For People in Their 90s: Dance Tracks and Exercise Songs That Make Moving Your Body Fun!
In senior care facilities and day-service centers, activities are often planned so that residents can have fun, right?
During recreation time, it’s also common to include dance or light exercise, isn’t it?
This article introduces dance songs recommended for people in their 90s.
We’ve selected tracks—from youthful anthems and popular hits they listened to in their younger days to songs that suit dance and exercise.
Feel free to use this list to enjoy a wonderful time with people in their 90s.
With nostalgic songs as background music, moving the body might start to feel a bit more enjoyable!
[For People in Their 90s] Make Moving Your Body Fun! Dance Tracks & Exercise Songs (1–10)
Simple and fun Christmas danceNEW!
If you want to liven up a Christmas party, dances that everyone can join are better than difficult choreography.
You can have plenty of fun with simple moves like clapping to classic Christmas songs or slowly rotating your arms.
For those who find it hard to stand, adjust the choreography so it can be done while seated.
Just moving to the rhythm of the music makes for an enjoyable form of rehabilitation.
Wearing small Christmas-themed accessories, like Santa hats, also creates a more festive atmosphere.
This idea is easy to incorporate at senior facilities or community gatherings, and because people of all ages can enjoy it together, it’s perfect for a winter event that warms both the heart and body.
The Longed-For Hawaii RouteHaruo Oka
This is a classic song that symbolizes the aspirations and hopes of the Japanese people in the postwar era.
Released in 1948, it centers on a voyage to Hawaii, depicting beautiful scenery and the excitement of setting off on a journey.
It’s striking how the lyrics weave in the customs of luxury liners of the time.
Haruo Oka’s distinctive, vibrato-laden vocals further enhance the song’s appeal.
In 1950, a film of the same title was produced, with Haruo Oka in the lead role.
A young Hibari Misora also appeared, and their duet is one of the highlights.
With a cheerful, light rhythm that still carries a touch of elegance, this is a piece that’s sure to lift your spirits if you move along with the beat.
Tokyo KidHibari Misora
This piece is known as a song that cheered up postwar Japan.
Sung by Hibari Misora at age 13 as a movie theme song, it became a huge hit along with the film of the same name, released in September 1950.
The lyrics depict someone walking with dreams and chewing gum in their pocket, expressing young people’s determination to live positively even in difficult times.
Move your body to the music and you’re sure to feel uplifted! With its relaxed tempo, it may also be approachable for people in their 90s.
Over the hillIchiro Fujiyama
Set to the singing voice of Ichiro Fujiyama, this is a classic that celebrates youth brimming with hope.
Released in 1931 as the theme song for the film “Ane” (Older Sister), it became a massive hit, selling over 500,000 copies.
Masao Koga’s richly talented melody and Yoshifumi Shimada’s warm lyrics blend beautifully.
The tune is memorable for evoking a light, refreshing feeling, as if you’re walking over hills under a clear, sunny sky.
It’s a song everyone can enjoy together while clapping along.
Otomi-sanKasuga Hachirō
A Showa-era hit that blends bittersweetness with glossy allure.
Since its 1954 release, it has continued to stir the hearts of many.
The lyrics, themed around kabuki, reportedly sparked social controversy at the time, which likely added to its notoriety.
Hachiro Kasuga’s clear, high notes weave a heartrending tale.
Loved across generations, the song was covered in the 1970s by Mina Aoe and Harumi Miyako.
In 1978, a disco arrangement sold 250,000 copies, cementing its cross-generational appeal.
It’s a curious charm where nostalgia and novelty coexist—a perfect track for when you want to bask in a nostalgic mood.
Tokyo Dodonpa GirlMari Watanabe
Mari Watanabe’s song was released as a single by Victor Records in January 1961 and is one of her signature tracks.
It’s a kayōkyoku number that incorporates the dodonpa rhythm, with lyrics that reflect the lives and feelings of young people at the time.
Expressing a passionate longing for the person one has fallen in love with, it skillfully portrays both the sweetness and the ache of first love.
The song was also used as the motif for a film of the same name, in which Mari Watanabe herself appears as a singer.
It became a million-seller and sparked a nationwide dodonpa boom in Japan.
It’s a tune you can enjoy just by clapping along to the rhythm.
Chanchiki OdesaHaruo Minami
Released in 1957, this work became a massive hit, selling over 2.
2 million copies and catapulting Haruo Minami to fame.
Its lyrics, depicting the sorrow of migrant workers who left their hometowns to find work, must have resonated with many people.
It was performed at NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 1980 and 1982, reflecting its enduring popularity.
A film of the same title was released in 1958, with Minami himself appearing in it.
Many listeners may feel a sense of nostalgia.
The festival-like rhythm is perfect for getting your body moving.