[For women in their 70s] A collection of songs that are easy to sing even for people who are tone-deaf

Album of MemoriesLyrics by Toshi Masuko / Music by Tetsuma Honda

Memory Album / Opening lyrics: ♪ Before we knew it / With easy-to-read lyrics / [Children’s Song]

Evoking a hint of spring, this song gently recounts memories from kindergarten.

It paints scenes from the changing seasons, bringing a sense of nostalgia and warmth to listeners.

Since its release in 1961, it has continued to be loved by many.

It has been featured on TV Asahi’s children’s program “Tobidase! Panpororin” and NHK’s “Minna no Uta,” making it familiar across generations.

It’s also lovely for seniors to hum along with their grandchildren.

A wonderful piece that can be enjoyed across generations while reminiscing about the past.

Life is full of ups and downs.Chiyoko Shimakura

Life is full of ups and downs.

With a warm, memory-weaving voice, this song carries a powerful message that gently resonates with people’s hearts.

Known as one of Chiyoko Shimakura’s signature works, it has been beloved by many since its release in 1987.

At the 30th Japan Record Awards in 1988, it won the Gold Prize and the Best Vocal Performance Award.

That same year, Shimakura made a comeback appearance at NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen after a two-year hiatus and performed this piece.

Its lyrics, which embrace the joys and sorrows of life, leave a deep impression on listeners.

The melody features a modest vocal range and a relaxed, smooth line, making it approachable even for those who aren’t confident singers.

Song of the Four SeasonsLyrics and music by: Toyohisa Araki

Song of the Four Seasons | With Lyrics | 100 Selected Japanese Songs | Those who love spring are people with pure hearts

Under the gentle sunshine of spring, a timeless Showa-era classic resonates deep in the heart.

In Toyohisa Araki’s work, the beauty of Japan’s four seasons and his feelings toward people are exquisitely captured within a warm melody.

Born from gratitude toward nurses during a hospital stay, this piece was introduced on Nippon Broadcasting’s “Aozora Wide,” where it received an overwhelming response, and Yoko Seri’s performance went on to become a million seller.

The tenderly drawn seasonal scenes and the deep affection for friends and family evoke a tranquil passage of time.

It’s a wonderful song that invites you to reminisce and reflect on bonds with loved ones.

Perfect for a relaxing music recreation session for seniors.

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.

Spring somewhereLyrics by Muneharu Momota / Music by Shin Kusakawa

Somewhere, spring is | with lyrics | One Hundred Japanese Songs | Somewhere, spring is being born

A beloved song that gently portrays the arrival of spring was born in March 1923.

Created by Soji Momota and Shin Kusakawa, the piece delicately captures subtle changes in nature—like the sound of water beginning to flow, birdsong, and the breath of budding plants.

Its calm, warm melody is filled with the joy and hope of spring, and it has often been featured on NHK’s educational programs.

It is recommended for music recreation sessions that spark nostalgic conversations about the past or allow people to share the feeling of spring’s arrival together.

Like a pleasant spring breeze, it will help you spend a gentle, peaceful moment.

Flowersong

Hana | With Lyrics | 100 Selected Japanese Songs | In the gentle springtime, the Sumida River

Among the masterpieces that represent the Meiji era is a celebrated song depicting the beautiful spring scenery of the Sumida River: brilliant cherry blossoms along the long embankment, boatmen rowing their oars, and green willows and a hazy moon glowing at dusk.

It is a school song that gracefully expresses the changing seasons of Japan.

Composed by Rentaro Taki with lyrics by Hago Takajima, the piece was included on the album “Shiki” (Four Seasons), released in November 1900.

It was selected in 2006 for the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ “100 Best Japanese Songs,” and in April 1962 The Peanuts performed it on the program “Minna no Uta.” Its melody, resonant with nostalgia, is familiar and accessible to older listeners as well, and is a perfect choice for a leisurely spring afternoon.

Apple SongMichiko Namiki

Apple Song - Michiko Namiki - Showa-era song

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.