[For Seniors] Introducing recommended songs to give on Respect for the Aged Day
Respect-for-the-Aged Day is a time to express our gratitude to seniors, isn’t it? Performing songs to celebrate at day services and other senior facilities is always very well received.
Still, it can be hard to decide which songs to choose.
In this article, we introduce recommended songs to gift to seniors for Respect-for-the-Aged Day.
We’ve selected a wide range—from songs loved across generations and tunes they likely enjoyed in their youth to folk songs and children’s songs.
Listening to popular hits from their youth and nostalgic melodies can bring back memories from those days, which also helps stimulate the brain.
Singing also helps relieve mental and physical stress, so we hope you’ll use this article to help with your song selection and make your Respect-for-the-Aged Day celebration wonderful.
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[For Seniors] Recommended Songs to Give on Respect for the Aged Day (31–40)
The Highland Train GoesOkamoto Atsurō
Atsuro Okamoto’s “The Highland Train Is Coming” is a nostalgic song released in 1954.
Set to a light, lively melody, it sings about the joys of traveling by train.
It depicts scenery along the Bandai Express Electric Railway, such as Goshikinuma (the Five-Colored Ponds).
For older listeners, it’s likely a song that brings back memories of their youth.
The song was also performed at the 5th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen in 1954.
I’ve heard it’s even used as the departure melody at Fukushima Station.
If everyone sings it together, it might spark cheerful reminiscences.
It sounds like the kind of song that can warm the heart and create a cozy, comforting time.
MiracleGReeeeN
This work by GReeeeN, who have produced numerous hit songs, is a lovely love song that describes meeting a beloved person as a “miracle.” It celebrates the joy of being able to be yourself when you’re with that person, making it a heartwarming piece for older listeners as well.
Released in May 2008, the song was used as the theme for the drama “ROOKIES” and became a major hit.
It’s said to have also been adopted as the departure melody on the Shinkansen platform at Koriyama Station.
If you perform it at a Respect-for-the-Aged gathering, it’s sure to delight everyone.
Since it’s a song loved across generations, singing along together could be a great idea.
Shoulder Tapping Songdōyō
It’s a children’s song in which you rhythmically pat your parent’s shoulders, filled with gratitude and appreciation for them.
The light, lively sound is striking, expressing a child’s bright feelings toward their parent and the cheerful atmosphere of the moment.
The act of patting the shoulders while speaking to the parent is also key, and the lyrics directly convey the love and trust shared between parent and child.
It’s nice to listen to this song and be reminded of one’s own childhood, and it also seems fun to actually pat someone’s shoulders and sing it as if talking to them.
Thank youikimonogakari
This is a song by Ikimonogakari that portrays someone straightforwardly expressing gratitude to a loved one.
It was also used as the theme song for the NHK morning drama series “Gegege no Nyobo,” making it widely known across generations.
The way it conveys thanks in unadorned words is moving, and it may prompt you to recall the gratitude you hold within yourself.
It’s a piece that lets you feel the accumulation of appreciation while also sensing a shared future—walking forward together from here on.
A bouquet with loveSuperfly
A blissful message song that sincerely weaves feelings of gratitude.
The heartwarming melody, carried by Shiho Ochi’s clear, translucent voice, awakens the thankfulness we so easily forget.
Gentle lyrics and a soft arrangement come together to create a wonderful piece that fits naturally into our everyday lives.
Released in February 2008, it was included on the album “Superfly” and gained attention as the theme song for the drama “Mother of Edison.” It’s a perfect track for times when you want to express gratitude to someone special or enjoy a peaceful moment with family.
When you want to convey your feelings from the heart, this song will give you a tender push.
[For Seniors] Introducing Recommended Songs to Give on Respect for the Aged Day (41–50)
Thank youInoue Yōsui & Okuda Tamio
This is a heartwarming song by the duo of Yosui Inoue and Tamio Okuda, weaving feelings of gratitude found in everyday life with warm, gentle vocals.
Set to a tender melody line, it carefully sings of nostalgic memories and thoughts for loved ones.
Released in February 1997, it was featured in Sapporo Beer’s “Sapporo Draft Black Label” commercial and became a classic, reaching No.
10 on the Oricon weekly chart.
Its calm lyrics and unhurried rhythm make it perfect for precious moments spent with older family members.
Even within its quiet tone, there’s brightness and warmth, making it a lovely choice for reflecting on Father’s Day memories.
It’s a song that lets you relax your shoulders and share a pleasant, comforting time together—highly recommended.
The Apple SongNamiki Michiko
Said to be the first hit song in postwar Japan, it was released as the theme song for Soyokaze, the first postwar film.
In the movie, the cast members take turns singing it, but the version sung by the lead actress, Michiko Namiki, is probably the most well-known.
The lyrics address an apple as if speaking to it, giving the song a cute, charming feel.
As a piece that symbolizes postwar reconstruction, it has been used as an insert song in various documentary films and is, I believe, a song etched into Japan’s history.