[Japanese Music] A Collection of Heart-Touching Hit Folk Songs from the 1970s
What kind of songs come to mind when you hear “folk songs”? While folk music has its roots in traditional ballads and ethnic music, it evolved over time into various forms, became widespread, and produced many massive hits known by everyone.
This article focuses on the 1970s—a period when folk songs came to be recognized as popular music and transitioned into what was called “New Music,” and when many legendary singer-songwriters who left their mark on Japanese music history emerged—and compiles classic, blockbuster folk songs from that era.
The youthful inner landscapes sung with beautiful melodies and richly poetic expression are sure to resonate with younger generations as well.
If you’re interested in Showa-era popular songs, be sure to check it out!
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[Japanese Music] A Collection of Heart-Touching 1970s Folk Song Hits (11–20)
In the Great Sky and on the Vast EarthMatsuyama Chiharu
Set against the boundless sky and earth, this powerful song about life’s challenges and hopes resonates deeply with listeners.
Its poetic lyrics—distinctively Masayoshi Chiharu Matsuyama—and a vocal that’s both strong and delicate are truly captivating.
The piece is included on the album “Kimi no Tame ni Tsukutta Uta,” released in June 1977, and was also used on the Fuji TV drama “The Ugly Duckling” soundtrack.
In karaoke, a wide vocal range and rich expressiveness are required, but if you immerse yourself in the song’s world, it will surely touch the hearts of your audience.
Why not sing it out with all your might while picturing the magnificent nature of Hokkaido?
Heart patternInoue Yosui
Yosui Inoue’s “Kokoro Moyou” is a song released in September 1973 that has left a deep impression on many listeners.
It delicately depicts loneliness and the pain of a long-distance relationship, beautifully expressing the melancholy of youth, and the lyrics—entrusting one’s innermost feelings to a letter—resonate deeply.
Partway through, the tempo shifts to an upbeat pace, and the emotions surge all at once.
It’s a cool classic that shines when sung with full feeling to convey the helpless emotions of lovers separated by distance.
My good friendKamayatsu Hiroshi
This work is infused with heartfelt themes of friendship and youth.
It’s a classic song powerfully sung by Hiroshi Kamayatsu.
The lyrics, full of nostalgia and warmth, gently wrap you in memories of friends from your school days.
Released in February 1975, the track reached No.
1 on the Oricon chart and became a major hit, selling over 700,000 copies.
Its gem-like melody, blending folk and rock, poignantly conveys the longing to reunite with friends.
Recommended for those who want to feel unchanging friendship amid changing times.
Let the soul-stirring vocals deepen your feelings for the people you cherish.
Song of Circumnavigating Lake BiwaKatō Tokiko
It is a local song from Shiga Prefecture that became a big hit when Tokiko Kato sang it in 1971.
Considered one of Japan’s representative student songs, it is said to date back to 1917 (Taisho 6).
The song is about Lake Biwa and its surrounding area, and it is said to have been handed down as the student song of the Third Higher School, the predecessor of Kyoto University.
Given that it became a major hit decades later, there is no doubt it is a remarkable piece.
GraduationMatsuyama Chiharu
A work that distills the very essence of folk music! Accompanied by Chiharu Matsuyama’s warm vocals, it vividly portrays the life milestone of graduation.
This song sings of the end of youth and a new beginning, featuring lyrics and a melody that truly resonate.
Released in 1979, it was chosen as the theme song for STV’s program “The Graduation of Kushiro High School.” It is also included on the album “Seishun,” and has become a song many people listen to during the graduation season.
It’s a highly recommended track not only for students approaching graduation, but also for anyone feeling a turning point in life.
Solitary BloomCHAGE and ASKA
CHAGE and ASKA’s debut song is a gem of a ballad that portrays the end of a romance and a new beginning.
Its heartrending lyrics and beautiful melody resonate deeply, stirring the listener’s heart.
Released in August 1979, the track gained attention after being performed at Popcon.
It has continued to be loved over the years and has been included in live performances and best-of albums.
It’s the perfect song for those troubled by love or standing at a crossroads in life—a soul-stirring masterpiece that offers deep empathy and courage.
[J-Pop] A Collection of Soul-Stirring 1970s Folk Song Hits (21–30)
Is it true that you’re getting married?Da Kāpo
Beginning with a short letter that arrives on a morning after the rain, this song is a masterpiece that gently portrays the pain of heartbreak.
Released in June 1974 as Da Capo’s fourth single, it became a major hit, selling 312,000 copies on the Oricon charts.
Hiroko Kubota’s heartfelt vocals and Masatoshi Sakakibara’s exquisite backing chorus beautifully capture the melancholy of lost love.
The vivid imagery—red cosmos, a blue breeze, a white apron—is also striking.
It’s a song you’ll want to hear if you’ve ever lost someone important or if you wish to feel the purity of first love.