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.
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Popular Oldies and Classic Songs Ranking [1970s Japanese Music Ranking] (21–30)
Plastic LoveTakeuchi Mariya21rank/position
This song portrays the feelings of a woman wounded by a sweet romance.
The image of the protagonist distracting her loneliness by dancing the nights away at the disco is striking.
It was included on Mariya Takeuchi’s sixth album, VARIETY, and released in 1984.
Produced and featuring guitar by Tatsuro Yamashita, it stands as one of the defining tracks of 1980s Japanese city pop.
It gained renewed attention overseas in the late 2010s, and a new music video was created in 2019, showing how it continues to be loved across generations.
It’s a perfect track for nighttime drives or as background music when you’re troubled by love.
Use it in an Instagram Reel to evoke a nostalgic vibe.
Love is overŌyō Fifi22rank/position
This is one of Fifi Ouyang’s signature songs, with a heartrending voice that tightens the chest as it announces the end of a romance.
The lyrics are striking in how they frame the breakup as being for the other person’s sake, expressing selfless love.
Originally released in 1979 as a B-side, the song didn’t make a notable impact at first, but word of mouth spread, and it was re-released as an A-side in July 1980.
Since then, it has remained beloved and has become a classic covered by many artists.
Its lyrics, tinged with sorrow yet filled with resolve, will surely resonate with anyone striving to overcome the pain of heartbreak.
Sinbad on the Shorepinku redii23rank/position
In the late 1970s, a signature hit that symbolized Japan’s disco boom was one of Pink Lady’s hallmark songs.
With its catchy melody and easy-to-remember lyrics, it quickly gained popularity and reached No.
1 on the Oricon charts.
Released in June 1977, the song sold an enormous number of records in a short time, propelling Pink Lady to instant stardom.
The lyrics depict a love story set against the backdrop of the summer sea, and together with the buoyant rhythm, they captured the hearts of many.
This is the perfect track for anyone who wants to feel the thrill of summer by the sea and the excitement of romance.
I can’t put it into wordsofukōsu24rank/position
Kazumasa Oda of Off Course captivates many listeners with his delicate, translucent singing voice.
This track, released as a single from the album “over,” is a ballad that expresses emotions beyond words, leaving a quiet and profound afterglow.
Released in February 1982, it was also performed during the band’s ten consecutive days of concerts at the Nippon Budokan that same year, and has since been cherished as one of Off Course’s signature songs.
Its simple structure and heartfelt lyrics will soothe the listener’s soul.
It’s a recommended song for moments when you want to quietly savor your feelings for someone special.
younger boykyandīzu25rank/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.
ambushIshikawa Hitomi26rank/position
A signature work by Hitomi Ishikawa that seems to epitomize unrequited love in the Showa era.
Its lyrics, which portray a bittersweet yearning, and its memorable melody line linger in the heart.
Released on April 21, 1981 as her 11th single, it peaked at No.
6 on the Oricon charts.
That same New Year’s Eve, she made her first appearance on the Red and White Song Battle, making this song a turning point in her singing career.
Perfect for those who can relate to the ache of unrequited love and the single-minded devotion of a woman in love.
A nostalgic yet fresh track that brings back memories of love from those days.
Goodbye to sorrowanzenchitai27rank/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.
YOUNG MAN (Y.M.C.A.)Saijō Hideki28rank/position
This is a song that delivers an energetic, uplifting message.
Aimed at young people, it gives them the courage to pursue their dreams.
Hideki Saijo’s powerful vocals resonate deeply with listeners.
Released in February 1979, it held the No.
1 spot on the Oricon charts for five consecutive weeks and became a massive hit, selling 1.808 million copies.
This work is perfect for those starting a new chapter in life or standing at a crossroads.
It’s also ideal for boosting motivation or getting pumped up with friends.
Saijo’s passionate, heartfelt singing is sure to lift your spirits.
Beyond the GoodbyeYamaguchi Momoe29rank/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.
Asakusa KidBīto Takeshi30rank/position
A classic song set in the downtown neighborhoods of the Showa era, portraying youthful dreams and friendship.
Beat Takeshi’s distinctive storytelling style and the simple yet deeply moving melody are truly captivating.
Included on the August 1986 album Asakusa Kid, this piece is said to have been born on the location set of the film Yasha.
Covers by various artists—such as Masaharu Fukuyama and Masaki Suda—also drew attention.
It’s a warm, inspiring anthem that I hope reaches those chasing their dreams or standing at a crossroads in life.