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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Compilation of classic Showa-era kayōkyoku hits: a comprehensive introduction to timeless songs loved across generations (31–40)
My loverGorin Mayumi
In 1980, Mayumi Itsuwa achieved her only No.
1 with both the single and the album, and this deeply moving masterpiece became a long-running hit.
Even just within Japan, it has been covered by a remarkable lineup of singers such as Noriko Awaya, Hibari Misora, and Akira Fuse.
Her vocal ability is simply outstanding.
YOUNG MAN (Y.M.C.A.)Saijō Hideki
It’s a smash hit released in 1979 that held the No.
1 spot on the Oricon chart for five consecutive weeks.
It’s a cover of the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.,” which was a hit in the U.S.
at the time.
If everyone dances together to the chorus, it’s sure to create a strong sense of unity.
Blue MountainsFuji Yama Ichirou, Nara Mitsue
This song, which has repeatedly ranked first as a representative tune of the Showa era in music program requests, resonated with people dreaming of postwar recovery and gave them the strength to live.
The fact that those involved with the song have received the People’s Honor Award also speaks to its significance.
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.
Silhouette RomanceOhashi Junko
Having come to know the joy of being loved, the woman in this song finds herself yearning all the more to be loved; delivered with a powerful, unwavering vocal performance worthy of the Japan Record Awards’ Best Vocal Performance, it resonated deeply with many female fans.