Debut songs by Japanese male artists from the 1970s
We’re showcasing the debut songs of Japanese male artists who started their careers in the 1970s.
From top idol singers like the “New Big Three” — Hideki Saijo, Hiromi Go, and Goro Noguchi — to many others.
It was also an era when the foundation of Japanese music was built, centered around folk songs and New Music.
There are still many singers from that time who remain active today!
Beyond the allure of the era’s backdrop, I think it’s wonderful that their music still feels fresh even now.
Let’s listen to the debut songs of male artists who debuted in the 1970s!
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Debut songs by Japanese male artists from the 1970s (21–30)
A Boy Riding a DolphinShiro Michiru
It was released in 1973 as Michiru Shiro’s debut single.
Selling 500,000 copies, it became a major hit and won the New Artist Award at the 16th Japan Record Awards.
With his baby-faced, slender looks and vocal ability, he quickly joined the ranks of top idols.
Seventeen That Catches My Interestaizaki shinya
Triggered by winning the first Grand Champion contest of NET’s audition program “Star on Stage: Anata nara OK!”, Shinya Aizaki made his singing debut with this song in 1974.
In early 1974, he was referred to as part of the “New New Big Three” alongside Michiru Jo and Shintaro Matsuda.
Aoba Castle Love Songsatou muneyuki
It was released in 1978 as Muneyuki Satō’s major-label debut single.
Representing not only Sendai City and Miyagi Prefecture but the Tohoku region as a whole, it was issued as a competing release alongside a version by the Dark Ducks.
Ultimately, the version sung by Muneyuki Satō became a huge hit, selling over 1.1 million copies, and it has since become his signature song.
Is this already love?nishikino akira
It was released in 1970 as Akira Nishikino’s debut single.
At the time of his singing debut, his catchphrase was “Sony’s Knight of Enka,” and he won the Best New Artist Award at the 12th Japan Record Awards.
Thanks to the success of this song, he also made his first appearance at the 21st NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Cape of MemoriesNiinuma Kenji
Kenji Niinuma applied to the Nippon TV audition program “Star Tanjō!” and, after making it to the main round on his fifth preliminary attempt, passed at the 1975 finals.
He made his debut as a singer in 1976 with this song.
His debut catchphrase was “A man who is comfortably sad,” and his pure, down-to-earth personality—hailing from Ōfunato City in Iwate Prefecture—won people’s hearts, leading to a string of consecutive hits.
The Sun’s SundayArakawa Tsutomu
When Tsutomu Arakawa was 13, he sang a Hiromi Go song on an impersonation show, where he was discovered by Tomoko Matsushima.
He made his singing debut with this song in 1974.
In the same year, he won the Newcomer Award at the 16th Japan Record Awards and went on to succeed as an idol singer.
I won’t forgetTakayama Iwao
Iwao Takayama formed the group Banban with Hirofumi Bamba and Hiroshi Imai in 1971, and after leaving the band in 1975, he made his solo debut with this song.
The lyrics and music were written by Takayama himself, and he has since been actively working as a solo singer.