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[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.

Playlist

[Classic Showa Kayō Hits] The captivating Showa-era pop songs beloved even by younger generations
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastBlue Coral ReefMatsuda Seiko
Blue Coral ReefMatsuda Seikoplay_arrow
A famous song about a girl’s yearning for love on a tropical beach…
2eastDress DownAkimoto Kaoru
Dress DownAkimoto Kaoruplay_arrow
Kaoru Akimoto, who skillfully expressed the emotions of a glamorous woman...
3eastDESIRE -Passion-Nakamori Akina
DESIRE -Passion-Nakamori Akinaplay_arrow
A legendary and immensely popular idol of the Showa era, and...
4north_eastPlastic LoveTakeuchi Mariya
Plastic LoveTakeuchi Mariyaplay_arrow
Night …, a South Korean DJ and producer,
5south_eastFirst loveMurashita Kōzō
First loveMurashita Kōzōplay_arrow
While having released numerous hit songs into the world, ...
6eastPlayback Part 2Yamaguchi Momoe
Playback Part 2Yamaguchi Momoe
A Showa-era image that’s a bit different from today’s idols…
7eastLullaby of a Serrated HeartChekkāzu
Lullaby of a Serrated HeartChekkāzuplay_arrow
With a sprightly rhythm, it gently soothes the jaggedly carved hearts of the young…
8north_eastMidnight Door ~ Stay With MeMatsubara Miki
Midnight Door ~ Stay With MeMatsubara Mikiplay_arrow
Released in 1979 and by the end of 2020…
9south_eastLove FugueZa Pīnattsu
Love FugueZa Pīnattsu
This song, known as a classic of Showa-era kayōkyoku (Japanese pop), …
10eastTears aren’t just for show.Nakamori Akina
Tears aren’t just for show.Nakamori Akinaplay_arrow
It still radiates an unfading charm as a classic song from the Showa era…
11eastFriday ChinatownYasuha
Friday ChinatownYasuhaplay_arrow
When you hear city pop, what kind of music do you im...
12eastRoppongi HeartbreakAn Ruisu
Roppongi HeartbreakAn Ruisuplay_arrow
As a classic of Showa-era kayōkyoku, even now it continues to be loved by many people...
13eastI like you, I like you—I love you.Togawa Jun
I like you, I like you—I love you.Togawa Junplay_arrow
Jun Togawa's songs, with their distinctive worldview and expres...
14eastMUGO… so sexyKudō Shizuka
MUGO... so sexyKudō Shizukaplay_arrow
Shizuka Kudo’s song with lyrics by Miyuki Nakajima...
15eastbullseyeYamamoto Rinda
bullseyeYamamoto Rindaplay_arrow
Just hearing the opening phrase instantly makes you think, “That song…”
16eastDancing Hero (Eat You Up)Oginome Yōko
Dancing Hero (Eat You Up)Oginome Yōkoplay_arrow
Osaka Prefecture, which won second place in the Japan High School Dance Club Championship...
17eastYou’re Kiwi, Papaya, and Mango, aren’t you?Nakahara Meiko
You’re Kiwi, Papaya, and Mango, aren’t you?Nakahara Meikoplay_arrow
Masterpieces of Showa-era kayōkyoku: the origins of their distinctive titles and the background of their production
18eastWine Red Heartanzenchitai
Wine Red Heartanzenchitaiplay_arrow
A masterpiece that expresses the bittersweetness and passion of adult love...
19eastSinbad on the Shorepinku redii
Sinbad on the Shorepinku rediiplay_arrow
Set against a summer seaside, the feelings of a woman who has fallen in love…
20eastPurple Town ~ You Oughta Know By NowYagami Junko
Purple Town ~ You Oughta Know By NowYagami Junkoplay_arrow
With its sophisticated, urban sound, and Junko Yagami…
21eastDo whatever the hell you want.sawada kenji
Do whatever the hell you want.sawada kenjiplay_arrow
Julie, aka Kenji Sawada, an idol who represents the Showa era...
22eastyounger boykyandīzu
younger boykyandīzuplay_arrow
At the height of their popularity, they suddenly announced their breakup, and one of the members...
23eastListening to OliviaAnri
Listening to OliviaAnriplay_arrow
Because it’s a work from 1978, the category and…
24eastSweet MemoriesMatsuda Seiko
Sweet MemoriesMatsuda Seikoplay_arrow
If you ask about iconic songs that represent the Showa era, Seiko Matsuda...
25eastLet yourself go with the flow of timeTeresa Ten
Let yourself go with the flow of timeTeresa Tenplay_arrow
It sings of the resolve to love one person for a lifetime...
26eastpale blue rainYagami Junko
pale blue rainYagami Junkoplay_arrow
A 1978 song by Junko Yagami. Yamashita…
27eastapplausechiaki naomi
applausechiaki naomiplay_arrow
Even if someone important is gone, the path I’ve chosen…
28eastCotton HandkerchiefŌta Hiromi
Cotton HandkerchiefŌta Hiromiplay_arrow
The most talked-about co… in the city pop boom
29eastI can’t stop this sadnessAnri
I can't stop this sadnessAnriplay_arrow
A shite actor who was active from the late Showa period to the early Heisei era…
30eastSurely 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
31eastControlKawai Naoko
ControlKawai Naokoplay_arrow
A sparkling, glittering pop synthesizer sou...
32eastMessage of RougeMatsutoya Yumi
Message of RougeMatsutoya Yumiplay_arrow
A classic song about standing up to infidelity and celebrating women's strength
33eastEnchantedJudi Ongu
EnchantedJudi Onguplay_arrow
I heard the impressive intro and chorus on TV and...
34eastThe Day the Seagulls FlewWatanabe Machiko
The Day the Seagulls FlewWatanabe Machikoplay_arrow
Released in 1978, this work, Shin Watanabe…
35eastUntil we meet againOzaki Kiyohiko
Until we meet againOzaki Kiyohikoplay_arrow
Overwhelming vocal ability and strikingly deep, almost non-Japanese features…
36eastI LOVE YOUOzaki Yutaka
I LOVE YOUOzaki Yutakaplay_arrow
A song with a straightforward and powerful message, and…
37eastIf I Could Play the PianoNishida Toshiyuki
If I Could Play the PianoNishida Toshiyukiplay_arrow
As a distinguished veteran actor, he remains actively engaged in his work, and...
38eastforeignerKUBOTA Saki
foreignerKUBOTA Sakiplay_arrow
An intro that exudes an exotic atmosphere…
39eastYou’re 1000%1986 omega toraibu
You’re 1000%1986 omega toraibuplay_arrow
It was popular during the bubble era in Japan, but has since waned...
40eastSailor Suit and Machine GunYakushimaru Hiroko
Sailor Suit and Machine GunYakushimaru Hirokoplay_arrow
The song that became a huge hit as the theme for a coming-of-age film is…
41eastA 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
42eastKanda Riverkaguya hime
Kanda Riverkaguya himeplay_arrow
Kousetsu Minami, known as a folk singer...
43eastUFOpinku redii
UFOpinku rediiplay_arrow
Many people who lived through the Showa era imitated the dance, …
44eastThe Door to SummerMatsuda Seiko
The Door to SummerMatsuda Seikoplay_arrow
It fails to fully convey the fresh charm of Seiko Matsuda...
45eastambushIshikawa Hitomi
ambushIshikawa Hitomiplay_arrow
With her cute looks and outstanding vocal ability, ...
46eastRed Sweet PeaMatsuda Seiko
Red Sweet PeaMatsuda Seikoplay_arrow
Seiko Matsuda, one of the most iconic idols of the Showa era, is…
47eastInspector Pepperpinku redii
Inspector Pepperpinku rediiplay_arrow
Pink Lady, the legendary idol duo from the Showa era...
48eastSchool HeavenFingā 5
School HeavenFingā 5play_arrow
An electric guitar rings out, and the listeners’ chants a...
49eastBlue Light Yokohamaishida ayumi
Blue Light Yokohamaishida ayumiplay_arrow
The word “mood kayō” fits perfectly…
50eastmetropoliskurisutaru kingu
metropoliskurisutaru kinguplay_arrow
An ode to youth portraying young people chasing their dreams in the big city...
51eastLingering Snowiruka
Lingering Snowirukaplay_arrow
She is also active as a picture book author, and in 2010 she was a wom…
52eastA Member of the Fire BrigadeRattsu & Sutā (Suzuki Masayuki)
A Member of the Fire BrigadeRattsu & Sutā (Suzuki Masayuki)play_arrow
At the 2022 Fuji Rock Festival...
53eastFall in LoveKobayashi Akiko
Fall in LoveKobayashi Akikoplay_arrow
Forbidden love, a heart-stirring classic
54eastcontrailMatsutōya Yumi
contrailMatsutōya Yumiplay_arrow
It was prominently fea… in the Studio Ghibli film The Wind Rises…
55eastBeautiful SpringKayama Yūzō
Beautiful SpringKayama Yūzōplay_arrow
A classic hit by Yuzo Kayama that depicts a springtime romance.
56eastGraduation PhotoArai Yumi
Graduation PhotoArai Yumiplay_arrow
A song of youthful bittersweetness and memories
57east240 Million Eyes -Exotic Japan-Gō Hiromi
240 Million Eyes -Exotic Japan-Gō Hiromiplay_arrow
While exuding a Showa-era charm, it still holds up in the modern day…
58eastFRIDAY TO SUNDAYKadamatsu Toshiki
FRIDAY TO SUNDAYKadamatsu Toshikiplay_arrow
One of the leading figures in city pop, Toshiki Kadomatsu…
59eastRuby RingTerao Akira
Ruby RingTerao Akiraplay_arrow
This song, which could be called Akira Terao’s signature piece, …
60eastLove Song of LumMatsutani Yūko
Love Song of LumMatsutani Yūkoplay_arrow
Shimmering techno-pop is, once again, being listened to now…
61eastTouchIwasaki Yoshimi
TouchIwasaki Yoshimiplay_arrow
Touch is an anime song that sings about youthful romance.
62eastTo my distant loverSaijō Hideki
To my distant loverSaijō Hidekiplay_arrow
Hideo Saijo of the city: a classic song about love from his hometown
63eastI’ll wait.amin
I'll wait.aminplay_arrow
The debut of a female duo that portrays a heartrending love.
64eastFANTASYNakahara Meiko
FANTASYNakahara Meikoplay_arrow
A positive breakup song, 'FANTASY…'
65eastblue eyesJakkī Yoshikawa to Burū Komettsu
blue eyesJakkī Yoshikawa to Burū Komettsuplay_arrow
A classic masterpiece from the dawn of the Group Sounds era depicting a bittersweet love in the northern country
66eastpoppy flowerAgunesu Chan
poppy flowerAgunesu Chanplay_arrow
Fortune-telling about love with poppy flowers, a memorable classic song
67eastBeyond the GoodbyeYamaguchi Momoe
Beyond the GoodbyeYamaguchi Momoeplay_arrow
Momoe Yamaguchi’s moving farewell and song of hope
68eastThe Flower Girl of TokyoHaruo Oka
The Flower Girl of Tokyo Haruo Okaplay_arrow
A 1946 classic that portrayed hope in postwar Tokyo
69eastHigh School LullabyImokin Torio
High School LullabyImokin Torioplay_arrow
As a song that vividly depicts the youth of the Showa era...
70eastSpring of the AccordionNakano Tadaharu
Spring of the AccordionNakano Tadaharuplay_arrow
A signature song by Tadaharu Nakano, a famed singer of the Showa era. Aco...
71east4:00A.M.Ohnuki Taeko
4:00A.M.Ohnuki Taekoplay_arrow
Released in September 1978, this work is Taeko Onuki's...
72eastLips NetworkOkada Yukiko
Lips NetworkOkada Yukikoplay_arrow
The charm of Yukiko Okada’s classic song “Red Sweet Pea”