AYA NANASE
Timeless Showa Romance
Where nostalgia meets now
ARTIST PROFILE
Background Story
Born in Toyama in 1993, Aya grew up surrounded by the echoes of the Showa era. Her parents' record collection of 70s and 80s kayōkyoku became the soundtrack of her childhood, creating a unique temporal displacement where she felt more connected to an era she never lived than the present she inhabited.
A Miss International finalist and accomplished performer, Aya brings a sophisticated presence that recalls the cool beauty of icons like Dan Mitsu. Her multifaceted background includes certifications as a vegetable sommelier, hot spring sommelier, and equestrian, reflecting the well-rounded cultivation prized in the Showa era.
After years in musical theater and variety television, Aya discovered her calling in reviving the emotional depth and orchestral richness of Showa-era music for modern audiences. Her voice, reminiscent of Every Little Thing and ZARD, carries both the strength and vulnerability that defined an entire generation's soundtrack.
Now based in Tokyo's Meguro district, she performs at intimate venues that feel like time capsules, where salary men in their 40s and 50s find themselves transported back to their youth, while younger audiences discover the timeless appeal of genuine emotion in music.
SHOWA RENAISSANCE
ANNOUNCEMENT PENDING
PERSONAL NOTES
I collect vinyl records from Nakano Broadway. Found an original pressing of Rebecca's 'Friends' last month - the crackling sound when it plays is more beautiful than any digital remaster could be
My ideal date? Traditional kaiseki dinner followed by late-night karaoke in Golden Gai. The contrast between refined and raw - that's where real chemistry lives
Still looking for my life partner at 31. My grandmother married at 23, my mother at 26. I'm taking the scenic route, but the destination remains the same - genuine connection
I wear my mother's 1985 Seiko watch every day. Digital displays were the height of technology then. Now they're vintage. Time really is circular
Coffee shop morning sets are my religion. The Showa-era shops that still serve hard-boiled eggs and thick toast with too much butter - that's where I write my best lyrics
My apartment looks like 1982 and 2024 had a beautiful collision. Cassette player next to my iPhone, city pop posters beside contemporary art. This is how I live
Learning to ride horses taught me patience. There's something very Showa about the relationship between human and animal - respectful distance with deep understanding