Memorable Youth Songs: Looking Back on New Music Masterpieces from the 1970s–80s

Children Who Don’t Know WarJirōzu

Children Who Don't Know War ~ Jiro's

Jiro’s was a Japanese folk duo active in the 1970s.

“Children Who Don’t Know War” is a song that delicately portrays the feelings of a generation born into a time of peace.

Since its 1971 release, it has resonated with many people and become a beloved song across generations.

Its message—expressing a wish for peace and conveying the pure impressions of a generation that has not known war—has not faded with time.

The track is also known for its distinctive mixing, with different vocals coming from the left and right speakers, offering listeners a fresh and surprising experience.

Please give it a listen.

If we ever meet in the city somedayNakamura Masatoshi

If we ever meet in the city someday

It’s a gently written, heart-touching classic about memories of a past lover and the wish to meet again.

From parting in the city of memories, to love and resentment, and even the moment when dreams were shattered, it weaves together every moment the two spent together.

Masatoshi Nakamura’s warm vocals blend beautifully with the soothing melody crafted by Takuro Yoshida, resulting in a song that evokes both nostalgia and bittersweet longing.

Released in May 1975, it was used as an insert song in the drama “Oretachi no Kunshō” and reached No.

6 on the Oricon charts.

Many artists, including Naoko Ken and Masayuki Suzuki, have covered it.

It’s a song you’ll want to listen to if you’ve experienced parting from someone dear, or when you’re in the mood to reminisce about the past.

The memories are too beautifulYagami Junko

Memories are too beautiful

Junko Yagami’s major-label debut song, which sings of a love forever out of reach, framed within beautiful memories.

A superb ballad where a sophisticated bossa nova-tinged melody intertwines with her lustrous vocals.

With lyrics that poignantly and beautifully depict a lost love, and a transparent, elegant sound, it can be considered the very essence of classic New Music.

Released in January 1978, it reached No.

25 on the Oricon chart.

It was also included on the album “Omoide wa Utsukushisugite” and selected as the theme song for Nippon Broadcasting’s “Cocky Pop.” This work is a timeless classic that gently accompanies hearts feeling the sorrow of parting with a loved one and the nostalgia for a past that can never return.

Recommended for those moments when you want to surrender to a soothing melody and immerse yourself in memories of days gone by.

The youth I walked through with youkaze

The youth I walked through with you

Kaze’s “The Youth I Walked With You” is a classic deeply etched in the hearts of those who spent their youth in the 1970s.

The lyrical words written by Shozo Ise portray universal themes such as friendship, love, and parting, awakening unforgettable memories that lie dormant in the listener’s mind.

The harmony woven by the beauty of the melody and Ise’s vocals stirs the poignant emotions of youth and unfailingly tugs at the heartstrings.

Since its 1976 release, the song has been covered by numerous artists, including Hiromi Ota, and has continued to be loved across generations.

It is a piece you’ll want to listen to when you pause at life’s turning points and feel like immersing yourself in memories of former friends and lovers.

White Winterfuki no tō

Fukinotou / White Winter (1974) 2024 ≪No.11≫

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.

One day, suddenlyToa e moa

One day, suddenly

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

Let's Do the 'Strawberry Statement' Once More

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.