For men in their 80s, many are deeply familiar with Showa-era pop and enka.
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of moving classics from the Showa period that are sure to resonate with men in their 80s.
From heartrending romances and mutual, pure love to family bonds and farewells with loved ones, we’ve chosen songs that each carry their own story.
We hope this will be helpful for those in their 80s reading this, or for anyone who wants to gift a wonderful song to someone dear in their 80s.
Be sure to read the lyrics of each song and feel the emotions woven into them.
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Tear-jerking songs for men in their 80s to listen to: a collection of moving masterpieces (1–10)
pledge; vow; promise; (contextually also) bond of love/sexual unionHiroshi Itsuki
“Chigiri” is a masterpiece imbued with Hiroshi Itsuki’s deep emotion.
Aku Yu’s lyrics, themed around bonds and vows in life, speak powerfully to the listener’s heart.
It’s also striking that Itsuki himself composed the music.
While honoring the tradition of enka, the song offers a fresh sense of moving emotion.
Released in March 2008, it’s an indispensable track in Itsuki’s career.
The melody especially resonates with generations at life’s turning points, offering comfort.
It’s a song I particularly recommend to adults who have experienced the full range of life’s joys and sorrows.
ultramarineShinji Tanimura
Shinji Tanimura’s “Gunjō.” This song was released as a single in July 1981 and was also used as the theme song for the film Combined Fleet, which came out the same year.
It’s a piece that conveys the feelings of a parent who lost their child to war, and just imagining that emotion is enough to bring you to tears.
Carried by Tanimura’s uniquely lyrical vocals, it draws us into its story.
It’s a beautiful song that I especially recommend to older listeners who may feel a personal connection to the tale it tells.
HeadlightKenji Niinuma
Kenji Niinuma’s signature song, “Headlight,” is a classic from 1977 that portrays the feelings of a man and woman leaving the city and heading north.
Niinuma’s powerful vocal performance enhances the emotion of the lyrics, which liken a headlight illuminating the darkness.
Since its release, the song has been included on various albums and has remained a staple in live performances.
It conveys a sincere, straightforward desire to escape painful memories of the past and start a new life with a loved one.
To say goodbyeBilly BanBan
It’s a classic song by Billy BanBan, beloved for its heartwarming melody and memorable lyrics.
While looking back on a lost love, it also expresses a resolve to move toward a new beginning.
Released in February 1972, it became their signature piece and marked their first appearance at the 23rd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen that same year.
It has continued to be cherished across generations, even being included in high school music textbooks.
This is a song that comforts those who have experienced partings in life or are trying to let go of the past and look forward.
Northern SpringMasao Sen
Masao Sen’s vocals in “Spring in the Northern Country” delicately paint the hometown scenery that resurfaces with the arrival of spring, as if in a watercolor, stirring the heart.
The melody, filled with nostalgia and longing, is enough to make your chest tighten.
Released in April 1977, the song became a massive hit, selling three million copies and earning the Japan Record Award’s Long Seller Prize.
It has been covered in Chinese and Thai and is widely loved across Asia.
It’s a quintessential spring classic to hear when living away from your hometown in the city, when you want to reminisce about where you come from, or when you wish to feel the warmth of family bonds.
Oh, sake!Ikuzo Yoshi
Yoshi Ikuzo’s soul-stirring masterpiece “Sake yo.” Entrusting life’s joys and sorrows to sake, this song speaks to the heart and is sure to strike a chord with many.
While laying bare nostalgic memories and inner pain, it also conveys pride in the hardships overcome and hope for the future.
Since its 1988 release, it has been widely cherished as one of his signature songs and included on numerous albums.
When you find yourself at a crossroads in life, facing your own self with a drink in hand, this song will surely steady your heart.
A gem that resonates with the wealth of life experience accumulated by those in their eighties.
MotherShinichi Mori
Shinichi Mori’s classic song Ofukuro-san.
A piece that sings of deep gratitude and love for one’s mother, its lyrics evoke the parent-child bond and family love, resonating in the heart.
The melancholic melody and warm vocals move every listener.
Since its release in 1972, it has won numerous music awards and has been performed continuously on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen—truly a masterpiece among masterpieces.
It has been used on television programs, radio, and in films, and continues to be loved across generations.
For those in their 80s, it is sure to be a precious opportunity to reflect on memories with their mothers.