Popular Oldies and Classic Songs Ranking: 1970s Japanese Music
We’re excited to present the latest top 100 ranking of nostalgic Japanese pop songs, introduced all at once in order of most views!
We’ve picked out beloved classics that were hits in the 1970s.
Listening again like this, you’ll notice many songs are still enjoying revivals today.
Be sure to check them out.
The playlist is updated every week.
Popular Nostalgic Oldies & Classic Songs Ranking [1970s Japanese Music Ranking] (1–10)
Blue Coral ReefMatsuda Seiko1rank/position
It’s a classic with a striking intro that seems to carry the sparkle of the sun and the scent of the sea breeze.
You can picture a summer day by the ocean with someone you love—the racing heartbeat and the little burst of boldness that comes with it.
It evokes scenes of a sweet and dazzling romance.
This song, which propelled Seiko Matsuda to the status of “eternal idol,” was released in July 1980 as her second single and is also included on her debut album, SQUALL.
As the theme for Glico’s ice cream commercial, it brightened living rooms across the nation and topped The Best Ten for three consecutive weeks.
It’s a refreshing track that instantly paints listeners’ hearts in summer hues.
First loveMurashita Kōzō2rank/position
A quintessential unrequited-love song of the Showa era, Kozo Murashita’s masterpiece.
Released in February 1983 as his fifth single, it became a major hit, peaking at No.
3 on the Oricon singles chart.
With its lively melody and delicate lyrics portraying the tender feelings of youthful love, this song remains a classic in the hearts of many.
A monument featuring the song has even been erected in Minamata City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Murashita’s hometown, and it continues to be loved today.
It’s a perfect track for those moments when you want to feel the bittersweetness and transience of first love, or to reminisce about your youth.
Cotton HandkerchiefŌta Hiromi3rank/position
Woven from Takashi Matsumoto’s poetic lyrics and Kyohei Tsutsumi’s sophisticated melody, this work tells a heartrending long-distance love story in the form of exchanged letters between a man who has set off for the big city and the woman waiting in their hometown.
With each dialogue, the growing gap between the man, increasingly colored by urban glamour, and the woman, who longs for unchanging love, becomes more vivid.
In the final image of the woman asking for a simple handkerchief to wipe away her tears, one feels a purity that values emotional connection over material wealth—truly moving.
Released in December 1975 as Hiromi Ohta’s fourth single, it became a major hit, ranking 4th on Oricon’s year-end chart.
Recommended for those in a long-distance relationship or anyone wishing to savor the ache of missed connections.
youKozaka Akiko4rank/position
Akiko Kosaka’s debut single, released in December 1973, originated from lyrics a second-year high school student wrote in just about 20 minutes during class, paired with a melody composed at home.
It is a wistful, imagined love story that begins with the conditional phrase, “If I were to build a house.” While carefully depicting European-style scenes—crimson roses, white pansies, a fireplace, and a small door—the song quietly reflects on the memory of a love that never came true.
Hiroshi Miyagawa’s arrangement, featuring strings and an elegant piano accompaniment, adds a prayer-like warmth.
One month after its release, the song reached No.
1 on the Oricon weekly chart and held the top spot for seven consecutive weeks, becoming a major hit with total shipments exceeding two million copies.
With its drama-like development worthy of a TV theme and a gentle, singable melody, this masterpiece resonates with everyone who dreams of a peaceful life with someone dear.
Tears aren’t just for show.Nakamori Akina5rank/position
This is the 10th single by singer Akina Nakamori, known as an emblematic idol of the 1980s whose overwhelming vocal power and expressiveness have kept her enduringly popular.
The impactful lyrics by Yosui Inoue and the catchy melody are outstanding, aren’t they? Released in November 1984, the song debuted at No.
1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and became Nakamori’s third best-selling single.
Still loved by listeners across generations, it’s an idol song that’s sure to fire up any karaoke session.
Sake, Tears, Men, and WomenKawashima Eigo6rank/position
A signature work by Eigo Kawashima, etched in many hearts as a classic of the Showa era.
The lyrics, which portray the differences between men’s and women’s expressions of sorrow through alcohol and tears, resonate deeply.
Released in June 1976, the song was also used in a commercial for Kizakura Sake Brewery and became a major hit.
Its melody, infused with folk elements, and Kawashima’s powerful vocals are captivating.
It’s a track that offers empathy and solace when you’re feeling life’s hardships and loneliness.
Hugely popular at karaoke, it continues to be sung across generations.
applausechiaki naomi7rank/position
A signature song by Naomi Chiaki that has continued to be loved as a Showa-era classic, conveying strength even within sorrow.
Released in September 1972 and winner of that year’s Japan Record Award, this work beautifully depicts both the singer shining on stage and the sense of loss hidden deep within her heart.
The contrasting colors—the white stage and black outline—vividly portray the public and private worlds, leaving a strong impression.
It’s a song I especially recommend to anyone who has lost someone dear or wants to face forward after overcoming grief.