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

Cotton HandkerchiefŌta Hiromi

Cotton Handkerchief (with lyrics) - Song by Hiromi Ohta

Let me introduce a heartwarming song that brings back nostalgic memories.

It tells a poignant story of a long-distance romance between a man setting off from the countryside to the big city and a woman who stays in their hometown.

The lyrics alternate between the man’s and the woman’s perspectives—a groundbreaking technique for its time.

Released in 1975, it became a signature song for Hiromi Ohta, who made her first appearance at the 26th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen that same year.

The woman’s longing for an unchanging heart rather than material gifts is especially memorable.

How about humming along with older listeners and sharing stories of youthful days? You’re sure to have a wonderful time.

mamaHirahara Ayaka

mama

A gem-like ballad that sings of a mother’s deep love for her child.

Set to a gentle, resonant melody, it portrays a mother warmly watching over her child’s growth.

Her concern from afar and her heartfelt support for her child’s dreams are conveyed through Ayaka Hirahara’s clear, crystalline voice.

This piece was included on the album “ODYSSEY,” released in February 2004, and was also used as the theme song for TV Asahi’s “Great Mother Story.” In honor of Mother’s Day, why not hum along with older family members? You might also enjoy spending a moment immersed in cherished memories while looking through family photos.

It’s a heartwarming song that naturally stirs feelings of gratitude toward mothers.

Come, spring.Matsutōya Yumi

Yumi Matsutoya – Come, Spring

The celebrated song that gently sings of the arrival of spring was released in 1994 by Yumi Matsutoya and became a major topic as the theme song for an NHK morning drama series.

Its sweet, wistful vocals and lyrics filled with feelings for a loved one deeply resonate with many listeners.

Elegantly portraying spring scenes—such as the scent of daphne and sudden showers—it beautifully expresses nostalgic memories and the hope of reunion.

After its release, the song topped the Oricon weekly chart and became a massive hit, selling over 1.16 million copies.

It was also used for the Huis Ten Bosch Tulip Festival and in commercials for the Yomiuri Shimbun, making it familiar to an even wider audience.

Its gentle melody and heartwarming lyrics are perfect for sparking conversations about memories with older adults.

Please enjoy a richly satisfying moment together while feeling the arrival of spring.

Words of FarewellKaientai

Farewell Words / Kaientai (with lyrics)

Do you have any nostalgic melodies that make you feel the warmth of spring sunshine the moment you hear them? Kaientai’s classic “Okuru Kotoba” is a heartwarming piece filled with messages perfect for graduation season.

Its lyrics about the sorrow of parting, the courage to trust others, and the depth of love truly resonate.

Released in November 1979, the song also became well-known as the theme for the popular TV drama “Mr.

Kinpachi in Class 3-B.” Singing it together with older adults might spark lively conversations about fond memories.

Consider incorporating it into recreational activities at your facility.

Parting at 22kaguya hime

Parting at 22 / Kaze (with lyrics)

A delicately rendered farewell to a longtime lover, this is a classic song that almost everyone has hummed at least once.

Released by Kaguya-hime on their 1974 album “Sankaidate no Uta,” it is said to have been written in a single night.

In 1984, it was used as the theme song for the drama “Kinō, Kanabetsu de,” bringing it back into the spotlight.

Accompanied by a gentle melody, the lyrics look back on memories with a lover while gazing toward a new step in life—offering comfort to those who have overcome a turning point in their lives.

I’m falling in love with you againSakamoto Fuyumi

Fuyumi Sakamoto – Falling in Love with You Again (with lyrics)

A gem by Fuyumi Sakamoto that gently sings of a deepening bond with a loved one.

Also known as the CM song for Sanwa Shurui’s barley shochu iichiko, it conveys the newfound affection that can blossom between longtime spouses through a calm, soothing melody.

From everyday moments—the morning light, the breathing of someone sleeping by your side—the lyrics unfold tender feelings toward a cherished person, enhanced by a voice that pierces the heart.

Released in January 2009 as the coupling track to “Asia no Kaizoku,” it was included that October on the album “Love Songs ~ Mata Kimi ni Koishiteru ~,” garnering widespread media attention.

It’s a wonderful song to hum together as a couple or to sing with thoughts of someone dear.

A beautiful piece that lets you feel love growing deeper with time.

Tangled HairMisora Hibari

#Hibari Misora '#Disheveled Hair' #Shioyasaki Lighthouse Shioyamisaki

As her comeback release, Hibari Misora brought out this celebrated song of profound love and sorrow in December 1987.

Set against the backdrop of the Shioyasaki Lighthouse, it sings of unwavering feelings and prayers for someone who has gone away.

Carried by an elegant melody, it masterfully conveys the complex emotions of a woman heartbroken in love.

Recorded in a single take with a full orchestra, the session showcased Hibari Misora’s unparalleled vocal prowess.

It remains a treasured piece, long beloved by many as a song to be heard alongside cherished memories and landscapes.

Snow CountryYoshi Ikuzo

Snow Country by Ikuzo Yoshi

A masterpiece that sings of hope shining through the bitter cold, its bittersweet sense of life’s melancholy resonates deeply.

Yoshikazu Ikuzō’s vocals, tinged with sorrow yet brimming with strength, seep into the depths of the heart.

Released in 1986, it won the Gold Prize at the Japan Record Awards.

That same year, it appeared on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen and topped the Oricon charts—a work cherished by many.

Masterfully intertwining northern landscapes with the stirrings of love, this song was also used in regional tourism promotions and winter campaigns.

For many, it remains a treasured song of memories.

Why not spend a quiet moment listening to its heartwarming voice?

Traveler of the NorthIshihara Yūjirō

Northern Traveler - Yujiro Ishihara

He sings a melancholic song about lost love set in the northern country with Yujiro Ishihara’s distinctive low voice.

As it follows a man searching for his beloved while traveling through Hokkaido cities like Kushiro, Hakodate, and Otaru, it conveys his heartbreaking emotions.

It was also used as an insert song in the drama “Seibu Keisatsu” and was released in August 1987.

For Yujiro Ishihara, it became his first and only single to reach No.

1 on the Oricon charts, topping the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart as well.

As you recall days gone by, try singing it gently and with feeling.

Lingering Snowiruka

Dolphin [Iruka] / Nagori-yuki [Lingering Snow] (Single Version) Official Audio with translation

Sung by Iruka, this song has been passed down as a classic of spring, a work that seems to seep into the listener’s heart.

Depicting a scene of parting in early spring, it beautifully portrays lingering feelings and the loneliness of growing up.

Written and composed by Shozo Ise and given a rich, weighty arrangement by Masataka Matsutoya, it was released in March 1975 on the album “Iruka no Sekai,” then as a single in November of the same year, reaching No.

4 on the Oricon charts.

It’s a perfect song to spark conversation with older adults.

You’ll likely enjoy a wonderful time sharing nostalgic memories and evocative scenes that resonate in the heart.