Great songs recommended for people in their 80s: a collection of tracks with lyrics that touch the heart
When it comes to songs familiar to people in their 80s, wouldn’t it be the kayōkyoku and enka hits from the Showa era? Many songs from that time have been loved across generations, and there are countless timeless classics that still shine today.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide array of moving, heartfelt songs all at once—Showa masterpieces as well as school songs and children’s songs.
From songs about deep love to ones about family and hometown, these are sure to resonate with people in their 80s.
Please do recommend the songs we introduce to the 80-somethings around you.
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Good Songs Recommended for People in Their 80s: A Collection of Tracks with Touching, Heartfelt Lyrics (21–30)
Let yourself go with the flow of timeTeresa Ten
A gem of a love song whose melody, filled with kindness and warmth, gently permeates the heart.
With gratitude for meeting a beloved person and a love so deep that one could give everything for them, Teresa Teng’s clear, transparent voice expresses these emotions with rich nuance.
Released in February 1986, the song won the Grand Prize at the 19th Japan Cable Awards, marking an unprecedented third consecutive win, and it resonated widely across Asia.
Its major-key, soaring melody gently touches the hearts of older listeners, offering a soothing moment wrapped in nostalgia.
As a song that creates a warm atmosphere where people can look back on the past and share their feelings for those they cherish, it also serves as a bridge for communication.
Come, spring.Matsutōya Yumi
The celebrated song that gently sings of the arrival of spring was released in 1994 by Yumi Matsutoya and became a major topic as the theme song for an NHK morning drama series.
Its sweet, wistful vocals and lyrics filled with feelings for a loved one deeply resonate with many listeners.
Elegantly portraying spring scenes—such as the scent of daphne and sudden showers—it beautifully expresses nostalgic memories and the hope of reunion.
After its release, the song topped the Oricon weekly chart and became a massive hit, selling over 1.16 million copies.
It was also used for the Huis Ten Bosch Tulip Festival and in commercials for the Yomiuri Shimbun, making it familiar to an even wider audience.
Its gentle melody and heartwarming lyrics are perfect for sparking conversations about memories with older adults.
Please enjoy a richly satisfying moment together while feeling the arrival of spring.
Journey of the Heartchūrippu
This is a classic song that richly captures the bittersweet feelings before setting off on a journey.
It beautifully expresses both the excitement and loneliness of the last night spent with a loved one before starting a new life.
Listening to it vividly brings back memories from those days.
Released by Tulip in April 1973, it reached No.
1 on the Oricon chart.
It was used as the theme song for Fuji TV’s “Ninjō Ippon Kokoro no Tabi,” as well as in commercials for the Toyota Carina and JR West.
Evoking the romance of nostalgic train travel, the song’s friendly, sing-along melody is part of its charm.
How about humming it together with seniors while clapping along?
Light of Fireflies
A moving classic school song that sings of a heart devoted to the country.
First included in the 1881 “Shogaku Shoka-shu Shohen” (First Collection of Elementary School Songs) as a song for ordinary elementary schools, it is a lyric by Chikara Inagaki that has been cherished across generations.
Set to the original tune of “Auld Lang Syne,” it adds Japanese lyrics celebrating dedication to learning and friendship.
For those in their eighties, it may be a nostalgic piece that recalls life’s milestones.
Why not raise your voices and sing it together with family and friends?
Aoba Castle Love Songsatou muneyuki
A lyric song that poetically celebrates the beautiful scenery of Sendai City in Miyagi Prefecture.
Known as the City of Trees, Sendai’s natural beauty and tender feelings of love are artfully interwoven into the lyrics, and Muneyuki Sato’s clear, transparent voice resonates deeply.
Released as his debut in May 1978, the song reached No.
3 on the Oricon charts and ranked 31st on the year-end chart, making it a popular hit.
It has become a representative song of Sendai, even being used as the departure melody at JR Senseki Line’s Sendai Station.
With its gentle melody and evocative lyrics, this piece is perfect for leisurely enjoyment while reminiscing.
It’s a wonderful song that can evoke fond memories and invite older listeners to hum along.
SubaruTanimura Shinji
This is a ballad that evokes the vast expanse of the cosmos, highlighted by Shinji Tanimura’s deeply resonant voice.
Its hopeful lyrics and melody strike a chord during life’s milestone moments.
Released in 1980, the piece has been featured on numerous music programs and at various events.
While rooted in folk, it also incorporates classical elements, making it a gem of a masterpiece.
Tanimura also excelled as an educator, becoming a full-time professor at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2004, and he fostered deep connections with many people through music.
It’s a recommended song for music recreation with seniors as well, offering a calm listening experience at a relaxed tempo.
It would be a lovely time to hum along together while sharing fond memories.
The world is for the two of us.Sara Naomi
Naomi Sagara’s debut song celebrates the happy times spent with a loved one.
Her gentle, warm vocals express the couple’s love, and the beautiful melody and simple lyrics make it an unforgettable classic.
Released in May 1967, the song was also used in a Meiji Seika commercial and became a massive hit, selling over 1.2 million copies after its release.
In 1968, it was chosen as the entrance march for the 40th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament, winning the hearts of many.
Long cherished as a wedding standard, it’s a tune many still find themselves humming with fond memories.
Why not listen together to its heartwarming vocals and let joyful reminiscences blossom?