A look back at the history of Japanese love songs along with the journey of the Japanese people - Part 1

What kind of love songs were sung in postwar Japan, and what was the background to them? The history of love songs will now be revealed along with the path of the Japanese people, from the period of high economic growth, the bubble economy, the post-bubble recession, and up to the present day! Click here for the second part.

First published in: BRUTUS No. 766 "Love Song" (released November 1, 2013)

illustration: Yusuke Saito / text: Kenro Hayamizu

1959

"Black Petals" by Hiroshi Mizuhara (1st record) / "I Love You More Than Anyone" by Kazuko Matsuo & Hiroshi Wada and the Mahina Stars (2nd record)

At this time, in the world...
The marriage of the then Crown Prince and Michiko Shoda

1960

"When the Acacia Rain Stops" Sachiko Nishida / "Akira's Zundoko Bushi" by Kobayashi Akira

At this time, in the world...
Yujiro Ishihara marries Mie Kitahara

1961

"Love Story in Ginza" Yujiro Ishihara and Junko Makimura / "Save the Last Dance for Me" by Fubuki Koshiji

At this time, in the world...
"Shabondama Holiday" begins broadcasting

1962

"Cute Baby" by Nakao Mie / "Always Dream" by Hashi Yukio and Yoshinaga Sayuri (3rd generation) / "Come Ten Days a Week" by Satsuki Midori

At this time, in the world...
Hibari Misora marries Akira Kobayashi (divorced in 1964)

1963

"Love Vacation" by The Peanuts / "Look Up at the Stars at Night" by Kyu Sakamoto

At this time, in the world...
Tourism Basic Act enacted

1964

"Love on the Yamanote Line" by Kobayashi Akira / "Staring at Love and Death" by Aoyama Kazuko / "Anko Camellia is a Flower of Love" by Miyako Harumi / "Song of a Woman's Heart" by Barb Satake

At this time, in the world...
Tokaido Shinkansen opens / Tokyo Olympics held

1965

"I Loved You, I Loved You, I Loved You" Miyoko Tashiro & Hiroshi Wada and the Mahina Stars / "Woman of Hakodate" by Saburo Kitajima / "With You Forever" by Yuzo Kayama

At this time, in the world...
Japan Airlines "JALPAK" launched / Shiseido "Sun Oil" launched

1966

"Starlight Waltz" by Masao Sen / "Memories of the Shore" by The Wild Ones

At this time, in the world...
The Beatles visit Japan

1967

"Memories of the Little Finger" by Yukari Ito / "Hallelujah of Love" by Jun Mayuzumi / "The World is for the Two of Us" by Naomi Sara / "Bright Red Sun" Hibari Misora, Jackie Yoshikawa and the Blue Comets / "I Love You, I Love You" by The Carnabeats

At this time, in the world...
Nescafé Gold Blend launched / Chuo Expressway between Chofu IC and Hachioji IC opened

1968

"Isezakicho Blues" by Aoe Mina / "Love Only for You" by The Tigers / "Season of Love" by Pinky and the Killers / "Blue Light Yokohama" by Ishida Ayumi

At this time, in the world...
Student protests intensify (subside the following year) / "Yoru no Hit Studio" begins broadcasting

1969

"Scat at Dawn" Saori Yuki / "Port Town Blues" by Mori Shinichi / "Slave of Love" Chiyo Okumura

At this time, in the world...
"It's 8 o'clock! All together" begins broadcasting

1970

"White Butterfly Samba" by Kayoko Moriyama / "Keiko's Dream Opens at Night" by Keiko Fuji

At this time, in the world...
Osaka World Expo

1971

"Bride" by Norihiko Hashida and Climax / "Until We Meet Again" Kiyohiko Ozaki (13th Re) / "Midsummer Happenings" by Miki Hirayama / "Carrying You" by Kenji Sawada

At this time, in the world...
Goro Noguchi and Kenji Sawada (solo) debut

1972

"Let's Get Married" by Yoshida Takuro / "The Bride of Seto" by Koyanagi Rumiko / "The Woman's Path" by Miya Shiro and the Pinkara Trio (2nd Place) / "Mary Jane" by Tsunoda Hiro

At this time, in the world...
Hideki Saijo, Masako Mori, and Hiromi Go make their debut

1973

"Other People's Relationships" by Kanai Katsuko / "Dangerous Two" by Sawada Kenji / "Ladybird Samba" by Cherish / "Kanda River" by Kaguyahime / "Tears of Control" by Tonosama Kings / "Love Dial 6700" by Finger 5 / "You" by Kosaka Akiko

At this time, in the world...
Junko Sakurada and Momoe Yamaguchi debut / Candies debut, known as the "Chusan Trio" with Mori

1974

"One Summer Experience" by Momoe Yamaguchi / "Interaction" by Masatoshi Nakamura

At this time, in the world...
"Let's Go Young" begins broadcasting

1975

"22-year-old Farewell" by Kaze / "Younger Boy" by Candies / "COBALT HOUR" by Arai Yumi / "Strawberry White Paper Again" by Bang Bang / "Lingering Snow" by Iruka / "From the Northern Inn" by Miyako Harumi / "Cotton Handkerchief" by Ota Hiromi

At this time, in the world...
Instant ramen commercial "I'm the one who makes it, you're the one who eats it" pulled from air after complaints of sexism

1976

"Haruichiban" by Candies / "Won't You Marry Me?" by Kenji Niinuma / "Yokosuka Story" by Momoe Yamaguchi / "Pepper Inspector" by Pink Lady / "Central Freeway" by Yumi Arai

At this time, in the world...
Pink Lady debuts/drama "Akai Shogeki" airs

1977

"Do as you please" by Kenji Sawada (19th) / "Teens Blues" by Shinji Harada

At this time, in the world...
Karaoke, released in 1976, became a huge hit

1978

"Smile Return" by Candies / "Mr. Summertime" by Circus / "In the Seasons" by Chiharu Matsuyama / "Corvett 1954" by Yumi Arai and Takao Kisugi

At this time, in the world...
"The Best Ten" begins broadcasting / Candies disbands

1979

"Enchanted" by Judy Ongg (21st Re) / "My Dear Ellie" by Southern All Stars / "Regent Declaration" by Masashi Sada

At this time, in the world...
Walkman released / TV drama "3-nen B-gumi Kinpachi Sensei" broadcast

1980

"Dancing All Night" by Monta & Brothers / "Blue Coral Reef" Seiko Matsuda / "The Other Side of Goodbye" by Momoe Yamaguchi / "Surf Heaven, Ski Heaven" Yumi Matsutoya

At this time, in the world...
Seiko Matsuda makes her debut / Momoe Yamaguchi marries Tomokazu Miura and retires

1981

"Ruby Ring" by Terao Akira (23 trains) / "Waiting" by Ishikawa Hitomi / "Villain" Miyuki Nakajima / "Wedding Bell" by Sugar / "Sailor Suit and Machine Gun" by Yakushimaru Hiroko

At this time, in the world...
Pink Lady disbands

1982

"Red Sweet Pea" Seiko Matsuda / "Wait" by Amin / "Second Love" by Akina Nakamori

At this time, in the world...
Akina Nakamori debuts

1983

"First Love" by Kozo Murashita / "My Heart is Beating for You" by YMO / "SWEET MEMORIES" Seiko Matsuda / "I Love You" by Yutaka Ozaki / "Christmas Eve" by Tatsuro Yamashita

At this time, in the world...
Tokyo Disneyland opens / TV drama "Uneven Apples" airs

1984

"North Wing" by Akina Nakamori / "Tears Request" by The Checkers / "Distance in the Starry Sky" by ALFEE / "Rock'n Rouge" Seiko Matsuda / "Rain Sounds Like Chopin's Melody" by Asami Kobayashi / "Futari no Ailand" by Yuko Ishikawa and Chage / "Main Theme" by Hiroko Yakushimaru / "And I'm at a loss" by Yoshiyuki Osawa

At this time, in the world...
"an・an" features its first sex feature / Sony releases the world's first portable CD player, contributing to the spread of CDs / Maharaja Azabu-Juban store opens...

1985

"Mi Amore" by Akina Nakamori (27th Re) / "Angel with Broken Wings" Ayumi Nakamura / "Don't Take Off My Sailor Uniform" by Onyanko Club / "In a Corner of Metropolis" Yumi Matsutoya / "ff (Fortissimo)" by HOUND DOG / "Fall in Love" by Akiko Kobayashi / "Cinderella Express" Yumi Matsutoya / "Masked Ball" by Shonentai

At this time, in the world...
"Friday's Wives III" broadcast/Plaza Accord.The trigger for the bubble economy

1986

"Valentine Kiss" by Sayuri Kunio / "DESIRE - Passion -" by Akina Nakamori (28 Re) / "Love Me Until the 21st Century" by Mari Mizutani / "CHA-CHA-CHA" by Akemi Ishii / "Missing" by Toshinobu Kubota / "Embraced by the Cold Wind" Kyoko Koizumi

At this time, in the world...
Equal Employment Opportunity Law enacted / TV drama "Summer Story of Seven Men and Women" broadcast / "MUSIC STATION" begins broadcasting

1987

"Hold On Me" by Kohiruimaki Kahoru / "I Love You, SAYONARA" by The Checkers / "ONLY YOU" by BOØWY / "Linda Linda" by The Blue Hearts / "Only for You" by Shonentai / "Nanhasen" by Nakamori Akina / "SHOW ME" by Morikawa Yukari / "Garasu no Juudai" by Hikaru Genji (2Go) / "REE" by Go Hiromi (dedicated to Nitani Yurie on their wedding anniversary. Not yet released as a single.)

At this time, in the world...
JR Central's "Cinderella Express" campaign (held again in 1992) / The film "Take Me Skiing" is released, sparking a ski boom / "Mobile Phones" (750g) are released

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