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