Ranking of Popular Japanese Music and J-POP Artists Among People in Their 60s [2026]

contrailArai Yumi71rank/position

Vapor Trail / Hikouki Gumo

This song was created based on the experience of losing a classmate during the artist’s school days.

Its poetic imagery likening a soul ascending to heaven to a contrail, together with a clear, translucent vocal, intertwine beautifully to form a gem of a track.

Released in 1973 as the B-side to the single “Kitto Ieru,” it was also included on the album Hikōkigumo the same year.

In 2013, it was chosen as the theme song for Studio Ghibli’s The Wind Rises, touching the hearts of people across generations.

With its gently enveloping melody and relaxed tempo, it’s a warm, inviting song that makes you want to hum along together.

The season the sun gave usaoi sankakujougi72rank/position

The season the sun gave us

The debut single released by Aoi Sankaku Jōgi in February 1972 became a massive hit, selling over 800,000 copies, and it also won the New Artist Award at the Japan Record Awards.

The lyrics, which depict the feelings of youth and the radiance of adolescence, delicately express sentiments toward what has been lost and the heart that keeps waiting.

Yet the words “From today, you’re one of us too” evoke a sense of hope.

The song also drew attention as the theme for the drama “Tobidase! Seishun” (Leap Out! Youth).

When you want to face forward and step ahead with your friends, listening to this song will surely give you a gentle push.

It will bring back the refreshing memories of your youthful days.

Torn LoveSaijō Hideki73rank/position

Hideki Saijo - Torn Love

Hideki Saijo, a singer who captivated fans as one of the “New Big Three” of the pop world alongside Hiromi Go and Goro Noguchi.

His sixth single, “Chigireta Ai,” which earned him his first No.

1 on the Oricon weekly chart, became a turning point for him as it was the first time he showcased the vocal style later called the ‘ze-ssho-gata’ (impassioned, full-throttle singing).

Its wistful melody and impactful vocals will likely resonate with those in their 60s, overlapping with their youthful days.

It is a Showa-era classic packed with the charm of vintage kayōkyoku.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Space Battleship Yamatosasaki isao74rank/position

Space Battleship Yamato (1) / Isao Sasaki + The Royal Knights

A signature song by Isao Sasaki that sings of a grand tale set in space.

Released as a single in October 1974, it was used as the opening theme for the anime of the same name.

The powerful vocals and moving melody vividly portray the resolve and hope of the brave warriors who rose to save Earth.

Universal themes of love and sacrifice, courage and determination are sure to resonate deeply with listeners.

It’s a track that will give you a boost when you’re tired or need energy.

Experience this classic packed with the full appeal of Isao Sasaki, a giant in the world of anime songs.

metropoliskurisutaru kingu75rank/position

metropolis

This song delicately portrays the feelings of people pursuing their dreams.

Released in November 1979, it dominated the top of the charts for six consecutive weeks from February to March of the following year, becoming a million-seller.

It also served as Crystal King’s re-debut single, born from the spirit of challenge and resolve of men from Kyushu.

Many will surely relate to the protagonist, who leaves his hometown to face destiny in an unfamiliar city.

An English gospel-style arrangement was used in a Honda CR-V commercial, and the song continues to be loved across generations.

It’s a track that gives you a push when you want to strive toward your dreams.

I look up as I walkSakamoto Kyu76rank/position

Walk looking up Sakamoto Kyu — with lyrics

It is a timeless masterpiece in the history of Japanese popular music, released by Kyu Sakamoto in 1961.

The song was written and composed by Rokusūke Ei and Hachidai Nakamura, who also created pieces like “Tooku e Ikitai” and “Tasogare no Begin,” and it became a huge hit in the United States under the title “SUKIYAKI.” Kyu Sakamoto’s distinctive, buoyant vocal style is striking.

When this song was being sung, Japan was heading into the postwar period of rapid economic growth, and many people likely projected their own feelings onto the song as they each walked their own path.

youKozaka Akiko77rank/position

Akiko Kosaka “Anata (You)” 1973

“Anata” is a song released by Akiko Kosaka in 1973, known for its gentle vocals and melodies that resonate with the heart.

Its bittersweet lyrics have continued to be cherished through changing times, making it an enduring classic frequently chosen for karaoke.

The more you listen, the more its charm draws you in, and it has become a piece passed down across generations.

While the clear high notes require technique to sing, they further enhance the song’s dramatic worldview.

This track, which evokes the feeling of traveling beyond eras, is a special piece for those who nostalgically recall youth around the 1970s, and it remains beloved by many to this day.