[Recommended for people in their 70s] Classic nostalgic hits: A collection of youth songs

Forever with youYuzo Kayama

You Forever / Yuzo Kayama

Yuzo Kayama is known as a multi-talented entertainer and has left a significant mark on the music scene since the 1960s.

His signature song, “Kimi to Itsumademo” (Forever With You), is beloved by many for its memorable lyrics that portray deep love and bittersweet longing.

This piece encapsulates Kayama’s versatile artistry, evoking the sweetness of youth and unforgettable romances.

For older listeners in particular, it can stir special feelings as it brings back memories of their younger days.

It gently stirs emotions that everyone holds in their hearts and may offer not only a sense of nostalgia but new discoveries as well.

Until we meet againKiyohiko Ozaki

Mata Au Himade

Kiyohiko Ozaki was a singer born in 1943 from Chigasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and his 1971 release “Mata Au Hi Made” (Until the Day We Meet Again) was a major hit.

The song’s lyrics were written by Yū Aku and the music was composed by Kyōhei Tsutsumi.

It features lyrics that are quiet yet convey strong resolve, along with Ozaki’s powerful vocals.

While the theme is parting, it carries a forward-looking message toward the future.

For older listeners who spent part of their youth in that era, this song resonates deeply with many memories.

As one of Ozaki’s signature songs and a classic of kayōkyoku (Japanese popular music), it still delivers a fresh sense of emotion today.

The person I fell in love withHarumi Miyako

The person I fell in love with

This song is packed with memories of youth.

Released in 1968, it was Harumi Miyako’s 37th single.

Along with the B-side track “Yoru no Umi ni Kita no,” which is typically the kind of song included on albums, the single became a massive hit from the start, selling over a million copies.

The singing style known as “Harumi-bushi,” characterized by powerful kobushi ornamentation and deep vibrato, suits the love-themed lyrics perfectly.

With this distinctive vocal technique, Harumi Miyako won the Japan Record Award in 1976 for “Kita no Yado Kara.” At the 1984 NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, she performed this song in tears during her retirement stage, moving the entire nation.

This piece brings back fond memories, and it’s highly recommended to listen to it with someone special.

Red high heelsHiromi Ohta

Hiromi Ohta - Red High Heels

A poignant story woven from Takashi Matsumoto’s delicate lyrics, which portray a young girl’s heart wavering between pure dreams and urban reality, and Kyohei Tsutsumi’s melody.

Hiromi Ohta’s transparent voice beautifully expresses the loneliness and inner conflict of city life, symbolized by the motif of red shoes.

Released in June 1976, the song became a major hit, reaching No.

2 on the Oricon charts and winning the Excellence in Vocal Performance Award at that year’s Japan Record Awards.

It was also included on the album “Handmade Picture Book” and was frequently featured on music programs of the time.

For those who long for life in the big city or who live far from their hometown, this is a song that will resonate deeply.

Flying to IstanbulMayoyo Shōno

Flying to Istanbul

A captivating song that beckons you into an exotic world with its dreamy melody and sophisticated, cosmopolitan lyrics.

Released in April 1978, it became one of Maya Shono’s signature works, selling 463,000 copies on the Oricon charts.

Though composer Kyohei Tsutsumi originally wrote it for Goro Noguchi, he decided it would suit a female vocalist better and offered it to Shono.

The arrangement features the Greek folk instrument bouzouki, adding to its exotic atmosphere.

The song portrays a woman setting off on a sentimental journey after a heartbreak, delicately expressing her resolve not to resent her former lover but to accept the experience as a cherished memory.

It’s a perfect choice to sing on a summer night at karaoke, accompanied by your own precious memories.

Tsugaru Strait Winter SceneSayuri Ishikawa

Tsugaru Strait – Winter Scene

There is a classic song that beautifully and poignantly portrays a northern winter landscape and a bittersweet love.

Powerfully sung by Sayuri Ishikawa, the piece recounts the feelings of a woman traveling from Ueno on a night train to Aomori, where she bids a final farewell aboard the Seikan ferry.

Since its 1977 release, it has garnered numerous honors, including the Japan Record Award for Best Vocal Performance, and stands as a monumental work in the enka genre.

Set against the frigid Tsugaru Strait, the image of a woman quietly deciding to part ways amid snow and the roar of the sea is deeply moving.

Please enjoy a wonderful time together, singing along or clapping in rhythm as you savor nostalgic memories.

Cotton HandkerchiefHiromi Ohta

Cotton Handkerchief (with lyrics) - Song by Hiromi Ohta

Let me introduce a heartwarming song that brings back nostalgic memories.

It tells a poignant story of a long-distance romance between a man setting off from the countryside to the big city and a woman who stays in their hometown.

The lyrics alternate between the man’s and the woman’s perspectives—a groundbreaking technique for its time.

Released in 1975, it became a signature song for Hiromi Ohta, who made her first appearance at the 26th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen that same year.

The woman’s longing for an unchanging heart rather than material gifts is especially memorable.

How about humming along with older listeners and sharing stories of youthful days? You’re sure to have a wonderful time.