RAG MusicRecreation
Lovely senior life

Tear-jerking songs recommended for men in their 90s: a collection of moving masterpieces

In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of tear-jerking songs from the Showa era that are especially recommended for men in their 90s.

We’ve focused mainly on works that depict the parting of men and women, so we’re confident you’ll find songs that resonate with your own past experiences and memories.

If you’re reading this, please consider recommending the songs we’re about to introduce to any 90-year-olds around you.

We’d be delighted if this could be an opportunity to discover music that overlaps with past experiences and memories and truly moves the heart.

Tear-Jerking Songs Recommended for Men in Their 90s: A Collection of Moving Masterpieces (11–20)

Sake, Tears, Men, and WomenKawashima Eigo

Sake, Tears, Men and Women “Eigo Kawashima” with Lyrics
Sake, Tears, Men, and WomenKawashima Eigo

This is a classic song that portrays the bittersweetness of life that everyone has experienced.

It gently depicts the differences in emotional expression between men and women, resonating with listeners through Eigo Kawashima’s deep insight and warm voice.

Included on the album “Jinrui” (Humanity), the song was also released in 1976 as Kawashima’s solo debut and reached No.

9 on the Oricon weekly chart.

Known as the theme song for the sake brand “Kizakura,” it became a major talking point in step with the social mood of the time.

The melody is soft, and its simplicity seeps into the heart.

It’s the perfect song to enjoy at karaoke with someone special.

I hope you’ll savor it slowly, along with your fond memories.

A Man’s LifeKitajima Saburō

A heartfelt, powerful song that reexamines the joys and sorrows of life and celebrates living with sincerity.

It carefully weaves together a half-life spent overcoming hardships and trials while valuing duty and truth.

Released by Saburo Kitajima in January 2011, this work conveys the sentiments of his more than 50-year career in show business with a mature vocal performance that deeply resonates with listeners.

While honoring the traditional flavor of enka, the song features contemporary arrangements that give it a profoundly moving quality that sinks into the heart.

It is a gem of a masterpiece to listen to when you stand at a crossroads in life or want to savor your gratitude toward someone important.

Waltz of StarlightSen Masao

Released in 1966 (Showa 41).

Two years later, it gradually caught fire on wired broadcasts across Japan and went on to sell a total of 2.5 million copies.

Known as Masao Sen’s biggest hit, “Hoshikage no Waltz” (“Waltz of Starlight”) expresses, from a male perspective, the poignant feeling of having to part with a loved one—knowing it’s not what the heart truly wants, yet having no choice.

Its relaxed three-beat waltz rhythm makes it easy to sing, and combined with its popularity, it’s a song that many people can enjoy when doing karaoke in senior care facilities.

Becoming a Thousand WindsAkiyama Masashi

Masafumi Akikawa “A Thousand Winds” Music Video
Becoming a Thousand WindsAkiyama Masashi

As a masterpiece of beautiful Japanese ballads, Masafumi Akikawa’s singing voice has left a deep impression on many hearts.

With the powerful, soaring tone characteristic of a tenor, this gem of a song gently conveys the preciousness of life and feelings for loved ones.

Released in May 2006, it became an extraordinary hit for a classical singer, creating a major buzz that included Akikawa serving as the closing performer for the White Team at the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen the following year.

In 2007, it was also selected as the theme song for a Fuji TV documentary drama.

Singing about the feelings one has for someone dear, this work continues to be cherished across generations as a song that resonates in many moments of life.

At the Rainy Taverndikku mine

In a Rainy Tavern — Dick Mine (with lyrics)
At the Rainy Taverndikku mine

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.