[Wamono] A roundup of popular 1970s Japanese dance songs and disco kayō
Speaking of the 1970s, it was also an era overseas when danceable music like funky soul and disco rose to prominence, giving birth to many history-making hits.
In Japan, too, many who spent their youth in those days probably have memories of hitting the dance floor night after night to the big hits.
This time, we’re focusing on Japanese music from the ’70s that reflects the influence of soul and disco—introducing both smash hits and hidden gems that later became known as “Wamono” and gained popularity among DJs.
Young music fans interested in city pop and disco kayō, be sure to check these out!
- Revival among the youth? Japanese dance music that was a hit in the 1980s. Showa-era dance tracks.
- A collection of nostalgic hit songs and classics from the 70s
- Classic and hit songs by nostalgic Japanese idols from the 1970s
- Also great for dementia care! Recommended dance songs for people in their 70s: Let’s dance to those classic hits
- Dance music in Japanese (J-pop) that people in their 50s used to listen to. Nostalgic classic hits.
- [Nostalgic Hits] Japanese dance music that resonates with people in their 40s.
- Dance music from Western artists that was a hit in the 1970s. World-famous and popular songs.
- [Definitive Edition] Masterpieces of 70s Disco Music
- [Revisited] A roundup of popular and classic Showa-era songs that are trending now [2026]
- [Recommended for people in their 70s] Songs that get everyone excited. Songs you’ll want to sing at karaoke.
- Classic and hit Japanese pop songs from the nostalgic 80s
- For seniors in their 80s: Stay healthy while having fun. Introducing dance songs that make you want to move!
- Classic and hit Japanese pop songs from the nostalgic 1960s
[Wa-mono] Popular 1970s Japanese Dance Songs and Disco Kayō Roundup (31–40)
Tokyo Dodonpa Girlsakura tamako
The Dodonpa-bushi is Japanese music, but some say Dodonpa also refers to a mix of the Japanese song form Dodoitsu and the rumba, or to a unique mambo played by Filipino bands.
In Japan, the biggest hit in the genre was Mari Watanabe’s “Tokyo Dodonpa Musume” (Tokyo Dodonpa Girl).
A dance involving bent knees and a lowered waist also became extremely popular.
Wonder BoogieIshino Mako
Among idols, Mako Ishino—who possessed quite strong vocal ability—sang a song in 1979 that had a slightly different image.
With child dancers backing her, she gave off a sort of “singing big sister” vibe, and the choreography was cute.
With whales, seagulls, the sea, and bikinis, the season was summer; the lyrics were a bit unusual, but the song made an impact.
Kakko-man BoogieDaun Taun Bugiugi Bando
The long band name was chosen to rival the Sadistic Mika Band.
Although they basically sang blues and rock, comical, tough-guy-style songs like “Smokin’ Boogie” and “Minato no Yoko, Yokohama, Yokosuka” became big hits, and later, artists who followed this line such as Yokohama Ginbae and Daisuke Shima also scored hits.
Rui-ruiTakagawa Yosuke
These days, Yosuke Tagawa—now famous as a duo with Ebisu-san on bus trips—used to be an idol singer.
He shot to stardom with a dance where he raised one hand and sang “Rui-Rui.” His bright, straightforward image hasn’t changed even now.
He himself really dislikes it when the actress Yoko Akino teases him by saying “Rui-Rui,” but it was adorable.
If you look closely at the video, the two people singing and dancing as backup dancers are the duo Kariudo.
In conclusion
As mentioned at the outset, the resurgence of vinyl has drawn attention to the 1970s Japanese music scene among younger music fans.
Disco-influenced tracks are popular on the dance floor, and for those aiming to be ‘wa-mono’ DJs, it’s truly a treasure trove of an era.
There are even songs that were completely unknown at the time but were later rediscovered by DJs and buyers and gained popularity, so if you’re interested, be sure to dig deeper!