RAG MusicRecreation
Lovely senior life

For seniors: Recommended youthful songs for people in their 90s. A collection of classic Showa-era hits.

If you’re in your 90s today, you’re probably very familiar with the music that was popular in the 1930s and 1940s.

The songs we heard as children or during our school years tend to stay with us forever, don’t they?

In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of popular songs from the youthful days of those in their 90s—tracks that feel nostalgic and familiar.

If you have someone in their 90s in your life—whether a family member or someone you know through a senior care facility—please consider sharing the songs we’re about to introduce with them.

They’ll surely be delighted as the music brings back fond memories of their younger days.

Playlist

For seniors: Recommended youthful songs for people in their 90s. A collection of classic Showa-era hits.
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastThe two are young.dikku mine
The two are young.dikku mineplay_arrow
The charm and value of the Showa-era classic “Futari wa Wakai”
2eastThe Longed-For Hawaii RouteHaruo Oka
The Longed-For Hawaii Route Haruo Okaplay_arrow
A classic song that entrusted postwar dreams to Hawaii
3eastLife is full of ups and downs.Shimakura Chiyoko
Life is full of ups and downs.Shimakura Chiyokoplay_arrow
Chiyoko Shimakura’s enka resonates with people’s hearts.
4eastHappiness is here.ōtsu yoshiko
Happiness is here.ōtsu yoshikoplay_arrow
Yoshiko Ōtsu’s Hopeful Classic Song Introduction
5eastMail boat to the small islandAoki Koichi
Mail boat to the small islandAoki Koichiplay_arrow
Lighthouse Cape, a song of memories carried by the mail boat
6eastI wanted to see you.Haruo Oka
I wanted to see you. Haruo Okaplay_arrow
Haruo Oka’s sailor-themed kayō songs colored the postwar era.
7eastThe Izu DancerMisora Hibari
The Izu DancerMisora Hibariplay_arrow
Hibari Misora, the famous song from the film based on a work by Yasunari Kawabata
8eastin a blue suitFujiyama Ichirō
in a blue suitFujiyama Ichirōplay_arrow
Expressing love and youth through Ichiro Fujiyama’s Showa-modern songs
9eastTokyo RhapsodyFujiyama Ichirō
Tokyo RhapsodyFujiyama Ichirōplay_arrow
The appeal and popularity of Tokyo Rhapsody
10eastBecause the moon is so very blueSugawara Totoko
Because the moon is so very blueSugawara Totokoplay_arrow
A tree-lined path under a blue moon, a timeless song that soothes the heart
11eastGinza Kan-kan GirlTakamine Hideko
Ginza Kan-kan GirlTakamine Hidekoplay_arrow
Ginza Kan Kan Musume is a postwar masterpiece
12eastThe Apple SongNamiki Michiko
The Apple SongNamiki Michikoplay_arrow
Michiko Namiki’s “The Apple Song” is a postwar classic of hope.
13eastThe pier where that girl is cryingMitsubishi Michiya
The pier where that girl is cryingMitsubishi Michiyaplay_arrow
The song of the port town resonates in the heart — a famous piece by Michiya Mihashi.
14eastOtomi-sanKasuga Hachirō
Otomi-sanKasuga Hachirōplay_arrow
O-Tomi-san is a Showa-era classic that was loved by many.
15easthometownshouka
hometownshoukaplay_arrow
A song that symbolizes the Japanese spirit, expressing feelings for one’s hometown
16eastThe Flower Girl of TokyoHaruo Oka
The Flower Girl of Tokyo Haruo Okaplay_arrow
A 1946 classic that portrayed hope in postwar Tokyo
17eastForever with youKayama Yūzō
Forever with youKayama Yūzōplay_arrow
Yuzo Kayama’s love song, a masterpiece that resonates in the hearts of youth
18eastWaltz of StarlightSen Masao
Waltz of StarlightSen Masaoplay_arrow
Masao Sen's classic 'Hoshikage no Waltz,' a song that sings of the melancholy of parting
19eastAt the Rainy Taverndikku mine
At the Rainy Taverndikku mineplay_arrow
A Showa-era classic that sings of the melancholy of heartbreak.
20eastBlue MountainsFujiyama Ichirō
Blue MountainsFujiyama Ichirōplay_arrow
Ichiro Fujiyama’s “Aoi Sanmyaku” is a masterpiece that depicts the journey of life.
21eastOn the Day of DepartureSakushi: Kojima Noboru / Sakkyoku: Sakamoto Hiromi
On the Day of DepartureSakushi: Kojima Noboru / Sakkyoku: Sakamoto Hiromiplay_arrow
Graduation songs evoke the arrival of spring.
22eastYou, my beloved.Itō Hisao
You, my beloved.Itō Hisaoplay_arrow
Hisa'o Itō's sweet Showa-era kayōkyoku (pop songs)
23eastYouth CyclingKosaka Kazuya
Youth CyclingKosaka Kazuyaplay_arrow
Youth popular songs of the late 1950s to early 1960s (Showa 30s), memories of bicycles
24eastSuzhou SerenadeWatanabe Hamako
Suzhou SerenadeWatanabe Hamakoplay_arrow
Suzhou Nocturne is a famous song by Hamako Watanabe and is still loved today.
25eastNight Fog Bluesdikku mine
Night Fog Bluesdikku mineplay_arrow
Dick Mine’s classic song “Blue in the Night Fog”
26eastRingo OiwakeMisora Hibari
Ringo OiwakeMisora Hibariplay_arrow
The Apple Oiwake brings back memories of my youth
27eastThe Sun of the DowntownBaishō Chieko
The Sun of the DowntownBaishō Chiekoplay_arrow
The charm of downtown nostalgia and warm singing voices
28eastLill Returning from ShanghaiTsumura Ken
Lill Returning from ShanghaiTsumura Kenplay_arrow
The history of Ken Tsumura’s classic song “Lil Returning from Shanghai”
29eastBlue Light Yokohamaishida ayumi
Blue Light Yokohamaishida ayumiplay_arrow
A classic of the port city Yokohama: wistfulness and the glitter of the metropolis
30eastTokyo CachitoFuranku Nagai
Tokyo CachitoFuranku Nagai
Timeless hits that color Akasaka’s night: songs of mature love
31eastA street corner where stars fallSatoi Ito to Happī & Burū
A street corner where stars fallSatoi Ito to Happī & Burūplay_arrow
A quiet night spent with a lover
32eastA hill with a view of the harborHirano Aiko
A hill with a view of the harborHirano Aikoplay_arrow
An immortal masterpiece depicting a bittersweet postwar romance
33eastHawaiian Airlines flightUtsumi Kiyoshi
Hawaiian Airlines flightUtsumi Kiyoshiplay_arrow
Nostalgia for the tropics, Utsumi Kiyoshi’s classic song
34eastschool daysPegī Hayama
school daysPegī Hayamaplay_arrow
A timeless song that sings of youthful memories, resonating in the heart.
35eastThe Path of Starlit ShadowsObata Minoru
The Path of Starlit ShadowsObata Minoruplay_arrow
Minoru Obata’s classic song “Hoshikage no Komichi” is still loved today.
36eastPremonition of Spring ~I’ve been mellow~Minami Saori
Premonition of Spring ~I've been mellow~Minami Saoriplay_arrow
Syoko Minami’s gentle singing voice gracefully portrays mature romance.
37eastTokyo Flower GirlHaruo Oka
Tokyo Flower Girl Haruo Okaplay_arrow
A classic that portrays postwar Japan’s hope
38eastYour NameOrii Shigeko
Your NameOrii Shigekoplay_arrow
Shigeru Orii's signature song 'Kimi no Na wa' became a huge hit.
39eastAoba Castle Love Songsatou muneyuki
Aoba Castle Love Songsatou muneyukiplay_arrow
A masterpiece by Muneyuki Sato, a famous song that colors Sendai
40eastSpring Night
Spring Nightplay_arrow
A spring night, a scene enchanted by the sound of the koto.
41eastFlowers and Sunshine of a Spring Day
Flowers and Sunshine of a Spring Day
A love song about looks that change over time and an unchanging bond of hearts
42eastWoman of the CasbahEto Kunieda
Woman of the CasbahEto Kuniedaplay_arrow
“Kasuba no Onna” is a classic of the Showa-era kayōkyoku (Japanese popular song).
43eastLet’s get married.yoshida takurou
Let's get married.yoshida takurouplay_arrow
Takuro Yoshida’s heartwarming spring classic
44eastRed Sweet PeaMatsuda Seiko
Red Sweet PeaMatsuda Seikoplay_arrow
Seiko Matsuda’s classic spring song, released in 1982
45eastspring thunderfuki no tō
spring thunderfuki no tōplay_arrow
A famous song about butterbur buds singing of spring, resonating in the heart
46eastLingering Snowiruka
Lingering Snowirukaplay_arrow
A classic spring song sung by dolphins. A piece that depicts a scene of parting.
47eastWords of FarewellKaientai
Words of FarewellKaientaiplay_arrow
“Okuru Kotoba” is a song of springtime farewells and bonds.
48eastParting at 22kaze
Parting at 22kazeplay_arrow
The Wind’s debut song, cherished as a timeless anthem of youth
49eastMischief of the spring breezeYamaguchi Momoe
Mischief of the spring breezeYamaguchi Momoeplay_arrow
A spring song that resonates in the heart: a classic by Momoe Yamaguchi
50eastTouchIwasaki Yoshimi
TouchIwasaki Yoshimiplay_arrow
Yoshimi Iwasaki’s youth song, a moving theme song