[For Seniors] Recommended Songs for Care Activities and Events! Crowd-Pleasers That Bring Joy

Longing for RainYashiro Aki

Rainy Yearning – Aki Yashiro

Released in 1980, “Ame no Bojo” is widely known as one of Aki Yashiro’s signature songs.

Its lyrics express feelings of longing and loneliness for a lover, and combined with its relatively bright melody, it brought a new dimension to songs about rain.

The memorable chorus is recognized by many, and performing it at karaoke is sure to draw resounding applause.

It would also be a big hit at recreational events in senior care facilities.

Give it a try and sing it!

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Kiyoshi’s Soran BushiHikawa Kiyoshi

Kiyoshi Hikawa / Kiyoshi’s Soran Bushi [Official]

A masterpiece that resounds with a superb arrangement of a traditional Hokkaido folk song.

Set to the powerful rhythms once passed down by fishermen, it weaves in the joys and hopes of life.

Kiyoshi Hikawa’s robust vocals blend perfectly with the modern arrangement.

Released as a single in May 2007, it reached No.

3 on the Oricon charts and won the Gold Award at the 49th Japan Record Awards.

It was performed as the “YOSAKOI Soran Kouhaku Special” at the 58th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, captivating audiences with a dazzling stage.

Ideal for group singing, this song is highly recommended for recreation at day-service centers.

With lively call-and-response, everyone can enjoy a fun time together.

Dancing HeroOginome Yōko

Yoko Oginome / Dancing Hero (Eat You Up) MV [New Dance Ver.]

This work by Yoko Oginome is marked by its bright, upbeat vibe and catchy, sing-along phrases.

Released as a single in November 1985, it became a popular hit, reaching No.

5 on the Oricon Weekly Chart.

Beloved as a Bon Odori staple, it has been danced to in many places, especially in Aichi and Gifu Prefectures.

The up-tempo sound crafted by Koji Makaino is full of appeal that transcends generations.

In 2017, it drew renewed attention through a collaboration with the Osaka Prefectural Tomioka High School Dance Club, earning the Special Award at the 59th Japan Record Awards.

Perfect for moving together and having fun, this song is an ideal choice for senior gatherings and recreational activities at care facilities.

Off to the Mito Komon Festival!Yuko Suzuka

[Mito Komon Festival Image Song] Off to the Mito Komon Festival! / Yuko Suzuhana (Wagakki Band)

This song, inspired by the traditional summer festival of Mito City in Ibaraki Prefecture, is imbued with Wagakki Band’s Yuko Suzuhana’s deep love for her hometown.

Blending traditional Japanese instruments with rock, it pulsates with energy, expressing the excitement of the festival and the pride of the community.

The sounds of taiko, shamisen, shakuhachi, and other traditional instruments harmonize beautifully, creating a warm and gentle atmosphere.

Produced in 2019 with Yuko Suzuhana, who serves as a tourism ambassador for Mito City, at its center, the piece has become beloved as the official image song of the Mito Komon Festival.

It was also used at the Mito Kairakuen Fireworks Festivals in 2022 and 2024, captivating audiences.

It’s a song we especially recommend to older listeners familiar with the timbre of traditional instruments.

This heartwarming piece lets you rediscover the beauty of Japanese traditional music.

Life is full of ups and downs.Shimakura Chiyoko

Life is full of ups and downs.

A gem of a melody that gently sings of the joys and hardships of life.

Its lustrous vocals warmly embrace the strength to live, forged by overcoming struggles and difficulties.

Once you hear it, it resonates in your heart—a work brimming with hope.

Released by Chiyoko Shimakura in 1987, this song became a major springboard for her appearance in the 1988 NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen after achieving 30 consecutive appearances.

This memorable piece also features lyrics that beautifully align with the life experiences of older adults.

Humming it together at events like Respect-for-the-Aged Day gatherings can create a heartwarming moment to share.

Season of LovePinkī to Kirāzu

Pinky and the Killers — The Season of Love (with lyrics)

This song is distinguished by a bossa nova rhythm that heralds the start of summer.

Riding on a melody that captures the joy of new love, it’s become a classic summer tune brimming with lightness and nostalgia.

The fresh vocals and performance by Pinky & The Killers gently wrap youthful memories in warmth.

Released in July 1968, the song spent 17 consecutive weeks at number one on the Oricon charts.

It was also featured in the 2009 film Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance, making it beloved across generations.

On a hot summer day, why not hum along with older adults while reminiscing in a cool room? You can also expand the fun by doing light exercises or clapping along to the beat.

Ginza Kan-kan GirlTakamine Hideko

Hideko Takamine Ginza Kankan Musume (with lyrics)

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.