Memorable Youth Songs: Looking Back on New Music Masterpieces from the 1970s–80s
New Music, which incorporated elements of folk and rock while remaining more approachable, captured the hearts of many.
GARO’s “Gakuseigai no Kissaten” and Kaguyahime’s “Kandagawa” gently portrayed the everyday lives of young people at the time, while Alice’s “Champion” and Masashi Sada’s “Kampaku Sengen” powerfully voiced down-to-earth feelings.
These classic songs that colored the memories of youth continue to resonate with many people even today.
Here, we present a selection of exquisite gems from the 1970s, woven with delicate lyrics and melodies.
- A collection of nostalgic hit songs and classics from the 70s
- Classic and hit Japanese pop songs from the nostalgic 80s
- Popular Showa-era pop. Timeless hit songs.
- Best City Pop Classics: Recommended Popular Songs [Timeless & Modern]
- A collection of nostalgic Japanese hit songs from the 1980s that still linger in our ears
- [Japanese Music] A Collection of Heart-Touching Hit Folk Songs from the 1970s
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- [Spring Songs Recommended for People in Their 40s] Relive Your Youth! A Selection of Nostalgic Tracks
- Big Hits, Including New Standard Favorites! Best Hits of Popular J-POP Songs
- For people in their 50s: Songs that make you want to sing—perfect for driving
- [Standard] A Collection of Songs You Want to Listen to While Driving—Tunes You'll Find Yourself Humming
- Classic and hit kayōkyoku songs from the nostalgic 1960s
- Masterpieces that sing about various lives. Recommended popular songs.
Unforgettable Youth Songs: Revisiting New Music Classics from the 1970s–80s (1–10)
In the Middle of a DreamKisugi Takao
Released in November 1981, this single was issued under the name of Takao Kisugi, known as a composer.
It is the same song under a different title as “Sailor Suit and Machine Gun,” sung by Hiroko Yakushimaru as the theme for her starring film, and both versions were major hits.
It peaked at No.
4 on the Oricon weekly chart, with total sales of 400,000 copies.
Lingering Snowiruka
A single released in November 1975.
The original song was included on a Kaguya-hime album, but Iruka’s cover became more famous, reaching No.
4 on the Oricon chart and selling 550,000 copies.
It remains a standard often sung at karaoke as a song that longs for spring.
Heart patternInoue Yosui
Released as a single in September 1973, it became their first entry into the Oricon weekly Top 10 (peaking at No.
7).
Even after the 1980s, they produced many hits, including theme songs for dramas and films, and were active as a songwriter for numerous artists.
Yet the many masterpieces that capture the atmosphere of the 1970s still resonate deeply even today.
contrailArai Yumi
The story of a boy drawn on a white slope reflects Yumi Arai’s inner landscape from her youth.
With a clear, crystalline voice and beautiful piano lines, she gently sings of a longing for the heavens and a parting from the earthly world.
Inspired by feelings for a classmate from her elementary school days, the piece takes flight on a fragile yet refreshing melody, brimming with the radiance of life and hope for liberation.
Released in November 1973 as the title track of the album “Hikōki Gumo,” it drew renewed attention in 2013 as the theme song for Studio Ghibli’s “The Wind Rises.” It is a gem of a song that tenderly supports those who have experienced the loss of someone dear, as well as young people standing at a crossroads in life.
Gather the Windhappiiendo
A gentle weaving of urban transformation and nostalgia, this is a quintessential coming-of-age song of the 1970s.
Created by Happy End in November 1971, it’s a gem in which Takashi Matsumoto vividly and poetically portrays Tokyo’s streets and the lives of its people.
Featured on the album Kazemachi Roman, the track wraps the city’s memories in delicate soundscapes crafted by Eiichi Ohtaki, Haruomi Hosono, and Shigeru Suzuki.
After being featured in the film Lost in Translation, it has been covered and cherished by many artists, including Akiko Yano and Hiromi Ohta.
It’s a song whose tender melody and storytelling resonate deeply—perfect for a calm afternoon or an emotionally stirring dusk.