[For Seniors] Recommended Songs for Music Therapy Tailored to Physical and Mental Conditions

Music is something we can’t live without, isn’t it?

Many people find that listening to upbeat songs mysteriously lifts their mood.

In particular, in senior care facilities, music therapy is used to support physical and mental rehabilitation.

Try choosing songs that match the physical and mental condition of older adults and use them in recreational activities.

In this article, we’ve gathered many songs that are familiar to seniors.

If you’re unsure which songs to use in music therapy, please use this as a reference.

Playlist

[For Seniors] Recommended Songs for Music Therapy Tailored to Physical and Mental Conditions
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	When the violets bloomSakushi: Fritz Rotter Shirai Tetsuzou / Sakkyoku: Franz Doelle		A standard number of the Takarazuka Revue, singing of springtime love.
2	Apple SongNamiki Michiko		Nostalgic, soothing songs that encourage the elderly
3	strollInoue Azumi		Walk energetically to the theme song of My Neighbor Totoro
4	Flowers ~Flowers for everyone’s heart~Sakushi sakkyoku: Kina Shoukichi		A timeless peace anthem that makes flowers bloom in the heart
5	Over the hillFujiyama Ichirō		Over the hill, a song of hope and nature
6	SakurazakaFukuyama Masaharu		Sakurazaka gently sings of the days that have passed.
7	The Bride of SetoKoyanagi Rumiko		Heartwarming healing through Rumiko Koyanagi’s famous songs
8	12th graderFunaki Kazuo		Refresh your spirit with the youth anthem “High School Senior.”
9	Don’t give upZARD		An uplifting anthem that gives courage and the strength to live positively
10	Red Sweet PeaMatsuda Seiko		A gentle ballad by Seiko Matsuda that carries the scent of spring
11	Chanchiki OdesaMinami Haruo		Haruo Minami’s famous song, a nostalgic and heartwarming piece.
12	Winter SongKiroro		A masterpiece that paints a winter scene with a gentle melody
13	dogwood (flowering dogwood)Hitoto Yo		Hitoto Yo’s “Hanamizuki,” a song that gently stays close to the heart
14	The Highland Train GoesOkamoto Atsurō		Takahara Ressha wa Yuku by Atsuro Okamoto
15	The two are young.dikku mine		The allure of the duet song “The Spied-Upon Bride”
16	Like the flow of a riverMisora Hibari		A timeless masterpiece that soothes the soul, like the flow of a river.
17	Who Would Not Think of Their HometownShimakura Chiyoko		Nostalgic melodies resonate in my heart, bringing memories back to life.
18	snow camelliaKobayashi Sachiko		Sachiko Kobayashi’s “Yuki Tsubaki” is a soothing song that resonates with the heart.
19	Tokyo RhapsodyFujiyama Ichirō		Showa-era Tokyo, where nostalgic melodies soothe the heart.
20	I’m happy it’s spring.Sakushi: Yamazaki Iwao / Sakkyoku: Komiyaji Satoshi		The charm of a cheerful children's song that sings of spring's joy
21	What a nice bath.Za Dorifutāzu		The charm of hot spring songs and heartwarming melodies
22	Plover on the BeachSakushi: Kashima Naruaki / Sakkyoku: Hirota Ryūtarō		The plover’s song seeking its parent on the blue moonlit shore
23	Ochara-ka-hoi		Brain training with fingerplay songs: fun and healthy
24	Momotaro		Enjoyable interaction through the nostalgic hand game “Momotarō”
25	Tokyo Boogie-WoogieKasaogi Shizuko		A masterpiece that colors the postwar music scene
26	There’s always tomorrowSakamoto Kyu		Kyu Sakamoto’s uplifting classic song “Ue o Muite Arukou”
27	BoyhoodInoue Yosui		A nostalgic song brings back memories of my childhood.
28	The Hill Where Mandarin Orange Blossoms Bloom		Boost your brain and heart with hand-play while singing
29	Look up at the stars in the nightSakamoto Kyu		The classic song that brings hope and courage: “Ue o Muite Arukou” (Sukiyaki)
30	Where does the morning begin?Okamoto Atsurō		A morning song sings of postwar hope
31	The Mountain Hut’s LightŌmi Toshirō		A masterpiece whose mountain cabin lights soothe the heart
32	threadNakajima Miyuki		A heartwarming classic that depicts the bonds between people
33	Hello,Mr.MonkeyArabesque		A classic that makes your heart dance with its lively rhythm.
34	The railroad tracks go on forever.		Enjoyable interaction with hand play songs boosts concentration
35	a small brown bottle		Hand play songs that joyfully move the brain and body
36	Mount Fuji (Fujinoyama)		The song about Mount Fuji: a nostalgic classic that resonates in the heart
37	A quiet lakeside		Music of nature, a song of summer memories
38	Season of LovePinkī to Kirāzu		A classic bossa nova standard for summer
39	Summer MemoriesSakushi: Ema Akiko / Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinao		A heartwarming classic that depicts the scenery of Oze
40	The Sun of the DowntownBaishō Chieko		The charm of downtown nostalgia and warm singing voices
41	Furusato: Song Exercise
42	SubaruTanimura Shinji		Shinji Tanimura’s moving masterpiece, with a grand sense of the cosmos
43	SEPTEMBEREarth, Wind & Fire		Thrilling masterpieces, the joy of moving your body
44	Blue MountainsFujiyama Ichirō		A masterpiece that beautifully sings of postwar hope and a new era
45	Soran Bushi		Soran Bushi, a herring fishermen’s folk song that originated in Hokkaido.
46	Kawachi Ondo		Kawachi Ondo is a thriving folk song style from Osaka.
47	Flowers will bloom.		A moving song that portrays the sorrow and hope of the earthquake disaster
48	Waltz of StarlightSen Masao		Masao Sen's classic 'Hoshikage no Waltz,' a song that sings of the melancholy of parting
49	Hanjirō of the Hakone Eight RiHikawa Kiyoshi		Kiyoshi Hikawa: popular among younger generations for his enka
50	Apple Song Exercise		Activate your brain by moving your body to “The Apple Song.”
51	Spring somewhereSakushi: Momota Soji / Sakkyoku: Kusagawa Shin		The charm and emotion of the spring classic “Soushunfu (Early Spring Ode)”
52	Ladybug Sambacherisshu		Spring songs brighten and uplift people's hearts.
53	era; age; time; periodNakajima Miyuki		Miyuki Nakajima: a heartwarming classic that resonates in spring
54	Album of MemoriesSakushi: Masuko Toshi / Sakkyoku: Honda Tetsuma		A heartwarming song about memories from kindergarten
55	On the Day of DepartureSakushi: Kojima Noboru / Sakkyoku: Sakamoto Hiromi		Graduation songs evoke the arrival of spring.
56	cherry blossomMoriyama Naotaro		A song of cherry blossoms portrays the transience of life.
57	March of 365 StepsSuizenji Kiyoko		An encouraging song that gives you the courage to move forward
58	Listening to requested songs		Music therapy to relax with nostalgic songs
59	Ball juggling in time with the song		Maintaining seniors’ health through singing and ball exercises
60	Rhythmic exercises with pop songs		Do lively exercises with kayōkyoku and enjoy staying healthy
61	the first strong spring windkyandīzu		The charm of a nostalgic classic that sings of spring’s arrival
62	Grandfather’s Clock		A Heartwarming Tale of a Grandfather and an Old Clock