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.
- Nostalgic Japanese hit songs from the 1960s. A collection of popular Showa-era classic melodies.
- Classic and hit kayōkyoku songs from the nostalgic 1960s
- Classic and hit Japanese pop songs from the nostalgic 1960s
- Hit songs in Japan in the late 1960s
- Popular Oldies and Classic Songs Ranking: 1970s Japanese Music
- [Recommended for people in their 70s] Classic nostalgic hits: A collection of youth songs
- A collection of nostalgic hit songs and classics from the 70s
- A roundup of classic Showa-era kayō songs: a comprehensive introduction to timeless tracks loved across generations.
- [Today's Recommended Nostalgic Songs] Memories from those days come flooding back! A collection of gem-like classics
- Good songs recommended for people in their 60s: classic and popular Japanese tracks
- Popular Showa-era pop. Timeless hit songs.
- Popular Japanese songs among men in their 60s: recommended masterpieces and classic tracks
- A heartbreak song that resonates in the chest of a man in his 60s: memories of youth woven by classic Showa-era masterpieces
Popular Oldies and Classic Songs Ranking [1960s Japanese Music Ranking] (1–10)
Playback Part 2Yamaguchi Momoe8rank/position
This is the 22nd single by Momoe Yamaguchi, the iconic idol of the Showa era, released in May 1978 (Showa 53).
When it comes to Momoe Yamaguchi, I’ve always thought of her not so much as a sparkling, bubbly idol, but rather as a singer with a slightly dark, mature allure—and this song fits that image perfectly.
It’s fair to say it’s one of the tracks where her charm is showcased to the fullest.
As I revisited her vocals to write this piece, I was struck by how solid her projection and singing technique are, and once again amazed by the high caliber of Showa-era idols—singers in the true sense of the word.
The lyrics even drop the names of supercars that were all the rage at the time, which gives the song a distinctly period feel—and that, too, is part of what makes listening to it now, in the Reiwa era, so appealing.
Sake, Tears, Men, and WomenKawashima Eigo9rank/position
A quintessential Showa-era ballad and one of Eigo Kawashima’s signature songs.
Its wistful melody and powerful vocals resonate deeply.
The lyrics, portraying both the strength and fragility of men and the impulse to escape into drink, struck a chord with many.
Released as a single in June 1976, it ranked high on the Oricon weekly charts.
It was also used in a commercial for Kizakura Sake Brewery, becoming a nationwide hit.
A recommended track for those who, weary of life, seek solace in a voice that reaches the heart.
Cotton HandkerchiefŌta Hiromi10rank/position
Hiromi Ohta’s biggest hit, “Momen no Handkerchief” (“Cotton Handkerchief”), is a classic whose enduring popularity is evident from the wide range of famous artists who have covered it—regardless of genre—such as Keisuke Kuwata, Ringo Sheena, Yoshimi Tendo, and Ikimonogakari.
It tells the story of a long-distance romance between a man who leaves for the city and a woman who waits for his return in the countryside, ending in sadness.
The choice of “momen” (cotton) rather than a more refined fabric evokes an image of a simple, single-hearted woman, and the final scene of her wiping away tears tightens the chest with sorrow.
Popular Oldies and Classic Songs Ranking [1960s Japanese Music Ranking] (11–20)
Goodbye to sorrowanzenchitai11rank/position
Anzen Chitai is a band that has built an era with a uniquely Japanese sound brimming with originality, fusing kayōkyoku, pop music, and rock.
They have so many hit songs that whatever you sing will likely get the crowd going, but this time I’d like to introduce “Kanashimi ni Sayonara,” which is especially easy to sing among their repertoire.
This work is a major-key ballad that, despite its sorrowful lyrics, somehow retains a refreshing tone.
The vocal range is quite narrow at mid1B to mid2F#, so if you adjust it to your optimal key, you should be able to sing it without difficulty.
Lingering Snowiruka12rank/position
Iruka is a folk singer who has also been active as a picture book author, and it made headlines when she was appointed a visiting professor at Joshibi University of Art and Design in 2010.
Her third single, Nagori Yuki, known as a cover of Kaguyahime’s song, has been beloved since its release as a classic that represents spring in Japan.
Its lyrical melody, carried by delicate acoustic guitar arpeggios, is filled with a poignant sense that evokes the imagery of the song’s lyrics.
Even in recent years, artists continue to cover it, making it a ballad that stands as a landmark in J-pop history.
Do whatever the hell you want.sawada kenji13rank/position
This was Kenji Sawada’s 19th single, released in May 1977.
It’s a classic Showa-era hit that won the Grand Prize at the 19th Japan Record Awards that same year and became one of Sawada’s signature songs.
His performance of tossing his hat during the chorus was also memorable.
I was in elementary school at the time, but I remember putting on makeup like Sawada himself and singing it at a class party, earning a huge round of applause (haha).
Of course, I faithfully recreated the hat-tossing bit too.
It wasn’t a soft felt hat like his, though—it was a baseball cap (haha).
I can’t put it into wordsofukōsu14rank/position
A classic by Off Course that expresses overwhelming, indescribable emotions through music.
Kazumasa Oda’s clear, translucent vocals leave a strong impression as the song portrays lost love and self-reflection.
Released in February 1982, it has been covered by many artists and cherished for years.
In 1999, Oda’s self-cover was used in a Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance commercial, and it has since remained a key part of his concert repertoire.
With its sentimental melody and lyrics that resonate deeply, this is a song that tenderly accompanies listeners through many moments in life.