Shōwa nostalgia[1] (Japanese: 昭和ノスタルジア)[2] includes nostalgia for certain aspects of the postwarShōwa era.[1][3][4][5]Shōwa retro (Japanese: 昭和レトロ) is retro related to the Shōwa era. The Shōwa Retro Boom (Japanese: 昭和レトロブーム) includes increased popularity and sales of Shōwa retro goods and services.[6] (The expression also loosely includes increased popularity of some things from the early part of the Heisei era).[7] The beginnings of periods of increased nostalgia have been dated to 1974,[7] 1986,[8] 2005,[7] 2012[9] and 2017.[7]
Overview
As of 2017, three quarters of the Japanese population were born in the Shōwa era.[10] By 2004, the expression "furuki yoki Shōwa" was in use.[11]
Neo Shōwa (Japanese: ネオ昭和) is a fusion of the culture of Shōwa and Reiwa eras.[12]
Television programmes made in the Showa era, that do not care about compliance (Japanese: コンプライアンス), are popular with young people.[7]Extremely Inappropriate! (2024) satirizes excessive compliance in Reiwa era television by contrasting it with Shōwa era television.[18][19] As of 2023, Takeshi's Castle (1986 to 1990) is popular with young people.[20][21]
Music
It has been said that the city popboom began with nostalgic crate digging by Japanese DJs at the end of the 20th century.[22][23] It has been said that the city pop boom was the beginning of a period of increased interest in Shōwa retro.[24] Older people are nostalgic about the songs Mayonaka no Door (1979) and Plastic Love (1984).[25] It has been said that the interest of young people in Shōwa retro came to public attention around 2017 when, amongst other things, a dance[7] that uses the song Dancing Hero (Eat You Up) (1985)[26] became popular.[7] As of 2024, there is nostalgia for Meiko Nakahara and Saki Kubota as artists in the new music genre in the 1980s.[25][27] It has been said there is a "Shōwa Kayo Boom" (Japanese: 昭和歌謡ブーム)[28] and that Shōwa era kayōkyoku songs have become popular among young people.[29][30][31] Episodes of The Best Ten have been rebroadcast in Japan[29] and the Shōwa era music of Akina Nakamori and Seiko Matsuda,[32] and others,[33] has become popular in South Korea.[32] The 2023 music video for ClariS' cover version of Samishii Nettaigyo is a homage to Wink.[34][35] As of 2023, Gakuen Tengoku (1974) was popular on TikTok.[36]
Manga
It has been said that the publication of Sunset on Third Street in 1974 caused a period of increased nostalgia.[7]
Video games
Shōwa retro includes hand held versions of arcade games such as Galaga (1981).[37][38]
Fashion
Shōwa retro includes the revival of Shōwa era fashions such as the taiyozoku clothing style.[39][40] There are Shōwa retro sneakers,[41] and there are shops for clothing produced in the Shōwa era.[42]
Food and drink
Recreation of a dagashiya at Ōme Akasuka Fujio Kaikan Museum (Retro Museum of Packaging from the Shōwa Era, 1926–1989)
The Mitsuoka M55 is a Shōwa retro car from Mitsuoka.[56][57][58] There are collectors of Shōwa era cars.[59]
Second hand goods
As of 2023, the value of some second hand Shōwa retro goods produced in the Shōwa era had doubled.[60] Showa era retro goods have become popular as Christmas gifts.[61]
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