A roundup of recommended Japanese songs for karaoke that will excite men in their 80s
When you have a chance to do karaoke with someone much older, it can be hard to know what songs to sing, right?
In this article, I’ll introduce lively songs that are especially likely to please men in their 80s.
I hope this will be helpful for staff planning karaoke as a recreation activity at care facilities, as well as for those who want to enjoy karaoke with grandparents at family gatherings.
I’ve selected a wide range of songs—from hits around the 1950s to enka from the 1980s—so you’re sure to find something they’ll enjoy.
Use this article as a guide, and have fun doing karaoke together!
Japanese songs that excite men in their 80s: Recommended karaoke tracks (1–10)
The Longed-For Route to HawaiiHaruo Oka
“A Longing for the Hawaii Route” is one of Haruo Oka’s signature songs and a classic that sings of the dreams and hopes of the Japanese people after the war.
Its lyrics vividly evoke the beautiful scenery of Hawaii.
Released in 1948, it has remained beloved ever since.
If you sing it at a relaxed tempo, you may feel as if you’re suddenly traveling to Hawaii.
It’s sure to be enjoyed by people in their 80s! How about everyone singing it together and savoring a Hawaiian mood?
Blue MountainsIchiro Fujiyama
Blue Mountain Range is a song in which Ichiro Fujiyama’s rich low voice and Mitsue Nara’s beautiful vocals vividly evoke the spirit of youthful travel against the majestic scenery of the highlands.
With lyrics by Yaso Saijo and music by Ryoichi Hattori, it richly expresses a poetic world brimming with literary flair and lyricism through delicate musicality.
Released in 1949 as the theme song for a film, it earned high acclaim on numerous music programs.
If you all join your voices and sing it while basking in nostalgia, a page from the youth of the Showa era will surely come to life.
Scorpio womanKenichi Mikawa
Kenichi Mikawa’s “Woman of Scorpio” is a masterpiece themed around profound human emotions—love, hurt, and a thirst for revenge.
Released on December 20, 1972, it portrays the inner world of a woman heartbroken in love, layered with traits associated with the Scorpio sign.
The song has had a significant impact on the music scene, having been performed seven times on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
It’s a song I’d love to see sung by those who have known the joys and hardships of life.
Hello from countries around the worldHaruo Minami
Haruo Minami’s “Sekai no Kuni Kara Konnichiwa” (“Hello from the Countries of the World”) was created as the theme song for the 1970 Osaka Expo.
Its world view—woven from lyrics that evoke a sense of connection among nations and a catchy melody—has captivated people’s hearts across generations.
The song sold 1.
4 million copies, was featured widely in various media, and is also known as one of Haruo Minami’s signature numbers.
When everyone raises their voices together to sing it, you can feel as if you’re holding hands with people all around the world.
It’s a prayer for peace set to music—one we especially hope those in their 80s will listen to.
I'm heading to Tokyo.Ikuzo Yoshi
This is a much-talked-about comic song released by Ikuzo Yoshi in 1984, blending his folk roots with rap.
It humorously portrays a young man who, living in poverty without even a TV or gas, dreams of heading to Tokyo.
Although people in Aomori Prefecture strongly protested when it first came out, that backlash ironically helped boost the song’s popularity.
Singing about the universal themes of a young person’s struggles and hopes born from poverty, and the gap between city and countryside, the song continues to be loved by many even after all these years.
It’s a tune that people in their 80s can hum along to with nostalgia for their youth.
Why not sing it together and reminisce about those days?
I look up as I walkKyu Sakamoto
“Ue o Muite Arukou” is Kyu Sakamoto’s signature song, released in 1961, and has been cherished worldwide as a masterpiece in the history of Japanese pop music.
Imagining the protagonist who keeps walking forward even while spending lonely nights naturally gives you strength, doesn’t it? Although it was released in 1961, it’s still loved by people of all generations today, so why not try singing it together with everyone?
The Highland Train GoesAtsurō Okamoto
Atsuro Okamoto’s “The Highland Train Is Coming” is a lively, memorable song released in 1954.
The lyrics by Tomio Oka, which evoke beautiful scenery like the Goshikinuma seen from a train window, pair perfectly with Yuji Koseki’s composition inspired by Swiss alpine railways.
A beloved classic for many years, it has been featured on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen and adopted as the departure melody at JR East’s Fukushima Station.
It’s a nostalgic piece that brings back memories of that era.