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 (121–130)

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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Eternal, unchanging loveOda Tetsurō

Unchanging Love Forever — Tetsuro Oda

Eternal, unchanging loveOda Tetsurō

This is a hit song that showcases Tetsuro Oda’s true artistry.

I believe the charm of this track lies in its lyrics and melody, which evoke a refreshing morning sun.

The bright lyrics, written in polite language that carefully depict a young man’s coming of age, are sure to resonate with men in their thirties.

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I want to shout that I love you.BAAD

"Slam Dunk Theme Song" vol. 2 BAAD - 'I Want to Shout That I Love You' sung by Kaname Kawabata (Short Ver.)

I want to shout that I love you.BAAD

It’s a timeless masterpiece etched in my heart along with memories of my nostalgic youth.

Beginning with a fresh morning scene, it portrays the protagonist’s emotions as they waver between friendship and romantic feelings, conveyed through a passionate melody and powerful vocals.

A signature work by BAAD, it was released as a single in December 1993 and used as the first opening theme for the TV anime SLAM DUNK.

In March 2021, it won the Users’ Choice Award at the Heisei Anisong Grand Prize, and it continues to be loved across generations.

With lyrics that explore universal themes such as the frustrations of love and the courage to take a step forward, it’s perfect for moments when you want to indulge in sweet, bittersweet memories of romance.

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[For men in their 30s] Nostalgic music: Recommended popular songs (131–140)

Tomorrow will surely be a good day.Takahashi Yuu

Yū Takahashi’s directorial debut MV “Tomorrow Will Surely Be a Good Day” — Omokuri Director Edit Version (Short Size)

Tomorrow will surely be a good day.Takahashi Yuu

Released in 2015, this is Yu Takahashi’s 12th major-label single and was also used in a car commercial.

Its uplifting lyrics and powerful vocals can give you energy when you’re tired or feeling lost.

The music video was also directed by Yu Takahashi himself.

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In conclusion

We’ve put together a roundup of songs popular among men in their 30s.

I’m sure there were some tracks that made you feel nostalgic! The songs from this era—often called the golden age of J-pop—are full of timeless classics that still sound cool today.

When you listen again now, you might even hear them differently than you did back then.