Recommended for women in their 60s! Easy-to-sing Japanese karaoke songs

Osaka RhapsodyChisato and Mari Umihara

Osaka Rhapsody - Senri & Mari Uminara - 1994 - YouTube.mp4

Osaka Rhapsody is a song by the manzai comedy duo Unabara Senri and Mari.

In fact, Unabara Senri is none other than Emiko Uenuma, who is now hugely active on variety shows, mainly in the Kansai region! These days she’s strongly associated with being a host and a singer, so many people might be surprised to learn she once performed as part of a manzai duo.

The song’s lyrics depict a romance between a man and a woman set against the backdrop of Osaka, featuring famous landmarks like Midosuji and Dotonbori.

If you have ties to Osaka, why not sing it while picturing the cityscape and the days you spent there?

Tsugaru Strait – Winter SceneSayuri Ishikawa

Tsugaru Strait – Winter Scene

It’s one of Sayuri Ishikawa’s signature songs and a piece beloved across generations as a representative work of enka.

Its high name recognition is a major feature, so it’s a perfect choice for karaoke.

Since it has a calm, relaxed tempo, delivering the words clearly and putting genuine feeling into them is important.

Try expressing both the loneliness and the rough intensity that evoke images of a raging winter scene.

Another key point is the gradual build of emotion—if you steadily add strength to your voice, it will capture the atmosphere of the original and create a stirring performance.

The two of us since then

The Two of Us Since Then (ON THE ROAD 2011 “The Last Weekend”)

This song portrays two people who chose to walk separate paths, conveying feelings of aching sadness and regret.

The detailed depictions of memories strongly evoke both the happiness they once had and the pain of having lost it.

One of the song’s charms is its gentle, conversational singing style, so how about valuing the words and aiming for a relaxed delivery? The emotional swell in the chorus is where the sense of poignancy stands out most, so it may also be important to focus on how much intensity you put into that section.

Lingering Snowdolphin

Yasushi Nakanishi 'Nagori Yuki' PV Full [HD]

Whenever there’s a “Best Ten Songs of the Showa Era” feature, this song always makes the list.

The original was performed by Kaguya-hime and written by member Shozo Ise.

In 1975, Iruka’s cover version became a huge hit! It’s a song everyone knows and can sing along to, so having the whole group join in on the chorus is highly recommended!

Give Up on SummerNaoko Ken

Naoko Ken “Give Up on Summer” Official Lyric Video

This song, which depicts a melancholy love story on a gloomy rainy day sung by Naoko Ken, was originally by Southern All Stars.

Ken released it as a cover in September 1982.

Her wistful vocals beautifully capture seaside scenery and the poignancy of summer’s end.

The tender way she sings, in a husky voice, about the wavering hearts of a couple caught in a sudden downpour and the fragility of love is deeply moving.

After its release, the song reached No.

5 on the Oricon weekly chart and won the Gold Prize at the 24th Japan Record Awards in 1982.

It was also performed at the 33rd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen that same year.

With its relaxed tempo, it’s pleasantly immersive, drawing you into Ken’s distinctive world.

It’s a classic that’s perfect for those who want to enjoy a smooth, subdued atmosphere in karaoke.

Scorpio womanKenichi Mikawa

Kenichi Mikawa “Woman of Scorpio (New Recording)” (Official Audio)

A signature song by Kenichi Mikawa that portrays the strength and poignancy of a passionate woman who lives for love.

Released in December 1972, this memorable enka number expresses straightforward affection and the sorrow of betrayal.

Mikawa’s powerful vocals blend beautifully with a distinctive worldview inspired by Scorpio, one of the twelve zodiac signs, and the song sold about 97,000 copies on the Oricon charts.

It was performed on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen for four consecutive years from 2006 to 2009, revealing new charms through various arrangements, including operatic and samba styles.

With its relaxed tempo and gentle melodic contours, it’s also easy to sing—another part of its appeal.

Why not sing it with a sense of nostalgia as a treasured song tied to precious memories?

Pink sighMariko Takahashi

Hideaki Tokunaga – Peach-Colored Sigh (live from VOCALIST & SONGS TOUR)

It is one of Mariko Takahashi’s signature songs, expressing a bewitching, adult world.

The relaxed tempo and the sound that conveys a mysterious, floating sensation are striking.

The lyrics’ portrayal of mature sensuality is a key point; by cherishing the words and conveying the emotions clearly, the seductive atmosphere can truly be expressed.

The image is of singing in a restrained, matter-of-fact manner, and this minimal inflection seems to accentuate the sense of alluring mystery.