Recommended heartbreak songs for women in their 70s. A collection of classic Showa-era breakup masterpieces.
If you’re a woman in your 70s, chances are you listened to a lot of love songs from around the 1970s.
Japanese pop songs released in that era truly include many masterpieces—timeless tracks that still haven’t lost their charm.
In this article, we’ll focus specifically on heartbreak songs and introduce tracks recommended for women in their 70s.
They may help you recall past romantic experiences or bring back the feelings you had back then.
You’ll likely recognize many of these songs, so take this opportunity to listen to them again with fresh ears.
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Recommended breakup songs for women in their 70s. A collection of classic Showa-era breakup masterpieces (21–30)
Parting at 22Princess Kaguya
A delicately rendered farewell to a longtime lover, this is a classic song that almost everyone has hummed at least once.
Released by Kaguya-hime on their 1974 album “Sankaidate no Uta,” it is said to have been written in a single night.
In 1984, it was used as the theme song for the drama “Kinō, Kanabetsu de,” bringing it back into the spotlight.
Accompanied by a gentle melody, the lyrics look back on memories with a lover while gazing toward a new step in life—offering comfort to those who have overcome a turning point in their lives.
foreignerSaki Kubota
Saki Kubota is a singer-songwriter born in 1958 who achieved a major hit with her 1979 debut single “Ihōjin” (“Stranger”).
The song strongly reflects Kubota’s unique musical sensibility, featuring an alluring blend of oriental tones and a mysterious atmosphere.
Its breakup-themed lyrics beautifully portray the healing of a wounded heart over time.
Through Kubota’s expressive delivery, the focus shifts from the pain of heartbreak to the subsequent healing and the hope of moving forward.
This work can also be recommended as an encouraging anthem for those embarking on a new chapter in life—especially for listeners who, while looking back on the past, feel the importance of taking a new step ahead.
Listening to OliviaAnri
A melody that gently envelops the lingering ache of a bittersweet romance, paired with refined musicianship, resonates deeply in the heart.
The lyrics, which carefully depict a woman healing her delicate emotions after a breakup while listening to Olivia Newton-John’s songs, have struck a chord with many.
With Anri’s clear, translucent vocals giving the piece a sophisticated, urban feel, it was released in November 1978 and included on the album “Anri.” In 2008, it was also featured as an insert song in the Nippon TV drama “Saito-san,” cementing its status as a timeless classic loved across generations.
This warm ballad offers comfort to those trying to recover from the pain of heartbreak and to anyone who has experienced parting with someone dear.
Longing for RainAki Yashiro
This masterpiece, hailed as a monument of Showa-era enka, was released as a single in April 1980, born from the golden duo of lyricist Yu Aku and composer Keisuke Hama.
The lyrics poignantly capture the heartache of a woman after a breakup, seamlessly blending with a bright, rhythmic melody in exquisite balance.
Aki Yashiro’s sultry voice and distinctive phrasing are captivating, giving the song a familiar charm that anyone can hum along to.
The work won the 22nd Japan Record Award and was also featured in commercials for Vidal Sassoon and BOSS.
With its gentle, soothing atmosphere and memorable choreography, it’s a song that can be enjoyed while moving together with seniors.
It’s perfect for group recreation or karaoke, where everyone can sing and have fun together.
Lonely-for-Company TavernHiroshi Miki
An enka song that richly portrays the feelings of a woman carrying a heartrending love was released in June 2009 as Hiroshi Miyama’s debut work.
With delicate wording, it weaves in the loneliness of a woman drinking alone at a bar, the sorrow of heartbreak, and her unwavering feelings for her lover.
His warm voice gently resonates with listeners and has the power to evoke deep empathy.
About one year and three months after its release, the song sold 100,000 copies and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.
It’s a recommended track for those who want to hum along to a song full of memories or leisurely enjoy heartwarming enka.
Kanda RiverKosetsu Minami & Kaguyahime
A gem of a folk song that richly captures the emotions of youthful cohabitation.
Scenes like wearing a red tenugui as a scarf on the way to the public bath, or sketching a lover’s portrait with crayons, gently depict the modest yet warm lives of young people.
Released in September 1973 as a single cut from the July 1973 album “Kaguyahime Third,” the song went on to top the Oricon weekly singles chart for seven consecutive weeks that year, selling 1.
6 million copies and becoming a massive hit.
Please take your time to savor the heartfelt vocals—whether as a nostalgic tune that brings back memories of the era, or as a song that evokes the atmosphere around the Kanda River and Asakusa.
Rainy MidosujiOuyang Feifei
A classic song that poignantly and expressively sings of a bittersweet love against the backdrop of rain-soaked Osaka streets.
The feelings conveyed by Ouyang Fei Fei are imbued with the sorrow of a woman searching for her lover as she walks south along Midosuji.
The vivid depictions of ginkgo-lined avenues and sidewalks are memorable, unfolding scenes anyone can picture in their mind.
Released in September 1971, the song topped the Oricon weekly chart for nine consecutive weeks.
It won the New Artist Award at the 13th Japan Record Awards and quickly became a massive hit.
It’s best enjoyed alone on a quiet night.
As you listen, reflecting on memories with someone dear, your heart will gently warm with a sense of nostalgia.