Lovely autumn song

[2025] Autumn songs for people in their 60s: timeless classics perfect for the deepening season

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and have been contributing to music magazines and web media for over 15 years. Although Western music is my main field, I always strive to stay curious with the motto, “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in a band, where I was a bassist responsible for songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve performed on include bass, guitar, and piano. I resumed piano lessons after turning 40 and have been continuing ever since!
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICKeisuke Hane
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. After working at a music studio and in wedding sound engineering, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with various instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in middle school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on personal music activities and professional experience, produces daily articles, including song introductions, features on music festivals around Japan, and live reports. Enjoys a wide range of music, from domestic and international rock to, more recently, a broad spectrum of J-pop.

Autumn—the season that somehow leaves us feeling a little melancholy.

At this time of year, many of us tend to become sentimental and recall past heartbreaks or farewells with loved ones.

In this article, we introduce autumn songs we recommend for people in their 60s, selected from among many classics.

We’ve focused on tracks released mainly from the 1970s to the mid-1980s—the youth songs that today’s 60-somethings listened to—so they’re sure to evoke a sense of nostalgia.

They’re also great picks for autumn karaoke.

After sampling them, be sure to try singing them yourself.

[2025] Autumn songs for people in their 60s. Timeless classics perfect for the deepening autumn (11–20)

A café in a student districtGaro

GARO – Gakuseigai no Kissaten (Official Audio)

Cafe Garo in the student district

This is a classic hit by Garo that brings back nostalgic memories of student days.

Composed by Koichi Sugiyama with lyrics by Michio Yamagami, the song gently portrays memories of a former lover, set in a coffee shop in a student district.

Released in June 1972, it went on to top the Oricon charts for seven consecutive weeks the following year and won the Newcomer Award at the Japan Cable Radio Awards.

It was later used in a 1980 commercial for Gohan Desu Yo! and featured in the 2018 NHK morning drama Half, Blue.

, among other appearances, showing its enduring popularity.

This piece evokes a longing for youthful days.

Why not sing it together with seniors and enjoy reminiscing about those times?

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September RainHiromi Ohta

September Rain Hiromi Ohta 1977

September Rain Hiromi Ohta

A masterpiece that brilliantly captures the bittersweet atmosphere of autumn.

Hiromi Ohta’s crystal-clear voice exudes a gentle warmth that seeps into the heart.

The pain of heartbreak and nostalgia for days gone by are layered over the falling rain, stirring the listener’s emotions.

Released in September 1977 as Ohta’s ninth single, the song reached the weekly Top 10 on the Oricon charts.

It was also performed at the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen at the end of that year, leaving a deep impression on many.

It’s the perfect song for a quiet moment spent listening to the sound of rain while reflecting on memories with someone dear.

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cosmos (flower)Momoe Yamaguchi

Cosmos - Momoe Yamaguchi - Cosmos

Cosmos Momoe Yamaguchi

This song is one of the signature works of Momoe Yamaguchi, a leading singer of Showa-era kayōkyoku who was active in the 1970s.

When people think of autumn songs from the Showa period, many might picture this one.

Titled after cosmos, a flower symbolic of autumn, the song weaves the feelings of a woman about to get married toward her mother, with imagery throughout the lyrics that evokes the season.

Although the melody carries a somewhat dark and lonely mood, you’ll likely find yourself moved as you listen while reading the lyrics.

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Sumire September LoveIppudo

Sumire September Love – IPPU-DO

Sumire September Love Ippūdo

A heartfelt classic that evokes the coming of autumn.

Ippūdo’s gentle vocals beautifully express feelings swaying between dreams and reality.

Released in July 1982 as Kanebo Cosmetics’ autumn campaign song, it reached No.

2 on the Oricon chart and sold 450,000 copies.

Featured in a commercial starring Brooke Shields, it became a major talking point.

The song harmonizes a fantastical worldview with the poignant mood of autumn, making it perfect for listening alone on a quiet night.

It’s a piece that stays close to your heart when you want to bask in nostalgia or when you’re hoping to reunite with someone special.

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Before winter comespaper balloon

Before Winter Comes (’77) Paper Balloon KAMI FUSEN

A paper balloon before winter comes

A signature song by Kamifusen that you’ll want to listen to when the autumn breeze begins to blow.

Released in November 1977, it became a major hit, selling 450,000 copies.

Set against the seasonal shift from late summer into autumn just before winter arrives, it poignantly portrays a woman’s longing to reunite with a former lover.

The melody, infused with a folkloric flavor, blends beautifully with the vividly descriptive lyrics.

It’s a song that older listeners will also find familiar, evoking warm memories.

Perfect for quiet moments—like watching the sea alone at dusk and thinking of someone dear.

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cosmos (flower)Masashi Sada

cosmos (flower)

Cosmos Masashi Sada

A classic by Masashi Sada that begins with the image of delicate pale-pink blossoms swaying in the autumn sunlight.

Its lyrical portrayal of the bond between mother and daughter gently warms the hearts of listeners.

Included on the album “Watashihanashū,” released in March 1978, the song has since been covered by many artists and continues to be loved across generations.

Performed three times on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, it has become deeply rooted in the Japanese music scene.

When facing a farewell with someone dear or the start of a new chapter in life, why not listen to this song and let it be a companion to your heart?

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[2025] Autumn songs for people in their 60s to listen to. Classic tracks perfect for the deepening autumn (21–30)

Autumn has a pastel touchAkina Nakamori

Akina Nakamori – Autumn is a Pastel Touch (HQ)

Autumn is a pastel-touch Akina Nakamori

It might not be widely known, but this song was actually composed by none other than Masayoshi Takanaka, the renowned guitarist.

It’s an exciting collaboration between a fusion legend and the queen of pop.

The briskly played guitar riffs over the period’s programmed sound, as well as the tone and melody of the solo at the end, are quintessential Takanaka—naturally.

The lyrics were written by Etsuko Kisugi, which is another highlight you can’t overlook.

Perhaps to match the fusion vibe of the track, Akina delivers her vocals with a lighter touch than usual.

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