[For Seniors] Songs to Hum Together on Mother’s Day: A Collection of Classics that Convey Gratitude

May it be filled with kindnessJUJU

May it be filled with kindness

A bittersweet yet warm ballad that savors feelings for a loved one.

It’s a love song packed to the brim with emotions for that precious someone who’s always by your side as if it were a given.

A track by JUJU, it was released in February 2009 as her ninth single.

It was used as the commercial song for Nissan’s Cube and has been covered by various artists.

The lyrics, which lay out unconditional love and deep gratitude, are moving enough to bring you to tears just by reading them.

I feel that the more we age, the more we can appreciate the beauty of this piece.

The unadorned vocals and gentle melody are crafted in a way that naturally brings tears to your eyes when you listen.

It’s perfect for older adults to express their everyday gratitude.

To MotherKG

KG – To Mother (MV/Full Ver.)

A love for one’s mother is something you can truly feel only after becoming an adult.

This song is by KG, the solo project of singer-songwriter Koh, who decided to base his activities in Japan.

It’s included on the album “Gift,” released in May 2015.

Chosen for Kyushu Electric Power’s Kyuden Anshin Support TV commercial, it began airing in January 2017.

The track expresses genuine feelings toward one’s mother from birth to the present.

As we grow up, navigating the distance in that relationship becomes harder, and many of us have experienced saying things that contradict our true feelings.

The emotional vocals rekindle memories of a great love and leave you feeling renewed gratitude.

On Mother’s Day, be sure to listen together with older adults and spend the time cherishing each other’s presence.

umbilical cordSOFFet

Soffet - Umbilical Cord

This song, perfect for Mother’s Day when feelings of gratitude toward parents overflow, is a number that weaves together thanks to one’s mother—thanks that become harder to express in words as we grow up.

The reason we’re alive like this now is undoubtedly because our moms were always watching over us.

That sentiment is embedded in the song.

It’s a single released in June 2005 by SOFFet, a music group formed by childhood friends from their elementary school days.

It was the ending theme for Fuji TV’s “Enta! Mitamon Kachi.” It was later included on the album “Kokoro Film Note.” The gentle melody featuring piano and strings paired with rap feels so pleasant, doesn’t it? While reflecting on your own childhood memories, it’s also recommended as a message song for older listeners.

threadNakajima Miyuki

thread

It’s a classic song that likens the ties between people to a woven textile, portraying the warmth of living while supporting one another.

Its profound message—that the mystery of encounters and even painful experiences will someday transform into the power to embrace someone—gently resonates in the listener’s heart.

This song by Miyuki Nakajima is included on the celebrated album “EAST ASIA,” released in October 1992.

It later became widely known when it was used as the theme song for the 1998 TV drama “Seija no Koshin” (March of the Saints).

It has enjoyed enduring support, including a film released in 2020 that was inspired by the piece.

It’s especially recommended for Mother’s Day, when feelings of gratitude toward parents abound, to listen to together with older adults and savor its content.

motherHayashi Asuka

02 “Haha” / “Saku” Asuca Hayashi

This is a song that earnestly and directly expresses gratitude to one’s mother.

It conveys thankfulness while looking back on childhood memories of all the things Mom did—this and that.

Asuka Hayashi’s work was released in March 2003 and still enjoys enduring popularity.

It was the opening theme for TBS’s TV program “CDTV” in March 2003.

The track is also included on the album “Saki,” released in May 2003, and on “Golden☆Best Asuka Hayashi,” released in August 2013.

Anyone living away from their parents will likely be moved to tears.

It’s perfect for listening together with older adults while reminiscing about the past.

To express everyday gratitude, it’s a song you’ll definitely want to listen to together on Mother’s Day.

It’s a moving number that reminds you anew of how significant she is.

To MomAoyama Teruma

Mama E

This is a song of gratitude from a daughter to her mother.

It’s packed tightly with the strength of a mother who has continued to support her child on her own, as well as the anxieties hidden behind that strength.

Sung by Thelma Aoyama, it was included on her album “DIARY,” released in March 2008.

The song was used as the commercial theme for Lotte’s Ghana Milk Chocolate starting in April 2008.

Its unadorned vocals and gentle melody are crafted in a way that can move you to tears.

Though many things may have happened until now, this piece is perfect for those moments when you want to honestly express your gratitude.

How about listening to it together with older adults while looking back on your shared memories?

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?