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.
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- Classic and hit Japanese pop songs from the nostalgic 1960s
- Hit songs in Japan in the late 1960s
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- [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)
Lapis-Lazuli EarthMatsuda Seiko6rank/position
This is a grand piece that sings of deep love and hope for the Earth.
Released by Seiko Matsuda on her 1986 June album “SUPREME,” the work features lyrics by Takashi Matsumoto and music by Natsumi Hirai, depicting the story of people traveling around the Earth as if aboard a spaceship.
The image of a beautifully gleaming lapis-lazuli Earth and the feelings for the people living upon it unfold alongside a sweeping melody that resonates deeply with listeners.
It also carries wishes for world peace and environmental protection, and it has been included in high school music textbooks and embraced as a choral piece.
In April 2010, it was used as a wake-up call on the International Space Station, coloring the moment of gazing at the Earth from space.
It is a moving song that speaks to the heart when you want to feel the Earth’s beauty and the preciousness of life.
Lullaby of a Serrated HeartChekkāzu7rank/position
Characterized by lyrics that portray the unstable emotions of adolescence, this song resonated strongly with young people at the time.
Its musical appeal also lies in a lively rhythm interwoven with elements of rock and roll.
Released by The Checkers in September 1983, the track was featured in the TV drama “Uchi no Ko ni Kagitte…” and received coverage across various media.
The work depicts the complex emotions of youth and conflicts with society, skillfully capturing the subtleties of the younger generation’s hearts.
It remains a beloved staple at lively gatherings such as after-parties even today.
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.
