[For Seniors] A collection of nostalgic classics to sing in May: popular songs everyone can hum together
May, when the fresh green leaves shine brightly, is a delightful season when the scent of flowers rides on the breeze.
We’ve gathered songs perfect for this refreshing time that you can enjoy together with older adults.
From nostalgic tunes that evoke hometown landscapes, to children’s songs you’ll find yourself humming, to folk songs that gently soothe the heart, we’re introducing a wide range of genres.
These are songs that will accompany you not only in music recreation settings but also in everyday moments.
Why not find a favorite piece and let your voices ring out together?
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[For Seniors] A Collection of Nostalgic Songs to Sing in May: Popular Tunes Everyone Can Hum (11–20)
Light Blue RainNEW!Yagami Junko
A masterpiece that paints the pain of heartbreak in vivid colors, its sophisticated, urban sound lingers in the heart.
Released in September 1978 as singer-songwriter Junko Yagami’s fifth single, the song remains enduringly popular.
In October 1978, after appearing in a spotlight segment on a music program, it became widely known and a major hit.
Its soaring high-tone vocals and translucent melody are a perfect match for June’s gentle, humid air.
Sprinkled with rain motifs, this piece is ideal as background music for leisurely time spent indoors.
It’s also lovely to sing it freely at a karaoke gathering in a key that suits your voice.
How about it for a calm, rainy-day moment?
Summer has comeSakushi: Sasaki Nobutsuna / Sakkyoku: Koyama Sakunosuke
May, as the season draws nearer to summer, is a time when animals and plants become more lively, isn’t it? This children’s song—selected among Japan’s 100 notable songs—strings together symbols of early summer.
By noticing seasonal flowers and creatures in everyday life, you can feel summer gradually approaching.
With many elements that evoke the early-summer atmosphere, the scenery comes vividly to mind.
The historically flavored expressions are also striking, powerfully conveying the vigor of the landscape.
tea pickingsakushisakkyokushafushou
May, when the greenery deepens and the signs of summer draw near, is also the tea season.
The tea fields dyed a vivid green and the sight of tea picking taking place there evoke the shift from spring to summer.
That very scene of tea picking and the surrounding landscape are depicted in “Chatsumi” (Tea Picking).
It’s a song that strongly conjures the beautiful green scenery spreading under a blue sky—a refreshing school song that even conveys the warmth of the air.
You can also feel a kind of exhilaration as the season changes toward summer.
The Highland Train GoesOkamoto Atsurō
A song that gracefully celebrates the natural beauty of the highlands and the romance of train travel evokes heartwarming memories of family trips and brings to mind wonderful moments with loved ones.
Its sweeping scenery and romantic spirit are sure to soothe anyone’s heart.
Carried by Atsuro Okamoto’s comforting vocals, the pastoral landscapes gently resonate within.
Since its release in 1954, this work has continued to be beloved by many and was featured in the 2020 NHK morning drama series “Yell,” moving audiences across generations.
It’s perfect for a time of sharing old memories over tea with everyone.
Settle in, relax, and enjoy a peaceful moment.
PicnicSakushi: Ogiwara Eiichi / Sakkyoku: Igirisu Min’yō
It’s a classic song known for its lively, sprightly melody.
Rhythmic and approachable, its gentle lyrics really resonate.
Cheerful animal calls are woven in as well, making it a piece that conveys the wonder of nature.
The song was released by Columbia Records in 1935 and was sung by Tadaharu Nakano and the Columbia Rhythm Boys.
It was also broadcast on “Minna no Uta” in 1962, where performances by The Three Graces and The Bonny Jacks drew attention.
It’s the perfect song to sing with older adults while enjoying the season.
Humming it as you share memories will brighten your heart and fill it with warmth.
rice plantingSakushi: Inoue Takeru / Sakkyoku: Nakayama Shinpei
For Japanese people, rice is an indispensable food.
Not only the autumn harvest but also the rice-planting in early summer is an important event.
This song, set against the backdrop of rice-planting scenes, powerfully expresses how essential rice is.
It conveys a sense of uplift, suggesting that by earnestly facing the task of planting, we take the first step toward delicious rice.
The light, buoyant singing is also memorable, evoking a joyful engagement with the planting.
Carefully reading the lyrics can deepen our gratitude and affection for being able to eat rice.
[For seniors] A collection of nostalgic classics to sing in May: Popular songs everyone can hum (21–30)
Sugarcane fieldMoriyama Ryoko
This song begins with the image of sugarcane fields swaying in the wind.
It expresses the sorrow of losing a loved one to war through a gentle, heartrending vocal delivery.
Recorded by Ryoko Moriyama in 1969 and included on her album “Ryoko Moriyama College Folk Album No.
2,” the piece moved audiences across generations when she performed it with her son, Naotaro Moriyama, at the 56th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen in 2005.
Its lyrics, imbued with a wish for peace, are sure to resonate with many.
Why not hum along, filled with cherished memories and thoughts of someone dear?