Breakup songs recommended for people in their 90s: a collection of timeless tracks that comfort the heart

Lill Returning from ShanghaiTsumura Ken

Lill Returning from Shanghai

Ken Tsumura’s “Shanghai-gaeri no Lill” (Lill Returning from Shanghai) is a heartbreak song that became a massive hit in postwar Japan.

It portrays the poignant feelings of a man searching for a woman named Lill who has returned from Shanghai.

His wish to share a dark fate together and his longing to see Lill again are powerfully conveyed through Tsumura’s vocals, resonating with many listeners.

Released in 1951, the song became a social phenomenon, and a film of the same title was released the following year.

When older listeners hear this song, it may bring back memories of their youth—stirring nostalgia and rekindling the feelings of first love from that time.

Showa-era womanNagayama Yōko

Yoko Nagayama “Woman of the Showa Era” Music Video

This is a heartfelt song by Yoko Nagayama that makes your chest tighten with its nostalgic guitar melody.

Scheduled for single release in June 2025.

It portrays a Showa-era woman who, while choosing to part with a man chasing his dreams, keeps her head high and looks forward.

Vivid scenes spring to mind—like telling him goodbye from a public phone—and their purity and poignancy are deeply moving.

It’s a masterpiece perfect not only for those who lived through the Showa era, but also for anyone who wants to feel the spirit of a bygone, golden time.

It was rainy again in Nagasaki today.Uchiyamada Hiroshi to Cool Five

Hiroshi Uchiyamada and the Cool Five “It Was Rainy Again in Nagasaki Today” OFFICIAL Lyric Video

A masterpiece that stands as a monument of mood kayō (Japanese mood music), deeply etched in many people’s hearts.

Its beautiful melody infused with sorrow and wistfulness, along with Kiyoshi Maekawa’s richly expressive vocals, leaves a strong impression.

Evoking the emotional scenery of Kyushu and the ache of a broken heart, the song lingers deeply with listeners.

Released in February 1969, this single marked the major-label debut of Hiroshi Uchiyamada and the Cool Five.

It reached No.

2 on the Oricon charts and won the New Artist Award at that year’s Japan Record Awards.

It was also featured in a joint commercial by Nagasaki Prefecture and JF Nagasaki (the fisheries cooperative), contributing to regional promotion.

The song has continued to be covered by many artists, including Hibari Misora and Sayuri Ishikawa.

It’s a track you’ll want to enjoy at karaoke with dear friends, wrapped in fond memories.

Parting at 22kaguya hime

Parting at 22 / Kaze (with lyrics)

A delicately rendered farewell to a longtime lover, this is a classic song that almost everyone has hummed at least once.

Released by Kaguya-hime on their 1974 album “Sankaidate no Uta,” it is said to have been written in a single night.

In 1984, it was used as the theme song for the drama “Kinō, Kanabetsu de,” bringing it back into the spotlight.

Accompanied by a gentle melody, the lyrics look back on memories with a lover while gazing toward a new step in life—offering comfort to those who have overcome a turning point in their lives.

Lingering Snowiruka

Dolphin [Iruka] / Nagori-yuki [Lingering Snow] (Single Version) Official Audio with translation

Sung by Iruka, this song has been passed down as a classic of spring, a work that seems to seep into the listener’s heart.

Depicting a scene of parting in early spring, it beautifully portrays lingering feelings and the loneliness of growing up.

Written and composed by Shozo Ise and given a rich, weighty arrangement by Masataka Matsutoya, it was released in March 1975 on the album “Iruka no Sekai,” then as a single in November of the same year, reaching No.

4 on the Oricon charts.

It’s a perfect song to spark conversation with older adults.

You’ll likely enjoy a wonderful time sharing nostalgic memories and evocative scenes that resonate in the heart.

Journey of the Heartchūrippu

Kokoro no Tabi / Tulip (with lyrics)

This is a classic song that richly captures the bittersweet feelings before setting off on a journey.

It beautifully expresses both the excitement and loneliness of the last night spent with a loved one before starting a new life.

Listening to it vividly brings back memories from those days.

Released by Tulip in April 1973, it reached No.

1 on the Oricon chart.

It was used as the theme song for Fuji TV’s “Ninjō Ippon Kokoro no Tabi,” as well as in commercials for the Toyota Carina and JR West.

Evoking the romance of nostalgic train travel, the song’s friendly, sing-along melody is part of its charm.

How about humming it together with seniors while clapping along?

At the Rainy Taverndikku mine

In a Rainy Tavern — Dick Mine (with lyrics)

A work steeped in the nostalgic atmosphere of the Showa era, this classic vividly sings of a scene along a melancholy tree-lined avenue.

It conveys the pain of heartbreak and a sense of loneliness through an arrangement that incorporates elements of jazz and blues, with Dick Mine’s gentle baritone heightening the poignancy.

Released in 1954, the song was also used as the theme for the Shochiku film “Face of Hell,” and has been covered by many artists, including Yujiro Ishihara and Hibari Misora.

Its profound emotional expression and refined vocals make it a song that resonates deeply, evoking memories of the Showa period.