[For Seniors in Their 80s] Recommended Summer Songs: From Enka and School Songs to Folk Songs

Soran Bushimin’yō

Soran Bushi (Hokkaido folk song) singing method

The work songs that Hokkaido fishermen used to sing between tasks are now loved by many as some of Japan’s representative folk songs.

Their powerful calls and lively rhythms are brimming with energy that makes your heart leap, and they have a lasting charm that stays with you.

Over the years, new allure has been added by numerous singers, including Fuyumi Sakamoto, Yoshimi Tendo, and Takio Ito.

Sayuri Ishikawa also presented her own arrangement on her 2019 album “Tami.” These songs are perfect for moments when you can sing along together—chatting with family and friends, or at community events where people gather and connect.

They’re sure to offer a heartwarming time, wrapped in a sense of nostalgia.

Waltz of StarlightSen Masao

Waltz of Starlight - Masao Sen

Masao Sen’s signature song, which portrays the bittersweet pain of parting, is a masterpiece that delicately captures the feelings of a man and woman who love each other yet cannot be together.

The protagonist’s anguish as he steps aside for the other’s happiness, and the decision born of deep love, resonate deeply.

Although this piece was originally the B-side of a single released in March 1966, through Sen’s steady promotional efforts it reached No.

1 on the Oricon year-end chart in 1968 and became a massive hit with total sales of 2.5 million copies.

Its wistful waltz melody and soul-stirring vocals are sure to profoundly move listeners with rich life experience.

It’s a song you’ll want to sing together, wrapped in fond memories.

Seaside BoundZa Taigāsu

Seaside Bound

Released on May 5, 1967, The Tigers’ second single “Seaside Bound” is a love song that paints a picture of a bright, joyful summer day by the sea, paired with a rhythmic and catchy melody.

Under blue skies and on white sandy beaches, it expresses the joy of two people freely dancing and singing together.

Selling 400,000 copies, it became a major hit and had a significant impact on youth culture at the time.

It’s a classic brimming with nostalgia yet an undiminished charm that still shines today.

You can enjoy it in many ways—sing it together at karaoke or listen quietly while reminiscing about the past.

Link it with summer memories from the 1960s and savor it.

Beach of MemoriesZa Wairudowanzu

Omoide No Nagisa

The Wild Ones’ “Omoide no Nagisa” (“Memories of the Shore”).

It’s a song that portrays memories of a summer by the sea and a bittersweet romance.

The lyrics vividly depict scenes like a white ship and long black hair fluttering in the wind, conveying the poignancy of a lost love.

Released as a single in November 1966, it became a massive hit, selling over a million copies, and it continues to be loved across generations today.

Why not listen to it with someone in their 80s who longs for summers past and reminisce about those days together?

A Midsummer IncidentHirayama Miki

A Midsummer Incident

Miki Hirayama’s beautifully poignant singing voice resonates in the heart in “A Midsummer Incident.” Depicting a summer night between lovers, the song is filled with the fragility that foreshadows parting and with tenderness.

Released in May 1971, it went on to become a classic beloved for many years.

It has been covered by numerous artists, including Yuga and Hiromi Iwasaki, and included on various albums.

When you want to reminisce about youthful love, why not quietly sing along? You’ll surely spend some time fondly recalling the past.

BoyhoodInoue Yosui

Boys' Time / Yosui Inoue (with lyrics)

In Inoue Yosui’s classic song, a gentle yet resonant melody intertwines with nostalgic lyrics, suffused with reflections on youth.

Idyllic summer scenes and memories alive in the mind are spun into poetic expression, tenderly enveloping those treasured moments we keep safe in our hearts.

Since its release in September 1990, it has continued to be loved as a movie theme and a commercial song, and in 1991 it was also used in a Sony Handycam commercial.

Included on the album “Handsome Boy,” this is a tune you’ll want to hum when everyone gathers together.

Why not spend a heartwarming moment as you share stories and let memories blossom?

Summer has comeshouka

Summer has come

Natsu wa Kinu (Summer Has Come) is a long-established song created in 1896.

Poet Nobutsuna Sasaki’s lyrics, which weave together images of summer’s seasonal delights, are set to a calm melody by Sakunosuke Koyama, beautifully evoking early-summer scenes in Japan.

With references to deutzia blossoms, lesser cuckoos, and fireflies, the song conveys a way of life in which Japanese people live in harmony with nature.

Beloved across generations, it was even broadcast on NHK’s Minna no Uta in 1979.

Listened to with gentle singing, it resonates deeply with those who feel nostalgic for days gone by.