[For Seniors] Recommended Spring Songs for People in Their 70s: A Collection of Nostalgic Spring Tunes

The Highland Train GoesOkamoto Atsurō

The highland train goes — a nostalgic song

A song that gracefully celebrates the natural beauty of the highlands and the romance of train travel evokes heartwarming memories of family trips and brings to mind wonderful moments with loved ones.

Its sweeping scenery and romantic spirit are sure to soothe anyone’s heart.

Carried by Atsuro Okamoto’s comforting vocals, the pastoral landscapes gently resonate within.

Since its release in 1954, this work has continued to be beloved by many and was featured in the 2020 NHK morning drama series “Yell,” moving audiences across generations.

It’s perfect for a time of sharing old memories over tea with everyone.

Settle in, relax, and enjoy a peaceful moment.

Spring has come.Monbushō shōka

Spring Has Come | With Lyrics | One Hundred Selected Japanese Songs | Spring has come, spring has come, where has it come?

Set to the gentle melody of a Ministry of Education song, this piece depicts the calm arrival of spring.

The scene of spring returning to the mountains, villages, and fields spreads through a warm, tender vocal line.

Its tranquil tune vividly conveys the imagery of spring among Japan’s four seasons, imbued with a love for nature and the changing times of year.

Included in 1910 for the third grade of the “Elementary School Songs,” it was created by the renowned duo Tatsuyuki Takano and Teiichi Okano.

Featured in many music textbooks and song collections, it has often been performed at entrance ceremonies and spring events.

This work soothes the heart, making it a piece to enjoy slowly by a window in the warm sunlight.

It is a wonderful song for sharing the joy of spring’s arrival together with older adults.

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.

Flowershouka

Hana | With Lyrics | 100 Selected Japanese Songs | In the gentle springtime, the Sumida River

Among the masterpieces that represent the Meiji era is a celebrated song depicting the beautiful spring scenery of the Sumida River: brilliant cherry blossoms along the long embankment, boatmen rowing their oars, and green willows and a hazy moon glowing at dusk.

It is a school song that gracefully expresses the changing seasons of Japan.

Composed by Rentaro Taki with lyrics by Hago Takajima, the piece was included on the album “Shiki” (Four Seasons), released in November 1900.

It was selected in 2006 for the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ “100 Best Japanese Songs,” and in April 1962 The Peanuts performed it on the program “Minna no Uta.” Its melody, resonant with nostalgia, is familiar and accessible to older listeners as well, and is a perfect choice for a leisurely spring afternoon.

WakabaSakushi: Matsunaga Miyao / Sakkyoku: Hiraoka Hitoshi

Wakaba | With Lyrics | Ministry of Education School Song | O vivid green

Wakaba (Young Leaves) is a cherished song often sung in May, when the fresh green foliage dazzles.

With lyrics by Miyao Matsunaga and music by Kinshi Hiraoka, it was included in the National School textbook Elementary Music II published in February 1942.

Evoking vistas filled with beautiful greenery and the scent of a refreshing breeze, the piece lets you savor the arrival of early summer even indoors.

The key is to hum it gently to a relaxed rhythm while picturing Japan’s nostalgic rural landscapes—rice fields, farms, and wooded hills.

It’s a song that lets you enjoy the resonance of the Japanese language and brings a calm, peaceful feeling.

Why not join voices and sing this work—filled with the vibrant air of the season—together during a recreational moment?

Spring StreamMonbushō shōka

With Lyrics: “Spring Stream” Ministry of Education Song

Accompanied by the gentle murmur of water, this classic song unfolds a simple, tender scene before your eyes.

Among the Ministry of Education’s school songs, its melodic line is especially beautiful, and it is said that Tatsuyuki Takano wrote the lyrics infused with memories of his home in Nagano Prefecture.

The delicate flowers blooming along the shore and the fish swimming in the brook are depicted as if in a painting, superbly expressing the quintessential spring landscape of Japan.

Since its inclusion in 1912 in “Elementary School Songs for the Fourth Grade,” it has been sung across generations.

It is a recommended piece for those who wish to spend a heartwarming moment—both as a song of memories and as a tune that evokes the nostalgic scenery of spring.

Moon over the Ruined CastleSakushi: Doi Bansui / Sakkyoku: Taki Rentarō

Moon over the Ruined Castle / Full version with easy-to-read lyric subtitles (Verses 1–4) Music: Rentaro Taki Arrangement: Kósçak Yamada Lyrics: Bansui Doi

A celebrated piece inspired by the beauty of Japan’s spring was created in the Meiji era by Bansui Doi and Rentarō Taki.

Set against the ruins of a castle bathed in moonlight, it poignantly sings of the splendor of a spring banquet and the transience of a changing world.

Revived along with fond memories, the work is frequently used in films and dramas, and its emotive melody continues to linger in many hearts.

Cherished and passed down through a long history, this piece allows listeners to experience rich sensitivity and deep sentiment within a gently flowing sense of time.

As soothing music for a quiet night, we hope you will enjoy it together with us.