[Showa Era] A roundup of nostalgic folk song classics and popular tracks you’ll want to sing at karaoke
What kind of image do you have of the music genre known as “folk songs”? Perhaps many of you picture Showa-era singers with an acoustic guitar in hand, singing lyrics like private diaries of everyday life—and at times delivering political messages.
In Japan, folk songs became a booming trend from the 1960s to the 1970s, and countless classic tracks that made music history were born as the style evolved.
In this article, we’ve curated a wide selection of nostalgic Japanese folk song classics that you’ll definitely want to try singing at karaoke.
Whether you experienced them in real time or you’re a younger listener who loves Showa-era music, be sure to check them out!
- A classic Japanese folk song passed down through generations of acoustic performances
- Folk songs you’ll want to sing at karaoke: classic and popular tunes everyone can enjoy
- Folk dance classics and popular songs
- Nursery rhymes you’ll want to sing at karaoke: classic and popular songs everyone can enjoy together.
[Showa Era] A collection of nostalgic folk song classics and popular tracks you’ll want to sing at karaoke (51–60)
Whenever I arrive, it’s always raining.mops
It was released on July 5, 1972.
It’s The Mops’ 12th single.
Originally, the band Downtowns, which Takuro Yoshida was part of, performed it.
This version is arranged in a rock style.
It’s the kind of song that still sounds cool at karaoke even if you’ve had a few drinks and sing a bit off-pitch.
The person I used to likePrincess Kaguya
These are tracks from Kaguya-hime’s album produced by Takuro Yoshida, released on April 20, 1972.
The songs quietly express feelings toward someone you loved and lost.
When you’re heartbroken, it might be good to sing them at karaoke and have a good cry.
Blue sky, all aloneYosui Inoue
It was released on November 25, 1975.
It’s also included on the album “An Invitation-less Show.” This album was the first release from For Life Records, the label launched by Takuro Yoshida, Shigeru Izumiya, Hitoshi Komuro, and others.
This song, featured on that milestone album, powerfully captures the poetic world of Yosui Inoue in a single track—it’s a cool classic.
If you can nail just the chorus—the part about the blue sky and being all alone—it’ll look effortlessly cool.
Ah, youthTakuro Yoshida
It was first released in 1975 by the band Trans-Am, with the composition by Takuro Yoshida.
Yoshida later covered it himself, and Masatoshi Nakamura has also covered it.
This passionate song about youth is perfect for belting out at karaoke.
[Showa Era] A roundup of nostalgic folk song classics and popular tracks you’ll want to sing at karaoke (61–70)
interaction; friendly contact; bondingMasatoshi Nakamura
It was released on July 1, 1974.
It is Masatoshi Nakamura’s debut song.
It was used in the drama “Warera Seishun!” and became a hit.
Thanks to Nakamura’s vocal tone and singing style, it has become a staple healing song.
Its relaxed tempo also makes it easy to sing at karaoke.
youAkiko Kosaka
It was released on December 21, 1973, and is Akiko Kosaka’s debut single.
At the age of 16, Akiko Kosaka performed this song as a piano-and-vocal piece at the 6th Yamaha Popular Song Contest and won the Grand Prix.
It’s also a standard song for weddings.
The key is high and it’s quite challenging, but if you can sing it well at karaoke, you’ll be a star.
One afternoonRyoko Moriyama
Ryoko Moriyama has many folk song hits, but this is a recommended choice among her songs for karaoke.
It portrays a couple on a date that isn’t progressing very smoothly, and the high notes in the chorus are the highlight.