For men in their 30s: Nostalgic music. Recommended popular songs

Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.

In your busy 30s, juggling work and personal life, it’s easy to have fewer chances to listen to music in your daily routine.

Of course, you probably still hear the latest hits, but the songs that really stay with you are likely the ones from your student days, when you listened to music the most, right?

People in their 30s today were likely students in the ’90s to ’00s, and there are so many songs from that era whose lyrics you can still sing along to even now.

In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of popular tracks that still resonate with men in their 30s!

You’re sure to come across songs that make you feel nostalgic!

[For Men in Their 30s] Nostalgic Music: Recommended Popular Songs (111–120)

celeryYamazaki Masayoshi

Masayoshi Yamazaki / Celery

celeryYamazaki Masayoshi

A popular song by singer-songwriter Masayoshi Yamazaki, known for its upbeat lyrics.

His rounded, distinctive vocals, catchy and easy-to-listen-to rhythm, and a melody line that lifts your spirits are particularly striking.

Many people probably sing it often at karaoke.

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[For Men in Their 30s] Nostalgic Music: Recommended Popular Songs (121–130)

I’ll walk home.Saitō Kazuyoshi

I'll walk home.

I'll walk home.Saitō Kazuyoshi

The fourth single by Kazuyoshi Saito, released in 1994.

It was used as the opening theme for the kids’ show Ponkickies, known for Gachapin and Mukku, so back then it had a bright, child-friendly image.

But listening now, that’s not really the case.

It’s a gentle song full of Kazuyoshi Saito’s signature style that blows away small worries.

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NATIVE STRANGERHimuro Kyosuke

KYOSUKE HIMURO -NATIVE STRANGER-

NATIVE STRANGERHimuro Kyosuke

A song released by Kyosuke Himuro in 1997 as his 15th solo single.

Set to a characteristically Himuro high-velocity guitar sound, it portrays a man who refuses to settle for the status quo and keeps on challenging himself—surely a track that thrilled many listeners in their thirties.

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Limited Expressyuzu

Choutokkyuu

Limited Expressyuzu

Yuzu is a musical group that has become synonymous with folk duos in the J-POP scene.

Their 22nd single, “Chotokkyu,” released as a double A-side with “Hi wa Mata Noboru,” was chosen as the theme song for the reality dating show Ainori.

The lyrics depict changing environments within the passing everyday life, and those in their 30s—the generation that listened to it in their youth—may feel a different kind of realism now.

With Yuzu’s signature refreshing harmonies and ensemble, it’s a comfortable, karaoke-friendly pop tune that comes highly recommended.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Sly womanSha ran Q

Sharan Q “Sly Woman” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

Sly womanSha ran Q

This song is a million-selling track by Sharan Q and is very popular for karaoke.

I think many men in their 30s remember them singing it in somewhat flashy, edgy outfits.

A few years after this song was released, Morning Musume made their debut.

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Don’t avert your eyes.DEEN

DEEN “Don’t Avert Your Eyes” from ‘DEEN at BUDOKAN FOREVER ~25th Anniversary~’

Don't avert your eyes.DEEN

One of DEEN’s signature songs released in 1994, it also drew attention for having lyrics written by Izumi Sakai of ZARD.

Featured in a soft drink commercial, the track has a refreshing feel that evokes a clear summer sky.

Some listeners may even have enjoyed a drive with a woman while playing this song.

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My Past Life, Many Lifetimes AgoRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – Zenzenzense [original ver.] [Official Music Video]

My Past Life, Many Lifetimes AgoRADWIMPS

A RADWIMPS track that portrays a fateful encounter and eternal love.

Yojiro Noda’s emotionally rich vocals narrate the bond between two people who meet at the ends of galaxies.

Included on the album “Ningen Kaika,” the song was also used as an insert track in director Makoto Shinkai’s film “Your Name.” Released in August 2016, it generated major buzz, spending eight consecutive weeks in the Billboard JAPAN Hot 100 top 10.

Recommended for those who want to resonate with a love that transcends time and space.

It’s also a popular karaoke song, so why not hum along and bask in a bit of nostalgia?

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