Tear-Jerking Songs Recommended for Women in Their 80s: A Collection of Heart-Stirring Masterpieces
If you’re a woman in your 80s, you probably have many unforgettable classic songs from the Showa era.
In this article, we’ll spotlight especially moving songs from among those classics and introduce our top recommendations.
From songs about heartbreak to ones that portray the straightforward love women carry, we think you’ll find tracks that draw you in and bring you to tears.
Be sure to read the lyrics and listen while feeling the stories and emotions woven into each song.
Tear-Jerking Songs Recommended for Women in Their 80s: A Collection of Moving Masterpieces (1–10)
Look up at the stars in the nightKyu Sakamoto
When you look up at the night sky, don’t you feel as if the stars are gently speaking to you? This song by Kyu Sakamoto is a true classic that feels like it captures exactly that feeling in music.
Since its release in May 1963, it has continued to stay close to many people’s hearts.
The lyrics convey the importance of holding on to hope no matter what situation you’re in.
Especially when you run into a wall, why not listen to this song and let it give you courage? Kyu Sakamoto’s warm voice is sure to resonate with your heart.
applauseNaomi Chiaki
Chiaki Naomi’s signature song “Kassai” (Applause) is a moving masterpiece that hides the sorrow of losing a loved one behind the glamour of the stage.
Released in 1972, it became a hit and won the Japan Record Award.
Chiaki’s voice exquisitely conveys both brilliance and loneliness.
It’s striking how the deep grief of losing someone dear is embedded in her singing of “Kassai.” It’s surely a song that will resonate with older listeners who have experienced both the joys and sorrows of life.
From the northern innHarumi Miyako
Harumi Miyako’s “From the Northern Inn” is a classic distinguished by lyrics that portray loneliness and heartache.
In the winter cold, a woman keeps knitting a sweater alone, holding on to lingering feelings for a former lover.
Her solitary figure conveys deep love and the sorrow of parting.
Since its 1975 release, the song has been cherished for many years, selling over 1.
4 million copies.
It won both the Japan Record Award and the Japan Cable Awards.
It’s a perfect song for a quiet winter night spent alone—Harumi Miyako’s powerful voice will surely resonate in your heart.
This is goodbye today.Yoichi Sugawara
It’s a moving song that portrays the poignant scene of a bittersweet farewell.
The heartfelt lyrics and Yoichi Sugawara’s warm voice resonate deeply with listeners.
The melody, which gently embraces feelings that can’t be fully expressed in words, is particularly memorable.
Released in 1967, the song was reappraised in 1970 and became a major hit.
It was frequently featured on television and radio, and has become a classic that offers comfort to many.
It’s a track I especially recommend to those who have experienced parting from someone dear.
While holding cherished memories close, it quietly gives you the courage to face forward and keep walking.
Ballad of the RainMasayuki Yuhara
This is a classic song that paints a poignant farewell scene, one that brings tears to your eyes.
Masayuki Yuhara’s sweet, richly nuanced voice delivers the pain of heartbreak straight to the heart.
Released in April 1971, it became Yuhara’s signature hit, topping the Oricon chart for three consecutive weeks.
Many listeners will find themselves empathizing with the protagonist as he recalls a past love on a rain-soaked street corner.
It’s also recommended for older adults who have experienced a farewell with someone dear.
Give it a listen as you reflect on nostalgic memories.
Keiko's Dream Opens at NightKeiko Fuji
This masterpiece, which paints a stirring portrait of the night, became a turning point in Keiko Fuji’s career.
With a voice steeped in melancholy, it conveys the loneliness and hope of a woman living in the nightlife.
The image of a woman who lives strongly even while wrapped in illusions is unforgettable.
Released in April 1970, it won the inaugural Japan Record Grand Prize that same year and secured her first appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, catapulting her to nationwide fame.
If you’re feeling the ache and solitude of life, this song will resonate deeply.
Be sure to listen quietly on a calm night.
People of OtaruMasayoshi Tsuruoka and Tokyo Romantica
With a bittersweet yet warm melody and lyrics that paint scenes of the northern land, this song resonates deeply with listeners.
Released in 1967 by Masayoshi Tsuruoka and Tokyo Romantica, it has remained beloved by many as one of the group’s signature works.
It beautifully captures the loneliness of city life and the nostalgia of those who have left their hometowns, making it a song that truly touches the heart.
It is a classic to be savored slowly, evoking the aching feelings for a distant lover and the longing for home.