Energizing songs recommended for men in their 70s: A roundup of nostalgic power tracks

Words of FarewellKaientai

Farewell Words / Kaientai (with lyrics)

Do you have any nostalgic melodies that make you feel the warmth of spring sunshine the moment you hear them? Kaientai’s classic “Okuru Kotoba” is a heartwarming piece filled with messages perfect for graduation season.

Its lyrics about the sorrow of parting, the courage to trust others, and the depth of love truly resonate.

Released in November 1979, the song also became well-known as the theme for the popular TV drama “Mr.

Kinpachi in Class 3-B.” Singing it together with older adults might spark lively conversations about fond memories.

Consider incorporating it into recreational activities at your facility.

Northern SpringMasao Sen

Spring in the Northern Country / Masao Sen (with lyrics)

It’s a classic song woven from nostalgic scenery and heartwarming melodies.

You can picture the springtime scenes of the northern country—snowmelt, white birches, and kobushi magnolia blossoms.

The protagonist’s longing for their hometown while living in the city is poignant.

Released in April 1977, it stayed on the hit charts for two and a half years.

For many older listeners, it may be a song full of memories.

Humming the lyrics while recalling your hometown and cherished people is a lovely idea.

It’s also great to listen to with family and friends.

You’ll enjoy a wonderful time wrapped in nostalgia and warmth.

Like the flow of a riverHibari Misora

Like the Flow of the River Live | Hibari Misora

Let me introduce a masterpiece that represents the world of Japanese popular ballads.

This song is captivating for its metaphor that likens life to the flow of a river.

It sings, over a beautiful melody, of calmly accepting the many events that life brings.

Another hallmark is that many of the lyrics resonate with older adults in their daily lives.

Released in January 1989, it became a major hit.

It is also known as the final work of Hibari Misora and has come to symbolize her life.

It’s a perfect song to sing together with seniors and to share nostalgic memories.

The Longed-For Hawaii RouteHaruo Oka

The Longed-For Hawaii Route

Haruo Oka’s “Akogare no Hawai Kōro” (“The Longed-for Hawaii Route”) is a classic that truly reflects its era, symbolizing the postwar Japanese yearning for the wider world.

Its lyrics conjure vivid scenes—the clear blue sky and gentle breeze, the ship’s departure bell, the streamers at farewell—overflowing with hope for distant shores.

Released in 1948, it became a massive hit, and in 1950 it was adopted as the theme song for a film of the same name.

Listen to it when setting off on a sea voyage or when reminiscing about your youth, and you’ll feel your heart fill with courage and energy.

Just as Oka’s soulful voice encouraged people in the postwar years, it will surely become a powerful guidepost in your own life.

Tokyo Boogie-WoogieShizuko Kasagi

Tokyo Boogie-Woogie

Shizuko Kasagi’s “Tokyo Boogie-Woogie” is a monumental pop classic that lit a spark in the hearts of the Japanese people after the war.

The world woven by Ryoichi Hattori’s sophisticated jazz rhythms and Masaru Suzuki’s lyrics overflows with the fun and joy of music.

Since its release in 1947, it has enjoyed multiple revival hits and has been covered by many artists—an immortal masterpiece.

It’s the perfect song for those in their seventies to reminisce about their youth.

How about singing it together with family and friends to its light, lively beat?

Blue MountainsIchiro Fujiyama

Blue Mountains

Ichiro Fujiyama’s “Aoi Sanmyaku” (Blue Mountains) is a timeless classic released in 1949 as the theme song for the film of the same name based on Yojiro Ishizaka’s novel.

Ryoichi Hattori is said to have conceived the melody on a train to Kyoto while gazing at the Rokko Mountains, and Yaso Saijo set lyrics to it that overlay scenes of youthful longing and poignant farewell.

While depicting parting, the lyrics remain bright and full of hope, sure to move many listeners.

Crowned No.

1 in NHK’s 1989 “200 Unforgettable Songs of the Showa Era,” and performed many times on TBS’s “The Best Ten,” it is a standard that represents the 20th century.

For those in their seventies, it’s a song to revisit while reminiscing about your younger days.

A city sandwich board manKoji Tsuruta

A city sandwich board man

Koji Tsuruta’s “Machi no Sandwich Man” is a moving classic from the Showa era.

Its lyrics, depicting the lives of people who survived the difficult postwar years as sandwich-board men, leave a strong impression.

The song celebrates the strength to live without losing dreams and hope, even in adversity.

Released in 1953, it captured the hearts of people at the time.

It’s a perfect song for those in their 70s to sing as they reminisce about their youth and chat with friends of the same generation.

As you sing it, let yourself be immersed in memories of those days.