Recommended Songs for Nursing Home Recreation [Fun Exercise, Soothing Songs]
This article introduces recommended songs for recreation in nursing homes.
Music can have positive effects on the mind and body, and it’s also great for accompanying exercise and relieving stress.
Because this selection is intended for recreation, we’ve chosen videos that make it easy for older adults to imagine using the songs for movement and that staff can use as helpful references.
Nostalgic songs and tunes that feel familiar to older adults are likely to be especially well received.
Every song has a lovely atmosphere and can lift the mood or be soothing.
Please make good use of them in your recreational activities.
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Recommended Songs for Nursing Home Recreation [Fun Exercise, Healing Songs] (11–20)
Northern SpringSen Masao
One song that enjoys immense popularity not only in Japan but across Asia is Masao Sen’s hit “Kitaguni no Haru” (Spring in the North).
Its lyrics—about a man who has moved to the city and, upon receiving a package from his hometown, is overcome with nostalgia for his home, family, and former lover—make it a true masterpiece that really tugs at the heartstrings.
The seasonal imagery that evokes the early spring is also beautiful, so it could be a great choice to include in springtime recreational activities.
Singing it together as usual or doing it at karaoke is of course fine, but you might also try livening things up with a fresh twist, like incorporating a parody version of the lyrics.
The Longed-For Hawaii RouteHaruo Oka
These days, it’s easy to enjoy a casual trip to Hawaii, but right after the war, Hawaii was a land people dreamed of.
The lyricist of this song, Miyuki Ishimoto, is said to have shaped her image of Hawaii from films and novels as she crafted the lyrics.
Precisely because travel has become difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic, why not incorporate this song into day-service recreation and feel like you’re visiting Hawaii? Just hearing the intro and the very first line is sure to instantly brighten your mood—it’s a true classic.
12th graderFunaki Kazuo
Kazuo Funaki’s debut song—and biggest hit—“High School Senior.” As a piece of youth-themed kayōkyoku, it’s a tune many older listeners will find very familiar.
Looking back on the dwindling days of high school, it conveys straightforward feelings for friends and sweethearts they’ll soon part from, giving the number a touch of bittersweetness.
With its march-like melody, it’s also perfect for moving your body along to the beat! For seniors who were students when this song first came out, it’s sure to evoke fond nostalgia.
A rose has bloomed.Maiku Maki
The hit song that sparked the folk song boom was Bara ga Saita, sung by Maki Mike.
It was also featured on NHK’s Minna no Uta and in commercials, so many people of all ages have probably heard it.
Its relaxed rhythm and gentle, conversational vocals are easy on the ears and naturally find their way into your heart.
If you play it as background music during day-service recreation, it may help seniors feel calm.
The vocal range isn’t wide, so it’s also a great choice for everyone to sing together!
The Hill Where Mandarin Orange Blossoms Bloom
Clap hands alternately while facing each other as you sing.
Even such a simple movement can instantly turn into enjoyable communication when done to a song.
Moving your hands to the gentle melody of “Mikan no Saku Oka” stimulates the brain and helps prevent cognitive decline.
It can be done while seated, reducing physical strain, and it’s an easy activity for those who struggle to find a way to start a conversation.
This low-pressure hand game fosters interaction even in care settings and is perfect for daily recreation.
The railroad tracks go on forever.
Here’s an idea for a fun hand-play song that lets you move your body to the rhythm: “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” (Senro wa Tsuzuku yo Doko Made mo).
Face your partner, press your palms together, and alternate clapping, adding movements up, down, left, and right to keep it from becoming monotonous while building concentration and reflexes.
Changing the tempo—speeding it up or slowing it down—adds variety so it stays engaging.
Since it only uses hand and arm movements, participants can join in while seated.
Facing each other also naturally encourages smiles and conversation, making it a great activity for social interaction.
Recommended Songs for Nursing Home Recreation [Fun Exercise, Soothing Songs] (21–30)
Ginza Kan-kan GirlTakamine Hideko
Brimming with the hope and vitality of Japan’s postwar reconstruction period, it became beloved as the theme song for the film of the same name released in 1949.
The song accompanies a story in which a young woman aspiring to be a painter—played by Hideko Takamine—sings her way through bars in Ginza to earn her tuition.
Ryoichi Hattori’s light, swinging jazz melds with Takao Saeki’s cheerful lyrics, resulting in a major hit that sold 500,000 copies at the time.
It strikingly captures the strength of women who lived positively even amid the postwar turmoil, along with the lively melody that resonated through the streets of Ginza.
When sung as a recreation by older adults, it is likely to evoke memories of the postwar recovery and their youthful days, encouraging everyone to hum along together.