Ranking of popular songs for senior citizens

Tsugaru Strait Winter SceneIshikawa Sayuri15rank/position

Tsugaru Strait – Winter Scene

There is a classic song that beautifully and poignantly portrays a northern winter landscape and a bittersweet love.

Powerfully sung by Sayuri Ishikawa, the piece recounts the feelings of a woman traveling from Ueno on a night train to Aomori, where she bids a final farewell aboard the Seikan ferry.

Since its 1977 release, it has garnered numerous honors, including the Japan Record Award for Best Vocal Performance, and stands as a monumental work in the enka genre.

Set against the frigid Tsugaru Strait, the image of a woman quietly deciding to part ways amid snow and the roar of the sea is deeply moving.

Please enjoy a wonderful time together, singing along or clapping in rhythm as you savor nostalgic memories.

12th graderFunaki Kazuo16rank/position

[With Large Lyrics] High School Senior [Rec]

This lyrical song is filled with memories of youth, and Kazuo Funaki’s fresh vocals in a student uniform make a striking impression.

Set to a march-like, approachable melody, it gently recounts the joys and loneliness of school life and the partings with friends.

After its release in June 1963, the work achieved astonishing sales and won the New Artist Award at that year’s Japan Record Awards.

It was also adapted into a film, starring Kazuo Funaki himself, with scenes shot in his hometown of Ichinomiya City, Aichi Prefecture.

It’s a song meant to be hummed together as you reminisce about nostalgic youthful days.

Let’s sing along with cheerful handclaps.

Blue MountainsFujiyama Ichirō17rank/position

[With Large Lyrics] Blue Mountain Range [Recreation]

The celebrated song, which beautifully depicts postwar hope and the breath of a new era, was performed by Ichirō Fujiyama and Mitsue Nara as the theme for a film of the same name released in 1949.

Along with the splendor of nature, it warmly portrays young people forging a bright future, like flowers that bloom after enduring a harsh winter.

For those who lived in the years immediately following the war, it is surely a piece filled with memories.

Beloved across generations, it was chosen as No.

1 in NHK’s 1989 program “Songs of the Showa Era: 200 Unforgettable Songs.” Its beautiful melody, infused with elements of classical music, and its heartwarming lyrics are sure to evoke fond recollections of days gone by.

A Good Day to Set Out on a JourneyYamaguchi Momoe18rank/position

Momoe Yamaguchi “A Good Day for a Journey” with lyrics

This is a classic song imbued with a striking message about embarking on a new life on a fresh, pleasant morning.

Expressed through Momoe Yamaguchi’s clear, transparent vocals, the piece was released as a single in November 1978 and is also known as a campaign song promoting travel by Japan National Railways.

Conveying the courage to face forward and the resolve to take a new step, the song can help share cherished moments through memorable performances with older adults.

Moreover, as it portrays the warmth of family bonds and the gentle journey of life, it is a song that everyone can enjoy singing together in nursing homes and day-service centers.

That wonderful love once moreKatō Kazuhiko, Kitayama Osamu19rank/position

That Wonderful Love Once Again ~ 2024 Ver. [Official Promotion Video]

A gem of a folk song, filled with longing and nostalgia in search of a lost love.

It gently embraces shifting emotional distances and reflections on youth gone by.

The warm sonic world woven by the soothing resonance of the acoustic guitar and a refined arrangement beautifully captures the farewells and hoped-for reunions we all encounter in life.

Since its release in May 1971, it has been beloved as a staple for school events and graduation season, and has been widely used as incidental music in dramas and variety shows.

When you want to linger in memories with someone dear, why not immerse yourself in its soul-stirring vocals and poetic world?

March of 365 StepsSuizenji Kiyoko20rank/position

[With Large Lyrics] 365-Step March [Recreation]

Released in 1968, this kayōkyoku (Japanese popular song) is characterized by its bright, upbeat, march-like rhythm.

Sung by Kiyoko Suizenji, the number carries an encouraging message about moving forward while cherishing the small steps we take each day—making it perfect for January as we welcome a new year.

The lyrics resonate with hopeful expressions about the importance of advancing one step at a time and how beautiful flowers bloom along the footprints we leave.

In 1969, it was chosen as the entrance march for the National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament, and it has since become a classic frequently used in anime and commercials.

At New Year gatherings or recreational events, singing it together can lift everyone’s spirits and help kick off the year with energy.

The Longed-For Hawaii RouteHaruo Oka21rank/position

The Longed-For Hawaii Route / Haruo Oka

A bright, hopeful tune and melody make this 1948 classic truly uplifting.

In the postwar reconstruction era, it became a gem of a song that expressed dreams and longing for the wider world.

Haruo Oka’s warm voice gently embraces the yearning for Hawaii, which felt out of reach at the time.

Upon its release, the song drew a huge response and was adapted into a film by Shin-Toho in 1950.

The co-starring of Haruo Oka and Hibari Misora is said to have captivated audiences of the day.

At a time when overseas travel was not yet common, this piece powerfully sang of a distant land—Hawaii—making it a song packed with memories of the older generation’s youth and hopes for a brighter future.

Why not hum along together, wrapped in nostalgic memories?