[For Seniors] A Collection of Recommended Spring Songs for People in Their 80s

The Highland Train GoesOkamoto Atsurō

The highland train goes — a nostalgic song

“The Highland Train Is Coming” is a song characterized by Atsuro Okamoto’s vocals and Yuji Koseki’s light, lively melody.

If you listen while picturing the view from the train window, you can savor the mood of travel.

Since its 1954 release, it has been loved for many years, including being performed at the 5th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen and adopted as a departure melody.

Why not hum along while overlaying it with your own memories? I recommend singing it at an easy pace while imagining a serene highland landscape.

tricolor violetSakurada Junko

KENWOOD KX-1100G Three-Colored Violet Junko Sakurada

Let me introduce a song by Junko Sakurada that beautifully captures springtime scenes with her gentle, translucent voice.

Released in February 1974, it features a strikingly pure, idol-like melody.

Through the motif of tricolor violets, it quietly tells of a first love and cherished memories.

The lyrics gracefully express the delicacy and fragility of budding feelings, resonating deeply with listeners.

The song reached No.

10 on the Oricon charts and was widely loved by young people at the time.

It was frequently featured on radio and TV music shows, and for many, it has become a memorable anthem of their youth.

I hope you can spend a heartwarming moment, listening to that nostalgic voice as you bask in the cheerful warmth of spring.

Song of the Language of FlowersSakushi: Saijō Yaso / Sakkyoku: Ikeda Fujio

Flower Language Song | With Lyrics | Cute bud, beautiful dream

Hanakotoba no Uta, with its elegant waltz rhythm that evokes a modern Showa-era atmosphere, leaves a strong impression.

Its romantic theme of entrusting feelings to flowers and the call-and-response between a man and a woman make it a beautiful duet.

It was produced as the theme song for Shinko Kinema’s 1936 film First Love Diary.

With lyrics by Yaso Saijo and music by Fujio Ikeda, the piece became a major hit despite being composed on short notice during filming, and a line from the lyrics even became a popular catchphrase.

The voices of Akira Matsudaira and Nobuko Fushimi still sound fresh today.

The gentle triple-time melody is perfect for swaying leisurely in the spring sunlight.

Why not hum along with older listeners while reminiscing about nostalgic films?

KintaroSakushi: Ishihara Wasaburō / Sakkyoku: Tamura Torazō

Kintarō - Children's Song

When the season of Boys’ Festival comes around, you can hear from somewhere the lively song of the boy from Mount Ashigara.

You can just picture his sturdy figure, a big axe slung over his shoulder as he plays riding on a bear’s back.

Created by Wasaburō Ishihara and Torazō Tamura, this piece was published to the world in June 1900 in “Shōnen Shōka, First Collection, Upper Volume.” It quickly became a big hit among children of the time and has been sung and loved ever since.

Its strong duple-time rhythm is perfect for recreational sing-alongs with hand clapping! Why not join your voices together, recalling the story of pitting strength against the animals? Enjoy a nostalgic moment as you share memories of the festival days from your childhood.

Spring Has Comeririi

Spring Has Come

This piece gently sings of the warm arrival of spring.

It’s a track from the album “Dulcimer,” released in July 1973, and is notable for Lili’s distinctive husky voice and delicate melodic lines.

Despite its simple arrangement, the calm tone of the song tenderly resonates with listeners.

The work portrays the anticipation of a new season and the hope that sprouts with the coming of spring, and Lili’s soulful vocals evoke deep emotion.

The album “Dulcimer” also includes other heartwarming songs, making it a recommended listen as a whole.

It’s a perfect track for spending quiet moments steeped in nostalgia, or for singing together while sharing a sense of connection.

Flowers of the trifoliate orangeSakushi: Kitahara Hakushū / Sakkyoku: Yamada Kōsaku

Karatachi no Hana (Spring Children's Song)

It is a famous song that sings of the Japanese spirit, themed on a plant with white flowers and sharp thorns that bears golden fruit in autumn.

Based on a slightly bittersweet childhood experience of Kosaku Yamada, Hakushu Kitahara wove beautiful words.

The gently flowing melody sinks into the heart, carrying a tenderness that brings tears to your eyes.

Composed in 1925, it is a work with history, released the same year in collections such as the children’s songs anthology “The Children’s Village.” Its title has been used for dramas and films depicting the life of Hakushu Kitahara, and in 2007 it was selected among the “100 Selected Japanese Songs.” It’s perfect for humming softly under the gentle sunlight of spring.

Why not spend a heartwarming moment sharing nostalgic memories together?

motherSakushi: Tanaka Nana / Sakkyoku: Nakada Yoshinao

Mother nursery rhyme with lyrics Mother

Speaking of May, it’s Mother’s Day—how about singing this children’s song, known for its gentle call to mothers? Written by lyricist Nana Tanaka and composed by Yoshinao Nakada, famed for classics like “Chiisai Aki Mitsuketa,” this piece portrays a mother’s warmth through the familiar scents of everyday life, such as laundry and cooking.

Since its release in 1954, its dialogue-like lyrics—reminiscent of a parent and child—have endeared it to listeners, making it a beloved classic across generations.

It conjures up scenes of home that everyone has experienced, wrapping you in a feeling of nostalgia.

During recreation time, why not hum it together while sharing memories of your mother?