Recommended love songs for men in their 70s: A collection of nostalgic love songs

A Love Story in GinzaYujiro Ishihara · Junko Makimura

A Love Story in Ginza — Yujiro Ishihara & Junko Makimura [Female Part]

Released in 1961, this song portrays the glittering streets of Ginza alongside a poignant love story between a man and a woman.

The duet by Yujiro Ishihara and Junko Makimura beautifully captures the subtle differences in their emotions, with vocals that resonate deeply with listeners.

Featured as an insert song in the film “Kaze-o-Yobu Otoko: From Town to Town” and followed by a film of the same title the next year, it became a major hit.

As an emblem of Ginza, a monument to the song was erected in 1990.

Blending a man’s powerful feelings with a woman’s sultry sentiments, this emotionally rich piece is perfect for moments when you want to talk about love or look back on cherished memories.

Tokyo CachitoFrank Nagai

Tokyo Cachito — Frank Nagai

It’s a classic of mood kayō that has continued to be loved as a Showa-era masterpiece.

Set against the backdrop of nights in Akasaka, the song portrays the bittersweetness of adult love with an urban sensibility.

Frank Nagai’s alluring low voice richly conveys the feelings of a man troubled by love.

Released in October 1960, the single featured “Arcade Blues” on the B-side.

As a leading presence in the mood kayō boom of the time, it was cherished by many.

It’s a song I’d recommend as a fun karaoke pick to sing with friends, along with fond memories.

IzakayaHiroshi Itsuki

Izakaya – Hiroshi Itsuki x Nana Kinomi [1982] #Izakaya #HiroshiItsuki #NanaKinomi

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.

Snow CountryIkuzo Yoshi

Snow Country by Ikuzo Yoshi

A masterpiece that sings of hope shining through the bitter cold, its bittersweet sense of life’s melancholy resonates deeply.

Yoshikazu Ikuzō’s vocals, tinged with sorrow yet brimming with strength, seep into the depths of the heart.

Released in 1986, it won the Gold Prize at the Japan Record Awards.

That same year, it appeared on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen and topped the Oricon charts—a work cherished by many.

Masterfully intertwining northern landscapes with the stirrings of love, this song was also used in regional tourism promotions and winter campaigns.

For many, it remains a treasured song of memories.

Why not spend a quiet moment listening to its heartwarming voice?

Traveler of the NorthYujiro Ishihara

Northern Traveler - Yujiro Ishihara

He sings a melancholic song about lost love set in the northern country with Yujiro Ishihara’s distinctive low voice.

As it follows a man searching for his beloved while traveling through Hokkaido cities like Kushiro, Hakodate, and Otaru, it conveys his heartbreaking emotions.

It was also used as an insert song in the drama “Seibu Keisatsu” and was released in August 1987.

For Yujiro Ishihara, it became his first and only single to reach No.

1 on the Oricon charts, topping the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart as well.

As you recall days gone by, try singing it gently and with feeling.

Strawberry Statement, Once Againbang bang

Let's Do the 'Strawberry Statement' Once More

This song by Banban is a masterpiece that represents the folk movement of the 1970s.

It portrays tender yet bittersweet memories of youth, as the narrator looks back on a student-days romance, prompted by a rerelease of a film.

Many people can relate to the protagonist’s realistic, down-to-earth portrayal—where youthful ideals meet reality, and he chooses to cut his hair and take a job.

Released in August 1975, the song is also famous as the first piece ever written and provided by singer-songwriter Yumi Arai.

Banban’s harmonies blend beautifully with Arai’s lyrics and melody, and the song became a major hit, reaching No.

1 on the Oricon charts.

Beloved as a song that evokes nostalgia for youth, it’s also known for being easy to sing at karaoke.

As time goes byKenji Sawada

As time goes by

A gem of a ballad that depicts the wounded hearts of lonely men and women, gently wrapped in tender love.

The poignant lyrics about men and women burdened with exhausted hearts strike deep, and when combined with Kenji Sawada’s sultry vocals, they evoke profound emotion.

Released as an insert song for the drama “Akuma no Youna Aitsu,” which premiered in August 1975, this work became a major hit, topping the Oricon chart for five consecutive weeks.

The fusion of Yu Aku’s masterful lyrics and Katsuo Ohno’s lyrical melody produced a treasured classic that quietly stays by your side when you feel weary of life or uncertain about a relationship with someone dear.