A collection of nostalgic hit songs and classics from the 70s
The 1970s, which began with the Osaka Expo, were a tumultuous decade of change, marked by the reversion of Okinawa, the first oil shock, and the opening of the first McDonald’s and Seven-Eleven stores in Japan.
In this article, we’ll introduce hit Japanese songs that energized the music scene during that dynamic era!
Many of these tracks have continued to be featured in commercials and more long after their release, so even younger listeners may find many of them familiar.
Whether nostalgic for those who lived through the era or fresh for younger generations, please enjoy these hit songs from the 1970s!
- Popular Showa-era pop. Timeless hit songs.
- [1970s] Collection of Japanese hit songs. Nostalgic masterpieces of Japan
- Classic and hit songs by nostalgic Japanese idols from the 1970s
- 1970s Female Singer-Songwriters: Popular Songs Ranking [2026]
- [Recommended for people in their 70s] Classic nostalgic hits: A collection of youth songs
- Nostalgic Japanese hit songs from the 1970s: the golden age of idols and kayōkyoku (Japanese pop songs)
- Commercial songs from the 70s. Nostalgic TV commercial jingles.
- Popular Oldies and Classic Songs Ranking: 1970s Japanese Music
- Revival hits driven by social media! Classic Showa-era songs popular with Gen Z
- Memorable Youth Songs: Looking Back on New Music Masterpieces from the 1970s–80s
- Evokes the charm of the good old days. Showa-era inspirational songs that are still loved today.
- Classic and hit kayōkyoku songs from the nostalgic 1960s
- Timeless classics only! Showa-era hit songs perfect for acoustic sing-alongs
Nostalgic Hit Songs of the ’70s: Best Classics (61–70)
third-year middle school studentMori Masako
It was released in 1973 as Masako Mori’s third single.
The song depicts the feelings of a girl whose admired upperclassman, one year ahead of her, is graduating from junior high school, and it also drew attention for incorporating part of the melody of Auld Lang Syne during the instrumental break.
It reached No.
3 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
A world without youZa Bībāzu
A masterpiece woven from a psychedelic rock sound and a wistful melody, this is The Beavers’ second single, released in November 1967.
Its heartrending tune vividly portrays the pain of a broken heart.
Showcasing beautifully balanced twin vocals and the twin-guitar virtuosity of Hideki Ishima and Masayuki Hirai, the track reached No.
57 on the Oricon chart.
The band also appeared on the TV program “Young 720” that same year.
It’s a song to play on nights when you want to soothe a love-broken heart, or on a quiet afternoon when you’re nostalgic for your youth.
Love is vulnerable.Hide to Rozanna
‘Love Is Vulnerable’ is the fifth single by Hide and Rosanna, released in 1970.
It reached number one on the weekly Oricon chart and was performed on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
At a time when foreign entertainers were still rare, the charm of Rosanna, who is Italian, became a talking point.
You’re not alone.tenchi mari
Released in 1972 as Mari Amachi’s third single in total.
It is her biggest hit single to date, and she is said to have established the position of the “female idol” in the public eye.
Thanks to the success of this song, she made her first appearance at the 23rd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Street Corner of BetrayalKai Band
Uragiri no Machikado (Street Corner of Betrayal) is the second single by Kai Band, released in 1975.
It reached No.
7 on the Oricon charts and won the Japan Cable Broadcasting Awards’ Newcomer Excellence Award.
With its rock-influenced, easy-to-sing style, the song gained popularity among young listeners.
Kai Band is a rock group led by Yoshihiro Kai, performing a wide range of music including rock, folk, and kayōkyoku (Japanese popular music) styles.
Four Requestschiaki naomi
“Four Requests” is the fourth single by Naomi Chiaki, released in 1970.
It won the Japan Kayo Awards’ Broadcast Music Award and the Wired Music Awards’ Effort Award.
Naomi Chiaki, known as a sultry idol, also appeared on variety shows.
Her signature song is “Kassai” (Applause).
Forbidden lovesawada kenji
Released in 1972 as Kenji Sawada’s second single, this song became his first to enter the Oricon Top 10.
It won the Vocal Performance Award at the 14th Japan Record Awards and the Excellence Award at the 5th Japan Cable Awards, and it marked his first appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.