[Classic Showa Kayō Hits] The captivating Showa-era pop songs beloved even by younger generations
Nowadays, thanks to the internet, vinyl records, and other avenues, Showa-era pop songs have become popular with younger generations.
Here are some classic Showa hits that are especially loved by today’s youth!
We’re highlighting timeless songs that have been sung for decades, tracks that saw revival hits, and—city pop included—songs that are gaining fresh momentum by going viral on TikTok.
Many of these tracks are danceable, but part of the charm of Showa pop is how beautifully it lets you relax and sink into the music.
Let’s focus on that unique appeal of Showa-era pop.
- [Revisited] A roundup of popular and classic Showa-era songs that are trending now [2026]
- Showa-era nostalgic songs: Popular ranking
- [Songs from the Showa Era] Introducing classic tracks that are easy to sing at karaoke.
- Revival hits driven by social media! Classic Showa-era songs popular with Gen Z
- Heart-touching, tear-jerking masterpieces from the Showa era
- Thrilling to Cool Showa-Era Tunes! Classic Songs from Female Singers and Artists of the Showa Period
- Popular Showa-era pop. Timeless hit songs.
- When you can’t decide what to sing at karaoke: Easy-to-sing classic hits from the Showa era
- Cool songs from the Showa era. Masterpieces from Showa that shine with sensuality, passion, and rugged charm.
- Showa-era classic songs that brightened the 1990s
- Showa-era songs that went viral on TikTok / revival hit songs
- Hit songs in Japan in the late 1960s
- Showa-era kayōkyoku: hit songs by male singers, classic masterpieces of Japanese popular music.
[Masterpieces of Showa-Era Kayōkyoku] Captivating Showa pop songs loved by younger generations (51–60)
contrailMatsutōya Yumi
A classic song by Yumi Matsutoya that was widely reappraised after being prominently featured in Studio Ghibli’s The Wind Rises.
When it was released in 1973, she performed under the name Yumi Arai.
As she herself has stated, the song was strongly influenced by the British psychedelic band Procol Harum’s masterpiece “A Whiter Shade of Pale.” And of course, the originating idea traces back to Bach’s “Air on the G String.” In 2012, Matsutoya and Procol Harum finally performed together.
It’s a melancholic yet refreshing masterpiece that bridges Kayōkyoku and J-pop.
Beautiful SpringKayama Yūzō
A fresh, vivid song that conjures up scenes of sweet, gentle romance.
Depicting a love that sprouted with the arrival of spring, this piece is warmed by Yuzo Kayama’s soft vocals.
Released in April 1968, it was included on the album “Kimi no Tame ni” alongside tracks such as “Kimi to Itsumademo.” Beloved by many as a song that symbolizes the refreshing youth culture of its time, it’s a gem you’ll want to listen to when spring comes around.
It’s a work I can wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who wants to feel the changing seasons and the beginning of love.
Graduation PhotoArai Yumi
When you’re feeling sad, you open an album and gaze at the photos, or you spot someone in town but can’t bring yourself to call out… It’s a classic by Yumi Arai filled with the bittersweetness of youth that everyone has felt at least once.
Released in February 1975 as a song provided to Hi-Fi Set, it was later included in Yumi Arai’s own album “COBALT HOUR” in June of the same year.
Since then, it has been used as the theme song for the film “Watch with Me” and in the drama “Sotsu Uta,” resonating across generations.
It’s a heartwarming song that gently stays by your side when you want to bask in nostalgia or when you’ve gone through a farewell with someone dear.
FRIDAY TO SUNDAYKadamatsu Toshiki
One of the quintessential figures of city pop, Toshiki Kadomatsu’s “FRIDAY TO SUNDAY” is another unforgettable track.
The urbane Japanese pop influenced by Western music—by artists like Eiichi Ohtaki, Tatsuro Yamashita, and Happy End, commonly labeled as city pop—grew into a major movement.
Some argue the boom was really about how listeners perceived the music, and many artists never explicitly identified themselves as city pop.
As for “FRIDAY TO SUNDAY,” its 40-second intro is compelling, and the arrangement, which evokes classic soul, is particularly noteworthy.
If you haven’t heard it yet, it’s worth making time to listen.
To my distant loverSaijō Hideki
A heartwarming medium-tempo ballad by Hideki Saijo that poignantly sings of his feelings for the lover he left behind in his hometown after moving to the city.
Released in November 1978, the song reached No.
8 on the Oricon chart.
With a powerful voice, it gently embraces the yearning for a dear one far away and the hope for the arrival of spring.
The strong will to reunite with his lover after a long winter resonates with a beautiful melody, leaving a deep impression on listeners.
This work stands as a classic that conveys the preciousness of love that remains unchanged despite distance, offering comfort to everyone living apart from their loved ones.