Ranking of Popular Oldies and Classic Songs [1960s Japanese Music Rankings]
We present the latest top 100 ranking of classic Japanese pop songs, all at once, ordered by the highest number of plays!
We’ve picked out nostalgic hits from the 1960s!
Listening again, you’ll notice many songs are still being revived today.
Be sure to check them out.
The playlist is updated weekly.
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Popular Oldies and Classic Songs Ranking [1960s Japanese Music Ranking] (71–80)
Cat, meow meow meowanonenone71rank/position
This song tells an adventurous story about animals who aren’t satisfied with the status quo and set out into a new world.
Released by Anonenone as a single in February 1979, it’s a track packed with humor and pop charm.
The B-side features Yanyan Rock, the theme song for TV Tokyo’s program Yanyan Utau Studio.
Peaking at No.
42 on the Oricon chart, the song has been covered by many artists.
In October 1994, Tatsuo Kamon and Noburo Harada released a newly arranged version.
In 2013, the duo Fuku to Kanon—Fuku Suzuki and Kanon Tani—performed it as the ending theme for be-Ponkikkies.
It’s also trending on TikTok and YouTube Shorts, where users post it with comical choreography.
Hello, baby.Azusa Michiyo72rank/position
In 1963, a song celebrating love and hope for a tiny life was released.
Michiyo Azusa’s gentle, warm voice expresses unconditional love for a newborn.
With lyrics by Rokusu Eiko and music by Hachidai Nakamura, this piece is widely cherished as one of Azusa’s signature songs.
It was adapted into films with different storylines by Toho and Nikkatsu, with the song used as the theme in both.
It has continued to be loved across generations, appearing in places such as the popular segment “Gochi ni Narimasu!” on the Nippon TV variety show Gurutere Ninety-Nine.
This is a recommended song for families celebrating a baby’s birth and for anyone who wants to feel the preciousness of new life.
Look up at the stars in the nightSakamoto Kyu73rank/position
When it comes to classic Showa-era songs, nothing tops this one! Released in 1963, this heartwarming piece portrays a young person gazing up at the night sky.
Kyu Sakamoto’s gentle voice feels as if it nestles close to the listener’s heart.
It’s also famous as a musical’s theme song, offering hope and courage against the backdrop of the struggling student life many youths faced at the time.
The song won the Composition Award at the 5th Japan Record Awards, and it’s so beloved nationwide that it’s even included in school textbooks.
It’s the kind of wonderful tune that makes you want to hum along with someone special while looking up at the night sky.
Misty Lake MashuFuse Akira74rank/position
This was Akira Fuse’s fifth single overall, released in December 1966 (Showa 41).
Incidentally, the composer was the great Showa-era songwriter Masaaki Hirao, who won the Composer’s Award at the 9th Japan Record Awards (1967) for this piece.
Speaking of Akira Fuse, I’ve always had the impression of him as a singer with a dynamic, somewhat canzone-like vocal style, but I was pleasantly surprised by the remarkably youthful voice you can hear on this recording.
True to its title, it’s a classic of the Showa era that even conveys the chilly atmosphere of Lake Mashu in Hokkaido, floating in the misty night.
Let’s go, Shake!Terauchi Takeshi & Banīzu75rank/position
A happy tune from March 1967 that weaves together a seaside coming-of-age romance and the explosive sound of electric guitar.
A classic that epitomizes the golden era of Group Sounds, it won fervent support in dance halls and go-go clubs, symbols of youth culture.
Known as a signature work by Takeshi Terauchi and the Bunnys, it was included on the album “Let’s Go ‘Fate’” and won the Arrangement Award at the 9th Japan Record Awards.
The energetic sound born from Terauchi’s exceptional guitar technique and the band’s tight cohesion makes this a gem that conveys the essence of surf rock.
Highly recommended for anyone who wants to relive the radiance of youth or explore the history of Japanese rock.
Blue ChateauJakkī Yoshikawa to Burū Komettsu76rank/position
It is a song released in 1967 by Jackie Yoshikawa and the Blue Comets.
It originated while composer Tadao Inoue was writing a piece to offer to Nana Kinomi, and it went on to sell 1.5 million records, becoming the group’s biggest hit and winning the 9th Japan Record Award.
MakebaJAIN77rank/position
A genre-defying track that skillfully fuses African rhythms with electronic sounds.
It’s a song that showcases the talent of Jain, who rose from France to global acclaim.
Created as an homage to the legendary South African singer Miriam Makeba, it was released in October 2016.
Carrying a universal message that transcends racial and cultural boundaries, it moves the hearts of listeners.
In 2023, it exploded on TikTok, inspiring as many as 9 million videos.
This up-tempo, energetic song is perfect for anyone looking to be moved.
With dance-floor-igniting rhythms, it’s sure to get your body moving before you know it.