[Revisited] A roundup of popular and classic Showa-era songs that are trending now [2026]
The Showa era gave birth to countless timeless classics loved across generations.
Now, those masterpieces from the Showa period are once again in the spotlight.
They’re gaining attention as they’re used on social media and video platforms like TikTok and YouTube, and as various artists and actors release cover versions.
In this article, we’ll introduce Showa-era songs that are trending right now!
For those who listened in real time back then, it’ll be nostalgic; for younger generations who didn’t experience the era, it might help you think, “So these are the songs that are trending on social media.”
Be sure to find your own favorite Showa tune!
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[Spotlight Again] A roundup of popular and classic Showa-era songs trending now [2026] (21–30)
Season in the SunTUBE
A signature TUBE song that vividly sings of summer love and youth.
It features an urban vibe reminiscent of the Shonan coast and distinctive maj7 chord progressions.
Released in June 1986 and used in a Kirin Beer commercial, the track proudly claimed the top spot in TUBE’s popularity rankings.
It captures the ache of summer romance and the wish to preserve beautiful moments forever.
More recently, Hanni of the K-pop group NewJeans covered the song, drawing fresh attention.
It’s a perfect tune for seaside summer days or BBQ parties, and it’s also recommended for anyone wanting to reminisce about nostalgic youthful memories.
ambushIshikawa Hitomi
Written and composed by Yumi Arai and arranged by Masataka Matsutoya, this song was originally created for Seiko Miki, with lyrics woven from her real-life experiences.
In 1981, Hitomi Ishikawa released a cover that became the biggest hit of her career.
Thanks to Ishikawa’s pure image and translucent voice, it’s easy to overlook, but the content is, by Matsutoya’s own admission, a song about a stalker! While the feelings of peeking into a café or lying in wait on someone’s way home out of a desperate desire to make them turn around may be somewhat understandable, it’s best to keep such behavior confined to the realm of imagination.
Playback Part 2Yamaguchi Momoe
This is the 22nd single by the legendary Showa-era idol, Momoe Yamaguchi.
The lyrics were written by Yoko Aki and the music was composed by Ryudo Uzaki.
The song has been covered by artists such as Masafumi Akikawa and Keisuke Kuwata, sung by characters in the TV anime Space Battleship Yamato, and used in commercials.
Even after Yamaguchi’s retirement, it has been cherished for many years as a classic and continues to be sung.
The lyrics feature a number of striking lines.
Combined with Yamaguchi’s cool image, they may come across as stylish—but if you actually use them, they might start a fight! Please be careful.
The Last RainYasushi Nakanishi
A sorrowful love song in which Yasushi Nakanishi’s straight, high-toned voice pierces the heart.
After a long run, it sold 900,000 copies in 1998—six years after its release—becoming his biggest hit.
It has been covered by major artists such as Kumi Koda, Anri, and Hiroshi Itsuki, and Nakanishi himself re-recorded it as a bonus track for his 2007 cover album.
A painful farewell to someone loved so deeply that forgetting seems utterly impossible.
Many listeners may find themselves empathizing with that uncontainable sorrow.
Cotton HandkerchiefŌta Hiromi
Hiromi Ohta’s biggest hit, “Momen no Handkerchief” (“Cotton Handkerchief”), is a classic whose enduring popularity is evident from the wide range of famous artists who have covered it—regardless of genre—such as Keisuke Kuwata, Ringo Sheena, Yoshimi Tendo, and Ikimonogakari.
It tells the story of a long-distance romance between a man who leaves for the city and a woman who waits for his return in the countryside, ending in sadness.
The choice of “momen” (cotton) rather than a more refined fabric evokes an image of a simple, single-hearted woman, and the final scene of her wiping away tears tightens the chest with sorrow.
Do whatever the hell you want.sawada kenji
This was Kenji Sawada’s 19th single, released in May 1977.
It’s a classic Showa-era hit that won the Grand Prize at the 19th Japan Record Awards that same year and became one of Sawada’s signature songs.
His performance of tossing his hat during the chorus was also memorable.
I was in elementary school at the time, but I remember putting on makeup like Sawada himself and singing it at a class party, earning a huge round of applause (haha).
Of course, I faithfully recreated the hat-tossing bit too.
It wasn’t a soft felt hat like his, though—it was a baseball cap (haha).
You are 1000%.1986omegadoraibu
Released in 1986 as 1986 Omega Tribe’s debut single, it became a big hit as the theme song for the school drama “Shin Nettchū Jidai Sengen.” Taking the baton from Kiyotaka Sugiyama, Carlos Toshiki’s crystal-clear vocals are a perfect match for the fresh, breezy ’80s pop sound.
The shimmering, sunlit sea and the refreshing breeze you can feel in the music also seem to connect with today’s city pop trend.
Dive headfirst into a world of effervescent summer romance.
Lonely Tropical FishWink
This song, with its fresh sound incorporating Eurobeat that was popular overseas at the time, was released in 1989 as Wink’s fifth single.
It opens with synthesizer tones, kicks off with a beeping, game-like sound, and features catchy, repeated phrases that really stick with you.
Back then, despite wearing cute outfits, they were the idols who didn’t smile.
Their signature spin into a striking pose and their gently swaying choreography were performed with unwaveringly blank expressions—performances that still feel innovative today.
Be sure to pay attention to Japan’s unique originality in combining idols with Eurobeat.
First loveMurashita Kōzō
The fifth single by singer-songwriter Kozo Murashita, released in 1983.
Its lyrics, which dwell on the bittersweet feelings of first love, and its beautiful, fluid melody make it a classic that moves listeners.
The nostalgic, lyrical poetry is of course striking, and the melodic line—blending a folk sensibility with a touch of rock—is also beautiful, making it a timeless love song.
It is a high-quality Showa-era kayokyoku that lets you rediscover a distinctly Japanese, understated aesthetic sense.
Blue Light Yokohamaishida ayumi
When it comes to songs that evoke Yokohama, it has to be this one! Released in 1968, it was Ayumi Ishida’s 26th single.
It sold a total of 1.5 million copies and earned her first appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
As an iconic song representing Yokohama, it has also been used as the approaching train melody at Keikyu’s Yokohama Station since December 2008, coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Port of Yokohama.
This song exudes a mature atmosphere, calling to mind the nighttime view of Yokohama’s harbor.
The sultry vocals perfectly match the lyrics, which evoke an alluring woman who clings closely to her man and never lets go.