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Lovely senior life

[Karaoke] Recommended Songs for Men in Their 80s: A Collection of Showa-Era Classics You’ll Want to Belt Out

Some of you may have chances to enjoy karaoke with people in their 80s—whether at family or relatives’ gatherings, or as recreation at a care facility.

In those situations, many might wonder, “What songs should I sing?” In this article, we’ll introduce songs popular among men in their 80s to help anyone who’s unsure about song selection.

We hope this will be useful not only for finding songs that people in their 80s will enjoy singing, but also as a reference for younger generations who will be singing together.

Now, let’s take a look at the recommended songs!

Playlist

[Karaoke] Recommended Songs for Men in Their 80s: A Collection of Showa-Era Classics You’ll Want to Belt Out
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastSōemonchō Bluesheiwa katsuji to daakuhosu
Sōemonchō Bluesheiwa katsuji to daakuhosuplay_arrow
Showa-era farewell song, Soemoncho Blues
2eastYouth CyclingKosaka Kazuya
Youth CyclingKosaka Kazuyaplay_arrow
Youth popular songs of the late 1950s to early 1960s (Showa 30s), memories of bicycles
3eastNorthern fishing groundsKitajima Saburō
Northern fishing groundsKitajima Saburōplay_arrow
A famous song by Saburo Kitajima depicting the life of a fisherman
4eastI’m appearing under my former name.Kobayashi Akira
I'm appearing under my former name.Kobayashi Akiraplay_arrow
Representative songs of Akira Kobayashi, classic songs of the Showa era
5eastNagaragawa ElegyItsuki Hiroshi
Nagaragawa ElegyItsuki Hiroshiplay_arrow
Nagaragawa Enka is a famous Showa-era song.
6eastParting Cedar (Farewell Cedar)Kasuga Hachirō
Parting Cedar (Farewell Cedar)Kasuga Hachirōplay_arrow
A classic Showa-era song capturing the poignant feelings of a man leaving his hometown
7easta red handkerchiefIshihara Yūjirō
a red handkerchiefIshihara Yūjirōplay_arrow
Singing Yujiro Ishihara’s famous song, a tale of parting
8eastMelancholy TrainMitsubishi Michiya
Melancholy TrainMitsubishi Michiyaplay_arrow
A classic song from the Showa era; its poignant lyrics and melody about parting deeply touch the heart.
9eastBrother ShipsToba Ichirō
Brother ShipsToba Ichirōplay_arrow
The Debut Song of Ichiro Toba: The Bond of Fisherman Brothers
10eastWoman’s PathMiya Shirō to Pinkara Torio
Woman's PathMiya Shirō to Pinkara Torioplay_arrow
Onna no Michi Showa-era classic song
11eastYagiri no Watashi (Yagiri Ferry)Hosokawa Takashi
Yagiri no Watashi (Yagiri Ferry)Hosokawa Takashiplay_arrow
Takashi Hosokawa’s Yagiri no Watashi, a classic elopement song
12east12th graderFunaki Kazuo
12th graderFunaki Kazuoplay_arrow
Kazuo Funaki’s debut song becomes a big hit.
13eastOh, sake!Yoshi Ikuzo
Oh, sake!Yoshi Ikuzoplay_arrow
A classic song that sings of the joys and sorrows of life through alcohol
14eastdraft (cold air seeping through gaps)Sugi Ryōtarō
draft (cold air seeping through gaps)Sugi Ryōtarōplay_arrow
Ryotaro Sugi's classic Showa-era songs, touching the heart
15eastLonely-for-Company TavernMiyama Hiroshi
Lonely-for-Company TavernMiyama Hiroshiplay_arrow
Miyama Hiroshi’s debut enka song
16eastThe Camellia Sasanqua InnŌkawa Eisaku
The Camellia Sasanqua InnŌkawa Eisakuplay_arrow
Sazanka no Yado is a representative love song of the Showa era.
17eastThe Longed-For Hawaii RouteHaruo Oka
The Longed-For Hawaii Route Haruo Okaplay_arrow
Longing for the Showa-era classic, 'Hawai Kōro' (Hawaiian Voyage)
18eastYou are my very lifeMizuhara Hiroshi
You are my very lifeMizuhara Hiroshiplay_arrow
Hiroshi Mizuhara’s poignant love classic
19eastDream-Chasing SakeAtsumi Jirō
Dream-Chasing SakeAtsumi Jirōplay_arrow
Jiro Atsumi's heartbreak enka becomes a big hit
20eastA Love Story in GinzaYūjirō Ishihara · Junko Makimura
A Love Story in Ginza Ishihara Yūjirō · Makimura Junkoplay_arrow
A Love Story in Ginza, a signature song of Yūjirō Ishihara
21eastA life full of scarsTsuruta Koji
A life full of scarsTsuruta Kojiplay_arrow
Koji Tsuruta’s signature song “A Life Full of Scars”
22eastTraveler,Kayama Yūzō
Traveler,Kayama Yūzōplay_arrow
An encouraging song for travelers who long for their hometown, a classic overflowing with kindness.
23eastTokyo RhapsodyFujiyama Ichirō
Tokyo RhapsodyFujiyama Ichirōplay_arrow
A classic song from the Showa era: Ichiro Fujiyama’s “Tokyo.”
24eastThat girl and IHashi Yukio
That girl and IHashi Yukio
Yukio Hashi’s summer classic, The Brilliance of Youth
25eastYou, my beloved.Itō Hisao
You, my beloved.Itō Hisaoplay_arrow
Hisa'o Itō's sweet Showa-era kayōkyoku (pop songs)
26eastI wanted to see you.Haruo Oka
I wanted to see you. Haruo Okaplay_arrow
Haruo Oka’s sailor-themed kayō songs colored the postwar era.
27eastWords of FarewellKaientai
Words of FarewellKaientai
A heartwarming classic that portrays departure and farewell
28eastBeach of MemoriesZa Wairudowanzu
Beach of MemoriesZa Wairudowanzuplay_arrow
A representative song of the GS boom, a refreshing youth anthem by the seaside
29eastIt was rainy again in Nagasaki today.Uchiyamada Hiroshi to Cool Five
It was rainy again in Nagasaki today.Uchiyamada Hiroshi to Cool Fiveplay_arrow
Kiyoshi Maekawa’s classic song paints the emotion of heartbreak and the scenery of Kyushu.
30eastThere’s always tomorrowSakamoto Kyu
There's always tomorrowSakamoto Kyuplay_arrow
Kyu Sakamoto’s uplifting classic song “Ue o Muite Arukou”
31eastloveMatsuyama Chiharu
loveMatsuyama Chiharuplay_arrow
Chiharu Matsuyama’s Heartfelt Ballad Masterpieces
32eastDream PlayUmezawa Fumio
Dream PlayUmezawa Fumioplay_arrow
Fumio Umezawa’s soul-stirring classic, delivered with an emotionally rich singing voice
33eastBecoming a Thousand WindsAkiyama Masashi
Becoming a Thousand WindsAkiyama Masashiplay_arrow
Akikawa Masafumi’s ballad, a moving masterpiece that resonates with the heart
34eastWinter LightningArisu
Winter LightningArisuplay_arrow
Alice’s classic song, singing of winter scenery
35eastsummer vacationyoshida takurou
summer vacationyoshida takurouplay_arrow
Summer memories, a famous song by Takuro Yoshida
36eastI love youOzaki Yutaka
I love youOzaki Yutakaplay_arrow
Yutaka Ozaki’s heartrending youth love song
37eastBe my bride.Kayama Yūzō
Be my bride.Kayama Yūzōplay_arrow
Music of hope delivered with a gentle singing voice
38eastLife is like a Naniwa-bushi (a melodramatic ballad).Hosokawa Takashi
Life is like a Naniwa-bushi (a melodramatic ballad).Hosokawa Takashiplay_arrow
A masterpiece with a rōkyoku motif, expressing the subtleties of life
39eastMail boat to the small islandAoki Koichi
Mail boat to the small islandAoki Koichiplay_arrow
Lighthouse Cape, a song of memories carried by the mail boat
40eastWaltz of StarlightSen Masao
Waltz of StarlightSen Masaoplay_arrow
Masao Sen's classic 'Hoshikage no Waltz,' a song that sings of the melancholy of parting
41eastMy Giftofukōsu
My Giftofukōsuplay_arrow
A famous song by Kazumasa Oda that makes you feel the arrival of spring
42eastLet’s get married.yoshida takurou
Let's get married.yoshida takurouplay_arrow
Takuro Yoshida’s heartwarming spring classic
43eastYou are more beautiful than a rose.Fuse Akira
You are more beautiful than a rose.Fuse Akiraplay_arrow
A classic song that sings of nostalgic memories of love
44eastCape ErimoMori Shinichi
Cape ErimoMori Shinichiplay_arrow
Spring in the northern country, a song of quiet happiness
45eastspring’s dry windIzumiya Shigeru
spring's dry windIzumiya Shigeruplay_arrow
A moving song that portrays social pressure and loneliness
46eastParting at 22kaguya hime
Parting at 22kaguya himeplay_arrow
A classic song that depicts a breakup with a lover and a fresh new start
47eastForever with youKayama Yūzō
Forever with youKayama Yūzōplay_arrow
Yuzo Kayama’s love song, a masterpiece that resonates in the hearts of youth
48eastSake, Tears, Men, and WomenKawashima Eigo
Sake, Tears, Men, and WomenKawashima Eigoplay_arrow
Eigo Kawashima’s classic song that depicts the pathos of life
49eastTokyo CachitoFuranku Nagai
Tokyo CachitoFuranku Nagai
Timeless hits that color Akasaka’s night: songs of mature love
50eastIzakayaItsuki Hiroshi
IzakayaItsuki Hiroshiplay_arrow
A masterpiece that portrays the loneliness of an izakaya, resonating deep in the heart
51eastSnow CountryYoshi Ikuzo
Snow CountryYoshi Ikuzo
The scenery of the northern country and the heart-stirring singing voice of Yoshikazu Ikuzō
52eastTraveler of the NorthIshihara Yūjirō
Traveler of the NorthIshihara Yūjirō
A melancholic masterpiece that sings of love in the northern land
53eastfestivalKitajima Saburō
festivalKitajima Saburōplay_arrow
A representative song by Saburō Kitajima that sings about festival culture
54eastNorth TavernHosokawa Takashi
North TavernHosokawa Takashiplay_arrow
A classic enka song depicting an encounter at a tavern in the northern country
55eastwheat fieldOyonēzu
wheat fieldOyonēzuplay_arrow
A gentle country song, a Tohoku-dialect classic
56eastWhat a nice bath.Za Dorifutāzu
What a nice bath.Za Dorifutāzuplay_arrow
A nostalgic Showa-era melody with the Onsen Ondo
57eastSaraiKayama Yūzō
SaraiKayama Yūzōplay_arrow
A heartwarming classic that captures feelings for one’s hometown
58eastA Letter Waiting for Springyoshida takurou
A Letter Waiting for Springyoshida takurouplay_arrow
Heartfelt exchanges through letters and songs of memories
59eastIf you’re happy and you know it, clap your handsSakamoto Kyu
If you're happy and you know it, clap your handsSakamoto Kyuplay_arrow
A heartwarming classic imbued with peace and friendship
60eastOtomi-sanKasuga Hachirō
Otomi-sanKasuga Hachirōplay_arrow
Classic songs that colored the Showa era: bittersweet love songs of men and women
61eastBlue MountainsFujiyama Ichirō
Blue MountainsFujiyama Ichirōplay_arrow
A classic youth song that portrays postwar hope
62eastAh, Ueno StationIzawa Hachirō
Ah, Ueno StationIzawa Hachirōplay_arrow
A classic song that sings of Ueno Station and longing for one’s hometown
63eastAnd, KobeUchiyamada Hiroshi to Cool Five
And, KobeUchiyamada Hiroshi to Cool Fiveplay_arrow
A classic song that portrays heartbreak and new love set in Kobe
64eastNorthern SpringSen Masao
Northern SpringSen Masaoplay_arrow
Masao Sen’s signature song “Hokuguni no Haru” (Spring in the North Country)
65eastGraduationMatsuyama Chiharu
GraduationMatsuyama Chiharuplay_arrow
Chiharu Matsuyama’s spring melody, the singing voice of youth
66eastOkuhida BojoRyū Tetsuya
Okuhida BojoRyū Tetsuyaplay_arrow
Introducing Tatsuya Ryū’s classic song, Okuhida Bojō
67eastYanagase BluesMikawa Ken’ichi
Yanagase BluesMikawa Ken'ichiplay_arrow
Yanagase Blues is a classic song from the Showa era.
68eastOtaru no hito yoTsuruoka Masayoshi to Tokyo Romanchika
Otaru no hito yoTsuruoka Masayoshi to Tokyo Romanchikaplay_arrow
A classic Showa-era pop song that sings of parting with Otaru’s winter