Tear-jerking songs for women in their 70s: from Showa-era classics to Heisei hits

Flowers ~Flowers for everyone’s heart~Sakushi sakkyoku: Kina Shoukichi

Hana ~Flowers for Everyone's Hearts~/Shoukichi Kina [With Lyrics] (covered by Mariko Miho) [Mihomari no Ototama]

People’s hearts sway between tears and laughter, but this timeless classic carries a universal wish: to let beautiful flowers bloom in our hearts no matter the moment.

Kina Shoukichi’s “Hana ~Subete no Hito no Kokoro ni Hana wo~,” with a melody that evokes the breezes of Okinawa and warm, peace-praying words that resonate deeply.

Included on the 1980 album “BLOOD LINE,” it’s also well known for being sung by Satoko Ishimine as the theme song for the 1995 film “Himeyuri no Tō.” Its relaxed rhythm is perfect even for exercise time, and if everyone hums along while savoring the lyrics, a gentle feeling will come naturally.

It’s the ideal song for spending a calm, heart-unwinding moment along with the cheerful spring weather.

From the northern innMiyako Harumi

Harumi Miyako / From the Northern Inn [Lyric Video]

This is one of Harumi Miyako’s signature songs, portraying a bittersweet woman’s love that tightens the heart in the cold of winter.

The image of the heroine, alone at an inn in the north, continuing to knit a sweater while thinking of the one she parted from, is deeply moving.

Lyricist Yū Aku is said to have depicted the act of knitting as a “ritual to bring closure to a breakup.” Even in her grief, you can feel a core strength as she tries to put her feelings in order.

Released in December 1975, it achieved the remarkable feat of winning both the Japan Record Award and the Japan Cable Radio Award the following year.

Total sales reached 1.45 million copies, and it has been covered by many singers, including Sayuri Ishikawa and Yoshimi Tendo.

As the season’s cold air sinks into your bones, why not hum it together at a New Year’s gathering?

The Sweet LifeNoguchi Goro

Goro Noguchi – Sweet Life

Goro Noguchi is a singer who debuted in 1971 and is one of Japan’s leading artists.

His song “Amai Seikatsu” (Sweet Life), released in 1974, was a hit that portrays the emotions surrounding the breakdown of a cohabiting relationship.

Delicately expressing both the bittersweetness of youth and the harshness of reality, the song resonates across generations.

For older listeners in particular, it may bring back memories of youthful romance.

“Amai Seikatsu” stirs different feelings depending on one’s life experiences and offers a comforting, reflective time.

Please take a moment to listen to it quietly on your own.

A deserted seaTo wa e mo wa

♫ An empty beach — a Showa-era song. It's already autumn, an empty beach! With lyrics

A quietly sung piece set on an autumn seashore, reflecting on a lost love and facing one’s own future.

Released in November 1970 as a single by Towa Tei et Moi, it features lyrics by poet Yoko Yamaguchi and music by Noriyoshi Naitō.

The words—resolved not to grieve anymore because promises were made to the sea, the sand, and the sky—gently resonate in the heart.

On the same day, chanson singer Fubuki Koshiji also released a version, and on the Oricon charts the Towa et Moi version reached No.

16.

Its portrayal of someone striving to look ahead despite setbacks and loneliness is something many will relate to.

It’s a song that tenderly stays by your side—one you’ll want to listen to while gazing at the autumn sea.

atonementTeresa Ten

Atonement

As a superb love song depicting a heartrending farewell, Teresa Teng’s voice resonates deeply with many listeners.

Vividly expressing the feelings of a woman who fears becoming a burden to the one she loves and chooses to abandon her own love for the sake of the other’s happiness, this work was released in January 1984.

It was also included on the album “Tsugunai” and used as a commercial song for YKK AP’s MADO Shop.

Coupled with Teresa Teng’s clear, crystalline vocals, it evokes profound emotion in the hearts of those who listen.

Love takes many forms, but as you recall the times when you searched for what you could do for someone precious to you, take a moment to heal your heart slowly.

I am crying.ririi

I Am Crying

Lily made her debut as a singer in 1972 and is a Japanese singer-songwriter who also pursued an acting career alongside her music.

Her song “Watashi wa Naiteimasu” (“I Am Crying”) was released in 1974 as the last single under her own name and became a hit, reaching No.

3 on the Oricon chart.

The song portrays deep emotions over lost love, depicted through the image of crying in bed.

Its themes center on the pain of parting from a loved one and the difficulty of accepting an ending, particularly conveying the feelings of a woman who is affectionate and honest about her emotions.

Expressing profound sorrow and poignancy, this timeless classic continues to be cherished across generations and is especially recommended when you want to immerse yourself in rich emotion.

Room of BlocksFuse Akira

Tsumiki no Heya

Akira Fuse, born in 1947, is a nationally beloved singer who debuted in 1965.

Released in 1974, his song “Tsumiki no Heya” (The Building-Block Room) is one of his signature works, using building blocks as a theme to symbolize love, parting, and the complexities of life.

The lyrics delicately portray the warmth of a couple’s relationship and its end, resonating with many older listeners and evoking a sense of empathy and nostalgia.

How about spending a quiet moment listening to “Tsumiki no Heya” and reflecting on memories of times shared with someone dear?