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!

Playlist

Nostalgic Japanese hit songs from the 1970s: the golden age of idols and kayōkyoku (Japanese pop songs)
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Sake, Tears, Men, and WomenKawashima Eigo		Eigo Kawashima’s Kizakura commercial song
2	Shiretoko Ryojo (Shiretoko Travel Sentiment)Katō Tokiko		Kato Tokiko's signature song became a big hit
3	southpawpinku redii		Pink Lady “Southpaw” 1.46 million copies sold
4	Please, Time MachineSadisutikku Mika Bando		A 1974 single, included on the historic album Kurofune
5	As time goes bysawada kenji		Theme song of the 1975 hit
6	Love Dial 6700Fingā 5		Introduction to Finger 5’s smash hit songs
7	Smiling Backkyandīzu		Candies' 17th and final single
8	Cotton HandkerchiefŌta Hiromi		Masterpieces by Takashi Matsumoto and Kyohei Tsutsumi
9	A life full of scarsTsuruta Koji		Koji Tsuruta’s smash hit song “A Life Full of Scars”
10	My good friendKamayatsu Hiroshi		A beloved masterpiece written and composed by Takuro Yoshida
11	Naomi’s DreamHedoba to Dabide		Japanese rendition of the Grand Prix-winning song by an Israeli singer
12	I’m appearing under my former name.Kobayashi Akira		Kobayashi Akira’s two-million-selling single
13	Kanda Riverkaguya hime		Kaguya-hime’s biggest hit performed on the Kōhaku (year-end music show)
14	Woman’s BluesFuji Keiko		Keiko Fuji’s second single. A million seller.
15	Drifters’ Zundoko BushiZa Dorifutāzu		The Drifters’ Zundoko-bushi is a song modeled on a Navy ditty.
16	lieNakaijō Kiyoshi		Kiyoshi Nakajo’s 1.5-million-selling smash hit
17	Northern SpringSen Masao		Kitaguni no Haru is Masao Sen’s signature song.
18	Love without meetingUchiyamada Hiroshi to Cool Five		Loving Without Meeting became a hit song and a million-seller
19	Mother on the QuayFutaba Yuriko		A popular song of a mother awaiting her son’s return from the battlefield
20	Funky Monkey BabyCAROL		Famous CAROL song released in 1973
21	A street corner where stars fallSatoi Ito to Happī & Burū		A catchy, upbeat track sung by a handsome male vocalist that captures girls’ hearts.
22	younger boykyandīzu		Love Song for a Younger Boy
23	applausechiaki naomi		Naomi Chiaki ranked 4th in ’73 with 620,000 copies sold
24	applausechiaki naomi		Chiaki’s signature song, the sorrow of losing a lover
25	17 years oldMinami Saori		Seventeen, the debut song of Saori Minami
26	The Scent of CyclamenFuse Akira		A 1975 smash hit song leads to the development of a new cyclamen variety
27	Thank you for everything.Inoue Jun		Jun Inoue's 1971 hit song
28	The Bride of SetoKoyanagi Rumiko		Rumiko Koyanagi’s hit song that ranked second in 1972
29	Yokohama TwilightItsuki Hiroshi		The signature song of Hiroshi Itsuki, the town song of Yokohama
30	Thousand KnivesSakamoto Ryuichi		An experimental instrumental track from Ryuichi Sakamoto’s debut
31	A Midsummer IncidentHirayama Miki		Representative songs of the Kyōhei Tsutsumi melody from 1971
32	YOUNG MAN（Y.M.C.A.）Saijō Hideki		Get hyped with an arrangement of Y.M.C.A.
33	Run, Kotaro!Sorutī Shugā		Salty Sugar’s C&W Comic Song
34	Journey of the Heartchūrippu		Tulip’s debut song is a big hit
35	The Day the Seagulls FlewWatanabe Machiko		Watanabe Machiko's second single, a big hit song
36	ChampionArisu		A powerful cheer song of a folk group
37	interaction; friendly contact; bondingNakamura Masatoshi		Masatoshi Nakamura’s classic love ballads
38	My Pure LadyOzaki Ami		A 1977 hit song: Asami Kobayashi captivates in a Shiseido commercial
39	Yokosuka StoryYamaguchi Momoe		The Birth of Akimoto Yoko’s Biggest Hit Song
40	Crying in the rainYanagi Jōji & Rainīuddo		George Yanagi made a reappearance.
41	youthMorita Kōichi to Toppugyaran		The group reached No. 2 with a smash hit in ’77.
42	The Apple Murder CaseGō Hiromi, Kigeki Kirin		A duet song by Hiromi Go and Kirin Kiki
43	A café in a student districtGaro		Garo claims third place in singles for 73 years
44	GandharaGodaigo		Godiego's theme song for Journey to the West
45	Keiko’s Dream Opens at NightFuji Keiko		Keiko Fuji is Hikaru Utada’s mother and released numerous hit songs in the 1970s.
46	A Good Day to Set Out on a JourneyYamaguchi Momoe		Momoe Yamaguchi’s JNR campaign song
47	Beautiful SundayDanieru Būn		The song achieved a record of 1.9 million copies and ranked second.
48	Carmen ’77pinku redii		A hit song from 1977, a passionate love song
49	Farewell SongNakajima Miyuki		Miyuki Nakajima’s breakout song
50	Polyushka-PolyeNaka Masami		A love song-style piece in the vein of the Red Army Choir
51	Swim! Taiyaki-kunShimon Masato		'Swim! Taiyaki-kun' becomes a big hit
52	Black Boat SongHasegawa Kiyoshi		Comparative completeness of songs for Akiyuki Nosaka
53	So alluring it makes you faintChar		a musician with excellent guitar technique
54	Withered Susuki Grass of the Shōwa Erasakura to ichirō		Shōwa Withered Pampas Grass achieves a No. 1 hit
55	Good-bye, My LoveAn Ruisu		1974 hit songs, the appeal of mixed-race singers
56	Sinbad on the Shorepinku redii		Pink Lady No. 1 in ’77
57	My Favorite TeacherRC sakuseshon		Early single hit song by RC Succession
58	TechnopolisYellow Magic Orchestra		YMO’s signature song, a pop track that makes use of cutting-edge technology
59	Parting at 22kaze		A heartrending breakup song depicting a five-year romance between a man and a woman
60	Salvia flowermotomaro		Motomaro covered Yoshio Hayakawa’s classic song and made it a hit.
61	Yoko of the Port, Yokohama, YokosukaDaun Taun Bugiugi Bando		The 1975 smash hit song, Harbor Town Story
62	Your eyes are 10,000 voltsHoriuchi Takao		Your eyes are 10,000 volts
63	Message of RougeArai Yumi		Arai Yumi’s smash-hit song
64	Lingering Snowiruka		The success and impact of Iruka’s signature song “Nagori Yuki”
65	Listening to OliviaAnri		Anri’s classic ballad that heals the pain of heartbreak
66	Red Elegyagata morio		Red Elegy is a big hit
67	Gather the Windhappiiendo		Happy End's classic song, Longing for Freedom
68	Let’s get married.yoshida takurou		Takuro Yoshida’s marriage-themed folk song
69	If I can see you in my dreamsShiria Pōru		Rats & Star scored a big hit with a song by Eiichi Ohtaki
70	To say goodbyebiriibanban		Billy BanBan won third place in the rankings.
71	Wantedpinku redii		Pink Lady takes 1st and 3rd in the annual rankings
72	Song of the Old Man from KawachiMisu Hanako		A song in the Kawachi dialect surpasses 800,000 sales.
73	Song of Departure – In Search of Lost Time –Kamijō Tsunehiko & Rokumonsen		Grand Prix at the World Popular Song Festival with a big hit song in 1971
74	You Are the One Who Rings That BellWada Akiko		Wada Akiko’s classic hit single
75	Farewell, my loverSakai Masaaki		Masaaki Sakai’s 1971 solo debut hit song
76	You’re not alone.tenchi mari		Tenchi’s biggest hit song: an idol kayōkyoku
77	A Woman’s WishMiya Shirō to Pinkara Torio		Miya Shirō and the Pinkara Trio have an exclusive
78	I hate demons.Hirata Takao to Serusutāzu		A song that likens the pain of unrequited love to a demon.
79	Love in KyotoNAGISA YŪKO		Fusion of Kyoto and ventures
80	The Pattern of LifeTakada Wataru		A socially conscious folk song depicting the wandering life of Wataru Takada
81	A woman born in OsakaBORO		Osaka local song masterpieces
82	Imperial Regent Declarationsadamasashi		A deep expression of love in the Declaration of a Dominant Husband
83	withered silvergrasschiaki naomi		A female singer covers a Showa-era classic
84	Secrets in My PocketAgunesu Chan		Commemorative song for Takashi Matsumoto’s shift to lyricist
85	EnchantedJudi Ongu		Judy Ongg’s 1979 smash hit sold over 1.2 million copies.
86	UFOpinku redii		Pink Lady monopolizes the annual singles rankings from first to third place
87	Monsterpinku redii		Pink Lady ranked third for the year with sales exceeding 1.1 million copies.
88	I don’t have an umbrella.Inoue Yosui		Love songs by Yosui Inoue that reflect the 1970s
89	Woman’s PathMiya Shirō to Pinkara Torio		The best-selling enka songs of the 1970s
90	My castle townKoyanagi Rumiko		Rumiko Koyanagi wins first place
91	A sudden shower in KyotoKoyanagi Rumiko		A sad song thinking about a broken heart in rainy Kyoto
92	Until we meet againOzaki Kiyohiko		Kiyohiko Ozaki’s smash hit sold 920,000 copies
93	Lament of ResentmentKaji Meiko		The theme song of Female Prisoner Scorpion became a big hit.
94	Strings of TearsTonosama Kingusu		Enka holds overwhelming power in the early 1970s.
95	Husband and Wife MirrorsTonosama Kingusu		The representative enka song by Tonomama Kings became a big hit.
96	Time, stop.Yazawa Eikichi		An immortal classic, one of Eikichi Yazawa’s signature songs from the 1970s.
97	SEPTEMBERTakeuchi Mariya		Mariya Takeuchi’s Japan Record Award Newcomer Prize–winning song
98	From the northern innMiyako Harumi		Harumi Miyako’s commanding singing voice is popular.
99	purplemurahachibu		Impulsive, cool rock by Murahachibu
100	bridehashida norihiko to kuraimakkusu		A classic 70s folk song about lovers eloping
101	Whenever I arrive, it’s always raining.Za Moppusu		Rock ballad, one of Hiromitsu Suzuki’s signature songs
102	I love you, Captain.Za Ririizu		A signature youthful romance song by The Lilies
103	Travel Lodgeyoshida takurou		Takuro Yoshida’s Lyrical Folk Ballad of Youth
104	Memories SakeKobayashi Sachiko		Sachiko Kobayashi became a regular on the Kōhaku music show after scoring a big hit in 1979.
105	Dream-Chasing SakeAtsumi Jirō		An enka song topped the annual charts and became a big hit.
106	Black Cat TangoMinagawa Osamu		Black Cat Tango was the best-selling single of 1970.
107	DWON TOWNSUGAR BABE		An immortal classic that captures the allure of the city at night
108	youKozaka Akiko		Akiko Kosaka's signature song becomes a big hit
109	Rainy MidosujiŌyō Fifi		A hit song with charming Japanese by a Taiwanese singer
110	Do whatever the hell you want.sawada kenji		Julie Sawada's signature 1970s heartbreak song
111	A Dangerous Pairsawada kenji		One of Kenji Sawada’s signature songs and a major hit that represents the pop music scene of the 1970s.
112	My Dear EllieSazan Ōrusutāzu		A Southern classic expressing romantic feelings
113	School HeavenFingā 5		The representative song of Finger Five with a school romance theme
114	foreignerKUBOTA Saki		Saki Kubota’s debut song “Silk Road” is a big hit
115	You May DreamSHEENA&THE ROKKETS		A cool rock song by Sheena & The Rokkets
116	Graduation PhotoArai Yumi		A classic by Yumi Arai, a staple song for graduation season