won the Special Award at the 8th Japan Record Awards in 1966.
The song was used as the theme for the film “Young Guy on the Electric Guitar,” starring Kayama, and it is still cherished today as one of his signature songs.