[Spring Songs Born in the Showa Era] A Curated Selection of Kayōkyoku That Colored the Times and Timeless Classics Still Sung Today

Song of Seeing Spring OffNoguchi Goro

Soushunkyoku

A poignant ballad that delicately portrays the moment spring slips away.

Goro Noguchi’s soaring vocals beautifully capture the bittersweetness of youth and the resolve to set out on a new journey.

Released in December 1978, the song reached No.

14 on the Oricon chart and No.

8 on The Best Ten, and it ranked 46th on the 1979 year-end chart.

Created by the duo of Yū Aku and Kyōhei Tsutsumi, it tells a story of a man and a woman set on a rainy spring day.

With Noguchi’s tender, empathetic singing, this track deeply moves listeners with its portrayal of a heartrending relationship.

The Apple SongNamiki Michiko

Apple Song, 1945 (Sung by Michiko Namiki)

This masterpiece, woven by Michiko Namiki’s clear singing voice, is a celebrated song that lit a beacon of hope in postwar Japan.

Brimming with gentleness, the piece sings of love with a pure heart while gazing up at the blue sky, resonating deeply with people of the time.

The memories of sound etched in monaural audio vividly convey the atmosphere of early Showa.

Released to the world as the theme song for the film “Soyokaze,” which premiered in October 1945, it was issued as a record the following January.

The warm melody crafted by lyricist Hachirō Satō and composer Tadashi Manjōme became a source of comfort for people living through the postwar reconstruction period.

It is a song to be enjoyed while sensing the arrival of spring, together with fond memories.

A Letter Waiting for Springyoshida takurou

A Letter Waiting for Spring

This is a classic song by Takuro Yoshida that portrays a man and a woman, far apart from each other, sharing their feelings through letters.

Released in October 1979, it peaked at No.

52 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

Inspired by real letters exchanged between director Shunichi Jinyama and his wife Naoko, the song conveys the ache of longing, carried by Yoshida’s warm voice and melody.

Included on several renowned albums, such as ONLY YOU 〜since coming For Life〜 and Yoshida Takuro Best 60, it remains beloved across generations.

It is a song that resonates with those in long-distance relationships or anyone whose heart is filled with thoughts of someone dear, evoking a gentle tenderness and wistfulness like waiting for the arrival of spring.

spring’s dry windIzumiya Shigeru

spring's dry wind

Shigeru Izumiya’s “Haru no Karakkaze” is a classic released in 1973.

Written and composed by Izumiya himself, the piece brought fresh energy to the folk scene.

The lyrics portray a protagonist who struggles yet lives with all their might amid societal pressures, delivering a deeply moving, powerful message.

Izumiya’s masterful word choice and strong vocals resonate with listeners.

It’s a song that cheers you on—one that makes you feel, “I can do my best too.”

To my distant loverSaijō Hideki

Hideki Saijo — To a Distant Lover

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.