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

Forbidden LoveMoriyama Ryoko

Forbidden Love Ryoko Moriyama 1969

It’s a masterpiece that captures a woman’s bittersweet yet passionate feelings—drawn to a beautiful melody that sinks into the heart, and a love that blazes even while knowing it’s forbidden.

Released by Ryoko Moriyama in March 1969, the song became a major hit, topping the Oricon charts for eight consecutive weeks.

That same year, it earned her first appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, and it’s a piece that has left a lasting impression on many.

When singing it at karaoke, why not fully embody the protagonist depicted in the lyrics and perform it dramatically? It will surely spark nostalgic conversations among those of the same generation, and its beautiful melody will linger in everyone’s hearts across generations.

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?

Memories of a Summer DayHino Teruko

Memories of a Summer Day (sung by Teruko Hino). A song with a pleasant Hawaiian rhythm (1965).

It’s a classic masterfully sung by Teruko Hino, the “Hawaiian Queen.” On a winter beach bathed in moonlight, memories of a passionate summer kiss suddenly return to the heart—you can almost see the scene unfold.

It’s bittersweet yet somehow warm, a song whose afterglow you can bask in.

Her clear voice gently seeps into the listener’s heart.

Released in January 1965, it first appeared as the B-side of a single, but its excellence brought it back as the A-side, and it went on to be loved by more than a million people.

Many will remember Hino’s first appearance at that year’s NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen with this very song.

It’s also included on albums such as “Memories of a Summer Day.” On a slightly chilly day, when you want to linger by the window with a warm drink and sink into beautiful memories, this song will surely stay close to your heart.

It’s also lovely to hum along with family or friends and let your thoughts drift to days gone by.

The world is for the two of us.Sara Naomi

The World Is for the Two of Us — Sung by Naomi Sagara (with Lyrics) [Includes Harmony Chorus]

Naomi Sagara’s debut song celebrates the happy times spent with a loved one.

Her gentle, warm vocals express the couple’s love, and the beautiful melody and simple lyrics make it an unforgettable classic.

Released in May 1967, the song was also used in a Meiji Seika commercial and became a massive hit, selling over 1.2 million copies after its release.

In 1968, it was chosen as the entrance march for the 40th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament, winning the hearts of many.

Long cherished as a wedding standard, it’s a tune many still find themselves humming with fond memories.

Why not listen together to its heartwarming vocals and let joyful reminiscences blossom?

Cotton HandkerchiefŌta Hiromi

Hiromi Ohta “Cotton Handkerchief” Music Video (Animation by Ai Nina)

It’s a masterpiece by Hiromi Ohta that portrays the heartfelt exchange between a man leaving for the big city and a woman who remains in their hometown, told through letters.

His changing self and her wish for unchanging love resonate poignantly over a light, breezy melody.

The way it cherishes pure emotional connection over material wealth is sure to strike a chord with many.

Released as a single in December 1975, the song became widely beloved the following year, leading to Ohta’s first appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 1976—a milestone track.

Also included on the album “Kokoro ga Kaze o Hiita Hi,” it’s a perfect song for those who deeply relate to its lyrical story or want to revisit the bittersweet days of youth.

If you sing it at karaoke while empathizing with the characters’ hearts, the experience will surely be all the more moving.

My castle townKoyanagi Rumiko

Rumiko Koyanagi – My Castle Town (1971)

It’s the debut song of Rumiko Koyanagi, often described as “Wakon Yōsai,” where the refinement of Western music is blended with Japanese sentiment.

She sings tenderly of scenes that bring back memories—an old castle town at dusk, the nostalgic view through lattice doors, and a faint, hidden love stirring in the heart.

Released in April 1971, the song won the Japan Record Award for Best New Artist and found widespread affection in step with the national railway’s “Discover Japan” campaign.

It is also included on the album “My Twelve Songs – A Collection of Japanese Lyric Songs.” It’s the perfect piece for those moments when you want to drift back to days gone by and savor a song at an unhurried pace.

Its gentle melody is sure to be comfortable to sing.

Please go ahead as you are.Maruyama Keiko

Please go ahead as you are.

A bossa nova-style masterpiece by Keiko Maruyama that sings of everlasting, unchanging love.

Its delicately drawn emotional expression, woven with metaphors, is deeply moving.

Included on the album “Tasogare Memory,” released in July 1976, the song reached No.

5 on the Oricon weekly chart and became a major hit, selling over 800,000 copies.

With its relaxed tempo and easy-to-remember melody, it’s a joy to sing while savoring a romantic atmosphere.