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Lovely senior life

Recommended heartbreak songs for women in their 70s. A collection of classic Showa-era breakup masterpieces.

If you’re a woman in your 70s, chances are you listened to a lot of love songs from around the 1970s.

Japanese pop songs released in that era truly include many masterpieces—timeless tracks that still haven’t lost their charm.

In this article, we’ll focus specifically on heartbreak songs and introduce tracks recommended for women in their 70s.

They may help you recall past romantic experiences or bring back the feelings you had back then.

You’ll likely recognize many of these songs, so take this opportunity to listen to them again with fresh ears.

Recommended breakup songs for women in their 70s. A collection of classic Showa-era breakup masterpieces (1–10)

Autumn Full StopYokoyama Miyuki

“Akishifu” Miyuki Yokoyama (VINYL)
Autumn Full StopYokoyama Miyuki

Released in September 1979, this work is Miyuki Yokoyama’s debut single, which drew attention for its lyrics and composition by Shinji Tanimura and Takao Horiuchi of Alice.

It delicately portrays how a more-than-friends-but-not-quite-lovers relationship changes due to a single event, and the regret and poignancy that follow.

The lingering attachment to a lost relationship and a strong sense of loneliness are vividly expressed, symbolically conveying the melancholy of autumn and the fragility of human relationships.

It may prompt listeners to recall past romantic experiences or reflect on how they felt at the time.

Love is overŌyō Fifi

This is one of Fifi Ouyang’s signature songs, depicting the heart‑piercing pain of heartbreak.

It was released in 1979 as a B-side, but grew popular through word of mouth and was re-released as an A-side in July 1980.

The lyrics convey deep love for the other person, expressing a selfless love that wishes for their happiness.

Listening to this song may bring back memories of past relationships or prompt reflection on how you felt at the time.

It’s a track I especially recommend to older listeners who have experienced parting with someone precious.

stationTakeuchi Mariya

Mariya Takeuchi – Station [Live Version / 2000 @ Nippon Budokan]
stationTakeuchi Mariya

It’s a classic song that poignantly portrays the pain of heartbreak.

Mariya Takeuchi’s gentle voice truly moves the heart.

Through the scenario of unexpectedly running into a former lover at a train station, the song delicately expresses the complex emotions that follow a breakup.

Released in 1987, it was also used as the theme song for TV Asahi’s “Suteki ni Document” and even reached No.

1 on cable radio, capturing the hearts of many.

When you feel like reminiscing about nostalgic memories and days that will never return, why not give this song a listen? It will surely stay close to your heart.

Breakup songs recommended for women in their 70s. A collection of classic Showa-era breakup masterpieces (11–20)

trace (of someone/something), semblance, vestige; a lingering image or memory of how someone/something used to beshimazaki yuri

A heartbreak song whose wistful melody seeps into the soul.

It portrays the poignant feelings of a woman who recalls a past love and chases its lingering traces.

Each listen brings a tightening sensation in the chest.

Released by Nippon Columbia in July 1975, it was used as the ending theme for the TBS drama G-Men ’75.

It reached No.

6 on the Oricon weekly chart and became a major hit, selling a total of 532,000 copies.

The song also depicts saying goodbye to past memories and resolving to set out on a new journey, making it a track that gives you the courage to overcome the pain of heartbreak.

Samba of PartingHasegawa Kiyoshi

Kiyoshi Hasegawa – “Samba of Parting” 2012
Samba of PartingHasegawa Kiyoshi

It’s a song that expresses the pain and loneliness of parting, released in July 1969.

After it began airing on late-night radio, it became a major hit.

Set to a rhythmic guitar accompaniment, it sings of the sorrow and regret of a broken heart.

The lyrics, which convey deep affection and understanding for the other person, are sure to resonate deeply with listeners.

For older listeners, it may evoke memories of youthful romances.

It’s best enjoyed alone on a quiet night.

Kiyoshi Hasegawa’s emotionally rich vocals and the wistful melody linger in the heart.

applausechiaki naomi

Naomi Chiaki is a singer who was active across a wide range of genres, focusing mainly on enka and pop.

“Kassai” (Applause), released in 1972, is one of her signature songs and won the Japan Record Award that same year.

The work portrays the glittering surface and the profound sorrow beneath it, beautifully expressing the feelings of a performer who continues to shine on stage even after losing love.

In particular, the lyrics’ worldview—deftly contrasting public and private, life and death, joy and sorrow—has continued to move many listeners.

With a melody that lingers in the heart and emotions that intersect in many ways, this piece resonates deeply.

It is a timeless masterpiece that can be recommended to anyone and continues to be loved across generations.

atonementTeresa Ten

This song beautifully captures the aching feelings of a heartbroken woman through Teresa Teng’s clear, translucent voice.

You can almost picture the scene: in a room lit by the setting sun, she drinks alone, reminiscing about a lost love.

The lyric “Please don’t forget even a woman like me” conveys a powerful lingering attachment to her former partner.

Released in January 1984, it became a massive hit, even winning the Japan Cable Award.

For older listeners with rich experiences in love, this track may bring back memories of heartbreak from their youth.

It’s a song to savor slowly, along with a sense of nostalgia.