Why Are We So Drawn to the Shōwa Era? Discovering the Reality of the Time Through Colour, Storms, and Railways

It’s been some time since the Reiwa era began, yet our streets are still filled with spots proudly sporting the ‘Shōwa retro’ label – and even younger generations are captivated by their charm. This fascination goes beyond simple nostalgia; there’s a deeper, more intricate appeal at play. Here, we’ll explore the atmosphere of that era through four lenses: colour, a defining storm, the railways, and a symbol of the age.

Bringing Back the Colours of the Time

When you want to immerse yourself in the world of Shōwa, the first thing that strikes you is the distinctive palette. Deep vermillion, a calm indigo, and persimmon hues that evoke a sense of nostalgia… these colours aren’t just ‘old’; they were the result of deliberate design and a clear aesthetic sensibility. Looking back at a certain colour guidebook from the past reveals the sensibilities of the people who lived in that era. The colour combinations used in commercial design and everyday goods are a testament to a refined taste that could easily be applied to modern interiors and fashion. Browsing through such materials gives you a sense of how seriously people of the time approached colour.

Unforgettable Memories of a Storm

Of course, the Shōwa era wasn’t defined solely by gentle hues. The fierce power of nature left a deep impression on people’s memories, notably Typhoon No. 20 of 1979 (Shōwa 54). While today we name typhoons with the era name and year, like ‘ Reiwa 1 Bōsō Peninsula Typhoon’, this particular storm from Shōwa 54 was so powerful it was also called the ‘Second Muroto Typhoon’ as it tore through Japan.

I was living in Ōsaka at the time, and I vividly recall the Keihan trains being suspended for hours, and the station square filling with people unable to get home. The memory of that fierce wind and the rain lashing against the windows is still crystal clear. This typhoon, which left a trail of destruction that changed the face of the city overnight, marked the end of the high-growth period and served as a major turning point for disaster awareness. For those who lived through it, the Shōwa era isn’t just a ‘nostalgic’ time; it’s a tangible memory of living alongside such harsh natural forces.

The Landscape of Railways: Connecting Towns and People

So, what carries these tangible memories forward today? Railways, without a doubt. Walking along the lines of the Keihan Electric Railway, you’ll notice that much of the Shōwa atmosphere remains wonderfully intact. Particularly where trams run in harmony with the Kyoto cityscape, or in the charming shopping arcades around Hirakatashi Station (before their redevelopment), time seems to move at a different pace.

The Keihan lines were more than just a way to get people from A to B. The residential areas and culture that flourished along its routes represent a kind of ideal urban planning from the Taishō and Shōwa eras. From the evocative names of the limited express trains like ‘Biwako’ and ‘Sazanami’, to the distinct smell of each station platform and their departure melodies, a ‘tactile sense’ cherished by people of that era is preserved in these fine details.

The Framework of an Era: The Shōwa Period

At this point, we must touch upon Emperor Shōwa, a defining symbol of the age. His reign of 64 years spanned Japan’s tumultuous journey through war, reconstruction, and rapid economic growth. As people’s lives and values underwent a seismic shift before and after the war, the role of the symbolic emperor was constantly questioned.

Today, when we talk about ‘Shōwa’, it goes beyond just a name for a period. It’s a way of engaging with fundamental questions about how Japanese people have changed and what they have chosen to preserve. The vibrant colours, the unforgiving force of nature at times, and the railways that consistently supported people’s daily lives – each is a piece of the answer to that question.

• The allure of Shōwa retro runs deeper than aesthetics: It’s underpinned by the design sensibilities captured in historical materials and the history of recovery from disasters like typhoons.
• The Keihan Railway is living heritage: Alongside the culture of its railway lines, it’s a treasure trove of preserved Shōwa-era scenery in action.
• Timelessness beyond the era name: Exploring the Shōwa period offers a chance to reflect on Japanese identity and the relationship with the natural world.

Beyond the nostalgia lies the ‘resilience’ and ‘delicacy’ of that era. Perhaps the hints we need to shape our own future, living as we do in Reiwa, are not far away at all – they might just be in the recent past.