Interesting Japanese songs recommended for men in their 60s

Song of the Motor ShowKobayashi Akira

Akira Kobayashi — The Auto Show Song

It’s a song by Akira Kobayashi called “The Automobile Show Song,” which could be considered a quite famous comic song.

Automotive-related keywords are sprinkled throughout the lyrics, and this technique can be called a classic, mainstream pattern for comic songs.

Yellow Submarine OndoKanazawa Akiko

Yellow Submarine Ondo / Akiko Kanazawa

It’s a song that, originally, somehow turned a Beatles track into an ondō and had Akiko Kanazawa sing it—a chemical reaction that ended up working brilliantly.

Come to think of it, there was also Masato Shimon’s Japanese version of the Star Wars theme with added lyrics, but that’s remembered for different reasons.

The singing, of course, is outstanding.

Enka chanchaka-chanHirano Masaaki

Masaaki Hirano Enka Chanchaka-chan EP Record

It’s a song that strings together one-liners from various enka hits up to that time, weaving in clever call-and-response interjections to create a medley.

When the song was popular, the Drifters often imitated it in their skits on shows like “Zen’in Shūgō,” using it as a running gag.

Nonsensical Songbakushou mondai

It’s a song from Ponkickies that, for some reason, ended up being a hit when Bakausha Mondai sang it.

The song is extremely short, and as the title suggests, it’s kind of “nonsense” — maybe the fact that it actually works better when you sing it casually and goof around with it is what made it so good.

Chanchanko ~KANREKI 60~Pikotarō

Chanchanko ~KANREKI60~ / PIKOTARO

It’s a humor-filled song celebrating one’s 60th birthday.

Centered on the major life milestone of turning sixty, it combines straightforward congratulations with a powerful cheer for the life ahead.

The catchy phrases and rhythm that make you want to hum along are exactly what you’d expect from Pikotaro.

Released in June 2025 as a song for NHK’s “Minna no Uta,” it also drew major attention for its music video created with generative AI.

Play it at a loved one’s 60th-birthday celebration, and the whole place is sure to brighten up.

Let’s all sing and dance and turn it into the best party ever!

Theme of the Mean/Spiteful Old Ladysurappusuteikku

Slapstick – Theme of the Mean Old Lady

A catchy and fun song that became a big hit as the theme for ‘Mean Old Lady.’ Slapstick was a band formed by top voice actors of the time, and I think this is probably their most famous song.

Saizansu MamboToni Tani

Tony Tani - Saizansu Mambo

With an abacus in hand and a jaunty rhythm, this is one of Tony Tani’s hit songs, famous for the line “What’s your name?” Tony Tani himself now feels retro, and the abacus as an item also gives off a retro vibe nowadays.

Amiami dadaba AmidababaAkashiya Sanma

4 Ami Ami Dada-ba / Ami dada ba

In the Take-chan Man segment, which became the main event within Oretachi Hyōkin-zoku, Akashiya Sanma took on a variety of villain roles after the very early days, and every one of them became famous.

Most of the characters had their own funny theme songs, but here I’d like to highlight the B-side of the Amida Babaa song, which, as far as I know, wasn’t used in the show.

It’s understated, but it’s an amazing track.

Whip, s’il vous plaît.pinkī makaron

Mysterious Change Pinky Macaron [Asumi Nakata] Whip S'il Vous Plaît Base

This is the theme song for Wonder Change Pinky Macaron, which was aired as a segment within the E-Tele children’s program Bit World.

It’s a mystery how the intro and chorus sound quite similar to the theme song of the anime HeartCatch PreCure, which aired around the same time.

Spiraling Days and DreamsDegawa Tetsurō

The Power of Dreams

This is a song Tetsurou Degawa sang on E-Tele’s children’s program, Tensai Terebi-kun.

To be honest, you can’t exactly call Degawa’s singing good, but the song itself is excellent, and that imbalance is oddly irresistible.