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.
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- Classic and hit kayōkyoku songs from the nostalgic 1960s
- Masterpieces that sing about various lives. Recommended popular songs.
Unforgettable Youth Songs: Revisiting New Music Masterpieces from the 1970s–80s (21–30)
Parting at 22kaze
Kaze was a duo consisting of Shozo Ise from Kaguya-hime and Kazuhisa Okubo from the folk band Neko.
“22-sai no Wakare” (Farewell at 22) was their debut single, released in February 1975.
Its worldview, which directly confronted the theme of parting, was striking, and it became a major hit, reaching No.
1 on the Oricon charts and selling 700,000 copies.
White Winterfuki no tō
This is a lyrical piece that poignantly sings of the transition from autumn to winter.
Carried by the gentle tones of an acoustic guitar, it overlays the sorrow of a bygone love and shifting emotions onto the changing of the seasons.
The transparent harmonies of Fukinotou weave a delicate world that resonates deeply in the heart.
Released as a debut single in September 1974, the song gradually gained popularity after being featured on Takuro Yoshida’s All Night Nippon, eventually reaching No.
14 on the Oricon charts.
As the duo’s signature song, it has since been covered by numerous artists.
It is a track that gently accompanies the resolve to quietly accept the end of a romance—one to listen to when you wish to heal the wounds of heartbreak or to put your feelings in order.
Unforgettable Youth Songs: Revisiting the New Music Classics of the ’70s–’80s (31–40)
The Drunkard Has ReturnedZa Fōku Kurusedāzu
With a high-pitched voice and humor-laden musical expression, a fantastical story unfolds that shuttles between heaven and earth.
While satirically conveying the dangers of drunk driving, its innovative musicality—woven with nods to the Beatles, the Heart Sutra, and even Beethoven—is captivating.
Released by The Folk Crusaders in December 1967, the song became the first million-seller in Oricon chart history and was even adapted into a Toei film.
Far from sounding like a track born to fill out an album, this masterpiece combines experimental sound with social consciousness, making it a recommended tune for those who want to savor life’s subtleties along with a good laugh.
Shadows of Youthchūrippu
A masterpiece whose gentle vocals and delicate melodic lines seep into the heart.
Its grand narrative—portraying profound love for a partner and the resolve to walk through life together—strikes a deep chord.
Seamlessly blending folk and pop, the song brings out the full musical allure of Tulip.
Released as a single in June 1974 and also included on the album “Seishun no Kage,” it garnered widespread support.
It has since been covered by numerous artists and used as an insert song in the drama “Under One Roof.” It’s the perfect track for moments at life’s crossroads or when you want to face forward with a calm mind.
A heartwarming message song you’ll want to listen to with someone special—highly recommended.
One day, suddenlyToa e moa
A gem of a love song woven by the crystal-clear unison of a man and a woman.
The graceful melody spun by Towa Tei et Moi delicately depicts, with subtle touches, the feelings of two young people shifting from friendship to love.
Paired with its quietly emotive tone, it becomes an outstanding piece suffused with urban lyricism.
Released in 1969, it reached No.
4 on the weekly Oricon chart and became a springboard for many of their signature songs.
Gently singing of emotions blooming from the depths of the heart, it’s a track I can recommend to anyone experiencing the first stirrings of love.
Strawberry Statement, Once Morebanban
Released in August 1975, this poignant coming-of-age ballad, which tenderly portrays the transience of youth and changing times, became a major hit, reaching No.
1 on the Oricon charts.
It was the first song written by Yumi Arai for another artist, gently capturing memories of dates at the movie theater, days fervently devoted to the student movement, and the young facing the reality of entering the workforce.
Banban’s warm choral work blends beautifully with the fragile lyrics, resulting in a piece that fills the heart with nostalgia and bittersweet emotion.
This song will resonate when you want to immerse yourself in memories of your youth or reflect on moments shared with someone dear.
That wonderful love once moreKatō Kazuhiko, Kitayama Osamu
A gem of a folk song, filled with longing and nostalgia in search of a lost love.
It gently embraces shifting emotional distances and reflections on youth gone by.
The warm sonic world woven by the soothing resonance of the acoustic guitar and a refined arrangement beautifully captures the farewells and hoped-for reunions we all encounter in life.
Since its release in May 1971, it has been beloved as a staple for school events and graduation season, and has been widely used as incidental music in dramas and variety shows.
When you want to linger in memories with someone dear, why not immerse yourself in its soul-stirring vocals and poetic world?