For seniors: Recommended youthful songs for people in their 90s. A collection of classic Showa-era hits.
If you’re in your 90s today, you’re probably very familiar with the music that was popular in the 1930s and 1940s.
The songs we heard as children or during our school years tend to stay with us forever, don’t they?
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of popular songs from the youthful days of those in their 90s—tracks that feel nostalgic and familiar.
If you have someone in their 90s in your life—whether a family member or someone you know through a senior care facility—please consider sharing the songs we’re about to introduce with them.
They’ll surely be delighted as the music brings back fond memories of their younger days.
- Lively songs recommended for people in their 90s—fun songs for everyone to listen to and sing together.
- Recommended youth songs for people in their 80s: A collection of nostalgic classics
- Recommended cheer songs for people in their 90s: a collection of timeless tracks that support life
- Easy-to-sing songs recommended for women in their 90s: A roundup of tracks to try at karaoke
- [For Seniors] Recommended spring songs for people in their 90s: A collection of Shōwa-era spring tunes
- Recommended love songs for people in their 90s: A collection of classic Shōwa-era romance songs
- For People in Their 90s: Dance Tracks and Exercise Songs That Make Moving Your Body Fun!
- Recommended autumn songs for people in their 90s: A collection of Showa-era autumn tunes
- Lively songs recommended for people in their 80s: A collection of nostalgic enka and kayōkyoku
- A collection of moving, tear-jerking songs recommended for women in their 90s—heartfelt tunes that resonate with the soul.
- Easy-to-sing songs recommended for men in their 90s: A roundup of tracks to sing at karaoke
- [For people in their 90s] Recommended Christmas songs: from nostalgic school songs and hymns to timeless classics
- An encouraging song we want people in their 80s to hear. A cheer song from the Showa era.
[For Seniors] Recommended Youth Songs for People in Their 90s: A Collection of Showa-Era Classics (11–20)
On the Day of DepartureLyrics by Noboru Kojima / Music by Hiromi Sakamoto
There is a song that many older adults love, often associated with the arrival of spring and graduation season.
Originally created at a junior high school in Saitama Prefecture as a gift to graduating students, it has since become a standard performed at schools across Japan.
With hopeful lyrics and a bright melody, it conveys courage and determination for a new beginning.
It also gained attention when it was used in a commercial featuring SMAP.
It’s a wonderful song that lets you look back on nostalgic memories while feeling hopeful about the future.
Why not listen to it together with older adults as an opportunity to reflect on life’s milestones?
The Flower Girl of TokyoHaruo Oka
A classic from 1946 that paints a single flower of hope blooming at a Tokyo crossroads where blue willows are budding.
Sung with the warmth of Haruo Oka’s voice, the melody gently embraced people’s hearts during the turmoil of the postwar era.
Through the figure of a young flower seller with a gentle demeanor, the image of Tokyo rising from the ashes comes into view.
The lyrics by Sasa Shio and the composition by Gento Uehara blend beautifully, creating a gem of a song in which a definite hope can be felt even amid loneliness.
This work gracefully depicts the feelings of those seeking to take a new step with the arrival of spring.
It is a moving masterpiece recommended for anyone who wishes to spend a heartwarming moment in the spring sunshine.
You, my beloved.Hisao Ito
As one of the quintessential masterpieces of Showa-era kayōkyoku, there is a gem of a ballad that expresses Hisao Itō’s sweet yet heartrending feelings of love.
Composed by Yuji Koseki with lyrics by Kazuo Kikuta, this piece beautifully blends a gently expressive melody with a rich baritone voice.
Released by Nippon Columbia in September 1953, it also drew attention as the theme song for the film “Kimi no Na wa,” which premiered the same year.
The story and the music melded together perfectly, moving the hearts of people at the time.
Please enjoy this timeless classic at a relaxed pace, letting it resonate alongside fond memories.
It’s also lovely to listen together with older listeners and let conversations blossom about youthful days.
Otomi-sanKasuga Hachirō
A classic song that represents the Showa era, “Otomi-san.” Hachiro Kasuga’s clear high notes vividly convey the pathos of a poignant story.
While rejoicing at the reunion with a former lover, the protagonist’s complex feelings—lamenting the fate that binds them—tug at the heart.
Since its release in 1954, this long-selling song has captured many hearts and has been covered by numerous artists.
Its wistful melody surely still resonates deeply with older listeners who have experienced life’s joys and sorrows.
If family members or caregivers sing along together, it will no doubt spark lively conversations filled with fond memories of the past.
hometownsong
Blue mountains, pure waters, and memories of childhood play.
The gentle melody that wraps these scenes of a beloved hometown, along with feelings for family and friends living far away, holds a universal appeal that resonates with everyone.
First published in 1914 as a Ministry of Education school song, this piece was created by Tatsuyuki Takano and Teiichi Okano, vividly reflecting the rural landscapes and lifestyles of Japan at the time.
It was sung at the closing ceremony of the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, moving countless people.
Its simple, memorable melody in G major and triple meter continues to be sung at life’s milestones, such as graduation and coming-of-age ceremonies.
With lyrics and melody that evoke nostalgia, it is truly a song that stands by all who live away from their hometowns—a work that can be said to symbolize the heart of Japan.
Blue MountainsIchiro Fujiyama
Ichiro Fujiwara’s “Blue Mountain Range” is a masterpiece that gently envelops listeners’ hearts, as if overlaying its majestic scenery with the journey of life.
Written by Yaso Saijo and composed by Ryoichi Hattori, the song has been cherished ever since its release in 1949.
Fujiwara’s dignified voice brings to life the days of youth and those standing at life’s crossroads, stirring deep emotion.
It feels imbued with a warm message that allows older listeners to recall their youthful days with nostalgia and to rediscover hope for living in the present.
While reminiscing about days gone by, one can let their thoughts dwell on a life that continues to shine forever.
[For Seniors] Recommended Youthful Songs for People in Their 90s: A Collection of Showa-Era Classics (21–30)
The Sun of the DowntownChieko Baisho
This song is filled with the nostalgic charm of Showa-era downtown life, featuring a warm, gentle voice that tenderly embraces everyday people’s lives.
Its lyrics portray those who face forward and live like the shining sun, while the melody—tinged with a wistfulness reminiscent of Russian folk songs—resonates deeply.
Released in 1962 as Chieko Baisho’s debut single, it won the New Artist Award at the 4th Japan Record Awards the following year.
A film of the same title was also produced, directed by Yoji Yamada and starring Baisho.
It is recommended for older listeners who feel fond nostalgia for the warm, humane atmosphere of the downtown districts, so different from the upscale Yamanote area.
We hope everyone will take their time to enjoy the song together, letting it spark lively conversations about memories from days gone by.