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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- Thrilling to Cool Showa-Era Tunes! Classic Songs from Female Singers and Artists of the Showa Period
- [Classic Showa Kayō Hits] The captivating Showa-era pop songs beloved even by younger generations
- [Nostalgic Hits] Smash Hits with the Showa Generation! Classic and Popular Songs Sung by Female Vocalists
Showa Era Masterpieces Collection: Must-Listen Nostalgic Favorites & Hit Songs (101–110)
Cape TourYamamoto Kōtarō & Uīkendo
Released in 1974 (Showa 49).
While he had showcased fairly unique songs like “Hashire Kotaro” with Salty Sugar, he made a sudden turn as a solo artist and scored a hit with a serious song.
The song’s protagonist is a man who is taking the “Cape Tour,” a trip he had promised to make with his girlfriend, but now doing it alone.
It’s unclear whether the woman has passed away—interpretations differ.
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.