Tear-jerking songs recommended for men in their 50s: classic and popular Japanese hits

Broken RadioTokunaga Hideaki

Hideaki Tokunaga – The Broken Radio

Since the 2000s, Hideaki Tokunaga—a veteran singer-songwriter who has continued to pursue a career that probes the essence of being a vocalist—has achieved massive success with his VOCALIST series, which covers timeless J-POP masterpieces.

Released as a single in 1990, Kowarekake no Radio is one of Tokunaga’s signature songs and a standout ballad born of the 1990s.

Beyond its beautiful melody and a vocal delivery that weaves gentleness with aching poignancy, the lyrics—written by Tokunaga himself—are truly remarkable: while nostalgically sketching memories of youth, they ask the radio what true happiness is and what precious things we come to forget as we grow older.

Speaking personally, the sense of wonder I felt when I first heard this song as an elementary school student has only grown brighter with age.

No matter how old I get, whenever I lose my way on the road called life, stopping for a moment to listen to this song gives me the courage to move forward.

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KOH-1

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GraduationOzaki Yutaka

Yutaka Ozaki – Graduation (Ariake Coliseum)

Yutaka Ozaki’s fourth single overall, released on January 21, 1985.

It was the lead single from his second album, “Kaikisen” (1985), and Ozaki’s first 12-inch single.

The 1980s, when this song was released, was a time when schools enforced rules much more strictly than today.

Many people who are in their fifties as of 2022 likely spent their days feeling cramped and oppressed by school and its regulations.

Precisely because of those daily conditions, many listeners must have deeply related to the lyrics of this song.

While the lyrics are sprinkled with provocative words, the melody is a beautifully crafted folk ballad—an exquisite balance that makes it a masterpiece.

Ozaki’s vocal performance, which seems to express his “true, life-sized self,” is also outstanding.

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Kei Takahata

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SubaruTanimura Shinji

[Shinji Tanimura “Subaru”] Recital 2023 “THE SINGER” to be held on Friday, April 14, at Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater, Large Hall!

This is a song released by Shinji Tanimura in 1980.

Created as part of his solo activities launched alongside the group Alice at the height of their popularity that same year, the song became a massive hit after being used in a commercial for Nikka Whisky’s Super Nikka.

Seven years after its release, in 1987, Tanimura made his first appearance at the 38th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen with this song.

It is one of Shinji Tanimura’s signature works.

If I Could Play the PianoNishida Toshiyuki

If I Could Play the Piano

This is a song by Toshiyuki Nishida released in 1981, with lyrics written by Yū Aku.

Yū Aku won the 1981 Japan Lyricist Award for this song.

It was used as the theme song for the 1981 TV drama Ikemoto Genta 80 Kilograms starring Toshiyuki Nishida, and it became a major hit.

Nishida made his first appearance at the 32nd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen with this song, and it has become one of his signature works.

MPRINCESS PRINCESS

Princess Princess – M

A poignant ballad about the pain of heartbreak, this song was released in April 1989 as the B-side to PRINCESS PRINCESS’s “Diamonds.” The lyrics, written by drummer Kyoko Tomita based on her own experience, are powerfully moving and resonate deeply with listeners.

The memorable phrase “turning to the M pages in the phone book” symbolizes lingering feelings for a past lover.

The single achieved major commercial success, including becoming the first CD single in history to sell over a million copies.

For those in their 50s, it may evoke memories of their youth.

How about listening to it on a long autumn night, reminiscing about a love from your younger days?

My teacher is feverishHarada Jun

Netchû Jidai - Theme Song

Jun Harada, known as a singer and actor.

When it comes to his signature songs, isn’t “My Teacher Is Fever” the one that comes to mind? It also left a strong impression as the theme song for the drama “Netchu Jidai” and the variety show “The Most Useful School in the World.” With that unforgettable, catchy chorus, the song remains beloved by many even today.

Incidentally, in recent years, versions with newly updated backtracks and remix editions have also been released.

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yamamoto

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Just by you being herekome kome CLUB

Kome Kome Club – Just Having You Here

At the time of their debut, Kome Kome Club stood out with eccentric costumes, staging, and live performances that incorporated skits, and along with their labelmates Seikima-II and Bakufu Slump, they were sometimes called one of the “three major novelty bands of Sony.” Armed with high-level musicianship rooted in funk and accessible melodies, they went on to rack up hits from the 1990s onward.

Their biggest hit—and a record-breaking bestseller in Japanese music history—was Kimi ga Iru Dake de, released in 1992.

It was also used as the theme song for the hugely popular drama As It Is, and its cumulative sales reached an astonishing 2.895 million copies.

In later years, vocalist Tatsuya Ishii himself described it as “a song that sold too much,” and while it had the side effect of forcing a change in the band’s image, there’s no denying it’s an impeccably crafted “great song.” From the very moment it opens with the chorus, that ineffable, gentle feeling that fills the listener’s heart is something truly rare.

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