[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: Trendsetting Hits of Their Time & Timeless Classics Still Sung Today (31–40)
Graduation -GRADUATION-Kikuchi Momoko
“Graduation -GRADUATION-,” released by Momoko Kikuchi on February 27, 1985, is a classic spring song from the Showa era.
Boosted by the synergy with the TV drama of the same name in which she starred, it reached number one on the Oricon charts.
The lyrics beautifully weave together a fresh feeling, as if led by the spring breeze, with the bittersweetness of graduation as a turning point.
It continues to be loved without fading, remaining a memorable song both for those who look back on their school days and for younger generations welcoming a new spring.
As spring arrives, why not listen to this emotionally rich melody and let it wash over you with a calm heart and an overflow of memories?
Maiden’s SpringAwaya Noriko
This is a song by Noriko Awaya, a pioneer of chanson in Japan who was also affectionately known as the “Queen of Blues.” Otome no Haru (Maiden’s Spring) was released in 1934 (Showa 9), with music by Yuji Koseki and lyrics by Yoshifumi Shimada.
Strongly imbued with the atmosphere of the Showa era, its gentle sound by the Columbia Orchestra is striking, evoking the warmth of spring.
The lyrics depict a woman in scenes related to spring, expressing moments such as gazing into the distance in contemplation and shedding tears.
cherry blossom frontKoyanagi Rumiko
Released in 1976, Rumiko Koyanagi’s “Sakura Zensen” paints a gentle yet wistful portrait of new beginnings arriving with the onset of spring.
The lyrics delicately trace scenes from a journey across Japan alongside subtle shifts of the heart, where reflections on what has been lost intertwine with hopes for the new season.
It’s a song to listen to while dreaming of spring, with Koyanagi’s warm vocals offering close comfort.
Especially when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, when you’re embarking on a new chapter, or when you feel the loneliness of loss, this song will surely be a powerful ally.
spring’s dry windIzumiya Shigeru
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.”
The country where cherry blossoms bloomOSK Nihon Kagekidan
This song is known as a classic that colored the Showa era.
Its beautiful cherry blossom–themed lyrics are striking, evoking the arrival of spring.
The voices of the OSK Nippon Revue Company carry a refreshing breeze of spring to listeners’ hearts.
Since its first release in 1930, it has continued to be loved by many people over the years.
It was reportedly also used as a fight song for the professional baseball team, the Kintetsu Buffaloes.
It’s a perfect track for those embarking on a new beginning in the spring season.
I also recommend listening while picturing a scene of cherry blossom petals dancing in the air.
[Spring Songs Born in the Showa Era] Carefully Selected: Hit Songs That Defined the Times & Timeless Classics Still Sung Today (41–50)
spring thunderfuki no tō
Like flowers that color the spring, “Shunrai” (Spring Thunder), a 1979 masterpiece by Fuki no To that blossomed in the Showa-era music scene.
The song’s protagonist gazes at white petals scattering with a sudden spring thunder, their thoughts tenderly drawn to the person they parted from.
The tears-stirring lyrics were originally about a breakup between a man and a woman, but were later changed to their current form to reflect Yasuyo Yamaki’s wish for his mother.
Highly recommended for anyone who has endured a painful parting or wants to feel the warmth of spring’s arrival.
Mischief of the spring breezeYamaguchi Momoe
Released on March 1, 1974, as if heralding the arrival of spring, Momoe Yamaguchi’s single “Harukaze no Itazura” (“Mischief of the Spring Breeze”).
The lyrics open with a depiction of a young woman who, after a quarrel during a date, walks home in tears.
But as loneliness slowly sets in, she finally finds herself searching for the lover she fought with.
Even after a quarrel, the one she relies on in moments of uncertainty is her beloved—an idea woven together with the early-spring scenery, where a lingering chill still remains.