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] (11–20)
Beyond the GoodbyeYamaguchi Momoe15rank/position
A gemlike ballad by Momoe Yamaguchi that portrays parting and gratitude on a grand scale.
Though it runs over six minutes, its expansive arrangement and deeply expressive vocals blend beautifully, stirring the listener’s heart.
Released in August 1980, this work came out just before Yamaguchi’s retirement, and at her final concert at the Nippon Budokan that October, many remember her singing it through tears.
While it conveys the impermanence that nothing lasts forever, it also suggests hope for new beginnings.
It is a song that deeply resonates with those who have experienced a farewell with someone dear or who find themselves at a turning point in life.
My loverGorin Mayumi16rank/position
This is Mayumi Itsuwa’s signature song, cherished by many as one of the defining ballads of the Showa era.
Released in August 1980, it achieved the remarkable feat of reaching number one on the Oricon weekly chart.
Beloved in countries such as South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, this work is a poignant love song centered on lost love and parting.
Itsuwa’s clear, pure vocals and the lyrically vivid imagery leave a lasting impression.
The lyrics skillfully portray expressions that evoke the changing seasons and the inability to accept a breakup with a lover.
It’s a highly recommended track for anyone who has lost someone important or seeks to heal the pain of a broken heart.
SWEET MEMORIESMatsuda Seiko17rank/position
This song is etched in the hearts of many as a ballad that sings of a bittersweet love.
Seiko Matsuda’s clear, translucent voice beautifully paints memories of a love that has passed.
Released in August 1983, it was also featured in a Suntory commercial.
The story of lovers who hurt each other in their youth resonated with many people, turning it into a classic that has been covered by numerous artists.
It’s a moving track you’ll want to listen to when you wish to heal the pain of heartbreak or reflect on memories with someone dear.
younger boykyandīzu18rank/position
This song portrays the bittersweet feelings of love and the gentle gaze of someone watching over a slightly stubborn and self-willed younger man.
The perspective—a woman observing a man’s awkwardness—is striking, and it deftly captures a relationship with a subtle age gap where the feelings of love can’t be accepted straightforwardly.
Released in February 1975 as Candies’ fifth single, the track broke into the top 10 on the Oricon charts and served as a springboard for their first appearance on the NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
It was also featured in the 2007 film “Little DJ: A Small Love Story,” reaffirming its charm.
The song has been covered by various artists and idols and remains beloved across generations.
It’s recommended for those who want to feel the nuances of an age-gap romance, the purity of being in love, or to bask in nostalgic memories of youthful days.
Plastic LoveTakeuchi Mariya19rank/position
As classic songs from the Showa era gain renewed attention on social media, this track by Mariya Takeuchi is once again capturing the hearts of younger listeners.
Featured on her acclaimed 1984 album “VARIETY,” the song is distinguished by its smooth, sophisticated sound and lyrics that portray the emptiness of romance.
Tatsuro Yamashita’s arrangement also shines.
In 2021, it was reissued on 12-inch vinyl, accompanied by a new music video.
The lyrics, which depict the feelings of a woman repeating superficial relationships, continue to resonate with many people today.
It’s a must-listen for anyone struggling to recover from heartbreak or feeling lonely in the city at night.
TouchIwasaki Yoshimi20rank/position
This is a song released in 1985, known as the theme song for the anime Touch.
It was also included on the album Touch, and gained popularity alongside other anime-related tracks.
The lyrics, which sing of the bittersweet feelings of youthful love and the importance of human connection, resonate with many listeners.
Combined with Yoshimi Iwasaki’s clear, pure vocals, it’s a track that makes hearts flutter.
It’s recommended not only for anime fans but also for anyone who wants to recall the innocence of first love.
Popular Oldies & Classic Songs Ranking [1960s Japanese Music Ranking] (21–30)
You’re Kiwi, Papaya, and Mango, aren’t you?Nakahara Meiko21rank/position
For those who spent their youth around the time this song became a hit, it’s surely a deeply nostalgic track that could be called a true monument of Showa-era pop.
When I first heard the title “Kimitachi Kiwi Papaya Mango dane,” I remember thinking, “What kind of song title is that??” Apparently, the name was specified by an advertising agency.
The lyrics were written by the singer herself, Meiko Nakahara, together with the songwriting master Yukinojo Mori.
The embedded video is a cover version included on Ai Furihata’s first cover mini-album, “Memories of Romance in Summer.” It sounds fun to compare it with the original, doesn’t it?