Cheering songs recommended for people in their 60s: classic and popular Japanese hits

The road to Munichhanī naitsu

The Road to Munich – Opening – 1972

Many people now in their 60s still have vivid memories of the men’s volleyball matches at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

While there was widespread belief that Japan could win gold, many players were overwhelmed by the unique atmosphere and couldn’t deliver the results they hoped for.

Amid this, then-head coach Yasutaka Matsudaira brought a project to a TV network to raise volleyball’s profile, leading to a theme song that accompanied broadcasts combining animation and real footage.

And in the end, they truly did win the gold medal.

This is an unmistakable piece of fiction that brightened Japan.

In a distant worldItsutsu no akai fūsen

Five Red Balloons in a Distant World

Nostalgic youth songs really warp you back to those days, don’t they? The Five Red Balloons were a folk group, and their song “To a Distant World” was released in 1969.

It’s a song from the era when student activism was thriving, so for people in their 60s, it might be a tune that brings back memories of joining campus movements in their university days.

It’s an anthem that cheered on young people who wanted to make Japan a better place.

Oh, sake!Yoshi Ikuzo

Yoshi Ikuzo - Sake Yo (Enka Hyakusen)

It may be precisely those in their 60s—who have tasted the bitter and the sweet of life—who understand this song’s meaning most deeply.

The title is “Sake yo,” and the image of someone quietly murmuring to himself over a drink evokes memories of one’s own path, even for those who don’t drink.

Even if you fail or get hurt, you keep moving forward; the companion you speak to doesn’t have to be alcohol, but you can’t help picturing a man with his shoulders slumped.

That sense of shared hardship resonates, and even today the song still battles for the top spots—first or second—in karaoke rankings among people in their 50s and 60s.

University Counting SongSeikou

"University Counting Song" Hiroshi Moriya cover by Seiko

In 1962, Hiroshi Moriya sang a song that organized and compiled lyrics people at various universities had been making up and singing at parties and the like.

Although no university names are mentioned, it captures their characteristics quite well.

Even though the university enrollment rate wasn’t very high at the time, it may have served as a cheer song for studying.

outdatedKawashima Eigo

Out of Date – Eigo Kawashima

There must be many people who have walked through life like this.

It’s a modest path, but this song makes you feel that such a life is wonderful.

Eigo Kawashima’s songs are really popular among older men, but from a woman’s perspective, they reveal the way men live and make you want to cheer them on—an encouraging anthem.

Please, God!Za Tenputāzu

God, please.

A youthful prayer, staking sweet feelings on God, resounds alongside a heartfelt longing for love.

The Tempters’ passionate message is vividly colored by Kenichi Hagiwara’s husky voice and the band’s unified performance.

Released in March 1968, the song reached No.

2 on the Oricon chart and was also used in a Kanebo cosmetics commercial.

Its sound, infused with blues and R&B elements, continues to shine as a symbol of the golden age of Group Sounds.

This classic, which gently embraces the hearts of youth troubled by love, is perfect for moments when you want to be honest with your pure feelings or reaffirm your thoughts for someone special.

Blind BirdZa Moppusu

Blind Bird

This is the debut work released in November 1967 by The Mops, known as pioneers of the psychedelic movement during the tumultuous 1960s.

Its innovative arrangement—melding heavy guitar riffs with a dreamlike sound—shocked Japan’s music scene at the time.

Drawing attention for performances featuring outlandish costumes and light shows, this piece was also included on the album “Psychedelic Sound in Japan,” spawning numerous legends.

With the April 2014 release of the complete edition “Psychedelic Sound in Japan +2,” it became available on CD, prompting a renewed appreciation of its innovation.

It’s a must-listen for those who want to explore new musical possibilities or who are interested in the history of Japanese rock.