[Spring Songs Born in the Showa Era] Carefully Selected: Hit Tunes That Colored Their Times and Timeless Masterpieces Still Sung Today
Spring, the season of meetings and farewells.
With the long, cold winter finally over, and flowers blooming in full glory, this calm and beautiful season is surely many people’s favorite time of year.
In this article, we’re picking out spring-themed songs born in the Showa era!
From nostalgic Showa-era pop that will resonate with those who remember the time, to timeless classics still sung today, we’ll introduce a wide range of tracks.
Enjoy noting how perceptions and expressions of spring differ from those of the Reiwa era.
- Spring songs from the early Showa era: a collection of kayōkyoku and shōka that evoke spring
- [Spring Songs] Spring tunes and classic spring hits. Popular spring songs.
- [For Seniors] Spring Songs Perfect for the Warm Month of April
- Spring songs for people in their 60s: A collection of classic tracks about cherry blossoms and farewells
- [Spring Songs] Masterpieces for Mid-Spring to Listen to in March. Spring Tunes
- Youth songs you want to listen to in spring. Classic and popular spring songs.
- You'll surely remember your youth. Spring songs recommended for people in their 40s.
- [For Seniors] Popular Spring Songs: A Collection of Nursery Rhymes and Kayōkyoku Also Recommended for Music Therapy
- Time-travel back to your memories just by listening! Spring songs recommended for people in their 50s
- [Spring Songs] Masterpieces to Listen to in April: Classic Tracks that Color the Month
- Spring song medley. The best classic tunes to listen to in spring.
- Uplifting songs to listen to in spring. Classic spring tunes that warm the heart.
- Moving songs to listen to in spring. Classic and popular spring tracks.
[Spring Songs Born in the Showa Era] Carefully Selected: Hit Songs That Colored Their Times and Masterpieces Still Sung Today (21–30)
Color · White BlendNagayama Miho
When it was released in 1986, Miho Nakayama was still just 15.
It’s a song that makes your heart skip a beat with her innocent, youthful vocals.
Chosen as the campaign song for a Shiseido commercial she appeared in, it became her first single to sell over 200,000 copies.
Mariya Takeuchi, who wrote the song, is said to have personally coached her on the English pronunciation and singing style in the lyrics.
The thrill of meeting your destined person and mustering the courage to reach out—hearing it may bring back memories of pure young love and leave some listeners feeling pleasantly ticklish with nostalgia.
It was spring, wasn’t it?yoshida takurou
Triggered by the arrival of spring, Takuro Yoshida’s “It Was Spring” reflects on past love and lingering feelings.
Though it was included on his 1972 album “Genki Desu,” it still brims with a timeless charm today.
Many will find the sense of lingering attachment in the lyrics relatable.
With a gentle yet powerful melody and words that capture emotions that resonate in any era, it’s a nostalgic Showa-era song that I hope people of all generations will listen to.
[Spring Songs Born in the Showa Era] Carefully Selected: Trendsetting Hits of Their Time & Timeless Classics Still Sung Today (31–40)
A Good Day to Set Out on a JourneyYamaguchi Momoe
This is a classic from the Showa era whose wistful vocals and melancholy melody touch the heart.
It was produced as a campaign song to promote travel by the then Japanese National Railways, and sold 536,000 copies—second only to Momoe Yamaguchi’s biggest hit, “Yokosuka Story.” The song portrays a poignant tale of leaving one’s current place, setting out for somewhere new while holding on to childhood memories.
There’s also an anecdote that Shinji Tanimura, who wrote the lyrics and composed the music, remarked that it was “not the kind of song to be sung at celebratory occasions,” in response to it often being performed at celebrations.
Northern SpringSen Masao
Masao Sen’s smash hit Hokuguni no Haru (Spring in the Northern Country), released in 1977, is memorable for its lyrics that evoke a deep longing for home.
With watercolor-like vividness, it paints spring scenes—blue skies, southern breezes, cherry blossoms—conveying the bittersweet feelings of a protagonist who dreams of returning to a distant hometown.
Stepping away from the bustle of the city, it captures those moments when one suddenly yearns for the warmth of home.
This piece carries a rich resonance perfectly suited to the start of spring.
A song that truly touches the heart, it’s a masterpiece best savored in a room bathed in spring light.
Words of FarewellKaientai
When it comes to spring graduation songs, I imagine many people of a certain age think of this track.
Released in 1979, it was used as the theme song for the TV drama “Mr.
Kinpachi in Class 3B” starring Tetsuya Takeda, so it has a strong association with graduation songs.
In reality, though, it’s a song about being dumped by a woman.
It’s said to have been influenced by the James Dean film East of Eden, and if you listen and compare, the shared atmosphere really comes through—it’s quite interesting.
Let yourself go with the flow of timeTeresa Ten
Among the many masterpieces that sing of deep love, this is a particularly moving song.
It deftly depicts the evolving landscapes of love over time, and through its exquisite melody and exceptional expressiveness, it showcases Teresa Teng at her very best.
The song beautifully portrays unconditional love for someone dear, along with the self-sacrifice that springs from it, gently enveloping the listener’s heart.
Released in February 1986, it was also included on the album “Toki no Nagare ni Mi o Makase” (I Only Care About You).
It achieved the remarkable feat of winning the Grand Prix at the 19th Japan Cable Radio Awards for the third consecutive year, and it also received the Gold Award at the 28th Japan Record Awards.
Even today, it is widely covered by many artists and cherished across generations.
It is a recommended listen when you are thinking of someone special or wish to spend time in a calm, peaceful mood.
Why not immerse yourself in memories with a loved one and enjoy a heartwarming moment?
See you.o nyanko kurabu
When it comes to graduation songs, it’s common for them to be solemn or moving.
Onyanko Club’s “Jaane” broke that convention as a bright, lighthearted farewell song that won support not only from fans but from many people at large.
It became their first number one on the Oricon chart and the best-selling single in the group’s history.
“Why do we end up mourning graduation as if it were a farewell forever?” “We’ll still be friends from here on out…” Its upbeat sound and positive lyrics make you realize something so simple and true.