歌謡曲(かようきょく)

かようきょく
noun
popular song; Japanese popular music (especially Showa era)
musicculture
1. popular song; Japanese popular music (especially Showa era)
A broad category of Japanese popular songs, particularly those from the Showa era (1926-1989). Encompasses various styles including enka and pop ballads that were featured on TV music programs.
昔(むかし)の歌謡曲(かようきょく)が好(す)きだ。
I like old popular songs.
カラオケで歌謡曲(かようきょく)を歌(うた)うのが趣味(しゅみ)です。
My hobby is singing popular songs at karaoke.
昭和(しょうわ)の歌謡曲(かようきょく)には、今(いま)でも多(おお)くの人(ひと)に愛(あい)される名曲(めいきょく)がたくさんある。
Among Showa-era popular songs, there are many masterpieces still loved by many people today.

A culturally important term referring to the mainstream of Japanese popular music, especially from the 1950s through the 1980s. The genre was closely tied to television music shows like NHK's 紅白歌合戦(こうはくうたがっせん). While the term can technically include all popular songs, it is most strongly associated with the Showa era and is somewhat nostalgic in modern usage.

Forms

歌謡(かよう) (song, ballad) + 曲(きょく) (musical piece)

Common collocations

Similar words

  • J-POP: Japanese pop music — the modern successor, used from the 1990s onward
  • 演歌(えんか): enka — a specific genre within 歌謡曲(かようきょく), featuring traditional melodies and emotional vocal style
  • 流行歌(りゅうこうか): popular song — an older term, used more before World War II

Related Words

Compare: 演歌(えんか) (enka)
Compare: 流行歌(りゅうこうか) (popular song)
Related: 童謡(どうよう) (children's song, nursery rhyme)
general
Added 2026.3.29 21:11 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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