Unrequited love songs from the Showa era. Those nostalgic classics.
In this article, we introduce unrequited love songs from the Showa era.
If you spent your youth around the time these were released, you’ll likely find many nostalgic tracks.
You might even rediscover a song you listened to when you were in love and feel those forgotten emotions return.
Some are love songs that portray impossible romances and heartbreak, but if you’re looking for Showa-era unrequited love songs, be sure to give these a listen.
No matter your generation, if you’ve experienced love, you’re sure to find at least one song you can relate to.
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Unrequited Love Songs from the Showa Era: Those Nostalgic Classics (11–20)
One thing I want to ask youSHISHAMO
It’s an adorable unrequited-love song that captures feelings for someone whose name you don’t even know.
Released by SHISHAMO in June 2025, it stands out not only for the music but also because vocalist Asako Miyazaki plays the heroine in the music video.
The lyrics distill a pure desire to know everything about the other person, and together with the warm musical tone, it’s sure to make your heart flutter.
If you’re in the midst of a crush right now, you might find it incredibly relatable.
A One-Night LoveKudō Shizuka
A gem of a ballad that expresses bittersweet love from a mature perspective.
In this one-night tale woven from frailty and passion, Shizuka Kudo’s sultry vocals leave a lingering afterglow.
Released in December 1988, the song was chosen as the image song for the Hakone Open-Air Museum.
Its melody by Tsugutoshi Goto deftly captures rising emotion, while Goro Matsui’s lyrics portray adult romance with exquisite balance.
Immediately after release, it topped the Oricon Singles Chart for two consecutive weeks and ranked sixth on the year-end chart.
With its subdued atmosphere and world of wistful, grown-up love, it’s the perfect track for nights when you want to bask in memories of romance.
A snap in yellow-green (moegi)anzenchitai
This song, which evokes the arrival of spring, was released in February 1982 as Anzen Chitai’s debut single.
Koji Tamaki’s delicate vocals and the song’s clear, transparent melody leave a striking impression.
The lyrics express the sparkle of life and the anticipation of new encounters, filling listeners with hope.
It was also performed at the concert celebrating the 40th anniversary of Anzen Chitai’s debut, and remains a beloved classic.
As the season of new meetings arrives, it’s sure to gently stay by your side.
The Door to TomorrowI WiSH
Haven’t you ever felt your heart skip a beat in your youth just from a crush’s fleeting expression or small gesture? That gentle feeling, carried by a gentle singing voice, resonates in your heart.
It makes you hope that someday this love will come true.
dandelionŌta Hiromi
A classic that captures delicate feelings of first love from a unique perspective.
The emotions of a modest yet pure-hearted girl in love are overlapped with the image of dandelions blooming by the roadside, gently singing of the bittersweet feelings everyone experiences.
Takashi Matsumoto’s poetic lyrics and Kyohei Tsutsumi’s melody blend beautifully, and Hiromi Ohta’s pure voice perfectly conveys the song’s world.
Released in April 1975, it was later included on the album “Tanshūhen” (Short Stories) and gained popularity.
It’s a song that comforts those who strive to live strongly—like a dandelion that keeps blooming while facing forward—even when they carry loneliness in their hearts.
Recommended for anyone who wants to relate to the ache of unrequited love and the feelings of being in love.