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)
Do whatever the hell you want.sawada kenji22rank/position
When it comes to Kenji Sawada’s signature songs that dominated the music scene of the ’70s, this is the one.
It portrays the complex emotions of a man after a breakup, expressing a free-spirited mindset alongside resignation and loneliness.
It held the No.
1 spot on the Oricon weekly chart for five consecutive weeks, ranked No.
4 for the year, and sold an impressive 890,000 copies.
Released in May 1977, the song features lyrics by Yū Aku and composition by Katsuo Ōno.
Its bold structure—shifting from ballad to hard rock—is a defining trait, strongly reflecting arranger Motoki Funayama’s influence.
The sophisticated, bittersweet lyrics capture the youth culture and views on love of the time with vivid clarity, and it’s sure to resonate just as powerfully even today.
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.
Beyond the GoodbyeYamaguchi Momoe28rank/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.