[2026 Edition] Songs Loved by People in Their 60s: Classic Hits from Their Youth
For people now in their 60s, their youth was around the 1970s, right?
The music you listened to in your teens and twenties still resonates in your heart today, wrapped in memories.
In this article, we’ve compiled songs that colored the youth of those in their 60s—classics from the era when many Showa pop and folk masterpieces were born.
We hope it helps you reminisce alongside your memories of those days, and also serves as a guide for choosing karaoke songs to enjoy with your peers.
Of course, it’s also recommended for younger generations interested in Showa-era music!
- Good songs recommended for people in their 60s: classic and popular Japanese tracks
- Popularity Ranking of Songs by Generation: 60s [2026]
- [Recommended for people in their 70s] Classic nostalgic hits: A collection of youth songs
- Recommended for women in their 60s! Easy-to-sing Japanese karaoke songs
- Coming-of-age songs for your 50s: heart-thumping × heartwarming classics and popular tracks [2026]
- Popular Japanese songs among men in their 60s: recommended masterpieces and classic tracks
- [60s] Karaoke Popularity Rankings by Generation [2026]
- Recommended for women in their 60s! Songs that get the crowd going at karaoke
- Love songs that resonate with women in their 60s: gem-like romance tunes that revive memories of youth.
- [For People in Their 60s] Ranking of Easy-to-Sing Karaoke Songs [2026]
- [Ages 60s] Popular Japanese Music / J-POP Rankings [By Generation]
- A love song that makes a man in his sixties relive his youth. Timeless classics that rekindle the romances of those days.
- Spring songs for people in their 60s: A collection of classic tracks about cherry blossoms and farewells
[2026 Edition] Songs Loved by People in Their 60s: Classic Hits from Their Nostalgic Youth (71–80)
RomanceIwasaki Hiromi
The song “Romance,” which colored the music scene of the 1970s, is an immortal classic whose melody and lyrics convey deep affection and have left a lasting mark on many hearts.
Hiromi Iwasaki’s clear, powerful voice vividly expresses the bittersweet emotions of love, and the song won numerous awards when it was released.
It continues to be beloved by karaoke fans today, captivating listeners across generations and securing its status as a defining hit of the ’70s.
For many, it brings back memories of youthful, aching love and days of adolescence.
For those who lived through that era and for newer generations alike, it is a nostalgic piece that resonates deeply and comes highly recommended.
Let me have that wonderful love once moreKatō Kazuhiko, Kitayama Osamu
The refined melody of “Ano Subarashii Ai wo Mou Ichido” is beautiful.
The song features lyrics by Kazuhiko Kato and music by Osamu Kitayama, and it was released in 1971.
Its charm lies in a mysterious tone that feels gently tender within a slightly melancholic atmosphere.
Loved across generations, the song has been covered by famous singers such as Yosui Inoue and Keisuke Kuwata.
Beyond folk singers, even 2000s idol units like Momoiro Clover Z have covered it, showing just how widely it is cherished across different age groups.
Playback Part 2Yamaguchi Momoe
The 22nd single by the legendary idol Momoe Yamaguchi, who is also known as one of the “Hana no Chūsan Trio.” As the title suggests, the performance briefly stops midway through the first verse and then starts again—a playful structural twist that surely made a strong impact at the time.
With its memorable guitar phrases and bass line, the song is compelling not only vocally but also in its catchy arrangement.
Its distinctive arrangement—unlike much of today’s J-pop—feels fresh to younger listeners as well, and it’s a number that symbolizes the youth of those now in their 60s.
[2026 Edition] Songs Loved by People in Their 60s: Classic Hits from Their Nostalgic Youth (81–90)
Shiretoko Ryojo (Shiretoko Travel Sentiment)Katō Tokiko
When it comes to singer-songwriters who were active in the 1970s, Tokiko Kato immediately comes to mind.
“Shiretoko Ryojo” is a song written and composed by Hisaya Morishige after he visited the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido, and it gained popularity in 1970 when Tokiko Kato sang it.
Her voice carries a gentle warmth throughout, and each word of the lyrics resonates with depth.
The relaxed harmonies, perfectly matching the tranquil scenery of Shiretoko, make it a song you’ll want to listen to while taking a carefree walk.
With its laid-back tempo and simple chord progression, it’s also a great choice for those who want to practice guitar.
As time goes bysawada kenji
Kenji Sawada, who helped lead the Group Sounds era that reached its peak in the late 1960s.
After his time with The Tigers and PYG, he transitioned to a solo career and continued to release hits such as “Kiken na Futari” and “Katte ni Shiyagare.” “Toki no Sugiyuku Mama ni” is his 14th single, released on August 21, 1975.
It became a classic hit as an insert song for the TBS drama “Akuma no Yōna Aitsu,” in which he starred.
With its overwhelming vocal prowess, androgynous aura, and quintessential Showa kayō (Japanese pop) vibe, it’s a number that lets you fully savor that era.
I’d love for younger generations to give it a listen!
blue eyesJakkī Yoshikawa to Burū Komettsu
A masterpiece where a wistful melody merges with a stirring band sound.
First released during the dawn of the Group Sounds era—its English version in March 1966 and Japanese version in July—the song portrays a bittersweet romance with a woman encountered at the end of a journey through northern landscapes.
Following the English version’s sales of over 100,000 copies, the Japanese version became a massive hit, surpassing 500,000.
It earned Jackie Yoshikawa and the Blue Comets a spot in the 17th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen and helped ignite the GS boom.
With its polished performance and harmonies, this sonic world is a perfect pick for anyone wishing to bask in memories of first love and youth.
From the northern innMiyako Harumi
This is a song released in 1975 by enka singer Harumi Miyako that expresses a woman’s lingering feelings for a man she parted with.
The song was a simultaneous million-seller, was performed on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen for two consecutive years, and won the top prize at both the 18th Japan Record Awards and the 9th Japan Cable Radio Awards.
It’s a track that brings back memories of painful young love.
Many people in their 60s may still sing it at karaoke, don’t you think? Though the lyrics are heartrending, Harumi Miyako’s powerful vocals make it a strikingly cool piece.
