Popular Japanese songs among women in their 40s: recommended classics and standard hits
No matter how many years go by or how many times you listen, the songs you loved in your youth always stir something warm in your heart, don’t they?
In this article, we’ll introduce popular Japanese songs that colored the teenage years of women in their 40s.
We’ve gathered a trove of classics perfect for anyone thinking, “I want to hear that song again,” or “I want to sing the songs I sang as a student at karaoke.”
You’re sure to rediscover the tracks you loved back then!
Even if you’re busy every day with work and household chores, why not take a little break and bask in the memories of your youth?
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Popular Japanese songs among women in their 40s. Recommended classics and staples (1–10)
FriendsREBECCA
Friends, a signature song by REBECCA, the band that helped spark the late-1980s band boom, was released in 1985.
Used as the ending theme for the drama “Half Potato na Oretachi,” the song has been covered by many artists, including Shoko Nakagawa and His Excellency Demon Kogure.
It’s said that vocalist NOKKO sang about her first boyfriend, vividly portraying scenes that capture the slight awkwardness of a first relationship.
It’s a song that may bring back memories of that youthful time when you fell in love and grew just a bit more mature.
Being just friends is fine.Takahashi Yumiko
Yumiko Takahashi, lauded as the last orthodox idol of the 20th century and acclaimed both as a singer and an actress, released her 13th single, “Tomodachi de Ii Kara” (“I’d Be Fine Just as Friends”).
The song was chosen as the theme for the second installment of the TV drama ‘My Little Lover,’ in which she starred.
Its lyrics, which depict someone wrestling with their feelings while hiding them from the person they like, are likely to resonate with anyone who has experienced a bittersweet unrequited love.
With a narrow vocal range and a not-too-high key, it’s a sentimental pop tune that women in their 40s—the generation that grew up with it—will especially enjoy singing.
PRIDEImai Miki
Along with the drama Doc, for which it served as the theme song, Miki Imai’s “PRIDE” gained widespread popularity.
Written, composed, and arranged by Tomoyasu Hotei, the song was released in 1996 and became a major hit.
Its lyrics—singing that loving your partner straightforwardly is your own pride—resonated with many young women at the time.
The stance of loving someone sincerely is undeniably cool, and it inspires admiration—the feeling of wanting to be like that.
If you’re someone who had that kind of pure, straightforward love in your youth, why not listen to the song and let it take you back to those days?
Popular Japanese songs among women in their 40s: Recommended classics and standard tracks (11–20)
White LoveSPEED
“White Love,” released in 1997 by the four-member music group SPEED, known for their striking high-tone vocals.
Its one-of-a-kind sound has stayed in listeners’ hearts for years.
The song was featured in Shiseido’s T’issera Angel Drop commercial, which drew attention because all the members appeared in it.
It’s the kind of song you want to listen to in winter, bringing back memories of school days and bittersweet romance.
How about revisiting this refreshing yet poignant love song and soaking in a bit of nostalgia?
Future Projection IIDREAMS COME TRUE
For women in their 40s, DREAMS COME TRUE is the ultimate presence that colored their youth and their lives as adults.
One of their signature songs, “Mirai Yosouzu II,” first appeared on the 1989 album LOVE GOES ON….
Covered by many artists, it’s a song loved across generations.
It depicts a time about three years after graduating from school and conveys the wish to keep living together unchanged from here on out.
For those who have had a husband or boyfriend by their side from their youth to the present, it’s likely become a precious song that marks the journey they’ve walked together with their partner.
Time goes byEvery Little Thing
Speaking of Every Little Thing, they’re a group that led the J-POP scene from the late 1990s! They’ve released so many classic songs over the years, and when it comes to their music, Kaori Mochida’s clear, translucent vocals are especially captivating.
Among their work, this particular signature song stands out with a chorus that soars beautifully, letting you fully savor Mochida’s voice.
Many people probably remember it as a major hit at the time—it took them to the New Year’s Eve Kōhaku Uta Gassen, and the single featuring the track became a million seller.
I can’t stay a daydreaming girlAikawa Nanase
This song is Nanase Aikawa’s debut single, released in 1995, and one of her signature tracks.
Produced by Tetsurō Oda, it was crafted into a powerful rock number that cemented Aikawa’s position as a rock singer.
Not only the chorus but every part of the song is so catchy that it sticks in your head after just one listen, making it a timeless classic that hasn’t faded with the years.
I bet many people used to sing it often at karaoke back then, too.