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 Masterpieces Collection: Must-Listen Nostalgic Favorites & Hit Songs (101–110)
touch-me-not (balsam; Impatiens balsamina)Shimakura Chiyoko
This song, perfectly suited to the unique singing style of Chiyoko Shimakura—known as “O-Chiyo-san,” with her beautifully spinning, high, warbling kobushi—portrays the fleeting yet beautiful notion that even a woman working in the nightlife district can have a pure love bloom.
It likens that love to the garden balsam: delicate, easily toppled, and bursting open with a pop.
draft (cold air seeping through gaps)Sugi Ryōtarō
This song, with its nihilistic vocals tinged with mature allure and melancholy, is filled with a gentle kindness that softly teaches warmth to those who’ve been betrayed and can no longer trust, so they can live humanly again.
It’s a Showa-era classic that will surely bring solace to modern people who are easily hurt by human relationships.
Song of ThanksSuizenji Kiyoko
She’s famous for “365-Step March,” but here I’d like to choose this song, which reminds us anew of the importance of the universally cherished word “thank you” for all humanity.
It gives us the vitality to live, reaching even the hearts of those who have been hurt and oppressed.
outdatedKawashima Eigo
This song is meant for men who get depressed by comparing themselves after seeing other people’s flashy lives on social media, and for the women who love such awkward men.
It’s filled with a passionate message that serves as a guide to staying grounded and living a life that isn’t swept away by the tides of the times.
brandy glassIshihara Yūjirō
The talent of Yujiro Ishihara, a great star of the Showa era, was displayed not only in film but also to the fullest in the world of music.
His singing voice—sweet, like the rich aroma of brandy—perfectly matches lyrics that evoke fleeting nights between men and women, carrying a warmth even within its melancholy.
Showa Era Masterpieces Collection: Must-Listen Nostalgic Tunes & Hit Songs (111–120)
Like the flow of a riverMisora Hibari
It’s one of Hibari Misora’s signature songs and, sadly, her final work.
With lyrics by Yasushi Akimoto, it won the 31st Japan Record Award.
The song carries a gentle, uplifting message: like the flow of a river, life twists and turns, yet we keep moving forward.
It continues to be sung today as a timeless classic.
CheersNagabuchi Tsuyoshi
It’s a song included on Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi’s third album, released in 1980.
After hearing that a friend from his hometown was getting married, Nagabuchi wrote it as a blessing.
Even today, it’s often sung at weddings and, as the lyrics suggest, at major milestones in life—truly a classic.