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