Nostalgic Japanese hit songs from the 1970s: the golden age of idols and kayōkyoku (Japanese pop songs)
What songs come to mind when you think of Japanese hit songs from the 1970s?
Those who lived through that era in real time probably recall a wide range of hits.
With the spread of color television, people began to enjoy music from a visual perspective as well.
The 1970s are often called the golden age of kayōkyoku and idols.
Even generations who weren’t yet born will find many familiar, approachable songs that make you think, “Hey, I’ve heard this before!”
Please enjoy these captivating hit songs from the 1970s!
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Nostalgic Japanese pop hits of the 1970s: The golden age of idols and kayōkyoku (81–90)
EnchantedJudi Ongu
At the end of the 1970s, Judy Ongg made it onto the charts.
This song has become a classic that is still frequently used on television and elsewhere.
It ranked second on the annual chart in 1979, sold over 1.2 million copies, and became a major hit for her.
UFOpinku redii
In 1978, Pink Lady, who had been popular since the previous year, exploded even further in popularity.
They instantly swept the entire pop scene and achieved the unprecedented feat of monopolizing the annual singles chart from first to third place.
This was accomplished decades before groups like AKB even existed.
Monsterpinku redii
Third place in 1978 also went to Pink Lady, with Monster.
This song has a somewhat different feel from their previous hits, but it still sold over 1.1 million copies.
They achieved the remarkable feat of having three consecutive singles in the annual rankings by the same artist, each surpassing one million copies.
I don’t have an umbrella.Inoue Yosui
This is a song that casts a sharp gaze on Japan in the 1970s.
It’s included on Yosui Inoue’s 1972 album “Danzetsu.” While it opens by singing about the rise in urban suicides, its distinctive feature is the way it focuses on personal romantic feelings.
You can feel the urgent longing of someone trying to go see their lover in the rain without an umbrella.
It’s said to have been inspired by the Beatles’ “A Day in the Life.” A track that combines Inoue’s characteristic inscrutability with a power that moves the heart.
Listen to it on a rainy day, and it may resonate even more deeply.
Woman’s PathMiya Shirō to Pinkara Torio
This song became the best-selling enka of the 1970s.
Even looking just at sales, I believe it’s the only song that took the No.
1 spot on the annual singles chart for two consecutive years, 1972 and 1973.
It truly became a song known to people all across Japan.
My castle townKoyanagi Rumiko
The number one spot in the 1971 annual rankings was claimed by Rumiko Koyanagi.
She’s now well known as a passionate fan of Barcelona’s soccer team, but she was also a top-tier singer who churned out major hits.
Sales surpassed 1.1 million copies.
Nostalgic Japanese Hit Songs of the 1970s: The Golden Age of Idols and Kayōkyoku (91–100)
A sudden shower in KyotoKoyanagi Rumiko
This is the fifth single by Rumiko Koyanagi, who is also a veteran actress.
It’s a cover of a song by Yo Piko, released in 1972, and is known as one of the songs associated with Kyoto.
The song is a sorrowful piece about thinking of a former lover in the rain-soaked streets of Kyoto.
Each lyric paints a picture of the beautifully rain-drenched old capital.
If you listen as though heartbroken, it leaves you with a quiet, melancholic feeling.
