Why 'Showa' is capturing our imagination today: uncovering the real essence of an era through colour, weather, and railways

Even though we've been living in the Reiwa era for a while now, our streets are curiously filled with spots bearing the 'Showa retro' label. Even younger generations are captivated by their charm. It's more than just simple nostalgia; there's a deeper, more intricate appeal at play. Here, we'll unravel the atmosphere of that era through four distinct lenses: colour, weather, railways, and a symbol of the time itself.

Recreating the 'Colours' of the Era

When you want to immerse yourself in the world of Showa, what immediately catches your eye is its unique colour palette. Deep vermillion, subdued indigo, persimmon tones that somehow evoke nostalgia... These colours aren't just 'old'; they were born from genuine consideration and a refined aesthetic sense. Flipping through a colour notebook published back then reveals the sensibilities of the people who lived through that period. The colour combinations used in commercial design and everyday goods represent a sophisticated sense of style that could easily be applied to modern interiors and fashion. Browsing through such materials gives you a real sense of how seriously people of that time engaged with colour.

Unforgettable Memories of the 'Weather'

Of course, the Showa era wasn't all gentle hues. The fierce power of nature left a deep imprint on people's memories. That's certainly the case with Typhoon 20 of 1979. These days, we commonly name typhoons with the imperial era year, like 'Reiwa 1 Boso Peninsula Typhoon', but back then, this storm – also known as the 'Second Muroto Typhoon' due to its intensity – struck the Japanese archipelago with devastating force.

I was living in Osaka at the time and remember Keihan trains being suspended for hours, with stations overflowing with people unable to get home. The memory of that wind and the sound of rain lashing against the windows is still vivid. This typhoon left scars that changed the landscape overnight. It marked the end of a period of rapid economic growth and was a major turning point for disaster awareness. For those who lived through it, Showa isn't just a source of nostalgia; it's a real memory of coexisting with such harsh natural forces.

'Railways' – The Scenery Connecting People and Towns

So, what connects us to those real memories today? Without a doubt, one answer is the railways. Walking along the Keihan Electric Railway lines, you'll notice that the echoes of Showa are still remarkably strong. The trams that run in harmony with Kyoto's cityscape, and the charming shopping streets around Hirakata-shi Station that feel untouched by time – places like these make it feel like time moves at a slower pace.

The Keihan lines were never just a means of transport. The residential areas and culture that flourished along them represent, in many ways, the ideal form of urban planning from the Taisho through to Showa eras. You can feel the care for detail in the emotive names of express trains like 'Biwa-ko' and 'Sazanami', or in the subtle differences in platform scents and departure melodies at each station. These small details carry the tangible texture that people of that era valued.

'Showa' as a Defining Era

We also can't overlook Emperor Showa, the symbol of that period. His reign, spanning 64 years, mirrored Japan's tumultuous journey through war, post-war reconstruction, and rapid economic growth. Amidst the transformative changes in people's lives and values before and after WWII, the role of the symbolic emperor was constantly questioned.

When we talk about 'Showa' today, it's about more than just a period name. It's about confronting fundamental questions like 'How have the Japanese people changed, and what have they held onto?' The vibrant colours, the sometimes unforgiving nature, and the railways that continued to support daily life – each of these is a piece of the answer to that question.

• Showa retro's appeal goes beyond the surface: It's underpinned by the design sensibilities found in materials from the era, and the history of recovery from disasters like typhoons.
• Keihan Railway is a 'living' heritage: Alongside the culture along its lines, it's a treasure trove of preserved-in-motion Showa-era scenery.
• Universality beyond the era name: Reflecting on the Showa period gives us a chance to reconsider Japanese identity and how we relate to the natural world.

Beyond nostalgia lies the resilience and sensitivity of that time. For those of us living in Reiwa, perhaps the hints for shaping the future are just a little way behind us, right in the recent past.