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!
- Classic and hit songs by nostalgic Japanese idols from the 1970s
- A collection of nostalgic hit songs and classics from the 70s
- [1970s] Collection of Japanese hit songs. Nostalgic masterpieces of Japan
- Debut song of a 1970s idol
- Popular Showa-era pop. Timeless hit songs.
- [Showa Kayō] A roundup of Japanese love songs that hit in the 1970s
- [Recommended for people in their 70s] Classic nostalgic hits: A collection of youth songs
- Great enka masterpieces and hit songs of the 1970s
- Heart-touching, tear-jerking masterpieces from the Showa era
- [Winter Songs] Classic Showa-era masterpieces. Popular songs you’ll want to listen to in winter.
- Evokes the charm of the good old days. Showa-era inspirational songs that are still loved today.
- Memorable Youth Songs: Looking Back on New Music Masterpieces from the 1970s–80s
- [2026 Edition] Songs Loved by People in Their 60s: Classic Hits from Their Youth
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.
Until we meet againOzaki Kiyohiko
Kiyohiko Ozaki is known for his robust, tenor-like singing voice.
This song was a huge hit at the time, selling 920,000 copies.
It ranked third on the 1971 annual singles chart, becoming a song everyone knew.
Lament of ResentmentKaji Meiko
A hit song from 1973.
After the end of Nikkatsu’s New Action “Stray Cat Rock” series, she moved to Toei and starred in “Female Prisoner Scorpion,” a masterpiece that unleashed her edgy allure even more.
The mysterious charm of its theme song also makes this film—and her—impossible to forget.
Strings of TearsTonosama Kingusu
Looking back at the early 1970s, enka and kayōkyoku were extremely dominant, with a power that left no room for others.
This song also took the top spot on the 1974 year-end rankings and recorded a stunning 1.93 million copies sold, just shy of the two-million mark.
It was the year Tonosama Kings achieved nationwide popularity.
Husband and Wife MirrorsTonosama Kingusu
Released in May 1974, this song by Tonomama Kings is beloved by many as a representative work of the enka genre.
Its lyrics, which symbolically portray the bond between a married couple and the pain of parting, resonate deeply, enhanced by Osamu Miyaji’s emotive, vibrato-rich vocals.
It debuted in the Oricon Top 10 two weeks after release and reached No.
1 six weeks later—marking a second consecutive No.
1 and totaling approximately 1.5 million copies sold.
It’s a must-listen not only for fans of Showa-era kayōkyoku, but also as a great entry point to enka.
It sounds like it would be fun to sing at karaoke, too.
A gem of a classic that touches the heart every time you listen.