[For Seniors] An intro quiz that will make you want to sing along. Let’s have fun with nostalgic classics!
The moment you hear a nostalgic melody, memories rush back all at once… Why not enjoy that feeling with an intro quiz? The many classic songs that colored the Showa era hold a special place for older adults, bringing back memories of their youth and of cherished people.
When the intro starts and someone lights up with “Oh, I know this one!”, the way conversations naturally take off is truly heartwarming.
Sharing stories from those days sparked by the music can turn into a joyful time full of smiles.
These are all timeless hits that are easy to use for recreation and everyday interaction, so please enjoy a rich, heartwarming time together with music.
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[For Seniors] Intro Quiz That Makes You Want to Sing Along: Let’s Get Excited with Nostalgic Classics (11–20)
The Highland Train GoesOkamoto Atsuro
This song, which portrays a refreshing journey on a highland train, captivated many hearts with Atsuo Okamoto’s beautiful singing voice.
The lyrics are striking, vividly evoking scenes of rich nature such as blue skies, birch groves, and Goshikinuma.
Released in February 1954, it was also performed at that year’s NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
This piece is recommended for anyone who wants to spend a soothing moment while recalling highland landscapes.
How about humming along together with everyone?
12th graderFunaki Kazuo
It’s a song filled with memories of youth.
It gently sings about the feelings of young people as they approach the end of their high school days.
I can just picture Kazuo Funaki, in a school uniform, singing it.
The song was released in June 1963, and a film of the same name was also released.
It’s recommended not only for high school students nearing graduation but also for older listeners who feel nostalgic about their school days.
Why not hum along together and look back on those happy memories?
Blue MountainsFujiyama Ichirō
It’s a classic song that celebrates youth and hope against the backdrop of blue mountains.
Ichirō Fujiyama’s dignified vocals truly resonate with the heart.
Released in 1949 as a movie theme song, it has been loved for many years.
It’s so popular that it was even ranked number one on an NHK program.
For older listeners, it’s likely a song filled with memories.
This work gently embraces the resolve for a new journey and a farewell to the past.
It’s great for use in an intro quiz, and it’s also lovely for everyone to hum along together.
Because the moon is so very blueSugawara Totoko
Totoko Sugawara’s “Because the Moon Is So Blue” is a song distinguished by its wistful vocals.
Her uniquely vibrant vibrato made her very popular, earning her the nickname “Queen of Elegy.” Among the singers who appeared in the very first NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, she was the only one still alive as of 2022.
This song is one of Sugawara’s signature pieces that cemented her popularity, and it remains a beloved Japanese standard and a karaoke staple.
The Bride of SetoKoyanagi Rumiko
Known as one of Rumiko Koyanagi’s signature songs, this heartwarming piece depicts a young woman’s hopes and anxieties as she embarks on a new life, set against the beautiful scenery of the Seto Inland Sea.
Released in April 1972, it won the 3rd Japan Kayō Awards that same year.
For many older listeners, this song may be a special one that overlaps with memories of their youth.
Why not listen to it at a relaxed pace while imagining the calm Seto Inland Sea? It will surely fill you with nostalgia.
Crossing Amagi PassIshikawa Sayuri
Even younger generations who aren’t very familiar with enka will probably recognize it as soon as they hear the chorus—the part where the title is sung—right? That’s Sayuri Ishikawa’s “Amagi-goe.” Released in 1986, it’s a truly national hit and one of Ishikawa’s signature songs, performed many times at NHK’s year-end Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
If you sing this at a karaoke contest, won’t all the participants be able to hum along and get excited? It’s so popular it might even end up being a song people compete over.
[For Seniors] Intro Quiz That Makes You Want to Sing Along: Let’s Get Excited with Nostalgic Classics (21–30)
Itako GasaHashi Yukio
Hashi Yukio’s debut song and a signature work of the traveling minstrel genre, “Itako Gasa,” is memorable for its melody that evokes nostalgia and warmth.
Since its release in 1960, it has been loved by many and served as a cornerstone of Hashi’s career.
Composed by Masaru Yoshida with lyrics by Takao Saeki, it was created to paint the beautiful scenery of Japan.
Its melody invites warm conversations along with fond memories.