[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
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- [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 Defined the Times & Timeless Classics Still Sung Today (41–50)
Elegy of SpringShōji Shirō
This is a classic whose song by Shiro Shoji, conveying the atmosphere of early Showa, touches the heart.
Released in 1934, the piece entrusts its message to flowers that symbolize lost love and the transience of spring, while yielding to the tides of the times, and it went on to lay a foundation for the music scene that followed.
The lyrics portray the pain of parting, and Shoji’s voice accompanies them closely, resulting in a performance that resonates deeply.
Issued by Columbia Records, the work also led to his encounter with Yuji Koseki.
It carries a certain nostalgia for everyone, evoking feelings that press on the heart.
It’s a song you’ll want to hear with the coming of spring—one that has been loved across generations.
[Spring Songs Born in the Showa Era] A Select Collection of Trendsetting Hits That Colored the Times and Timeless Classics Still Sung Today (51–60)
A Hazy Moonlit Nightshouka
A song that beautifully portrays a spring evening depicts, with delicate nuance, a scene where the setting sun and haze spread over a field of rapeseed blossoms, and a pale moonlight floats in the sky.
Alongside the tranquil countryside, it gently embraces quintessential images of spring in Japan—the hues of the forest, people walking along rice-field paths, the croaking of frogs, and the tolling of bells.
Released in 1914 as a Ministry of Education school song, the work seamlessly marries lyrics by Tatsuyuki Takano with music by Teiichi Okano, and it has long been cherished in educational settings.
It has continued to be loved across generations, with Aiko Moriyama covering it in 2009 and Ai Nishida performing it on a program in June 2023.
As a song to hear on a calm spring evening, it offers a warmth that deeply touches the heart.
A snap in yellow-green (moegi)anzenchitai
The Showa-era classic “Moegiiro no Snap” was released on February 25, 1982, as the song that marked Anzen Chitai’s major-label debut.
Koji Tamaki’s delicate yet resolute talent for songwriting, poured into this track, became the foundation of Anzen Chitai’s diverse musicality.
And its crystal-clear melody, like a harbinger of spring, still feels fresh even today! Be sure to listen closely while paying attention to the beautiful lyrics that paint springtime scenes.
Spring-colored airmailMatsumoto Noriko
Noriko Matsumoto’s debut single “Haruiro no Air Mail” is a classic J-pop song released with the arrival of spring in 1985.
Written and composed by EPO, the song cleverly captures the fluttery excitement of the changing seasons through the motif of an airmail letter.
It expresses feelings for a lover far away, and its ache and anticipation resonate deeply with listeners.
With its light, catchy melody and Matsumoto’s refreshing vocals, it conveys a sense of innocence and the beginning of a new season.
As spring arrives, why not listen to this song and let your heart skip a beat?
Cape ErimoMori Shinichi
This song was composed by Takuro Yoshida, who is famous as a folk singer.
There was apparently some opposition to having Shinichi Mori, an enka singer, perform it, but the fusion of a folk song with an enka vocalist produced wonderful results, creating a piece that has been loved by people for a long time.
Capturing the atmosphere of a simple Hokkaido fishing town and the spirit of the Japanese people, this song will continue to be cherished in Japan.
It is also interesting that this became a catalyst for the creation of many songs that transcended musical genre boundaries.
hometownshouka
Blue mountains, pure waters, and memories of childhood play.
The gentle melody that wraps these scenes of a beloved hometown, along with feelings for family and friends living far away, holds a universal appeal that resonates with everyone.
First published in 1914 as a Ministry of Education school song, this piece was created by Tatsuyuki Takano and Teiichi Okano, vividly reflecting the rural landscapes and lifestyles of Japan at the time.
It was sung at the closing ceremony of the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, moving countless people.
Its simple, memorable melody in G major and triple meter continues to be sung at life’s milestones, such as graduation and coming-of-age ceremonies.
With lyrics and melody that evoke nostalgia, it is truly a song that stands by all who live away from their hometowns—a work that can be said to symbolize the heart of Japan.
Happy HinamatsuriKawamura Junko
The gentle expressions of the Hina dolls illuminated by paper lanterns.
As the scent of peach blossoms drifts through the air, the music of the five court musicians resonates.
Junko Kawamura’s singing conjures up just such a scene.
Released in 1936, this song is a classic that celebrates Hinamatsuri, the traditional Japanese festival that heralds the arrival of spring.
With lyrics by Hachirō Satō, it carries wishes for family bonds and the healthy growth of girls, warming the hearts of those who listen.
It’s included on the albums “Junko Kawamura: A Journey Through Children’s Songs I” and “Junko Kawamura: A Journey Through Children’s Songs II,” so why not give it a listen with the coming of spring?