RAG MusicHit Song
Lovely hit song

[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!

Playlist

[Revisited] A roundup of popular and classic Showa-era songs that are trending now [2026]
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastMidnight Door ~ Stay With MeMatsubara Miki
Midnight Door ~ Stay With MeMatsubara Mikiplay_arrow
Midnight Door ~ Stay With Me...
2eastFriday ChinatownYasuha
Friday ChinatownYasuhaplay_arrow
Lately, the city’s stylish vibe has been a hallmark of the cité…
3eastLove Song of LumMatsutani Yūko
Love Song of LumMatsutani Yūkoplay_arrow
A classic song that sings of the bittersweet feelings of first love
4eastTears aren’t just for show.Nakamori Akina
Tears aren’t just for show.Nakamori Akinaplay_arrow
Showa-era classics are drawing attention again. Nakamori...
5eastPlastic LoveTakeuchi Mariya
Plastic LoveTakeuchi Mariyaplay_arrow
As classic songs from the Showa era are gaining renewed attention on social media and elsewhere, ...
6eastDancing Hero (Eat You Up)Oginome Yōko
Dancing Hero (Eat You Up)Oginome Yōkoplay_arrow
Yoko Oginome’s … released in 1985
7eastTsubpari High School Rock ’n’ Roll (Going-to-School Edition)Yokohama Ginbae
Tsubpari High School Rock ’n’ Roll (Going-to-School Edition)Yokohama Ginbaeplay_arrow
Rebel youth rock, love that transcends generations
8eastCat, meow meow meowanonenone
Cat, meow meow meowanonenoneplay_arrow
A song depicting animals’ adventures and challenges
9eastTouchIwasaki Yoshimi
TouchIwasaki Yoshimiplay_arrow
Beloved by many as a quintessential anime song of the Showa era…
10eastMidnight PretendersAran Tomoko
Midnight PretendersAran Tomokoplay_arrow
A song that portrays a secret love hidden in the darkness of night is now re...
11eastLullaby of a Serrated HeartChekkāzu
Lullaby of a Serrated HeartChekkāzuplay_arrow
Characterized by lyrics that depict the unstable emotions of adolescence...
12eastA Man’s Badge of HonorYokohama Ginbae
A Man’s Badge of HonorYokohama Ginbaeplay_arrow
A masterpiece that portrays the passionate hearts of young people, driven by a rebellious spirit
13eastBlue Coral ReefMatsuda Seiko
Blue Coral ReefMatsuda Seikoplay_arrow
Lyrics depicting a tropical romance and a refreshing melo...
14eastI like you, I like you—I love you.Togawa Jun
I like you, I like you—I love you.Togawa Junplay_arrow
It has become a focal point of trends not only in Japan but also overseas...
15east4:00 A.M.Ohnuki Taeko
4:00 A.M.Ohnuki Taekoplay_arrow
Taeko Onuki’s expression of the stillness before dawn…
16eastRomantic Flightkome kome CLUB
Romantic Flightkome kome CLUBplay_arrow
Kome Kome Club’s exhilarating adventure song
17eastFall in LoveKobayashi Akiko
Fall in LoveKobayashi Akikoplay_arrow
Forbidden love, a heart-stirring classic
18eastSeason in the SunTUBE
Season in the SunTUBEplay_arrow
TUBE, singing refreshingly about summer love and youth...
19eastSweet MemoriesMatsuda Seiko
Sweet MemoriesMatsuda Seikoplay_arrow
If you ask about iconic songs that represent the Showa era, Seiko Matsuda...
20eastStranger – Theme of the Silk RoadKUBOTA Saki
Stranger – Theme of the Silk RoadKUBOTA Sakiplay_arrow
The oriental phrase leaves such a strong impression…
21eastFirst loveMurashita Kōzō
First loveMurashita Kōzōplay_arrow
The singer-songwriter who debuted in 1983...
22eastbullseyeYamamoto Rinda
bullseyeYamamoto Rindaplay_arrow
She took the world by storm as an iconic idol singer of the Showa era...
23eastambushIshikawa Hitomi
ambushIshikawa Hitomiplay_arrow
Lyrics and composition by Yumi Arai, arrangement by Masataka Matsutoya…
24eastPlayback Part 2Yamaguchi Momoe
Playback Part 2Yamaguchi Momoeplay_arrow
The legendary idol of the Showa era, Momoe Yamaguchi’s 22…
25eastThe Last RainYasushi Nakanishi
The Last Rain Yasushi Nakanishiplay_arrow
Yasushi Nakanishi's straight, high-tone voi...
26eastUntil we meet againOzaki Kiyohiko
Until we meet againOzaki Kiyohikoplay_arrow
“Until the Day We Meet Again” is a song released in 1971 by Norihiko Ozaki…
27eastEnchantedJudi Ongu
EnchantedJudi Onguplay_arrow
A smash hit with total sales of two million copies, Ju…
28eastBlue Light Yokohamaishida ayumi
Blue Light Yokohamaishida ayumiplay_arrow
When it comes to songs that evoke Yokohama, this is the one! 196...
29eastYou are 1000%.1986omegadoraibu
You are 1000%.1986omegadoraibuplay_arrow
Released in 1986, the 1986 Ome…
30eastYou’re Kiwi, Papaya, and Mango, aren’t you?Nakahara Meiko
You’re Kiwi, Papaya, and Mango, aren’t you?Nakahara Meikoplay_arrow
It was used in TikTok dance videos and has come back into the spotlight...
31eastCotton HandkerchiefŌta Hiromi
Cotton HandkerchiefŌta Hiromiplay_arrow
“Momen no Handkerchief,” which became Hiromi Ohta’s biggest hit…
32eastSchool HeavenFingā 5
School HeavenFingā 5play_arrow
In 1974, Finger Five released…
33eastLonely Tropical FishWink
Lonely Tropical FishWinkplay_arrow
They took the Eurobeat that was popular overseas at the time and…
34eastDo whatever the hell you want.sawada kenji
Do whatever the hell you want.sawada kenjiplay_arrow
Kenji Sawada’s 19th single in total…
35eastSinbad on the Shorepinku redii
Sinbad on the Shorepinku rediiplay_arrow
Released in June 1977, this song wa…
36eastMUGO… so sexyKudō Shizuka
MUGO... so sexyKudō Shizukaplay_arrow
Lyrics by Miyuki Nakajima and music by Tsugutoshi Goto…
37eastThe Door to SummerMatsuda Seiko
The Door to SummerMatsuda Seikoplay_arrow
Seiko Matsuda’s ... that evokes a refreshing summer breeze
38eastA Member of the Fire BrigadeRATS&STAR
A Member of the Fire BrigadeRATS&STARplay_arrow
“Megumi no Hito” is a song released in 1983 by Masayuki Suzuki...
39eastRed Sweet PeaMatsuda Seiko
Red Sweet PeaMatsuda Seikoplay_arrow
“Red Sweet Pea” was released by Matsuda in 1982…
40eastPurple TownYagami Junko
Purple TownYagami Junkoplay_arrow
Junko Yagami’s classic song depicting loneliness and love
41eastFANTASYNakahara Meiko
FANTASYNakahara Meikoplay_arrow
A positive breakup song, 'FANTASY…'
42eastYou Are the One Who Rings That BellWada Akiko
You Are the One Who Rings That BellWada Akikoplay_arrow
Aki Wada, known as a songstress who represents the Showa era...
43eastLight Blue RainYagami Junko
Light Blue RainYagami Junkoplay_arrow
Released in 1978, Junko Yagami’s biggest...
44eastwicked womanNakajima Miyuki
wicked womanNakajima Miyukiplay_arrow
This work, still beloved today as a classic from the Showa era, is...
45eastMessage of RougeMatsutoya Yumi
Message of RougeMatsutoya Yumiplay_arrow
A classic song about standing up to infidelity and celebrating women's strength
46eastYou are in full color.Ohtaki Eiichi
You are in full color.Ohtaki Eiichiplay_arrow
A profound footprint in the history of Japanese pop music...
47eastAfter all, I’m an idolKoizumi Kyoko
After all, I'm an idolKoizumi Kyokoplay_arrow
Known as a representative work of 80s idol pop…
48eastPlease, God!Za Tenputāzu
Please, God!Za Tenputāzuplay_arrow
The prayer of youth, staking its sweet sentiments on God, is earnest…
49eastThe Day the Seagulls FlewWatanabe Machiko
The Day the Seagulls FlewWatanabe Machikoplay_arrow
A gemlike portrayal of the heartbreak of lost love, set in a port town…
50eastLast Summer WhisperAnri
Last Summer WhisperAnriplay_arrow
Anri’s representative ... released in November 1982
51eastyounger boykyandīzu
younger boykyandīzuplay_arrow
The pure emotions and allure of an age-gap romance
52eastLet yourself go with the flow of timeTeresa Ten
Let yourself go with the flow of timeTeresa Tenplay_arrow
Teresa Teng’s classic that portrays deep love
53eastSurely more than anyone else in the worldNagayama Miho
Surely more than anyone else in the worldNagayama Mihoplay_arrow
Miho Nakayama and WANDS’ summer love song, a big hit
54eastHeartbroken over JuliaChekkāzu
Heartbroken over JuliaChekkāzuplay_arrow
In Kurume, Kyushu, during the heyday of rock bands, …