Lively songs recommended for people in their 80s: A collection of nostalgic enka and kayōkyoku
Some of you may have opportunities to enjoy music with people in their 80s among your family or acquaintances but feel at a loss because you don’t know which songs are popular.
In this article, we’ll focus on songs that are especially exciting among those familiar to people in their 80s.
We’ve selected mainly Showa-era kayōkyoku and enka, with an emphasis on up-tempo and cheerful tunes.
Please use this article as a reference and enjoy music together with people in their 80s to create a wonderful time.
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Lively songs recommended for people in their 80s: A collection of nostalgic enka and kayōkyoku (71–80)
TouchHiromi Iwasaki
An anime theme song that captures the bittersweetness of youth was released in March 1985.
It’s a wonderful track featuring Yoshimi Iwasaki’s clear, transparent vocals and a melody that resonates deeply.
The lyrics convey the feelings of a girl in love with her childhood friend, leaving a lasting impression with its sweet, heartrending portrayal of adolescence.
The song drew major attention as the opening theme for the anime Touch and reached No.
12 on the Oricon Weekly Chart.
It has also become widely used as a cheer song for high school baseball, a staple performed in the stands.
With a melody everyone can hum along to, it’s a perfect choice for karaoke with friends.
A Love Story in GinzaYujiro Ishihara · Junko Makimura
Released in 1961, this song portrays the glittering streets of Ginza alongside a poignant love story between a man and a woman.
The duet by Yujiro Ishihara and Junko Makimura beautifully captures the subtle differences in their emotions, with vocals that resonate deeply with listeners.
Featured as an insert song in the film “Kaze-o-Yobu Otoko: From Town to Town” and followed by a film of the same title the next year, it became a major hit.
As an emblem of Ginza, a monument to the song was erected in 1990.
Blending a man’s powerful feelings with a woman’s sultry sentiments, this emotionally rich piece is perfect for moments when you want to talk about love or look back on cherished memories.
Apple SongMichiko Namiki
A gentle, warm song that likens the object of one’s affection to an apple.
Released in January 1946, it became a classic that drew a major response for the first time in the postwar era.
As the theme song of the film “Soyokaze,” it was performed as a duet by Michiko Namiki and Noboru Kirishima.
Under the blue sky, the way the singer longs for the charming apple is portrayed alongside a refreshing melody.
In the turmoil of the time, it became a ray of hope.
For older listeners, it’s a nostalgic piece that brings back memories of the good old days.
Setting aside time to sing it together in a care facility may well spark lively conversations about happy times gone by.
If you're happy and you know it, clap your handsKyu Sakamoto
Its charm lies in the way you can enjoy it by expressing a heartwarming classic through full-body movement.
It’s a song that lets you share the joy of connecting with others along with a simple, familiar melody.
Released by Kyu Sakamoto in 1964, it became one of his signature songs alongside “Ue o Muite Arukou” (“Sukiyaki”).
Based on an American folk song, Toshito Kimura wrote the Japanese lyrics with wishes for peace and friendship.
A heartwarming experience in the Philippines inspired the creation of this song, and it is said to have spread through activities at the YMCA.
It has been widely used in films and commercials and has long been cherished in educational settings.
Why not enjoy clapping and body movements together with seniors and let the conversation blossom with fond memories?
Cotton HandkerchiefHiromi Ohta
Let me introduce a heartwarming song that brings back nostalgic memories.
It tells a poignant story of a long-distance romance between a man setting off from the countryside to the big city and a woman who stays in their hometown.
The lyrics alternate between the man’s and the woman’s perspectives—a groundbreaking technique for its time.
Released in 1975, it became a signature song for Hiromi Ohta, who made her first appearance at the 26th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen that same year.
The woman’s longing for an unchanging heart rather than material gifts is especially memorable.
How about humming along with older listeners and sharing stories of youthful days? You’re sure to have a wonderful time.
A Letter Waiting for SpringTakuro Yoshida
This is a gem of a melody by Takuro Yoshida, warmly depicting a heartfelt exchange through letters that gently convey the feelings and memories of a man and a woman.
The image of two people far apart, drawing close to each other through their letters, carries a nostalgic sentiment that many have felt.
Accompanied by a calm guitar tone, the feelings of a couple trying to connect while awaiting the arrival of spring leave a lingering resonance.
Released in October 1979, it reached No.
52 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
It was also included on the album “ONLY YOU 〜since coming For Life〜,” and has long been loved by many.
It’s a perfect song for those moments when you want to relax and enjoy music while looking back on memories with someone special.
What a nice bath.The Drifters
This is a song that celebrates the charms of hot spring resorts, beloved from the Showa-era hit TV program “It’s 8 o’clock! Everybody, Gather Round!” The original version, sung by the Duke Aces, was themed around hot spring areas in Gunma Prefecture, and The Drifters covered it on the B-side of their debut single.
The lyrics were adapted to feature hot spring resorts across Japan—such as Noboribetsu and Kusatsu—expressing fondness for onsen through a lively rhythm and call-and-response shouts.
The song was used as the ending theme for both “It’s 8 o’clock! Everybody, Gather Round!” and “Drifters’ Big Laughter,” and it also appeared in a 1969 film.
Humming it together with older adults while reminiscing about hot spring trips can make for a heartwarming moment.