Great songs recommended for people in their 80s: a collection of tracks with lyrics that touch the heart

Because the moon is so very blueSugawara Totoko

Highest Sound Quality! ~ Because the Moon Is So Very Blue (Sung by: Totoko Sugawara)

Totoko Sugawara, known for her distinctive, wistful vibrato, was called the Queen of Elegy and is also famous as the very first singer to perform on NHK’s Kouhaku Uta Gassen, which everyone knows.

She moved to Tokyo at the age of nine for an audition, where her talent blossomed, and together with her father, the composer Akira Mutsu, she released numerous masterpieces.

Her signature song, “Tsuki ga Tottemo Aoi Kara” (Because the Moon Is So Very Blue), became a million-selling hit in an era when the music market was much smaller than it is today, making her a household name across Japan.

For many seniors, it’s a song right at the heart of their youthful days, so it could be a great choice for recreational activities or background music in senior care facilities.

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Flowers will bloom.

Flowers Will Bloom – Flowers Will Bloom Project (with Japanese lyrics)

This song was planned and produced as the theme song for NHK’s Great East Japan Earthquake Project, with lyrics by film director Shunji Iwai from Sendai.

For those who experienced the disaster, it may bring back difficult memories, and it also served as a source of support during the recovery.

There is also a video from the “Flowers Will Bloom Project,” featuring singers, entertainers, and athletes connected to Miyagi, Fukushima, and Iwate Prefectures.

With its easy-to-understand melody and singable chorus, it’s fun for everyone to sing together.

It’s also recommended as a choral piece for events.

festivalKitajima Saburō

Matsuri ~ Saburo Kitajima Lyrics/Score Edition

This is a song that powerfully sings of the scenes and emotions of traditional Japanese festivals.

Its grand lyrics—expressing gratitude for the blessings of the mountains and bountiful catches, as well as the bonds between parents and children—leave a strong impression.

Vivid imagery depicts men tightening white fundoshi as they head to the festival, and seafaring men raising flags as they row their boats out to sea.

Released in November 1984, the piece features lyrics by Saburo Kitajima with Rei Nakanishi, and composition by Joji Hara.

It was performed six times on NHK’s Kohaku Uta Gassen, serving as the grand finale five of those times, and has become a year-end tradition.

Saburo Kitajima’s uniquely powerful vocals and dynamic staging make it a wonderful work to enjoy together with older audiences.

Life is full of ups and downs.Shimakura Chiyoko

Life is full of ups and downs.

A gem of a melody that gently sings of the joys and hardships of life.

Its lustrous vocals warmly embrace the strength to live, forged by overcoming struggles and difficulties.

Once you hear it, it resonates in your heart—a work brimming with hope.

Released by Chiyoko Shimakura in 1987, this song became a major springboard for her appearance in the 1988 NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen after achieving 30 consecutive appearances.

This memorable piece also features lyrics that beautifully align with the life experiences of older adults.

Humming it together at events like Respect-for-the-Aged Day gatherings can create a heartwarming moment to share.

Words of FarewellKaientai

Farewell Words / Kaientai (with lyrics)

Do you have any nostalgic melodies that make you feel the warmth of spring sunshine the moment you hear them? Kaientai’s classic “Okuru Kotoba” is a heartwarming piece filled with messages perfect for graduation season.

Its lyrics about the sorrow of parting, the courage to trust others, and the depth of love truly resonate.

Released in November 1979, the song also became well-known as the theme for the popular TV drama “Mr.

Kinpachi in Class 3-B.” Singing it together with older adults might spark lively conversations about fond memories.

Consider incorporating it into recreational activities at your facility.

Like the flow of a riverMisora Hibari

Like the Flow of the River Live | Hibari Misora

Let me introduce a masterpiece that represents the world of Japanese popular ballads.

This song is captivating for its metaphor that likens life to the flow of a river.

It sings, over a beautiful melody, of calmly accepting the many events that life brings.

Another hallmark is that many of the lyrics resonate with older adults in their daily lives.

Released in January 1989, it became a major hit.

It is also known as the final work of Hibari Misora and has come to symbolize her life.

It’s a perfect song to sing together with seniors and to share nostalgic memories.

12th graderFunaki Kazuo

[With Large Lyrics] High School Senior [Rec]

This lyrical song is filled with memories of youth, and Kazuo Funaki’s fresh vocals in a student uniform make a striking impression.

Set to a march-like, approachable melody, it gently recounts the joys and loneliness of school life and the partings with friends.

After its release in June 1963, the work achieved astonishing sales and won the New Artist Award at that year’s Japan Record Awards.

It was also adapted into a film, starring Kazuo Funaki himself, with scenes shot in his hometown of Ichinomiya City, Aichi Prefecture.

It’s a song meant to be hummed together as you reminisce about nostalgic youthful days.

Let’s sing along with cheerful handclaps.