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Lovely hit song

Classic and hit songs by nostalgic Japanese idols from the 1970s

In the history of Japanese idols, the 1970s can truly be called the de facto “first year of idols,” a period when numerous legendary singers and groups emerged, creating the blueprint for today’s idol scene.

Many talents from that era are still active across various fields, and the music scene of the 1970s can rightly be called a treasure trove of superstar names that are instantly recognizable.

In this article, we’ll introduce classic songs left behind by these ’70s idols, featuring both male and female artists together.

It’s full of timeless hits you’ve likely heard at least once, so younger generations interested in idol songs from this era—and Japanese pop music more broadly—should definitely check it out!

Playlist

Classic and hit songs by nostalgic Japanese idols from the 1970s
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastMy boyfriend is left-handed.Asaoka Megumi
My boyfriend is left-handed.Asaoka Megumiplay_arrow
A love song cherishing my left-handed lover
2eastMy Blue BirdSakurada Junko
My Blue BirdSakurada Junkoplay_arrow
A masterpiece in which a bluebird expresses the fleeting nature of love
3eastA Good Day to Set Out on a JourneyYamaguchi Momoe
A Good Day to Set Out on a JourneyYamaguchi Momoeplay_arrow
Momoe Yamaguchi’s classic song, Departure and Nostalgia
4eastBoys and girlsGō Hiromi
Boys and girlsGō Hiromiplay_arrow
Hiromi Go’s debut song depicts the joy of youth
5eastSummer MissSakakibara Ikue
Summer MissSakakibara Ikueplay_arrow
Ikue Sakakibara released it in 1978 and made her first appearance at the Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
6eastPrivate railway line areaNoguchi Goro
Private railway line areaNoguchi Goroplay_arrow
Goro Noguchi’s signature song depicting heartbreak
7eastSmiling Backkyandīzu
Smiling Backkyandīzuplay_arrow
Candies' last famous song
8eastDo whatever the hell you want.sawada kenji
Do whatever the hell you want.sawada kenjiplay_arrow
Kenji Sawada's heartbreak ballad smash hit
9eastLaura Covered in ScarsSaijō Hideki
Laura Covered in ScarsSaijō Hidekiplay_arrow
A smash hit song singing of Hideki Saijo’s devotion to his beloved
10eastteacherMori Masako
teacherMori Masakoplay_arrow
Masako Mori's debut song and biggest hit
11eastLove Requestaizaki shinya
Love Requestaizaki shinyaplay_arrow
Shinya Aizaki’s classic breakup song
12eastUFOpinku redii
UFOpinku rediiplay_arrow
Signature songs of Pink Lady
13eastbulldogfoorību su
bulldogfoorību suplay_arrow
The 1977 classic by Four Leaves
14eastCotton HandkerchiefŌta Hiromi
Cotton HandkerchiefŌta Hiromiplay_arrow
Hiromi Ota’s signature song, a long-distance love theme
15eastsentimentalIwasaki Hiromi
sentimentalIwasaki Hiromiplay_arrow
Hiromi Iwasaki’s youth romance song becomes a big hit
16eastA City Turning ColorsMinami Saori
A City Turning ColorsMinami Saoriplay_arrow
An autumn classic depicting Saori Minami’s heartbreak and growth
17eastA Boy Riding a DolphinShiro Michiru
A Boy Riding a DolphinShiro Michiruplay_arrow
Michiru Jō’s debut song was a big hit
18eastYou’re not alone.tenchi mari
You're not alone.tenchi mariplay_arrow
Her biggest hit song led to her first appearance on the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen.
19eastI’m not afraid of wolves at all.Ishino Mako
I'm not afraid of wolves at all.Ishino Mako
Mako Ishino’s debut single, released in 1978
20eastAs long as the sun is in the skynishikino akira
As long as the sun is in the skynishikino akiraplay_arrow
A massive hit that became Akira Nishikino’s signature song
21eastforeignerKUBOTA Saki
foreignerKUBOTA Sakiplay_arrow
Saki Kubota's 1979 debut single became a big hit
22eastYOUNG MAN (Y.M.C.A.)Saijō Hideki
YOUNG MAN (Y.M.C.A.)Saijō Hidekiplay_arrow
Hideki Saijo’s 1979 smash hit song
23eastpoppy flowerAgunesu Chan
poppy flowerAgunesu Chanplay_arrow
Agnes Chan’s signature debut song
24eastThe Bride of SetoKoyanagi Rumiko
The Bride of SetoKoyanagi Rumikoplay_arrow
Rumiko Koyanagi’s signature song themed around the Seto Inland Sea
25eastAt the coffee shopabe shizue
At the coffee shopabe shizueplay_arrow
Shizue Abe’s debut single and biggest hit
26east17 years oldMinami Saori
17 years oldMinami Saoriplay_arrow
Saori Minami makes an unprecedented first appearance at the Kohaku with her debut song
27eastYokosuka StoryYamaguchi Momoe
Yokosuka StoryYamaguchi Momoeplay_arrow
A song that established a new image of womanhood for Momoe Yamaguchi
28eastListening to OliviaAnri
Listening to OliviaAnriplay_arrow
Anri’s debut song, later noted through a cover
29eastSexy Bus StopAsano Yūko
Sexy Bus StopAsano Yūkoplay_arrow
Yuko Asano 1976 single highest self sales
30eastCinderella HoneymoonIwasaki Hiromi
Cinderella HoneymoonIwasaki Hiromiplay_arrow
An award-winning song released by Hiromi Iwasaki in 1978
31eastWhen you become an adultŌba Kumiko
When you become an adultŌba Kumikoplay_arrow
The song that made Kumiko Ōba an idol
32eastAquamarine Lovetenchi mari
Aquamarine Lovetenchi mariplay_arrow
Mari Amachi’s debut song is a big hit
33eastGood-bye, My LoveAn Ruisu
Good-bye, My LoveAn Ruisuplay_arrow
Ann Lewis's first hit song
34eastRed BalloonAsada Miyoko
Red BalloonAsada Miyokoplay_arrow
Miyoko Asada debut song “It’s Time”
35eastSinbad on the Shorepinku redii
Sinbad on the Shorepinku rediiplay_arrow
A classic song that portrays a woman’s feelings as she falls in love by the summer seaside
36eastNo-No BoyZa Supaidāsu
No-No BoyZa Supaidāsu
Hiroshi Kamayatsu’s British beat-infused rock masterpiece
37eastSunflower GirlItō Sakiko
Sunflower GirlItō Sakikoplay_arrow
Akiko Ito’s 1974 debut single
38eastAs time goes bysawada kenji
As time goes bysawada kenjiplay_arrow
A masterpiece by Kenji Sawada. A work with outstanding lyrics.
39eastHow are you?Shimizu Yukiko
How are you?Shimizu Yukikoplay_arrow
Yukiko Shimizu’s debut song, singing while playing a folk guitar
40eastyounger boykyandīzu
younger boykyandīzuplay_arrow
The Candies’ first hit song and their first appearance on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen
41eastA Lonely RoomTakagi Asaya
A Lonely RoomTakagi Asayaplay_arrow
Debut prize won in a lonely room
42eastInspector Pepperpinku redii
Inspector Pepperpinku rediiplay_arrow
Pink Lady scores a hit with their debut single
43eastGlass SlopeTakada Mizue
Glass SlopeTakada Mizueplay_arrow
Mizue Takada’s 1977 debut song.