Music has the power to support the hearts of those who listen, doesn’t it?
I’m sure many people have gained energy and courage from listening to music, or found the motivation to keep going.
And that holds true across generations—there are surely many people in their 80s who have also been empowered by music.
In this article, we’ll introduce uplifting songs we’d love people in their 80s to listen to again.
If you’re reading this, please consider sharing the songs we introduce with the 80-somethings in your life.
- Lively songs recommended for people in their 80s: A collection of nostalgic enka and kayōkyoku
- Recommended Cheer-Up Songs for People in Their 70s: A Collection of Uplifting Tunes
- A collection of cheerful, uplifting songs recommended for women in their 80s—fun, bright tunes to sing along to
- Energizing songs recommended for men in their 80s: A collection of nostalgic tracks that give you strength
- Recommended youth songs for people in their 80s: A collection of nostalgic classics
- Recommended cheer songs for people in their 90s: a collection of timeless tracks that support life
- Great songs recommended for people in their 80s: a collection of tracks with lyrics that touch the heart
- For seniors: Recommended youthful songs for people in their 90s. A collection of classic Showa-era hits.
- [Karaoke] Recommended Songs for Men in Their 80s: A Collection of Showa-Era Classics You’ll Want to Belt Out
- For seniors in their 80s: Stay healthy while having fun. Introducing dance songs that make you want to move!
- Recommended Autumn Songs for People in Their 80s: A Collection of Seasonal Kayōkyoku and Children's Songs
- [Recommended for people in their 70s] Songs that get everyone excited. Songs you’ll want to sing at karaoke.
- [For Seniors] Recommended spring songs for people in their 90s: A collection of Shōwa-era spring tunes
Cheering songs we want people in their 80s to listen to. Encouragement songs from the Showa era (1–10)
Today is the youngest you’ll ever be!Da Capo
This is a song included on the album “A Gift for the Future ~Today Is the Youngest You’ll Ever Be!~,” released in 2023 to mark the 50th anniversary of their debut.
It’s filled with hope for a life that shines brighter with age, making it an anthem of encouragement for the senior generation.
The uplifting lyrics set to a simple melody really resonate.
In this so-called era of 100-year lifespans, a message like this is sure to speak to people in their eighties.
March of 365 StepsKiyoko Suizenji
Kiyoko Suizenji’s “March of 365 Steps,” released in 1969, is a moving classic.
It carries a positive message that the accumulation of small daily steps leads to great results.
After its release, it was chosen for NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen and as the entrance march for the National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament, and it also became a familiar TV drama theme song.
In 1991, Suizenji’s own self-cover became a hit, and the song has been beloved for many years.
It’s a track that gives courage and energy to live fully in the present, while bringing back memories of the Shōwa era for those who spent their youth then.
Please enjoy it together with someone special.
There's always tomorrowKyu Sakamoto
Kyu Sakamoto’s “Ashita ga Aru sa” is a classic that humorously captures the feelings of a young man in his youth who fears heartbreak and failure.
Its melody, which gives you the courage and hope to keep looking forward, is sure to lift your spirits.
Since its release in 1963, it has remained beloved by a wide audience and continued to make waves into the 2000s, appearing in commercials, as the entrance march for high school baseball, and even in textbooks.
This song, which teaches the importance of continuing to believe that “there’s always tomorrow” even when times are tough or sad, is a cheer anthem we hope you’ll listen to again now.
threadMiyuki Nakajima
Miyuki Nakajima’s “Ito” is a masterpiece that portrays the meaning brought by encounters and connections in life.
Although it was released in 1992, it initially went largely unnoticed, but it became widely known after being used as the theme song for the 1998 TV drama “Seija no Koshin” (March of the Saints).
Following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, it once again drew attention in the affected areas, and in 2020 it was even adapted into a film.
It’s a song that has continued to be loved by many for a long time.
It’s a heartfelt, encouraging anthem that we especially hope people in their 80s will listen to.
Please give me wingsRed bird
“Tsubasa wo Kudasai” is a 1971 song by Akai Tori, a moving classic that expresses the desire to live like a bird flying freely.
It was created for a Yamaha contest and has since been loved by many.
Used at the 1998 Nagano Olympics and the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, it’s a timeless anthem that encourages us, reminding us of the importance of holding on to our dreams and hopes.
It’s a song I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone—regardless of age or background—who longs for freedom.
Tomorrow is more than todayKuniko Yamada, Miyuki Kawanaka
Sung with heartfelt emotion by Kuniko Yamada and Miyuki Kawanaka, “Ashita wa Kyou yori” is a song of encouragement that stands beside older adults who have lived through difficult times.
Life shines not with just seven colors, but with a blend of many more hues.
Its lyrics, which speak to the importance of living for yourself, gently nudge you forward when you feel close to losing hope.
It’s a song that gives you the courage to face forward—something especially needed in our times.
Being young is wonderful.Michiru Maki
Michiru Maki’s “Wakai tte Subarashii” (“Youth Is Wonderful”) is a song that celebrates the brilliance and hope of youth.
Even if there are times of worry and hardship in the future, those wonderful days filled with dreams and love will surely give you a powerful push forward.
Released on March 5, 1966, the song was a favorite of its composer, Hiroshi Miyagawa, and found success in many areas, including being used in commercials.
It’s a perfect track for people in their eighties to listen to as they fondly recall their youthful days.
Standing at a milestone in life, enjoying the present while reflecting on the future—this is a pep song that inspires such a positive mindset.