[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!
- [Recommended for people in their 70s] Classic nostalgic hits: A collection of youth songs
- A collection of nostalgic hit songs and classics from the 70s
- A classic Japanese folk song passed down through generations of acoustic performances
- [Showa Era] A roundup of nostalgic folk song classics and popular tracks you’ll want to sing at karaoke
- [1970s] Collection of Japanese hit songs. Nostalgic masterpieces of Japan
- [2026 Edition] Songs Loved by People in Their 60s: Classic Hits from Their Youth
- Heart-touching, tear-jerking masterpieces from the Showa era
- Just listening to it purifies the heart... A healing song born in the Showa era.
- The nostalgic atmosphere tugs at your heartstrings. Tear-jerker songs from the Showa era.
- Timeless classics only! Showa-era hit songs perfect for acoustic sing-alongs
- Popular Showa-era pop. Timeless hit songs.
- Hit songs in Japan in the late 1960s
- [Showa Kayō] A roundup of Japanese love songs that hit in the 1970s
[Japanese Music] A Collection of Heart-Touching 1970s Folk Song Hits (31–40)
Goodbyeofukōsu
This is a classic folk song that represents the 1970s.
Released by Off Course, the song captured many hearts with its poignant breakup lyrics and beautiful melody.
It appeared as the title track of a single released in December 1979 and came to symbolize Off Course’s musical maturity.
The lyrics, centered on parting with a lover, unfold with a quiet sense of sorrow and leave a powerful emotional impact on listeners.
This piece is recommended for those who have experienced the sadness of separation or who are reflecting on relationships with loved ones.
Its touching lyrics and gentle melody will softly embrace the feelings that lie deep within the heart.
White Winterfuki no tō
This is a lyrical piece that poignantly sings of the transition from autumn to winter.
Carried by the gentle tones of an acoustic guitar, it overlays the sorrow of a bygone love and shifting emotions onto the changing of the seasons.
The transparent harmonies of Fukinotou weave a delicate world that resonates deeply in the heart.
Released as a debut single in September 1974, the song gradually gained popularity after being featured on Takuro Yoshida’s All Night Nippon, eventually reaching No.
14 on the Oricon charts.
As the duo’s signature song, it has since been covered by numerous artists.
It is a track that gently accompanies the resolve to quietly accept the end of a romance—one to listen to when you wish to heal the wounds of heartbreak or to put your feelings in order.
Taking shelter from the rainsadamasashi
Masashi Sada is known for sometimes spending more time talking than singing during his live shows.
He’s also in high demand for radio and talk events.
This song, “Amayadori,” was his second solo single after the breakup of Grape, and it was the first of his songs to reach No.
1 on the Oricon charts.
Remarkably, it’s an unusual work in that the single uses a live recording as-is.
The lyrics, which unfold like an autobiographical novella over the passage of time, could be called “Sada magic”—before you know it, you’re completely drawn in.
It’s a highly recommended track, overflowing with happiness.
The morning I had forgottenYamamoto Junko
The July 1971 single by the folk group Akai Tori is like a mental landscape that gently reflects the youth of those days.
Skillfully blending the essences of folk and pop, Junko Yamamoto’s clear, translucent vocals and the beautiful harmonies soothe the listener’s heart.
Rofu Yamagami’s poetic lyrics quietly evoke memories of days gone by, while Kunihiko Murai’s melody tenderly accompanies them.
Included on the album Akai Tori II, this piece features a calm arrangement that conveys the freshness of a morning breeze.
It’s a recommended song for moments when you want to pause amid a busy life to reflect on yourself, or when you feel like immersing yourself in cherished memories.
That wonderful love once moreKatō Kazuhiko, Kitayama Osamu
A gem of a folk song, filled with longing and nostalgia in search of a lost love.
It gently embraces shifting emotional distances and reflections on youth gone by.
The warm sonic world woven by the soothing resonance of the acoustic guitar and a refined arrangement beautifully captures the farewells and hoped-for reunions we all encounter in life.
Since its release in May 1971, it has been beloved as a staple for school events and graduation season, and has been widely used as incidental music in dramas and variety shows.
When you want to linger in memories with someone dear, why not immerse yourself in its soul-stirring vocals and poetic world?