[Recommended for people in their 70s] Songs that really move you. Beloved classic Japanese hits of the past.

Album of MemoriesLyrics by Toshi Masuko / Music by Tetsuma Honda

Memory Album / Opening lyrics: ♪ Before we knew it / With easy-to-read lyrics / [Children’s Song]

Evoking a hint of spring, this song gently recounts memories from kindergarten.

It paints scenes from the changing seasons, bringing a sense of nostalgia and warmth to listeners.

Since its release in 1961, it has continued to be loved by many.

It has been featured on TV Asahi’s children’s program “Tobidase! Panpororin” and NHK’s “Minna no Uta,” making it familiar across generations.

It’s also lovely for seniors to hum along with their grandchildren.

A wonderful piece that can be enjoyed across generations while reminiscing about the past.

Flowersong

Hana | With Lyrics | 100 Selected Japanese Songs | In the gentle springtime, the Sumida River

Among the masterpieces that represent the Meiji era is a celebrated song depicting the beautiful spring scenery of the Sumida River: brilliant cherry blossoms along the long embankment, boatmen rowing their oars, and green willows and a hazy moon glowing at dusk.

It is a school song that gracefully expresses the changing seasons of Japan.

Composed by Rentaro Taki with lyrics by Hago Takajima, the piece was included on the album “Shiki” (Four Seasons), released in November 1900.

It was selected in 2006 for the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ “100 Best Japanese Songs,” and in April 1962 The Peanuts performed it on the program “Minna no Uta.” Its melody, resonant with nostalgia, is familiar and accessible to older listeners as well, and is a perfect choice for a leisurely spring afternoon.

Look up at the stars in the nightKyu Sakamoto

Miagete Goran Yoru No Hoshi Wo

Kyu Sakamoto’s signature song Ue o Muite Arukou (Sukiyaki), a defining piece of the Showa era, still warms people’s hearts today.

Loved across generations since its 1963 release, this song can be said to have encouraged postwar Japan.

Its lyrics portray young people who work by day and head to their studies at night, giving courage to everyone striving hard.

It carries both a nostalgia that recalls one’s youth and a sense of strength for living in the present.

Like stars shining in the moonlit sky, it is a song that continues to shine unchanged—such is the timeless beauty of this classic.

Isn't it fine as long as you're happy?Naomi Sara

Isn't it fine as long as you're happy?

Naomi Sagara’s signature works are known for a warm singing voice that gently resonates with many listeners.

This piece is a classic that sings about the importance of cherishing one’s own happiness.

Released in July 1969, it won the Grand Prize at that year’s Japan Record Awards—the first time a female singer achieved this honor.

Tokiko Iwatani’s lyrics and Taku Izumi’s composition blend beautifully, striking a chord with a wide audience.

One of its charms is that it has been covered by various artists, including Nana Kinomi and Keisuke Kuwata.

If you listen while reflecting on your own life, you may sense a different flavor to it.

Why not spend a leisurely moment wrapped in its heartfelt lyrics and gentle melody?

Forever with youYuzo Kayama

EXILE ATSUSHI / With You Forever with Yuzo Kayama (EXILE ATSUSHI LIVE TOUR 2016 “IT’S SHOW TIME!!”)

Yuzo Kayama’s signature song “Kimi to Itsumademo,” released in 1965.

It was performed on the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen an impressive four times, and it remains an eternal classic continually covered by various artists.

The lyrics build upon a straightforward desire to stay by someone’s side unchanged, gently resonating with people in their seventies.

The instrumental version, familiar from Suntory’s commercials, also brings a calm, peaceful moment to the heart.

A nostalgic Showa-era song that still captivates us with undiminished charm even today—“Kimi to Itsumademo” conveys that kind of warm, enduring power.

Cotton HandkerchiefHiromi Ohta

Hiromi Ohta “Cotton Handkerchief” Music Video (Animation by Ai Nina)

It’s a masterpiece by Hiromi Ohta that portrays the heartfelt exchange between a man leaving for the big city and a woman who remains in their hometown, told through letters.

His changing self and her wish for unchanging love resonate poignantly over a light, breezy melody.

The way it cherishes pure emotional connection over material wealth is sure to strike a chord with many.

Released as a single in December 1975, the song became widely beloved the following year, leading to Ohta’s first appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 1976—a milestone track.

Also included on the album “Kokoro ga Kaze o Hiita Hi,” it’s a perfect song for those who deeply relate to its lyrical story or want to revisit the bittersweet days of youth.

If you sing it at karaoke while empathizing with the characters’ hearts, the experience will surely be all the more moving.

Battotai (Army Marching Song)Charles Leroux

Battōtai (Drawn-Sword Corps)

A masterpiece created by a wartime military band modeled after Western-style marches.

Woven by the French composer Charles Leroux beginning in 1877, the work features a bold structure that incorporates the latest style of the time—a 2/4 meter with modulations—and a powerful melody that boosts soldiers’ morale.

By 1886 it had earned such high acclaim that it was dedicated to Emperor Meiji, and in 1912 it took on its present form, becoming a beloved classic widely performed by military bands across the country.

The prayer for soldiers and the spirit of requiem sung over its valiant march remain deeply etched in the hearts of generations who experienced war.

It is a piece to listen to alongside those who remember that era, with prayers for peace in our hearts.