Karaoke songs you’ll want to sing for men in their 70s: Enka and nostalgic Showa-era pop
In this article, we’ll introduce a comprehensive list of karaoke songs perfect for men in their 70s.
Focusing on tracks from the 1960s to the 1980s that they likely listened to in their youth, we’ve gathered many classic enka and Showa-era pop songs.
If you’re in your 70s, you’ll probably know every song here—and each one may bring back a variety of memories.
We hope this article helps you choose songs for your next karaoke session.
Reminisce about the old days and have a great time singing with friends of the same generation!
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[For Men in Their 70s] Karaoke Songs You’ll Want to Sing: Enka and Nostalgic Showa-Era Kayōkyoku (1–10)
It was rainy again in Nagasaki today.Hiroshi Uchiyamada and the Cool Five
A masterpiece that stands as a monument of mood kayō (Japanese mood music), deeply etched in many people’s hearts.
Its beautiful melody infused with sorrow and wistfulness, along with Kiyoshi Maekawa’s richly expressive vocals, leaves a strong impression.
Evoking the emotional scenery of Kyushu and the ache of a broken heart, the song lingers deeply with listeners.
Released in February 1969, this single marked the major-label debut of Hiroshi Uchiyamada and the Cool Five.
It reached No.
2 on the Oricon charts and won the New Artist Award at that year’s Japan Record Awards.
It was also featured in a joint commercial by Nagasaki Prefecture and JF Nagasaki (the fisheries cooperative), contributing to regional promotion.
The song has continued to be covered by many artists, including Hibari Misora and Sayuri Ishikawa.
It’s a track you’ll want to enjoy at karaoke with dear friends, wrapped in fond memories.
TSUNAMISouthern All Stars
An emotionally moving love ballad that likens the pain of heartbreak to a tsunami, this song captivates with Keisuke Kuwata’s deep vocals and a warmly poetic world.
It begins quietly, then swells like waves of emotion with a beautiful, memorable melody that conveys both the strength and the fragility of love.
Released in January 2000, it was also used as the theme song for the ‘Future Diary III’ segment of the TV show ‘Uunnan no Hontoko!’ and reached No.
1 on the Oricon weekly chart.
It won the Grand Prize at the 42nd Japan Record Awards, becoming a definitive song of the year 2000 in both name and substance.
It is a gem that resonates deep in the heart when you want to immerse yourself in memories of a loved one or reflect on life.
Becoming a Thousand WindsMasafumi Akikawa
As a masterpiece of beautiful Japanese ballads, Masafumi Akikawa’s singing voice has left a deep impression on many hearts.
With the powerful, soaring tone characteristic of a tenor, this gem of a song gently conveys the preciousness of life and feelings for loved ones.
Released in May 2006, it became an extraordinary hit for a classical singer, creating a major buzz that included Akikawa serving as the closing performer for the White Team at the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen the following year.
In 2007, it was also selected as the theme song for a Fuji TV documentary drama.
Singing about the feelings one has for someone dear, this work continues to be cherished across generations as a song that resonates in many moments of life.
[For Men in Their 70s] Karaoke Songs You’ll Want to Sing: Enka and Nostalgic Showa-Era Kayōkyoku (11–20)
The City of Love, SapporoYujiro Ishihara
This gem of a love song, which tells a romance beginning at Sapporo’s iconic Clock Tower, is cherished by many as one of Yujiro Ishihara’s signature numbers.
Released as a single in May 1972, it drew attention as a groundbreaking work told from a woman’s perspective and went on to sell a total of 650,000 copies.
Coinciding with the Sapporo Winter Olympics held that year, the song also helped convey Sapporo’s allure to listeners across Japan.
Wrapped in Ishihara’s deep, gentle vocals, the feelings of a woman who discovered love beneath a tender sky are tenderly sung, evoking vivid scenes in which memories of love deepen with the changing seasons.
A duet version with Miyuki Kawanaka was later produced, and this piece remains a beloved classic that beautifully weaves together Sapporo’s scenery and the memories of love—an unforgettable song that lingers in the heart.
The two are young.Dick Mine
This work gently depicts the radiant romance of the early Showa era.
Through call-and-response exchanges between a man and a woman that echo like a mountain yodel, it conveys the fresh feelings of young lovers.
It subtly portrays the couple’s relationship and the delicate nuances of their emotions, conjuring a refreshing scene and making for a superb song.
Released in 1935, it features a captivating, well-synchronized duet by Dick Mine and Reiko Hoshi.
Sing it together at karaoke, and nostalgic memories will naturally come flooding back.
With its soft atmosphere that brings calm, this heartwarming melody evokes blue skies and a gentle breeze, making it a lovely tune that can put a smile on anyone’s face.
Northern SpringMasao Sen
This is one of Masao Sen’s signature songs, whose emotionally rich lyrics and beautiful melody resonate deeply.
Released in April 1977, it became a massive hit with total sales exceeding three million copies.
It was performed many times on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, making it one of the most frequently featured songs on the program in the 20th century.
Depicting the nostalgia of someone who has left their hometown, the piece delicately portrays the protagonist’s feelings as the arrival of spring brings memories of home.
With numerous covers in Chinese and Thai, the song is widely loved across Asia.
Why not sing it together, holding close the nostalgic scenery of your hometown and memories of your loved ones?
spring's dry windShigeru Izumiya
A work that sharply portrays social pressure and loneliness was included on the 1973 album “Light and Shadow” and later released as a single.
Shigeru Izumiya wrote and composed the song, with production by Kazuhiko Kato.
Interweaving the north wind of spring with the hardships of daily life, it delicately expresses the conflict between the self and society.
The power and message of folk music resonated with many artists, leading to covers by numerous musicians, including Anarchy, Keisuke Kuwata, and Masaharu Fukuyama.
I hope you will cherish moments when we share the feelings in our hearts through music.
This work contains many deeply moving words, and those who have rich life experience—especially older listeners—will surely grasp its essence.