[Recommended for people in their 70s] Songs that really move you. Beloved classic Japanese hits of the past.

tea pickingMonbushō shōka

Tea Picking | With Lyrics | Ministry of Education Song | One Hundred Japanese Songs | The 88th Night as Summer Approaches

We present a piece that beautifully portrays the charm of Japan’s four seasons.

This classic song richly depicts the tea-picking scene from Hachijūhachi-ya into early summer.

As the tranquil weather continues, you can picture people wearing vermilion sashes and sedge hats, diligently picking tea to the warmth of heartfelt singing.

Included in 1912 in “Elementary School Songs for the Third Grade,” it conveys the lifestyle of the time and the changing seasons to the present day.

Please listen with a relaxed mind as you recall nostalgic landscapes.

It may also spark fond memories and lively conversations with family and friends.

koinobori (carp streamers)Monbushō shōka

Koinobori | With Lyrics | Waves of roof tiles and waves of clouds

Beloved as a Ministry of Education shoka (school song), this piece gracefully expresses both the grandeur of the carp streamers displayed for the Boys’ Festival (Tango no Sekku) and the wish for children’s happy growth.

Included in the 1913 publication “Jinjō Shōgaku Shōka, Grade Five,” the song, set in F major, harmonizes a powerful melody with a refined sense of the season.

It continues to be cherished and sung by contemporary musicians, including arrangements by Kiyoe Yoshioka.

Its cheerful atmosphere and warm, seasonable tone make it perfect for older adults who want to enjoy a pleasant springtime moment.

It can also be a cue to hum along with grandchildren or to fondly recall days gone by.

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.

From the northern innMiyako Harumi

Harumi Miyako / From the Northern Inn [Live Footage]

Harumi Miyako’s “Kita no Yado Kara” is a masterpiece among masterpieces, released in 1975.

Akuyu’s heartfelt lyrics and Asei Kobayashi’s beautiful melody harmonize perfectly.

The loneliness of the northern regions and the bittersweetness of love are conveyed through Miyako’s powerful vocals, moving the listener’s heart.

The lyrics depicting a woman knitting a sweater, her solitude and lingering feelings, resonated with many people.

It’s also a popular karaoke song, so it’s great to sing and enjoy with friends and family.

I also recommend listening to it alone on a quiet night and immersing yourself in nostalgic memories.

I’m appearing under my former name.Kobayashi Akira

Appearing under my former name: Akira Kobayashi

A classic released by Akira Kobayashi in 1975.

The poignant lyrics, portraying the feelings of a woman working at a snack bar, really resonate.

You can’t help but be drawn to the way he delivers it with rich emotion in his distinctive “Akira-bushi” style.

Although it didn’t attract much attention at first, steady efforts by Kobayashi turned it into a longseller two years later.

It became a massive hit, selling over two million copies in total, and he performed it at the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen for the first time in 1977.

A song that echoes in the heart along with fond memories.

Why not take your time and listen to it with someone special?

Rainy MidosujiŌyō Fifi

Rainy Midosuji by Fifi Ouyang

A classic song that poignantly and expressively sings of a bittersweet love against the backdrop of rain-soaked Osaka streets.

The feelings conveyed by Ouyang Fei Fei are imbued with the sorrow of a woman searching for her lover as she walks south along Midosuji.

The vivid depictions of ginkgo-lined avenues and sidewalks are memorable, unfolding scenes anyone can picture in their mind.

Released in September 1971, the song topped the Oricon weekly chart for nine consecutive weeks.

It won the New Artist Award at the 13th Japan Record Awards and quickly became a massive hit.

It’s best enjoyed alone on a quiet night.

As you listen, reflecting on memories with someone dear, your heart will gently warm with a sense of nostalgia.

Parting at 22kaze

Parting at 22 / Kaze (with lyrics)

The debut song by the folk duo Kaze is a heartwarming classic, as gentle as the spring sunshine.

The lyrics vividly portray the pure love and parting of youth, while the tender acoustic guitar melody weaves a beautiful harmony.

Since its release in 1975, it has been covered by many artists and even adapted into a film by director Nobuhiko Obayashi in 2007, remaining beloved across generations.

In NHK’s “SukiUta — Kouhaku Everyone’s Survey,” it ranked 71st for the White Team.

It’s a perfect song for savoring slowly when you want to bask in nostalgic memories, and it could also spark lively conversations among older listeners about their experiences from back in the day.