Showa-era masterpieces roundup: A must-listen collection of nostalgic oldies and hit songs
In the Showa era, countless masterpieces were created across genres, from pop kayokyoku to enka.
Many of them are still loved today, and we have plenty of chances to hear them.
In recent years, it’s not uncommon for Showa-era songs to experience a revival hit, and I think many younger listeners are also interested in these classics.
In this article, we’d like to reintroduce a generous selection of Showa masterpieces.
We’ve gathered many songs from various genres, so please take your time and give them a careful listen.
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Showa Era Classics Collection: A Must-Listen Selection of Nostalgic Tunes and Hit Songs (61–70)
Melancholy TrainMitsubishi Michiya
With his clear, resonant, and beautiful voice that captivated many fans regardless of gender, Michiya Mihashi’s representative song takes as its theme a departure by train—the setting for countless tales of farewell.
The fate that tears apart two people in love only deepens the sorrow.
My loverGorin Mayumi
Released in 1980, this song became Mayumi Itsuwa’s 18th single and her biggest hit.
Written in memory of the producer from her debut days who died in a traffic accident, it also marked her first appearance on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
The lyrics convey the poignant, painful feelings of a woman thinking of her lover.
Forever with youKayama Yūzō
It’s a classic song that sings of a straight man’s love for a woman.
Yuzo Kayama’s rich, expansive voice is particularly striking.
There’s a spoken monologue in the middle of the song, and it became so famous that many men imitated it.
It’s also easy to sing at karaoke, with a catchy, easy-to-remember sound.
Brotherly Code of HonorKitajima Saburō
This song, which centers on the steadfast bond of sworn brotherhood among chivalrous yakuza and even gained popularity with performers on the Red and White Song Battle—something hard to imagine today—evokes a bygone era.
Precisely because duty and human compassion have waned in our time, its sprinkling of masculine aesthetics feels fresh.
Fortune-telling for womenMinami Yuji to Furuseiruzu
Released in 1970 (Showa 45).
When I heard “Onna Uranai” (Woman’s Fortune-telling), I could hardly remember who sang the song, but as soon as I saw the lyrics, it all came back to me.
The delivery is calm and matter-of-fact, but the lyrics are quite unique, and the impact of the opening lines is really striking.
A mole on the chest seems like something anyone could have, doesn’t it?