Recommended Cheer-Up Songs for People in Their 70s: A Collection of Uplifting Tunes

To the Sun in the Palm of Your HandDaisuke Yokoyama

[Children’s Song] Keep the Sun in Your Palms / Daisuke Yokoyama

Daisuke Yokoyama’s “Tenohira wo Taiyo ni” carries a warm message that expresses the preciousness of life and our connections.

Born from the deep thoughts of the late Takashi Yanase, this song can bring courage and vitality to older adults as well.

In particular, the sense of life’s pulsation felt through one’s own palms inspires the will to keep looking forward and not give up, no matter the circumstances.

This song can be enjoyed even while seated, making it a wonderful choice that brings a touch of brightness and positive energy to everyday life.

Through music, it offers a chance to take a new step forward.

Traveler,Yuzo Kayama

Traveler / Yuzo Kayama [with lyrics]

It’s a heartwarming masterpiece written with words that gently accompany each person’s life, a song that truly resonates with the soul.

Serving as an anthem for travelers who keep moving forward while remembering their hometown, it features lyrics that are both tender and powerful, leaving a lasting impression.

Yuzo Kayama’s clear, transparent vocals blend beautifully with the harmonies of The Launchers, creating superb balance.

The piece was released in October 1966 as the B-side of the single “Gazing at the Night Sky,” and it was also used as an insert song in the film Let’s Go! Wakadaisho.

In May 2010, a duet version with Ryoko Moriyama was included on the album 50 Years of Wakadaisho!.

This is a highly recommended song for those standing at a crossroads in life or for anyone wishing to look back on cherished memories.

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 being able to enjoy a heartwarming classic while expressing it through full-body movement.

It’s a song where you can share the joy of connecting with others alongside a simple, friendly melody.

Released by Kyu Sakamoto in 1964, it became one of his signature songs alongside “Ue o Muite Arukō” (Sukiyaki).

Based on an American folk song, the Japanese lyrics were written by Toshito Kimura with a wish for peace and friendship.

A heartwarming experience in the Philippines inspired the 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.

How about enjoying handclaps and body movements together with older adults and letting the conversation blossom with fond memories?

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.

Because the moon is so very blueTsutoko Sugawara

Highest Sound Quality! ~ Because the Moon Is So Very Blue (Sung by: Totoko Sugawara)

Totoko Sugawara, known for her distinctive, wistful vibrato, was called the Queen of Elegy and is also famous as the very first singer to perform on NHK’s Kouhaku Uta Gassen, which everyone knows.

She moved to Tokyo at the age of nine for an audition, where her talent blossomed, and together with her father, the composer Akira Mutsu, she released numerous masterpieces.

Her signature song, “Tsuki ga Tottemo Aoi Kara” (Because the Moon Is So Very Blue), became a million-selling hit in an era when the music market was much smaller than it is today, making her a household name across Japan.

For many seniors, it’s a song right at the heart of their youthful days, so it could be a great choice for recreational activities or background music in senior care facilities.

TouchHiromi Iwasaki

Touch / Yoshimi Iwasaki / Full-size / With lyrics

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.

Sake, Tears, Men, and WomenEigo Kawashima

Sake, Tears, Men and Women “Eigo Kawashima” with Lyrics

This is a classic song that portrays the bittersweetness of life that everyone has experienced.

It gently depicts the differences in emotional expression between men and women, resonating with listeners through Eigo Kawashima’s deep insight and warm voice.

Included on the album “Jinrui” (Humanity), the song was also released in 1976 as Kawashima’s solo debut and reached No.

9 on the Oricon weekly chart.

Known as the theme song for the sake brand “Kizakura,” it became a major talking point in step with the social mood of the time.

The melody is soft, and its simplicity seeps into the heart.

It’s the perfect song to enjoy at karaoke with someone special.

I hope you’ll savor it slowly, along with your fond memories.