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.
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- 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
Compilation of nostalgic hit songs and classics from the ’70s (41–50)
lieNakaijō Kiyoshi
This song by Kiyoshi Nakajo, released in 1974.
The lyrics from a woman’s perspective are pretty scary, aren’t they? The melody attached to the opening lines is quite tricky and gives a tense start.
In the latter half, it shifts into something like a sweet flashback scene, and both the melody and rhythm exude a happy mood.
Songs from that era are all so well crafted, with the melody and lyrics linking beautifully.
And the title is in hiragana—that really conveys the feeling of “I know I’m being deceived, but it can’t be helped,” doesn’t it? Maybe it feels that way even more because it’s Nakajo singing it.
Mother on the QuayFutaba Yuriko
This song is a cover of Akiko Kikuchi’s piece released in 1954, shortly after the war, and this version was released by Yuriko Futaba in 1971.
It became a huge hit and was adapted into films and TV dramas; it tells the story of a mother who stands on the pier, waiting for the ship that will bring her son home from demobilization.
It may be a situation that’s harder to picture today, but at the time it was easy to imagine.
Futaba’s straightforward, rokyoku-style singing may have resonated with the image of the mother’s single-minded devotion.
Please take this opportunity to revisit this page of history we must not forget.
17 years oldMinami Saori
It was released in 1971 as Saori Minami’s debut single.
Despite being her debut song, it reached No.
2 on the Oricon charts, and Minami laid the foundation for the “young female idol” archetype.
By the end of 1971, she had won numerous awards, including the New Artist Award at the 13th Japan Record Awards, and was selected to perform in the 22nd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen just six months after her debut, serving as the opening act for the Red Team.
Bound for the North CountryShuri Eiko
“Kitaguni-yuki” (Bound for the Northern Country) is Eiko Shuri’s 11th single, released in 1972.
It was her first major hit and led to an appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Although Eiko Shuri was a highly skilled vocalist, she was not widely appreciated in Japan at the time due to the idol-focused music scene.
She has been highly regarded outside Japan, including in the United States.
Tsugaru Strait – Winter SceneIshikawa Sayuri
A masterpiece by Sayuri Ishikawa that depicts the poignant sentiments of winter travel.
You can practically picture the Seikan ferry crossing the Tsugaru Strait in bone-chilling cold.
Released in 1977, the song captured many hearts with lyrics reflecting the transportation of the time and a melody that sinks deep into the soul.
The journey from Ueno Station through Aomori to Hakodate is portrayed like a scene from a film.
This work beautifully expresses both the harsh winter scenery of the north and the feelings of people returning home.
It’s a timeless classic that stirs nostalgia every time you listen.
A song you’ll want to hear alone on a winter night.
Burn, you fine womantsuisuto
“Moero Ii Onna” (Burn, Beautiful Woman) is the fifth single by The Twist, released in 1979.
It reached No.
3 on the Oricon charts.
The song became a hit after being used in a Shiseido advertising campaign.
The Twist is a band formed around Masanori Sera; they won the Yamaha Popular Song Contest (Popcon) and made their professional debut.
night skyItsuki Hiroshi
This song was released in 1973.
Like the 1971 smash hit “Yokohama Tasogare,” it was created by the same team: lyrics by Yoko Yamaguchi and music by Masaaki Hirao, and with this song Hiroshi Itsuki won the Japan Record Award.
Although it’s enka, beyond the traditional enka groove and string arrangements, it layers in synthesizer sounds and introduces an R&B-like 16-beat in the latter half, giving it a pop-leaning feel.
It’s also a track where you can fully enjoy Itsuki’s youthful, soaring vocals.