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

The Splendor of the PrairieAgnes Chan

The Shine of the Grasslands / Agnes Chan (with lyrics)

Amidst nature’s rich scenery, a name echoes and the wind’s sound brings tears.

While listening to the babbling of a brook, this moving song by Agnes Chan celebrates moments spent in a meadow scented with lotus blossoms.

As wild strawberries are picked, pure thoughts of a dearly loved one far away blend beautifully with her clear, translucent voice.

Released in 1973, the song became a major hit with sales exceeding one million copies, and it was chosen as the entrance march for the spring National High School Baseball Invitational in 1974.

As a springtime song that evokes the beauty of nature and the season of new journeys, it’s a perfect nostalgic tune to hum together with older listeners.

Anemone flaccida (nirinsō; literally “two-flowered anemone”)Miyuki Kawanaka

Nirinso / Miyuki Kawanaka with Lyrics

This is a warm song about the bond between husband and wife, with Miyuki Kawanaka’s emotionally rich vocals resonating deeply.

Using as its motif a plant where two flowers bloom side by side, it sings of the importance of caring for and supporting each other through life.

Combined with her gently enveloping voice, the piece is heartwarming, conveying deep love and connection.

Released in 1998, it became a major hit, with shipments surpassing one million copies.

At the 40th Japan Record Awards, it won both the Excellence Award and the Arrangement Award.

Featured five times on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, this song has long been cherished in karaoke as a memorable tune for couples who have spent many years together.

Hello, baby.Michiyo Azusa

Hello, baby.

A gently sung piece overflowing with boundless love for a baby, Michiyo Azusa’s crystalline voice sinks deep into the heart.

Its warm melody celebrating the birth of new life harmonizes beautifully with tender lyrics that express a mother’s profound love.

Released in 1963, the song won the 5th Japan Record Award that same year.

It became a massive hit, selling over 1.

2 million copies, and went on to become one of Azusa’s signature songs.

Loved across generations, this work brings a sense of calm and is cherished by many older listeners as well.

With its easy-to-sing melody and bright atmosphere, it remains a popular choice for karaoke.

a bright red sunHibari Misora

Crimson Sun

This song beautifully blends the seasonal feel of love with a passionate rock sound.

Evoking the image of the midsummer sun, its vivid composition richly portrays young love by the seaside in summer, dramatizing the changing emotions of romance as the seasons shift.

The unique world conjured by Hibari Misora’s powerful vocals is captivating.

Released in May 1967 as a track on her 20th anniversary album in show business, “Uta wa Waga Inochi,” it became a massive hit, selling over 1.

4 million copies.

It’s a perfect choice for karaoke at day service centers, offering a heart-lifting melody and a chance to bask in wonderful memories.

Let yourself go with the flow of timeTeresa Teng

Leave oneself to the flow of time / Teresa Teng (with lyrics)

Teresa Teng, the Asian diva who conveyed life’s deepest emotions through moving melodies.

This song tells of how meeting a beloved person dramatically changed her life, and of her resolve to devote herself completely.

Set to a gentle, warm major-key arrangement, her clear, translucent voice resonates in the heart.

Released as a single in February 1986 and included on the album “Toki no Nagare ni Mi o Makase,” it won the Grand Prix at the 19th Japan Cable Radio Awards that same year.

With its beautiful, easy-to-remember melody, it’s perfect for everyone to hum along to while sharing fond memories.

IzakayaHiroshi Itsuki

Izakaya — Kinomi Nana / Hiroshi Itsuki

Set in an izakaya, this song delicately portrays the subtle emotions of lonely men and women.

Yu Aku’s woven lyrics and Katsuo Ono’s soul-stirring melody blend beautifully, evoking a mature worldview steeped in the atmosphere of the Showa era.

The distinctive voices of Hiroshi Itsuki and Nana Kinomi gently envelop a scene where loneliness and warmth intertwine.

Released in October 1982, this work has continued to be loved as one of Hiroshi Itsuki’s signature songs.

A new duet version with Fuyumi Sakamoto was produced in October 2017.

With lyrics that touch on the nuances of life and a familiar, accessible melody, it’s a wonderful choice for everyone to enjoy singing at karaoke.

Scorpio womanKenichi Mikawa

Kenichi Mikawa “Woman of Scorpio (New Recording)” (Official Audio)

A signature song by Kenichi Mikawa that portrays the strength and poignancy of a passionate woman who lives for love.

Released in December 1972, this memorable enka number expresses straightforward affection and the sorrow of betrayal.

Mikawa’s powerful vocals blend beautifully with a distinctive worldview inspired by Scorpio, one of the twelve zodiac signs, and the song sold about 97,000 copies on the Oricon charts.

It was performed on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen for four consecutive years from 2006 to 2009, revealing new charms through various arrangements, including operatic and samba styles.

With its relaxed tempo and gentle melodic contours, it’s also easy to sing—another part of its appeal.

Why not sing it with a sense of nostalgia as a treasured song tied to precious memories?