Recommended cheer songs for people in their 90s: a collection of timeless tracks that support life

fast track to successMidori Hatakeyama

fast track to success

Midori Hatakeyama’s “Shusse Kaidō” is a powerful anthem that instills courage and hope in the face of life’s trials.

Its lyrics portray a steadfast, forward-looking spirit that overcomes the setbacks and inner conflicts encountered while pursuing one’s dreams, resonating deeply with listeners.

Since its release in 1963, this song has been cherished for generations, and it’s one I highly recommend to people of all ages.

Why not draw courage from Hatakeyama’s dignified presence and commanding performance, and take a step forward today with your head held high?

Flowers will bloom.

Flowers Will Bloom – Flowers Will Bloom Project (with Japanese lyrics)

This song was planned and produced as the theme song for NHK’s Great East Japan Earthquake Project, with lyrics by film director Shunji Iwai from Sendai.

For those who experienced the disaster, it may bring back difficult memories, and it also served as a source of support during the recovery.

There is also a video from the “Flowers Will Bloom Project,” featuring singers, entertainers, and athletes connected to Miyagi, Fukushima, and Iwate Prefectures.

With its easy-to-understand melody and singable chorus, it’s fun for everyone to sing together.

It’s also recommended as a choral piece for events.

If you're happy and you know it, clap your handsKyu Sakamoto

Kyu Sakamoto / If You’re Happy and You Know It (1964–65)

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?

Tokyo Boogie-WoogieShizuko Kasagi

Shizuko Kasagi – Tokyo Boogie-Woogie [Music Video]

This classic song by Shizuko Kasagi, a major influence on the Showa-era music scene, stands as a landmark of Japanese pop that brought brightness and vitality to postwar Japan.

Set to the buoyant rhythm of boogie-woogie, it paints a heart-thumping world filled with the joy and hope of youth.

Released by Nippon Columbia in January 1948, it became a record-breaking hit, selling 270,000 copies in its first year.

Its inclusion in the film Drunken Angel helped it win affection across a wide audience.

Etched in people’s hearts alongside memories of the Showa period, this work has the power to evoke nostalgic recollections.

It’s likely to be a treasured song to hum together with older listeners, sharing the happy memories of those days.

school daysPeggy Hayama

Peggy Hayama - Student Days (with lyrics)

Some people may be wondering, “Is Peggy Hayama half-Japanese?” but she was fully Japanese.

Peggy Hayama is a stage name, inspired by a friend she met through a crossed telephone line who said, “Your voice feels like ‘Peggy.

’” It’s funny how inspiration can come from anywhere.

Her hit song “Gakusei Jidai” (“Student Days”) was originally titled “Daigaku Jidai” (“College Days”), but the title was reportedly changed after Peggy said, “I didn’t attend college.” It’s a song filled with nostalgia and many fond memories of youth.

spring's dry windShigeru Izumiya

Shigeru Izumiya / Spring Karakkaze from “Shin Self Covers: Monster” [Music Video]

A work that sharply portrays social pressure and loneliness was included on the 1973 album “Light and Shadow” and later released as a single.

Shigeru Izumiya wrote and composed the song, with production by Kazuhiko Kato.

Interweaving the north wind of spring with the hardships of daily life, it delicately expresses the conflict between the self and society.

The power and message of folk music resonated with many artists, leading to covers by numerous musicians, including Anarchy, Keisuke Kuwata, and Masaharu Fukuyama.

I hope you will cherish moments when we share the feelings in our hearts through music.

This work contains many deeply moving words, and those who have rich life experience—especially older listeners—will surely grasp its essence.

Like a flower that blooms in the fieldDa Capo

Like a Wildflower – Da Capo #LikeAWildflower #DaCapo #TheNakedGeneral’sWanderingTales

A timeless song with a simple, gentle warmth brings a refreshing breath of spring that makes you want to hum along.

In words anyone can understand, it conveys the importance of living naturally, like flowers blooming in the fields.

Da Capo released this heart-touching piece in July 1983.

Beloved as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “The Naked General’s Travelogue,” its lyrics inspired many by giving courage to face life’s challenges.

Since 1992, the song has also been included in elementary school music textbooks, and it continues to be sung across generations.

Please enjoy this piece—one that evokes fond memories and the calm arrival of spring—together with older adults.