RAG MusicRecreation
Lovely senior life

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.

Recommended Songs for Nursing Home Recreation [Fun Exercise, Healing Songs] (41–50)

Swim, Taiyaki-kunShimon Masato

Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun Lyrics and Music by Hiroo Takada, Toshikazu Sase
Swim, Taiyaki-kunShimon Masato

With lively, uplifting lyrics and melody, Masato Shimon’s bright singing voice leaves a strong impression.

Its humorous world—where fish-shaped sweets set off swimming in the sea—makes for a heartwarming piece that brings a smile to anyone’s face.

Released in December 1975, the song spent 11 consecutive weeks at No.

1 on the Oricon chart.

It aired on Fuji TV’s program “Hirake! Ponkikki,” generating a huge response.

The playful lyrics and light, brisk rhythm are delightful, and its catchy familiarity makes it easy for anyone to hum along.

It’s a perfect choice for cheerful recreational settings or group singing.

Add some handclaps and enjoy a warm, pleasant time together.

tea pickingMonbushō shōka

Tea Picking | With Lyrics | Ministry of Education Song | One Hundred Japanese Songs | The 88th Night as Summer Approaches
tea pickingMonbushō shōka

This is a celebrated song from the Ministry of Education’s school song repertoire, passed down since the Meiji era, beautifully portraying the changing seasons.

It vividly depicts the refreshing early-summer scenery and the peaceful scene of people picking tea.

With images of fresh greenery around the Eighty-Eighth Night, tea-pickers’ work garments, and rural landscapes, it conveys traditional Japanese life along with a gentle melody.

Since its inclusion in 1912 in “Elementary School Songs for the Third Grade (Jinjō Shōgaku Shōka),” it has been widely loved through school education.

This piece is a song everyone can enjoy singing together, often tied to fond memories.

Its charm also lies in incorporating simple hand motions while singing, allowing for a heartwarming time.

Hanjirō of the Hakone Eight RiHikawa Kiyoshi

Kiyoshi Hikawa / Hanzirō of Hakone Hachiri [Official]
Hanjirō of the Hakone Eight RiHikawa Kiyoshi

With its signature catchphrase, Kiyoshi Hikawa’s debut single “Hakonê Hachiri no Hanjirō” quickly became widely known.

Beyond his powerful vocals, his handsome looks won broad acceptance among younger women who had previously been less interested in enka, propelling him to instant nationwide stardom.

The song’s phrases function as a call-and-response with fans, reportedly creating an electrifying atmosphere at concerts.

Thanks to this, the song is widely recognized and enjoys great popularity at karaoke.

It’s also sure to liven up recreational activities at senior care facilities.

Festival MamboMisora Hibari

Kizuna Day Service Warm-Up Exercises Summer 'Festival Mambo'
Festival MamboMisora Hibari

Mambo—a genre that many Japanese first became aware of thanks to Hibari Misora’s “Omatsuri Mambo.” You can probably picture the jokesters who shout “Uu—Mambo!” when they’re in high spirits.

It’s said that mambo emerged in the 1900s from a fusion of rumba and jazz.

Hearing “the 1900s,” it still feels like a relatively new musical genre, doesn’t it? Just the famous intro of “Omatsuri Mambo”—that tsuttaka-tsuttakattakata rhythm—will get your body moving.

It’s a fun, highly recommended song: you can learn some simple mambo steps, or just imitate Hibari Misora’s moves.

Blue MountainsFujiyama Ichirō

[With Large Lyrics] Blue Mountain Range [Recreation]
Blue MountainsFujiyama Ichirō

The celebrated song, which beautifully depicts postwar hope and the breath of a new era, was performed by Ichirō Fujiyama and Mitsue Nara as the theme for a film of the same name released in 1949.

Along with the splendor of nature, it warmly portrays young people forging a bright future, like flowers that bloom after enduring a harsh winter.

For those who lived in the years immediately following the war, it is surely a piece filled with memories.

Beloved across generations, it was chosen as No.

1 in NHK’s 1989 program “Songs of the Showa Era: 200 Unforgettable Songs.” Its beautiful melody, infused with elements of classical music, and its heartwarming lyrics are sure to evoke fond recollections of days gone by.

The Bride SambaGō Hiromi

[Nostalgic Songs Exercise] Hiromi Go “Oyome Samba” [Request]
The Bride SambaGō Hiromi

Let’s dance to some nostalgic tunes and relive those days! Today’s pick is “Oyome Samba.” Many of you probably feel your spirits lift when you hear Hiromi Go’s sweet, unmistakable voice.

This time, let’s shake it out to “Oyome Samba” and blow off some steam.

Moving your body boosts blood flow to the brain and releases neurotransmitters, which can help relieve stress.

It’ll lift your mood and leave you feeling refreshed! Give it a try and work it into your routine.

The Night Wind of the JourneyKirishima Noboru

[Elderly Exercise] Senior Rhythm Exercise: Karaoke Workout You Can Do Anywhere [Showa Era Classic] “Tabi no Yokaze” (Night Wind of the Journey)
The Night Wind of the JourneyKirishima Noboru

Noboru Kirishima, who released numerous masterpiece songs to the world.

He and Miss Columbia, Misao Matsubara, created “Tabi no Yokaze” (Night Wind of the Journey).

This piece portrays the feelings of a woman traveling alone.

Its charm lies in lyrics that invite you to imagine, “I wonder what happened.” Because it’s slow-tempo, try slowly turning your palms over or making mime-like movements to match.

The motions themselves are modest and simple, but you’ll naturally find your posture straightening.

It’s also recommended for those who want to improve their fitness at a relaxed pace.