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[1970s] Collection of Japanese hit songs. Nostalgic masterpieces of Japan

Japanese music in the 1970s saw incredible evolution across folk songs, Showa-era pop, idols, bands, and more.

From among them, we’ll introduce classic Japanese hits that everyone knows and that evoke a sense of nostalgia.

Many of these songs are still featured on music programs today and are covered by various artists—this song and that song alike.

You might use this list to immerse yourself in fond memories.

Of course, it’s also great for discovering something new.

Please enjoy the many massive hits and wonderful masterpieces that colored Japan in those days!

Playlist

[1970s] Collection of Japanese hit songs. Nostalgic masterpieces of Japan
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastJourney of the HeartTULIP
Journey of the HeartTULIPplay_arrow
A masterpiece that combines gentleness and strength. TULIP…
2eastMonkey MagicGodiego
Monkey Magic Godiegoplay_arrow
A song inspired by the story of Journey to the West, with the entire piece...
3eastChampionArisu
ChampionArisuplay_arrow
Swept through Japan’s music scene in the late 1970s…
4eastfestivalyoninbayashi
festivalyoninbayashiplay_arrow
B... who was active in Japan’s rock scene in the 1970s
5eastUntil we meet againOzaki Kiyohiko
Until we meet againOzaki Kiyohikoplay_arrow
A classic song that portrays a heartrending farewell, released in March 1971...
6eastSwim! Taiyaki-kunShimon Masato
Swim! Taiyaki-kunShimon Masatoplay_arrow
The 1975 smash-hit children’s song by Masato Shimon…
7eastGather the Windhappiiendo
Gather the Windhappiiendoplay_arrow
Released in 1971, Happy End’s...
8eastTo Marie on Fifth AvenuePedoro & Kapurishasu
To Marie on Fifth AvenuePedoro & Kapurishasuplay_arrow
Formed in 1971. In 1973, Mari Takahashi…
9eastTECHNOPOLISYellow Magic Orchestra
TECHNOPOLISYellow Magic Orchestraplay_arrow
With an innovative electronic sound, 19…
10eastyouKozaka Akiko
youKozaka Akikoplay_arrow
A classic filled with youth and pure first love. Akira Kosaka...
11eastThe Bride of SetoKoyanagi Rumiko
The Bride of SetoKoyanagi Rumikoplay_arrow
A lyrical classic set in the Seto Inland Sea. Rumiko Koyanagi…
12eastLeave it to me.kurafuto
Leave it to me.kurafutoplay_arrow
A four-person group that was active for five years starting in 1973 fo…
13eastWhenever I arrive, it’s always raining.Za Moppusu
Whenever I arrive, it’s always raining.Za Moppusuplay_arrow
In the period when Group Sounds was popular, th…
14eastapplausechiaki naomi
applausechiaki naomiplay_arrow
It’s no exaggeration to say that it almost always comes up on special TV programs about Showa-era pop songs...
15eastA café in a student districtGaro
A café in a student districtGaroplay_arrow
A depiction of the youthful days spent at a cherished coffee shop...
16eastWoman’s PathMiya Shirō to Pinkara Torio
Woman's PathMiya Shirō to Pinkara Torioplay_arrow
Known as a signature song by Shiro Miya and the Pinkara Trio…
17eastred lanternkaguya hime
red lanternkaguya himeplay_arrow
An iconic presen… of the 1970s folk song boom
18eastStrings of TearsTonosama Kingusu
Strings of TearsTonosama Kingusuplay_arrow
A classic enka masterpiece that passionately sings of a heartrending love. 197…
19eastBlack Cat TangoMinagawa Osamu
Black Cat TangoMinagawa Osamuplay_arrow
As Osamu Minagawa’s debut single in 1969…
20eastThe Scent of CyclamenFuse Akira
The Scent of CyclamenFuse Akiraplay_arrow
The love that changes along with the turning of the seasons, chic...
21eastIn the SpacesupeKUTORAMU
In the SpacesupeKUTORAMUplay_arrow
A Japanese brass ro… act that debuted in 1979
22eastFunky Monkey BabyKyaroru
Funky Monkey BabyKyaroruplay_arrow
It’s the well-known band of Eikichi Yazawa. 19…
23eastPurple Highwayku-ru-su
Purple Highwayku-ru-suplay_arrow
Following the breakup of Carol in 1975...
24eastPlease, Time MachineSadisutikku Mika Bando
Please, Time MachineSadisutikku Mika Bandoplay_arrow
Kazuhiko Kato, formerly of The Folk Crusaders, ...
25eastKakko-man BoogieDaun Taun Bugiugi Bando
Kakko-man BoogieDaun Taun Bugiugi Bandoplay_arrow
Formed in 1973 with Ryudo Uzaki as the leader. White...
26eastSong of Departure (Tabidachi no Uta)Kamijō Tsunehiko & Rokumonsen
Song of Departure (Tabidachi no Uta)Kamijō Tsunehiko & Rokumonsenplay_arrow
Formed in 1968 around Hitoshi Komuro, the uni...
27eastHERO (The time to become a hero is now)Kai Band
HERO (The time to become a hero is now)Kai Bandplay_arrow
Kai Band, which debuted in 1974, took four years…
28eastA café in a student districtGaro
A café in a student districtGaroplay_arrow
Mark (Mamoru Horiuchi) · Tommy (Tomiaki Hitaka) · Bo...
29eastDOWN TOWNShugā Beibu
DOWN TOWNShugā Beibuplay_arrow
As a band that featured Tatsuro Yamashita and Taeko Onuki…
30eastA Fateful Encounter at Twentyshigunaru
A Fateful Encounter at Twentyshigunaruplay_arrow
A four-member folk ba… that debuted in 1975
31eastListening to OliviaAnri
Listening to OliviaAnriplay_arrow
A melody that gently envelops the lingering ache of a bittersweet love…
32eastMy Favorite TeacherRC sakuseshon
My Favorite TeacherRC sakuseshonplay_arrow
RC Succession, released in 1972...
33eastCopypurasuchikkusu
Copypurasuchikkusuplay_arrow
With the emergence of Y.M.O., a new genre called technopop...
34eastGrab the gun.zunou keisatsu
Grab the gun.zunou keisatsuplay_arrow
Formed in 1970, Zuno Keisatsu (Brain Police) has its out…
35eastKewpie-chanYoshikawa Danjirō Ichiza
Kewpie-chanYoshikawa Danjirō Ichizaplay_arrow
Danjuro Yoshikawa, who has a hit song called “Aa Miyagi-ken”...
36easttrigger (of a gun)Sera Masanori & Tsuisto
trigger (of a gun)Sera Masanori & Tsuistoplay_arrow
What made them stand out was Masayuki Sera’s powerful vocals…
37eastMain Theme of ‘Taiyo ni Hoero!’Inoue Takayuki Bando
Main Theme of 'Taiyo ni Hoero!'Inoue Takayuki Bandoplay_arrow
Group Sounds, which gained popularity in the 1960s...
38eastPlease give me wingsakai tori
Please give me wingsakai toriplay_arrow
Once featured in music textbooks and the anime "
39eastAt the end of the 20th centuryHikashū
At the end of the 20th centuryHikashūplay_arrow
A band centered around Koichi Makigami, who comes from a theater background.
40eastLittle Red Riding Hood, bewarereijii
Little Red Riding Hood, bewarereijiiplay_arrow
Formed in 1973. The vocalist is now an anime song...
41eastThe Song of the Red Dragonflyanonenone
The Song of the Red Dragonflyanonenoneplay_arrow
They made their major debut with this song in 1973...