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Classic and hit kayōkyoku songs from the nostalgic 1960s

The 1960s are often remembered for Group Sounds and rock, but in reality, the charts were largely dominated by kayōkyoku (Japanese popular songs).

It was also still a time when enka remained popular, and even those who were children back then probably have a rich repertoire of enka and kayōkyoku.

This time, we’re spotlighting nostalgic kayōkyoku from the music of the 1960s.

The 1960s were an era when classic, mainstream kayōkyoku drew the most attention.

If you’d like to look back on memories from that time through music, be sure to read this article to the end.

Playlist

Classic and hit kayōkyoku songs from the nostalgic 1960s
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastIsn’t it fine as long as you’re happy?Sara Naomi
Isn't it fine as long as you're happy?Sara Naomiplay_arrow
A classic song that represents the 1960s, the heyday of kayōkyoku (Japanese pop).
2eastIn the pouring rainWada Akiko
In the pouring rainWada Akikoplay_arrow
This song by Akiko Wada is her breakthrough work and...
3eastScat at DawnYuki Saori
Scat at DawnYuki Saoriplay_arrow
A ski that beautifully evokes the scene at daybreak…
4eastschool daysPegī Hayama
school daysPegī Hayamaplay_arrow
Known as one of Peggy Hayama’s signature songs…
5eastJust as there are stars in the skyAraki Ichiro
Just as there are stars in the skyAraki Ichiroplay_arrow
Araki Ichiro’s ... released in 1966
6eastA woman aloneDyūku Eisesu
A woman aloneDyūku Eisesuplay_arrow
Released in 1965, a heartbroken woman in Kyoto’s beautiful…
7eastAlways keep your dreamsHashi Yukio, Yoshinaga Sayuri
Always keep your dreamsHashi Yukio, Yoshinaga Sayuriplay_arrow
A song released in 1962 that won the 4th Japan Record Award...
8eastBlue ChateauJakkī Yoshikawa to Burū Komettsu
Blue ChateauJakkī Yoshikawa to Burū Komettsuplay_arrow
Blue co... for the era of GS released in 1967
9eastIsezakicho BluesAoe Mina
Isezakicho BluesAoe Minaplay_arrow
This work, one of Mina Aoe’s signature songs, is set in Yokohama…
10eastSlave of LoveOkumura Chiyo
Slave of LoveOkumura Chiyoplay_arrow
When it comes to Chiyo Okumura’s signature songs, this is the one that comes to mind…
11eastThank you, night fog, again tonight.Ishihara Yūjirō
Thank you, night fog, again tonight.Ishihara Yūjirōplay_arrow
Mr. Yujiro Ishihara, known for his sweet, wistful singing voice...
12eastThe flowers were late.Miki Katsuhiko
The flowers were late.Miki Katsuhikoplay_arrow
I tried to find footage from when it was released in 1967, but...
13eastWhen the Acacia Rain StopsNishida Sachiko
When the Acacia Rain StopsNishida Sachikoplay_arrow
Nishida, known for a husky voice and strong expressive power...
14eastLittle Finger MemoriesItō Yukari
Little Finger MemoriesItō Yukariplay_arrow
Yukari Ito in her younger days, released in 1967…
15eastReunionMatsuo Kazuko
ReunionMatsuo Kazukoplay_arrow
A tearful performance that fully showcased Kazuko Matsuo’s vocal prowess…
16eastCute flowerZa Pīnattsu
Cute flowerZa Pīnattsuplay_arrow
The Peanuts, released in 1959…
17eastForever and everZa Sabeji
Forever and everZa Sabejiplay_arrow
The charm lies in the nostalgic melody and the lyrics that pierce the heart...
18eastApplause for loveKomadori Shimai
Applause for loveKomadori Shimaiplay_arrow
Representing nostalgic Japanese kayōkyoku from the 1960s…
19eastSo sad I can’t bear itZa Fōku Kurusedāzu
So sad I can’t bear itZa Fōku Kurusedāzuplay_arrow
A hauntingly beautiful melody that lingers in the ear, marked by profound melancholy…
20eastIn Search of Love and DeathAoyama Kazuko
In Search of Love and DeathAoyama Kazukoplay_arrow
As one of the representative kayōkyoku songs of the 1960s...
21east12th graderFunaki Kazuo
12th graderFunaki Kazuoplay_arrow
Released in 1963—there are several theories, but…
22eastDream GuideYamaguchi Momoe
Dream GuideYamaguchi Momoeplay_arrow
The legendary idol Yama..., who has left behind many classic songs,
23eastForbidden LoveMoriyama Ryoko
Forbidden LoveMoriyama Ryokoplay_arrow
A song released by Ryoko Moriyama in 1969, cumu...
24eastYou are my very lifeMizuhara Hiroshi
You are my very lifeMizuhara Hiroshiplay_arrow
This is footage from the 1967 New Year’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, but...
25eastLove FugueZa Pīnattsu
Love FugueZa Pīnattsuplay_arrow
The song released by The Peanuts in 1967…
26north_eastSong of the Mountain Mandaakudakkusu
Song of the Mountain Mandaakudakkusuplay_arrow
A beautiful chorus by four men released in 1962…
27north_eastYanagase BluesMikawa Ken’ichi
Yanagase BluesMikawa Ken'ichiplay_arrow
Kenichi Mikawa’s third single released in 1966…
28south_eastTo Marie on Fifth AvenuePedoro & Kapurishasu
To Marie on Fifth AvenuePedoro & Kapurishasuplay_arrow
While swapping vocalists several times, always hu…
29eastBlack Cat TangoMinagawa Osamu
Black Cat TangoMinagawa Osamuplay_arrow
The original song released in 1969 is a Japanese version of an Italian children’s song...
30eastOtaru no hito yoTsuruoka Masayoshi to Tokyo Romanchika
Otaru no hito yoTsuruoka Masayoshi to Tokyo Romanchikaplay_arrow
Tsuruoka Masayoshi and Tokyo Romantica’s debut sing...
31eastsoft; gentle; pliantMisora Hibari
soft; gentle; pliantMisora Hibariplay_arrow
A song released in 1964 that won the 7th Japan Record Award...
32eastThe world is for the two of us.Sara Naomi
The world is for the two of us.Sara Naomiplay_arrow
Back when it was released in 1967, on every channel...
33eastFlower NecklaceZa Taigāsu
Flower NecklaceZa Taigāsu
The GS, which enjoyed absolute popularity when it was released in 1968...
34eastI want to go far away.Jerī Fujio
I want to go far away.Jerī Fujioplay_arrow
Released in 1962, covered by many artists…
35eastBlue Light Yokohamaishida ayumi
Blue Light Yokohamaishida ayumiplay_arrow
Released in 1968, now active as an actress i…
36eastMiracle of LoveHide to Rozanna
Miracle of LoveHide to Rozannaplay_arrow
Released in 1968, both Hide and Rosanna were young...
37eastWaltz of StarlightSen Masao
Waltz of StarlightSen Masaoplay_arrow
As Masao Sen’s sixth single, in 1966...
38eastI’m in trouble.Yamamoto Rinda
I'm in trouble.Yamamoto Rindaplay_arrow
As Linda Yamamoto’s debut single, 196...
39eastSong of the DawnKishi Yoko
Song of the DawnKishi Yokoplay_arrow
It is a song released by Yoko Kishi in 1964, and the following year 1…
40eastOnly youSaigō Teruhiko
Only youSaigō Teruhikoplay_arrow
His debut song released in 1964 by Teruhiko Saigō...
41eastMarch of 365 StepsSuizenji Kiyoko
March of 365 StepsSuizenji Kiyokoplay_arrow
Released as Kiyoko Suizenji’s 23rd single in 19…
42eastMisty Lake MashuFuse Akira
Misty Lake MashuFuse Akiraplay_arrow
Japan’s most … now widely known today, released in 1966…
43eastHibari’s Sado Love StoryMisora Hibari
Hibari's Sado Love StoryMisora Hibariplay_arrow
The single released by Hibari Misora in 1962…
44eastTunnel HeavenZa Dainamaitsu
Tunnel HeavenZa Dainamaitsuplay_arrow
Youth that symbolizes the Group Sounds of the ’60s...
45eastI don’t want to let go.Za Yangāzu
I don't want to let go.Za Yangāzuplay_arrow
A coming-of-age love song that sings of sweet and bittersweet feelings of love...
46eastblue eyesJakkī Yoshikawa to Burū Komettsu
blue eyesJakkī Yoshikawa to Burū Komettsuplay_arrow
A band with a melancholy-tinged melody that stirs the heart...
47eastThe lights of Sakhalin do not go outZa Jenoba
The lights of Sakhalin do not go outZa Jenoba
The 1960s grooves that Crown Records proudly presents...
48eastNo-No BoyZa Supaidāsu
No-No BoyZa Supaidāsu
Sophistication influenced by the British Beat…
49eastPlease, God!Za Tenputāzu
Please, God!Za Tenputāzuplay_arrow
The prayer of youth, staking its sweet sentiments on God, is earnest…
50eastWhat you wantZa Hapuningusu Fo
What you wantZa Hapuningusu Foplay_arrow
A show that brings the masterpieces of the Group Sounds era to the present…
51eastA world without youZa Bībāzu
A world without youZa Bībāzuplay_arrow
Psychedelic rock sounds with a touch of melancholy…
52eastBlind BirdZa Moppusu
Blind BirdZa Moppusuplay_arrow
In the turbulent 1960s, the psychedelic mov...
53eastHa-ha-haZa Rindo & Rindāzu
Ha-ha-haZa Rindo & Rindāzuplay_arrow
Set to a light rhythm and a bright melody, 1…
54eastWith the setting sunZa Wairudowanzu
With the setting sunZa Wairudowanzuplay_arrow
A refreshing melody that captures a scene standing out against the blue sky…
55eastLet’s go, Shake!Terauchi Takeshi & Banīzu
Let's go, Shake!Terauchi Takeshi & Banīzuplay_arrow
A youthful romance unfolding on the beach, and an ele…
56eastThe Song of KemekoZa Dātsu
The Song of KemekoZa Dātsu
February 1968, when the bittersweet scent of youth lingered in the air…
57eastThe Maiden with Flaxen HairVirejji Shingāzu
The Maiden with Flaxen HairVirejji Shingāzuplay_arrow
The radiant purity of youth and the bittersweet stirrings of first love...
58eastLegend of the EmeraldZa Tenputāzu
Legend of the EmeraldZa Tenputāzuplay_arrow
As the third single by The Tempters...
59eastOzasiki SongMatsuo Kazuko & Wada Hiroshi & Mahina Sutāzu
Ozasiki SongMatsuo Kazuko & Wada Hiroshi & Mahina Sutāzuplay_arrow
Released in 1964, the composer of this song is unknown, so…
60eastSeason of LovePinkī to Kirāzu
Season of LovePinkī to Kirāzuplay_arrow
It sold 2.7 million copies at the time of its 1968 release...
61eastThe last dance is mineKoshiji Fubuki
The last dance is mineKoshiji Fubukiplay_arrow
Released in 1961, the Takarazuka Revue alumna Fubuki Koshiji’s…
62eastA rose has bloomed.Maiku Maki
A rose has bloomed.Maiku Makiplay_arrow
The folk song that Maki Maki released in 1966...
63eastLast Night’s SecretOgawa Tomoko
Last Night’s SecretOgawa Tomokoplay_arrow
As Tomoko Ogawa’s debut single in 1968…
64eastnewspaper boyYamada Tarō
newspaper boyYamada Tarōplay_arrow
Released in 1965, Japanese people were poor like in “Oshin”…
65eastSūdara-bushiUeki Hitoshi
Sūdara-bushiUeki Hitoshiplay_arrow
The actual record released in 1961 is by Hajime Hana and the Ku...
66eastTokyo Dodonpa GirlWatanabe Mari
Tokyo Dodonpa GirlWatanabe Mari
Released in 1961, this song was also covered by artists like Yosui Inoue...
67eastNagasaki BluesAoe Mina
Nagasaki BluesAoe Mina
Released in 196… as Mina Aoe’s 11th single
68eastAngel’s TemptationMayuzumi Jun
Angel's TemptationMayuzumi Junplay_arrow
Released in 1968 as Jun Mayuzumi’s fourth single…
69eastBeach of MemoriesZa Wairudowanzu
Beach of MemoriesZa Wairudowanzuplay_arrow
Released in 1966, this song later became The Hander…
70eastTokyo Olympic OndoMinami Haruo
Tokyo Olympic OndoMinami Haruoplay_arrow
The Tokyo Olympics, released in 1963 and held in 1964…
71eastGoodbye Comes After the DanceBaishō Chieko
Goodbye Comes After the DanceBaishō Chiekoplay_arrow
A song released by Chieko Baisho in 1965, …
72eastLove me to the bone.Jō Takuya
Love me to the bone.Jō Takuyaplay_arrow
The first release under the same name by Takuya Jo
73eastFossil of LoveAsaoka Ruriko
Fossil of LoveAsaoka Rurikoplay_arrow
The single released by Ruriko Asaoka in 1969…
74eastCoffee RumbaNishida Sachiko
Coffee RumbaNishida Sachikoplay_arrow
Masterpieces that colored the Showa era’s pop music scene are revived here...
75eastI look up as I walkSakamoto Kyu
I look up as I walkSakamoto Kyuplay_arrow
The origins of this song, with lyrics by Rokusu Eiju released in 1961...
76eastForever with youKayama Yūzō
Forever with youKayama Yūzōplay_arrow
One of the well-known Wakadaisho’s signature songs, released in 1965…
77eastolder womanMori Shinichi
older womanMori Shinichiplay_arrow
A single released by Shinichi Mori in 1968, …