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.
Playlist
| Memorable Youth Songs: Looking Back on New Music Masterpieces from the 1970s–80s | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| show_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1east | Time travelHarada Shinji |  play_arrow | Mr. Shinji Harada was with the record company For Life… |
| 2east | Journey of the Heartchūrippu |  play_arrow | Tulip was formed by Kazuo Zaitsu and others… |
| 3east | Goodbyeofukōsu |  play_arrow | Centered around Kazumasa Oda, who continues to thrive as a solo artist... |
| 4east | In the Middle of a DreamKisugi Takao |  play_arrow | In November 1981, Rai—known as a composer—... |
| 5east | foreignerKUBOTA Saki |  play_arrow | Hayami Kubota’s ... released in October 1979 |
| 6east | metropoliskurisutaru kingu |  play_arrow | Crystal King is going to have vocalist Masayuki Tanaka... |
| 7east | Heart patternInoue Yosui |  play_arrow | The single released in September 1973... |
| 8east | Lingering Snowiruka |  play_arrow | The single released in November 1975… |
| 9east | Dream FlowerEn Hiroshi |  play_arrow | Hiroshi Madoka, who is still active as a TV personality... |
| 10east | contrailArai Yumi |  play_arrow | On the white sloping road are drawn the hopes and partings of youth. |
| 11east | Gather the Windhappiiendo |  play_arrow | The 1970s, gently weaving together urban transformation and nostalgia… |
| 12east | The Days of Rainbows and Sneakerschūrippu |  play_arrow | A classic song that sings of the bittersweetness of youth and the gentle kindness of heartbreak |
| 13east | The Day the Seagulls FlewWatanabe Machiko |  play_arrow | Machiko Watanabe, released in April 1978... |
| 14east | Our FailureMorita Doji |  play_arrow | Morita Doji’s masterpiece, a sound that resonates in the heart |
| 15east | Love is a mirageGam |  play_arrow | Gamu was a male duo, and in 1980... |
| 16east | First loveMurashita Kōzō |  play_arrow | Kozo Murashita, in 1979, with CBS/Sony... |
| 17east | Listening to OliviaAnri |  play_arrow | A melody that gently envelops the lingering ache of a bittersweet love… |
| 18east | Flying to IstanbulShōno Mayoyo |  play_arrow | A classic with exotic flair, expressing the fleeting nature of love |
| 19east | A long nightMatsuyama Chiharu |  play_arrow | The classic songs that colored the 70s are still beloved by many to this day… |
| 20east | Let’s get married.yoshida takurou |  play_arrow | Takuro Yoshida is the pioneer of New Music... |
| 21east | Among the seasonsMatsuyama Chiharu |  play_arrow | Chiharu Matsuyama’s ... released in August 1978 |
| 22east | Kanda Riverkaguya hime |  play_arrow | Kaguya-hime is a trio centered around Mr. Minami Kōsetsu... |
| 23east | Light Blue RainYagami Junko |  play_arrow | Junko Yagami’s ... released in May 1978 |
| 24east | wicked womanNakajima Miyuki |  play_arrow | A female New Music–style artist on par with Yumi Matsutoya… |
| 25east | The morning I had forgottenYamamoto Junko |  play_arrow | July 1971 of Fork Group Akai Tori’s… |
| 26east | triggerSera Masanori & Tsuisto |  play_arrow | A band with Masanori Sera as the vocalist, Gru... |
| 27east | ChampionArisu |  play_arrow | "Alice" is Shinji Tanimura, Takao Horiuchi, and Toru Yazawa... |
| 28east | HEROKai Band |  play_arrow | “Kai Band” features Yoshihiro Kai as the vocalist… |
| 29east | Parting at 22kaze |  play_arrow | “Kaze” is Ise Shōzō from “Kaguya-hime” and folk... |
| 30east | White Winterfuki no tō |  play_arrow | The shifting of autumn to winter and the sorrow of heartbreak |
| 31east | The Drunkard Has ReturnedZa Fōku Kurusedāzu |  play_arrow | A musical tale that travels between heaven and earth |
| 32east | Shadows of Youthchūrippu |  play_arrow | A singing voice filled with kindness and a delicate melodic line... |
| 33east | One day, suddenlyToa e moa |  play_arrow | A gem woven by the translucent unison of a man and a woman… |
| 34east | Strawberry Statement, Once Morebanban |  play_arrow | A song that soaks in the bittersweetness of youth and memories |
| 35east | That wonderful love once moreKatō Kazuhiko, Kitayama Osamu |  play_arrow | A gem filled with wistfulness and nostalgia, yearning for a lost love… |
| 36east | Cape TourYamamoto Kōtarō to Uīkuendo |  play_arrow | A famous song that depicts the poignant romance of a journey, by Kotaro Yamamoto. |
| 37east | A Midsummer IncidentHirayama Miki |  play_arrow | A bittersweet journey of love, a classic summer song |
| 38east | The last spring breakMatsutōya Yumi |  play_arrow | A classic song that sings of graduation memories in the spring season. |
| 39east | GraduationMatsuyama Chiharu |  play_arrow | Chiharu Matsuyama’s spring melody, the singing voice of youth |
| 40east | If we ever meet in the city somedayNakamura Masatoshi |  play_arrow | Gently expressing memories of a past lover and a wish to reunite… |
| 41east | The memories are too beautifulYagami Junko |  play_arrow | Sang of an unreachable love within beautiful memories… |
| 42east | Parting at 22kaguya hime |  play_arrow | Kaguya-hime’s farewell masterpiece, moving to the heart |
| 43east | The person I used to likekaguya hime |  play_arrow | Yoshida, released on April 20, 1972... |
| 44east | My good friendKamayatsu Hiroshi |  play_arrow | A nostalgic classic that depicts friendship and youth |
| 45east | Farewell to the Days of YouthArisu |  play_arrow | Moved by Alice’s classic song during graduation season |
| 46east | Children Who Don’t Know WarJirōzu |  play_arrow | A masterpiece imbued with prayers for peace, a moving experience that transcends generations |
| 47east | To say goodbyebiriibanban |  play_arrow | Banban masterpiece, a song of farewell and resolve |
| 48east | Just like back thenBureddo & Batā |  play_arrow | Graduation season, a timeless classic |
| 49east | Poem of Youthyoshida takurou |  play_arrow | Takuro Yoshida, who popularized folk rock and portrayed youth |
| 50east | Please give me wingsakai tori |  play_arrow | A signature song by Akai Tori, beloved across generations |
| 51east | The season the sun gave usaoi sankakujougi |  play_arrow | The representative song of Aoi Sankaku Jōgi became a big hit. |
| 52east | The youth I walked through with youkaze |  play_arrow | A lyrical classic that depicts the youth of the ’70s |
| 53east | Johnny’s LullabyArisu |  | This is pretty much the golden age of youth for people in their 60s... |
| 54east | Ah, youthyoshida takurou |  play_arrow | The first release was in 1975, and th... |
| 55east | It was spring, wasn’t it?yoshida takurou |  | Takuro Yoshida’s signature song “It Was Spring.” |
| 56east | Aoba Castle Love Songsatou muneyuki |  play_arrow | Muneyuki Sato from Sendai was a DJ on a local FM station, and… |
| 57east | Imperial Regent Declarationsadamasashi |  play_arrow | In the folk duo “Grape,” with “Seirei Nagashi”… |
| 58east | Your MorningKishida Satoshi |  play_arrow | Kishida Satoshi, who made his debut as a singer in 1976, is 1… |
| 59east | Sachikobanba hirofumi |  play_arrow | Hirofumi Bamba is from the folk group “Banba… |
| 60east | Words of FarewellKaientai |  play_arrow | Kaientai are still active today, working as actors and TV personalities… |
| 61east | Morning of the PegasusIgarashi Hiroaki |  | Hiroaki Igarashi signed with the record label CB in 1980… |
| 62east | I want to go back to that dayArai Yumi (Matsutoya Yumi) |  play_arrow | Yumi Matsutoya, who is still active as a singer, sa... |
| 63east | My loverGorin Mayumi |  play_arrow | Mayumi Itsuwa debuted in 1972, and at that time… |
| 64east | A café in a student districtGARO |  play_arrow | GARO is a three-member music group, and “… |