[2026] Recommended karaoke songs for women in their 70s: from enka to Showa-era pop

Izakaya “Showa”Yashiro Aki

Aki Yashiro – Izakaya “Showa”

Aki Yashiro’s classic “Izakaya ‘Showa’” leaves a strikingly somber impression.

Yashiro is renowned for her ‘men’s songs,’ and among them, this piece is exceptionally rugged and refined.

True to enka style, there are solid kobushi (ornamental turns), but most of them shift only one or two scale degrees, so it shouldn’t feel difficult.

Rather than a clean vocal tone, this song benefits from a weathered, husky quality, so it’s recommended to sing it when your voice feels a bit worn.

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O-Shichi and the Night Cherry BlossomsSakamoto Fuyumi

Fuyumi Sakamoto – Yozakura Oshichi (with lyrics)

This song portrays the poignant feelings of heartbreak, with graceful cherry blossoms drifting in a dreamlike dance.

As the petals fall, Fuyumi Sakamoto’s voice tenderly sings of unforgettable memories, resonating deeply in the heart.

Released in February 1994, the piece beautifully expresses a woman’s powerful emotions through the motif of cherry blossoms.

While the protagonist looks back on a past love, she also possesses the strength to move forward.

I hope you’ll listen beneath the cherry trees, with a gentle sense of nostalgia.

Perhaps you, too, have memories that return with the blossoms.

Why not spend a heartwarming moment with Fuyumi Sakamoto in the spring sunshine?

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.

The arrival of springKoyanagi Rumiko

Arrival of Spring Rumiko Koyanagi

This song, which evokes the arrival of spring, is captivating for Rumiko Koyanagi’s clear, translucent singing voice.

It begins with a scene of walking along the seaside with a lover, and the lyrics depicting warm interactions with family are deeply moving.

Released in February 1973, it was a popular hit that reached No.

4 on the Oricon charts.

Its gentle melody and richly scenic lyrics are sure to stir up nostalgic memories.

How about spending a spring afternoon listening by the window and reflecting on memories with someone precious? It will surely be a heartwarming, wonderful time.

Temptation of the Spring BreezeKoizumi Kyoko

Temptation of the Spring Breeze / Kyoko Koizumi (with lyrics) Cover

Under a sky where northern snow clouds drift by, a fresh melody echoes in the heart, hinting at the start of a new season.

Released by Kyoko Koizumi in February 1983, this masterpiece gracefully portrays the pure feelings of a girl eagerly awaiting love.

From atop a rooftop shimmering with heat haze, it delicately depicts the protagonist’s faint stirrings of love and her sense of anticipation as she watches spring’s arrival.

Also included on the album “Breezing,” the song became her first to break into the Oricon top 10.

While the girl sips tea by the window and watches people passing by, Mitsuo Hagita’s arrangement gently enfolds her emotions.

It’s a song best enjoyed on a calm spring day, while basking in nostalgia.

Red Sweet PeaMatsuda Seiko

Seiko Matsuda - Red Sweet Pea (with lyrics)

This is a classic song by Seiko Matsuda, distinguished by its beautiful melody, filled with the scent of spring, and her fresh, radiant vocals.

The lyrics wonderfully balance innocent first love with a hint of mature romance, and are sprinkled with seasonal imagery such as a spring-colored train and April rain.

Written by Takashi Matsumoto and composed by Yumi Matsutoya, this gem was released in January 1982.

It was also used in a commercial for Fujifilm’s skincare brand Astalift, which drew attention for featuring Miyuki Nakajima.

It’s a song best enjoyed on a calm spring day by the window, inviting a warm, heartwarming moment along with fond memories.

wintering swallowMori Masako

wintering swallow

This gem of a ballad, which eloquently sings of the aching melancholy of painful love, is a masterpiece that showcases Masako Mori’s outstanding vocal prowess.

Its poetic world is striking: the feelings of a woman who has thrown herself into a forbidden romance are overlaid with the image of a lone swallow that defies the seasons and makes its home out of place.

Mori’s limpid voice intertwines with the heartrending melody, where sorrow and passion cross, creating a deeply moving song.

After its 1983 release, her tearful performance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen drew widespread attention, and the song earned her the Best Vocal Performance award at the 25th Japan Record Awards.

Even among enka songs that give voice to bittersweet longing, this work stands out for its richly expressive phrasing.

It’s the perfect piece for those moments when you want to pour your emotions into the song and sing your heart out, as if setting your soul free.