[2026] Recommended karaoke songs for women in their 70s: from enka to Showa-era pop

Lingering Snowdolphin

Dolphin [Iruka] / Nagori-yuki [Lingering Snow] (Single Version) Official Audio with translation

This is a song whose charm lies in a melody that evokes the arrival of spring and lyrics that touch the heart.

Set on a train platform, it vividly portrays a man and a woman parting ways amid the fleeting snow of early spring.

Beautifully depicting the moment of farewell and a love left unfinished by youth, the piece is filled with the bittersweetness of adolescence and the process of growing up.

Iruka’s rich, resonant vocals carry a warm, heartfelt quality that reaches deep within.

First included on the March 1975 album “Iruka no Sekai,” it was released as a single in November of the same year and reached No.

4 on the Oricon chart.

It’s a beloved, well-known song that many remember; humming along as you recall old memories is sure to make for a delightful moment.

It may also inspire lively conversations among older listeners as they reminisce about those days.

O-Shichi and the Night Cherry BlossomsFuyumi Sakamoto

Fuyumi Sakamoto – Yozakura Oshichi (with lyrics)

This song portrays the poignant feelings of heartbreak, with graceful cherry blossoms drifting in a dreamlike dance.

As the petals fall, Fuyumi Sakamoto’s voice tenderly sings of unforgettable memories, resonating deeply in the heart.

Released in February 1994, the piece beautifully expresses a woman’s powerful emotions through the motif of cherry blossoms.

While the protagonist looks back on a past love, she also possesses the strength to move forward.

I hope you’ll listen beneath the cherry trees, with a gentle sense of nostalgia.

Perhaps you, too, have memories that return with the blossoms.

Why not spend a heartwarming moment with Fuyumi Sakamoto in the spring sunshine?

ScandalTeresa Teng

Scandal

Teresa Teng’s songs are full of that quintessential ’80s vibe.

You can especially hear it in the synthesizers and the vocal lines.

This track, “Scandal,” is unusual for a Teresa Teng song in that its vocal line is crafted more like a 1970s idol tune.

It features a melody that leans somewhat toward doo-wop, and in contrast to the sprightly rhythm, the vocal line is characterized by a narrow range and gentle, gradual pitch movement.

Izakaya “Showa”Aki Yashiro

Aki Yashiro – Izakaya “Showa”

Aki Yashiro’s classic “Izakaya ‘Showa’” leaves a strikingly somber impression.

Yashiro is renowned for her ‘men’s songs,’ and among them, this piece is exceptionally rugged and refined.

True to enka style, there are solid kobushi (ornamental turns), but most of them shift only one or two scale degrees, so it shouldn’t feel difficult.

Rather than a clean vocal tone, this song benefits from a weathered, husky quality, so it’s recommended to sing it when your voice feels a bit worn.

Cotton HandkerchiefHiromi Ohta

Cotton Handkerchief (with lyrics) - Song by Hiromi Ohta

Let me introduce a heartwarming song that brings back nostalgic memories.

It tells a poignant story of a long-distance romance between a man setting off from the countryside to the big city and a woman who stays in their hometown.

The lyrics alternate between the man’s and the woman’s perspectives—a groundbreaking technique for its time.

Released in 1975, it became a signature song for Hiromi Ohta, who made her first appearance at the 26th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen that same year.

The woman’s longing for an unchanging heart rather than material gifts is especially memorable.

How about humming along with older listeners and sharing stories of youthful days? You’re sure to have a wonderful time.

school daysPeggy Hayama

school days

A song filled with youthful memories comes back to life in the voice of Peggy Hayama.

Released in 1964, this piece richly portrays student life at a mission school.

Prayers in the chapel, memories with friends, studying in the library, and fleeting first love—nostalgic scenes come vividly to mind.

It was performed on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 1965 and went on to become a million-seller.

Beloved as a standard song for graduations and reunions, it may prompt older listeners to reflect on their own school days.

Why not hum along, together with your cherished memories?

The arrival of springRumiko Koyanagi

Arrival of Spring Rumiko Koyanagi

This song, which evokes the arrival of spring, is captivating for Rumiko Koyanagi’s clear, translucent singing voice.

It begins with a scene of walking along the seaside with a lover, and the lyrics depicting warm interactions with family are deeply moving.

Released in February 1973, it was a popular hit that reached No.

4 on the Oricon charts.

Its gentle melody and richly scenic lyrics are sure to stir up nostalgic memories.

How about spending a spring afternoon listening by the window and reflecting on memories with someone precious? It will surely be a heartwarming, wonderful time.