[For Seniors] A Collection of Recommended Spring Songs for People in Their 80s
For those in their 80s looking for songs perfect for spring.
In this article, we’ll introduce recommended songs that are just right for the season.
From the postwar era, we’ve gathered mainly cheerful tunes that lift your spirits.
Some of you may remember hearing them on the radio.
When singing in a group at a senior facility, adding handclaps helps create a sense of unity.
Also, the shoka (school songs) composed in the Meiji and Taisho periods feature beautifully expressive lyrics that vividly evoke springtime scenes.
By all means, try singing them while recalling the landscapes of your hometown.
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[For Seniors] A roundup of recommended spring songs for people in their 80s (71–80)
A Good Day to Set Out on a JourneyMomoe Yamaguchi
This song, which sings of departure and hope, is a classic that resonates with many older listeners.
Momoe Yamaguchi’s gentle yet powerful voice gives listeners a push forward.
Released in November 1978, it was also used as a campaign song for Japan National Railways.
It is often performed at life’s milestones, such as graduation and weddings, and is loved across generations.
March brings the feeling of spring’s arrival.
In this season of new beginnings, why not listen to this song, bask in nostalgic memories, and feel hope for tomorrow?
Sakura, sakura
“Sakura, Sakura” is a familiar song for Japanese people.
Its lyrics, which praise the beauty of cherry blossoms as a symbol of spring’s arrival, evoke images of Japan’s emotionally rich landscapes.
The melody also stands out, making you feel as if you’re touring famous cherry blossom spots.
Since its inclusion in the Koto Music Collection, it has been featured in national textbooks and even used as arrival and departure melodies for public transportation, becoming part of our daily lives.
During the spring hanami season, why not hum along with family and friends? The vocal range is easy to sing, and performing it in a group creates a lovely sense of unity.
Katyusha's Song
Katyusha’s Song is a famous piece with lyrics by Hojutsu Shimamura and Gofu Soma, set to music by Shinpei Nakayama.
Released in 1914, the song is memorable for its poignant lyrics about parting and reunion.
The imagery, especially of snow and open fields, is beautiful and deeply moving.
The melody has a flavor somewhere between Japanese folk music and Western music, and the recurring “la-la” refrain gives the piece a crisp focus.
It has been used as a song within films and stage productions, and became a big hit on record, making it a long-loved favorite.
Why not hum this tune on a spring day, thinking of someone dear to you?
[For Seniors] Recommended Spring Songs for People in Their 80s (81–90)
Early Spring Ode
Early Spring Rhapsody is a school song released in 1913, notable for Akira Nakata’s beautiful melody and Ichishō Yoshimaru’s lyrically rich words.
Its imagery, expressing both the longing for spring’s arrival and the lingering chill of winter, is especially striking.
The song was selected for the “100 Best Japanese Songs” list between 2006 and 2007.
Those in their 80s may remember singing it during their school days.
It’s nice to picture your hometown scenery and sense the signs of spring.
This is a piece that lets you savor the feeling of waiting calmly for spring to come.
Spring Stream
“Haru no Ogawa” (Spring Brook) is a Ministry of Education song released in 1912.
With lyrics by Tatsuyuki Takano and music by Teiichi Okano, it’s a classic.
Those in their eighties may know it well as a children’s song.
The lyrics are striking for their sense of spring’s breath: the gentle murmur of a clear brook, violets and Chinese milk vetch blooming along the bank, and medaka fish swimming.
It is said to be modeled on the natural scenery of Tokyo that Takano loved.
For many years it has been used as elementary school music material and has been passed down from parents to children.
Why not hum it together while picturing a tranquil spring scene? It’s sure to fill you with a gentle feeling.
A Hazy Moonlit Night
Oborozukiyo (A Hazy Moonlit Night) is a historic song composed in 1914 as an elementary school song.
Its lyrics beautifully depict the evening scenery, skillfully portraying a field of rapeseed blossoms, the evening moon, and the lives of people in the village.
If you listen while picturing the landscapes of Nagano Prefecture, the hometown of Tatsuyuki Takano, you’ll find it even more evocative.
Teiichi Okano’s melody has a smooth and gentle character.
Long beloved in elementary school music classes, it was also selected in 2006 as one of the “100 Best Japanese Songs.” It’s a perfect piece for people in their 80s to hum along to as they reminisce about their younger days.
When the white flowers bloom
“When the White Flowers Bloom” is a classic that captured many hearts with Atsuro Okamoto’s vocals and its beautiful melody.
The white flowers that announce the arrival of spring strikingly express the loneliness of leaving one’s hometown.
Since its 1950 release, it has been loved for many years, covered by numerous singers and even appearing in Studio Ghibli films.
How about softly humming this nostalgic Showa-era kayōkyoku with someone dear to you? It’s also nice to picture the scenes in the lyrics at a leisurely pace while feeling the arrival of spring.