[For Seniors] Songs to Sing in Refreshing May When the Fresh Green Shines

Tokyo RhapsodyFujiyama Ichirō

Tokyo Rhapsody, nostalgic song, Tokyo

This song brilliantly captures the splendor and sentiment of Tokyo at the time, vividly coloring the scenes of bustling districts like Ginza, Kanda, Asakusa, and Shinjuku.

Ichiro Fujiyama’s clear voice warmly sings of the gentle human stories amid the city’s lively bustle.

After its release in June 1936, it became a massive hit, selling over 350,000 copies, and a film of the same name was also produced.

It’s perfect for springtime recreation—whether you sing along and share memories, or clap your hands to its light, cheerful rhythm.

White lilies on my birthdayFukuyama Masaharu

Masaharu Fukuyama – Pure White Lilies for Your Birthday (Full ver.)

One of Masaharu Fukuyama’s signature songs, in which he reflects on his younger self’s behavior and expresses gratitude to his mother.

He ponders the meaning of the name given to him by his parents and the appreciation that grows with maturity.

The image of delivering those feelings along with pure white lilies naturally stirs the heart.

Released in April 2013, the song became beloved as the theme for the drama “Tonbi.” Why not hum it together with someone dear to you? Surely, the gratitude that’s hard to express in everyday life will flow out naturally.

like youDREAMS COME TRUE

DREAMS COME TRUE – “Like You”

This is a song lovingly crafted by DREAMS COME TRUE, like a gift that wraps you in warmth.

It portrays the figure of a mother, weaving feelings of gratitude and respect with care.

Carried by gentle melodies of piano and strings, thoughts for a loved one quietly resonate in the heart.

The piece was produced in May 2016 as a campaign song for Kanpo Life Insurance and was included on the album THE DREAM QUEST.

It is a fitting song to hum together on Mother’s Day or special occasions, especially with older listeners.

Through this song, you can share the appreciation that is hard to express in everyday life.

koinobori (carp streamers)Monbushō shōka

Koinobori | With Lyrics | Waves of roof tiles and waves of clouds

Beloved as a Ministry of Education shoka (school song), this piece gracefully expresses both the grandeur of the carp streamers displayed for the Boys’ Festival (Tango no Sekku) and the wish for children’s happy growth.

Included in the 1913 publication “Jinjō Shōgaku Shōka, Grade Five,” the song, set in F major, harmonizes a powerful melody with a refined sense of the season.

It continues to be cherished and sung by contemporary musicians, including arrangements by Kiyoe Yoshioka.

Its cheerful atmosphere and warm, seasonable tone make it perfect for older adults who want to enjoy a pleasant springtime moment.

It can also be a cue to hum along with grandchildren or to fondly recall days gone by.

Height comparisonSakushi: Umino Atsushi / Sakkyoku: Nakayama Shinpei

Height Comparison – Sei Kurabe | The mark on the pillar was from the year before last [Japanese Song / Shoka]

Speaking of events in May, Children’s Day comes to mind.

It carries the wish for children to grow up healthy.

“Sekukurabe” is a song that powerfully evokes children’s growth and the passage of time.

It depicts a child marking their height on a pillar in the house, and by comparing it with earlier marks, you can feel both their growth and their wish to grow even taller.

Alongside this, the song also portrays the beautiful early-summer scenery, conveying a sense of exhilaration at the changing seasons.

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tea pickingMonbushō shōka

Tea Picking | With Lyrics | Ministry of Education Song | One Hundred Japanese Songs | The 88th Night as Summer Approaches

This is a celebrated song from the Ministry of Education’s school song repertoire, passed down since the Meiji era, beautifully portraying the changing seasons.

It vividly depicts the refreshing early-summer scenery and the peaceful scene of people picking tea.

With images of fresh greenery around the Eighty-Eighth Night, tea-pickers’ work garments, and rural landscapes, it conveys traditional Japanese life along with a gentle melody.

Since its inclusion in 1912 in “Elementary School Songs for the Third Grade (Jinjō Shōgaku Shōka),” it has been widely loved through school education.

This piece is a song everyone can enjoy singing together, often tied to fond memories.

Its charm also lies in incorporating simple hand motions while singing, allowing for a heartwarming time.

carp streamerSakushi: Kondō Miyako / Sakkyoku: Fushō

♪ Koinobori – Carp Streamers | Carp Streamers Higher Than the Rooftops; The Big Black Carp Is Father [Japanese Song / Shoka]

When carp streamers are put up for Children’s Day, it really makes you feel that May is just around the corner, doesn’t it? Looking up at the carp streamers dancing in the sky draws your attention to the refreshing early-summer breeze and the clear, blue expanse above.

The song “Koinobori” expresses the sight of those streamers spreading across the blue sky in a straightforward way.

It gently sings of the powerful figures of the streamers soaring through the air and what each one represents.

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