Popular Japanese songs among men in their 60s: recommended masterpieces and classic tracks

Dancing All Nightmonta & burazāzu

Dancing All Night

This song is the major-label debut single by Monta & Brothers, released in April 1980.

It dominated the Oricon charts for 10 consecutive weeks and became the top song of the year in 1980—a massive hit.

With lyrics by Keiji Mizutani and music by Yoshinori Monta, the piece captures the sweetness and bitterness of love, as well as its fleeting beauty.

The lyrics, which portray a page of youth where inexpressible emotions are conveyed through dance, are sure to resonate with many listeners.

Why not listen to it with someone special, alongside your fond memories?

ChampionArisu

Champion (Live ver.) / Alice [Official Movie]

Released in December 1978, this song by Alice became a major hit, topping the Oricon charts.

Written and composed by Shinji Tanimura, it also reigned at No.

1 on The Best Ten for four consecutive weeks.

The lyrics, which depict a seasoned champion, are said to be modeled after boxer Cassius Naito.

The shift from folk to rock helped the band gain a new audience.

The words, which sing of the liberation of returning to being an ordinary man, brilliantly capture an athlete’s anguish and glory.

It’s perfect for firing up a karaoke session or when you’re standing at a crossroads in life.

With Alice’s characteristically wistful vocals, it’s a song that truly resonates.

Lingering Snowiruka

Dolphin [Iruka] / Nagori-yuki [Lingering Snow] (Single Version) Official Audio with translation

This song poignantly portrays a heartrending farewell, using unseasonal snow as its motif.

Set on a station platform as spring approaches, the story vividly conveys the lingering attachment of a man who cannot accept the parting.

First performed on the album “The World of Iruka,” recorded in March 1975, and released as a single that November, it became one of Iruka’s signature classics.

It peaked at No.

4 on the Oricon chart, ranked No.

11 for the year, and sold over 800,000 copies.

With Masataka Matsutoya’s rich arrangement paired with Iruka’s gentle vocals, the song beautifully depicts the scene of farewell.

It’s recommended for moments when you want to reminisce about your youth and look back on precious times with someone dear.

Parting at 22kaze

Kaze – Farewell at 22 (Official Audio)

When it comes to the folk duo Kaze’s signature songs, this poignant number about a bittersweet breakup stands out.

Shozo Ise’s delicate lyrics and the beautiful harmonies with Kazuhisa Okubo resonate deeply.

Upon its release in 1975, it spent four consecutive weeks at number one on the Oricon charts.

It went on to sell over a million copies, becoming a monumental hit and virtually synonymous with Kaze.

Told from the perspective of a 22-year-old woman, the five-year love story struck a chord with many and has been cherished for decades.

In this piece, the complex emotions of a woman who has resolved to part ways are sung with quiet yet powerful conviction.

Anyone who has experienced a farewell with someone dear will surely feel it in their heart.

I LOVE YOUOzaki Yutaka

[Official] Yutaka Ozaki “I LOVE YOU” (LIVE CORE IN TOKYO DOME 1988-09-12) [11th Single] YUTAKA OZAKI / I LOVE YOU

A gem-like love ballad depicting a heartrending romance between a young man and woman.

The burning emotions of the two lovers are expressed alongside delicate piano tones.

This work can be described as a piece in which Yutaka Ozaki’s signature delicate poetic expression is beautifully harmonized with universal themes.

Included on the December 1983 album “Seventeen’s Map,” it was later released as a single in March 1991.

It was also used as the image song for the film “Hot Road” and as a JR Tokai commercial song.

A moving ballad you’ll want to listen to alone on a quiet night.

Its simple melody line also makes it easy to sing at karaoke, perfect for conveying your feelings to someone special.

Please give me wingsakai tori

Red Bird “Please Give Me Wings” 1971

A moving classic that sings of young people’s pure desire for freedom and the wish to live true to oneself.

The beautiful harmonies by Akai Tori are striking, and the blend of lyrics by Mito Yamagami and melody by Kunihiko Murai is superb.

Released in February 1971 as the B-side to “Takeda no Komoriuta,” it was also included on the album Takeda no Komoriuta released in July of the same year.

Since 1997, it has been used as a cheer song for Japan’s national soccer team and was also chosen as the theme song for the film Whisper of the Heart.

This song teaches the importance of holding onto dreams and hopes from childhood while continuing to move toward them.

It’s a recommended track for when you want to release pent-up feelings or take a new step forward.

Cactus Flowerchūrippu

Cactus Flower

A poignant love song themed around parting and renewal with a loved one.

Sparked by a small incident one day, the girlfriend storms out of the room; from there, the lyrics delicately depict the scene of the room left behind and the man’s inner feelings.

Gentle lines evoke everyday images—the snowy view from the window, a half-knitted glove, laundry—rising vividly to the mind.

Released in February 1975, this work is cherished by many fans as one of Tulip’s signature songs.

It drew renewed attention as the theme song for the 1993 TV drama “Under One Roof,” making it widely known among younger generations as well.

Its beautiful melody, conveying both the pain of heartbreak and a sense of hope, carries a universal message that resonates with the heart.

It’s the perfect song for looking back on a bygone romance or deepening your feelings for someone special.