Music has the power to support the hearts of those who listen, doesn’t it?
I’m sure many people have gained energy and courage from listening to music, or found the motivation to keep going.
And that holds true across generations—there are surely many people in their 80s who have also been empowered by music.
In this article, we’ll introduce uplifting songs we’d love people in their 80s to listen to again.
If you’re reading this, please consider sharing the songs we introduce with the 80-somethings in your life.
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Cheering songs we want people in their 80s to listen to. Encouragement songs from the Showa era (1–10)
Today is the youngest you’ll ever be!Da Kāpo
This is a song included on the album “A Gift for the Future ~Today Is the Youngest You’ll Ever Be!~,” released in 2023 to mark the 50th anniversary of their debut.
It’s filled with hope for a life that shines brighter with age, making it an anthem of encouragement for the senior generation.
The uplifting lyrics set to a simple melody really resonate.
In this so-called era of 100-year lifespans, a message like this is sure to speak to people in their eighties.
March of 365 StepsSuizenji Kiyoko
Kiyoko Suizenji’s “March of 365 Steps,” released in 1969, is a moving classic.
It carries a positive message that the accumulation of small daily steps leads to great results.
After its release, it was chosen for NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen and as the entrance march for the National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament, and it also became a familiar TV drama theme song.
In 1991, Suizenji’s own self-cover became a hit, and the song has been beloved for many years.
It’s a track that gives courage and energy to live fully in the present, while bringing back memories of the Shōwa era for those who spent their youth then.
Please enjoy it together with someone special.
Life’s journeyMisora Hibari
Hibari Misora’s “Jinsei Ichiro” is a single released in January 1970.
Its powerful lyrics, praising strong will and indomitable spirit, leave a lasting impression.
Life is full of hardships and trials, but this song gives you the courage to never give up and to walk the path you believe in.
It served as the theme song for “Hana to Namida to Honoo” by Hibari Misora and Shinichi Mori, and was also performed at her 1988 concert at the Tokyo Dome.
You can feel Hibari’s spirit, always facing forward and continuing to take on challenges.
It’s the perfect anthem to push you forward when you feel you might be overwhelmed by life’s rough seas.
threadNakajima Miyuki
Miyuki Nakajima’s “Ito” is a masterpiece that portrays the meaning brought by encounters and connections in life.
Although it was released in 1992, it initially went largely unnoticed, but it became widely known after being used as the theme song for the 1998 TV drama “Seija no Koshin” (March of the Saints).
Following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, it once again drew attention in the affected areas, and in 2020 it was even adapted into a film.
It’s a song that has continued to be loved by many for a long time.
It’s a heartfelt, encouraging anthem that we especially hope people in their 80s will listen to.
Tomorrow is more than todayYamada Kuniko, Kawanaka Miyuki
Sung with heartfelt emotion by Kuniko Yamada and Miyuki Kawanaka, “Ashita wa Kyou yori” is a song of encouragement that stands beside older adults who have lived through difficult times.
Life shines not with just seven colors, but with a blend of many more hues.
Its lyrics, which speak to the importance of living for yourself, gently nudge you forward when you feel close to losing hope.
It’s a song that gives you the courage to face forward—something especially needed in our times.
Always keep your dreamsHashi Yukio, Yoshinaga Sayuri
Itsudemo Yume wo is a duet released in 1962 by Yukio Hashi and Sayuri Yoshinaga.
Its beautiful melody and lyrics with a strong message about cherishing dreams are memorable.
It became a massive hit, selling over one million copies in just six months after its release, and it was also used as the theme song for a film of the same name.
No matter the circumstances, don’t forget your dreams—keep looking forward and moving ahead.
Its uplifting tone makes it perfect for moments when you’re at a crossroads in life or struggling with worries.
It’s a true encouragement song that we especially hope people in their 80s will listen to.
There’s always tomorrowSakamoto Kyu
Kyu Sakamoto’s “Ashita ga Aru sa” is a classic that humorously captures the feelings of a young man in his youth who fears heartbreak and failure.
Its melody, which gives you the courage and hope to keep looking forward, is sure to lift your spirits.
Since its release in 1963, it has remained beloved by a wide audience and continued to make waves into the 2000s, appearing in commercials, as the entrance march for high school baseball, and even in textbooks.
This song, which teaches the importance of continuing to believe that “there’s always tomorrow” even when times are tough or sad, is a cheer anthem we hope you’ll listen to again now.