Karaoke songs you’ll want to sing for men in their 70s: Enka and nostalgic Showa-era pop

summer vacationyoshida takurou

Summer Vacation by Takuro Yoshida

This is a classic song by Takuro Yoshida, written with a gentle, bittersweet melody that traces summer memories in Kagoshima and Hiroshima.

Included on the 1971 live album “Yoshida Takuro On Stage Tomodachi,” the piece vividly paints scenes of a summer vacation that anyone might find nostalgic.

Childhood memories and moments with a cherished teacher are woven together with heartwarming lyrics.

A studio version was released on the 1972 album “Genki Desu.,” and the song has continued to be beloved by the artist and fans alike.

Inviting listeners to look back tenderly on summers from their youth, it’s a tune you can hum together with older generations, sparking wonderful conversations about treasured memories.

As long as the sun is in the skynishikino akira

Akira Nishikino - As Long as There Is a Sun in the Sky

A great song recommendation for a man in his 70s is Akira Nishikino’s signature hit “Sora ni Taiyo ga Aru Kagiri” (“As Long as the Sun Is in the Sky”).

It’s the ultimate love song, expressing deep affection for a beloved person and the certainty that this love will last forever.

The lyrics, which sing of eternal love—“As long as the sun is in the sky, we’ll be together”—are incredibly romantic.

Released in February 1971, the song reached No.

3 on the Oricon chart and sold 308,000 copies, becoming a major hit.

It’s an enduring classic loved across generations, making it a perfect choice to sing at karaoke when people of various ages are gathered.

Tokyoyashiki takajin

Tokyo

Released in March 1993, this mood-kayō song fuses tearful enka with sophisticated urban pop.

Through Kansai-dialect lyrics, it movingly portrays a romance and breakup with a man she met in Tokyo, along with her complex feelings toward the city.

Takajin Yashiki was an artist who was active mainly in the Kansai region, also serving as a host of the popular program “Sei! Young.” This piece became a hit as requests on cable radio surged, ultimately selling a total of 600,000 copies.

In live performances, he would sometimes change the place name in the chorus to match the concert location, valuing a sense of unity with the audience.

When singing it at karaoke, it’s recommended to sing at an easy, relaxed pace while thinking of your hometown and the special people you’ve met.

My Giftofukōsu

My Gift / Off Course

This is a masterpiece whose gentle tones resonate in the heart like the mild sunlight of spring.

As one of Off Course’s signature works, it appears on the album “Off Course 1 / Boku no Okurimono,” which includes their 1973 single, showcasing Kazumasa Oda’s talent for songwriting and composition.

It’s a song that lets you feel the arrival of spring and recall someone dear.

With heartwarming lyrics and melody, it sings of sentiments offered to a loved one while accompanying the changing seasons.

Later adopted in elementary and junior high school music textbooks, it has been cherished by people of all ages.

The tender vocals and choral work leave a strong impression, making it a perfect track for a peaceful moment.

It’s a classic that evokes the colors of spring, enjoyable while reminiscing about hometown memories together with older listeners.

Tokyo Olympic OndoMinami Haruo

Haruo Minami “Tokyo Olympic Ondo” [from ~The Trajectory of Vocal Art: The Complete Works of Haruo Minami~]

As the name suggests, Tokyo Olympic Ondo was the theme song for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and in addition to Haruo Minami, it was performed by prominent singers such as Yukio Hashi, Michiya Mihashi, Kyu Sakamoto, and Saburo Kitajima.

It is said that the association with Haruo Minami became fixed because his version sold the most.

At the time, Minami said, “Japan worked hard and achieved such a remarkable recovery.

The Tokyo Olympics is an opportunity to show that to the world, and I poured my strong desire to make it a success into the song.” For seniors, it may be a track that brings back the feelings of that era.

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BoyhoodInoue Yosui

Boys' Time / Yosui Inoue (with lyrics)

In Inoue Yosui’s classic song, a gentle yet resonant melody intertwines with nostalgic lyrics, suffused with reflections on youth.

Idyllic summer scenes and memories alive in the mind are spun into poetic expression, tenderly enveloping those treasured moments we keep safe in our hearts.

Since its release in September 1990, it has continued to be loved as a movie theme and a commercial song, and in 1991 it was also used in a Sony Handycam commercial.

Included on the album “Handsome Boy,” this is a tune you’ll want to hum when everyone gathers together.

Why not spend a heartwarming moment as you share stories and let memories blossom?

freezing rainKayama Akio

freezing rain

A mature, melodramatic enka that embraces aching love and loneliness—this is Akio Kayama’s debut song.

Its folk-tinged arrangement that gently conveys a woman’s feelings and his richly emotive vocals blend perfectly to create a gem of a classic.

Beginning in December 1977, he sold over 30,000 copies through hand-to-hand sales, and in 1983 he received honors including the Asahikawa Cable Radio Award and the All-Japan Cable Broadcasting Grand Prix.

In 2008, the song was featured in a Kirin Beverage canned coffee commercial, and it continues to be loved by many across generations.

With its relaxed tempo and an accessible melody line that anyone can hum, it’s a highly recommended track that you can sing with confidence at karaoke.