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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 classic song that depicts the departure of youth
2eastMonkey MagicGodiego
Monkey Magic Godiegoplay_arrow
An English-lyric song with a Journey to the West motif
3eastChampionArisu
ChampionArisuplay_arrow
Alice's signature songs from the 1970s
4eastGather the Windhappiiendo
Gather the Windhappiiendoplay_arrow
Longing for freedom in a signature song by Happy End
5eastfestivalyoninbayashi
festivalyoninbayashiplay_arrow
Live footage of the 1970s Japanese rock band Yonin Bayashi
6eastLeave it to me.kurafuto
Leave it to me.kurafutoplay_arrow
Grape 1975 release song
7eastUntil we meet againOzaki Kiyohiko
Until we meet againOzaki Kiyohikoplay_arrow
Kiyohiko Ozaki’s poignant breakup classic
8eastTECHNOPOLISYellow Magic Orchestra
TECHNOPOLISYellow Magic Orchestraplay_arrow
A signature YMO track and a pioneer of technopop
9eastSwim! Taiyaki-kunShimon Masato
Swim! Taiyaki-kunShimon Masatoplay_arrow
A nursery rhyme about a taiyaki fleeing to the sea
10eastyouKozaka Akiko
youKozaka Akikoplay_arrow
A smash-hit classic about youth and pure first love
11eastThe Bride of SetoKoyanagi Rumiko
The Bride of SetoKoyanagi Rumikoplay_arrow
A classic song that sings of a bride’s feelings on the Seto Inland Sea
12eastTo Marie on Fifth AvenuePedoro & Kapurishasu
To Marie on Fifth AvenuePedoro & Kapurishasuplay_arrow
Many classic Group Sounds songs were released
13eastapplausechiaki naomi
applausechiaki naomiplay_arrow
Chiaki Naomi’s signature song from 1972
14eastA café in a student districtGaro
A café in a student districtGaroplay_arrow
A nostalgic classic song about memories of a coffee shop
15eastWhenever I arrive, it’s always raining.Za Moppusu
Whenever I arrive, it’s always raining.Za Moppusuplay_arrow
popular psychedelic rock band
16eastred lanternkaguya hime
red lanternkaguya himeplay_arrow
Kaguya-hime is a symbol of 70s folk music
17eastStrings of TearsTonosama Kingusu
Strings of TearsTonosama Kingusuplay_arrow
A poignant love enka masterpiece by Tonomasakings
18eastBlack Cat TangoMinagawa Osamu
Black Cat TangoMinagawa Osamuplay_arrow
A nursery rhyme about a black cat’s lover became a massive hit, selling over 2.6 million copies.
19eastWoman’s PathMiya Shirō to Pinkara Torio
Woman's PathMiya Shirō to Pinkara Torioplay_arrow
Miya Shiro’s Showa-era kayōkyoku classic tops the charts consecutively
20eastThe Scent of CyclamenFuse Akira
The Scent of CyclamenFuse Akiraplay_arrow
A classic song that likens love changing with the seasons to a cyclamen.
21eastPlease, Time MachineSadisutikku Mika Bando
Please, Time MachineSadisutikku Mika Bandoplay_arrow
The rock band formed by Kazuhiko Kato in 1971
22eastIn the SpacesupeKUTORAMU
In the SpacesupeKUTORAMUplay_arrow
Pioneering Japanese brass rock band
23eastSong of Departure (Tabidachi no Uta)Kamijō Tsunehiko & Rokumonsen
Song of Departure (Tabidachi no Uta)Kamijō Tsunehiko & Rokumonsenplay_arrow
The music unit Rokumonsen centered around Hitoshi Komuro
24eastHERO (The time to become a hero is now)Kai Band
HERO (The time to become a hero is now)Kai Bandplay_arrow
Kai Band tops the Oricon chart with “HERO.”
25eastA café in a student districtGaro
A café in a student districtGaroplay_arrow
Garo’s signature song, popular among students.
26eastFunky Monkey BabyKyaroru
Funky Monkey BabyKyaroruplay_arrow
Eikichi Yazawa Band debuted in 1972
27eastPurple Highwayku-ru-su
Purple Highwayku-ru-suplay_arrow
Formed and active as an American rock band
28eastKakko-man BoogieDaun Taun Bugiugi Bando
Kakko-man BoogieDaun Taun Bugiugi Bandoplay_arrow
A band led by Ryudo Uzaki, formed in 1973
29eastDOWN TOWNShugā Beibu
DOWN TOWNShugā Beibuplay_arrow
A legendary city pop band, active for three years.
30eastListening to OliviaAnri
Listening to OliviaAnriplay_arrow
Anri’s classic ballad that heals the pain of heartbreak
31eastPlease give me wingsakai tori
Please give me wingsakai toriplay_arrow
A red bird was singing a classic song.
32eastA Fateful Encounter at Twentyshigunaru
A Fateful Encounter at Twentyshigunaruplay_arrow
A folk band that debuted in 1975
33eastCopypurasuchikkusu
Copypurasuchikkusuplay_arrow
The birth of technopop with the arrival of YMO
34easttrigger (of a gun)Sera Masanori & Tsuisto
trigger (of a gun)Sera Masanori & Tsuistoplay_arrow
Twist wins Pop-Con
35eastMain Theme of ‘Taiyo ni Hoero!’Inoue Takayuki Bando
Main Theme of 'Taiyo ni Hoero!'Inoue Takayuki Bandoplay_arrow
Activities and representative works of the Takayuki Inoue Band
36eastGrab the gun.zunou keisatsu
Grab the gun.zunou keisatsuplay_arrow
The History and Reappraisal of Brain Police
37eastAt the end of the 20th centuryHikashū
At the end of the 20th centuryHikashūplay_arrow
Koichi Makigami's technopop band
38eastLittle Red Riding Hood, bewarereijii
Little Red Riding Hood, bewarereijiiplay_arrow
Hironobu Kageyama's idol-pop smash hit
39eastMy Favorite TeacherRC sakuseshon
My Favorite TeacherRC sakuseshonplay_arrow
Introduction to RC Succession’s early hit songs
40eastThe Song of the Red Dragonflyanonenone
The Song of the Red Dragonflyanonenoneplay_arrow
The duo of Kuniaki Shimizu and Nobuo Harada, with Shofukutei Tsurube also participating
41eastKewpie-chanYoshikawa Danjirō Ichiza
Kewpie-chanYoshikawa Danjirō Ichizaplay_arrow
A live recording of Danjuro Yoshikawa’s award-winning performance at the Popcon National Contest