Article: 10 Japanese Retro Songs

Music can prove to be healing. It can calm you down, but it can also get you pumped up. Where the music comes from or what language it is in, hardly matters. All music can make you sway, one way or the other. Follow this list to discover some retro Japanese songs that might just be worth your time.

1. Stay With Me

Artist - Matsubara Miki

Released in the year 1980 in the album ‘Pocket Park’, Matsubara Miki’s ‘Stay with Me’ is an absolute masterpiece that one must listen to. This song just so happens to be Miki’s debut song as well. ‘Stay With Me’ is arguably one of the most well-known 90’s Japanese songs. The song became increasingly popular on TikTok and Instagram Reels after being featured on it.

 

2. Odoru Pompokolin

Artist - B.B. Queens

The sensational B.B. Queens debuted in 1990, with ‘Odoru Pompokolin’. The song was first used as the ending theme to the first edition of ‘Chibi Maruko-Chan’ anime. The song became so popular, that it achieved much greater fame than the opening theme to the long-running second edition.

 

3. Oyoge! Taiyaki-Kun

Artist - Shimon Masato

‘Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun’ is a song that has made history in the Japanese music industry. The song was released in 1975. It was the first single to debut at number one in the history of Oricon on the Oricon weekly chart. Oyoge stayed on the top of the chart for eleven consecutive weeks. The song also broke the Guinness World Records of the best-selling Japanese song, surpassing ‘Onna no Michi’.

 

4. Ringo No Uta

Artist - Namiki Michiko (Actress) & Kirishima Noboru (Singer)

‘Ringo no Uta’ was featured in the 1945 movie ‘Soyokaze’. Soyokaze was the first movie released in Japan after the end of World War 2. Ringo no Uta was written by the lyricist and poet Sato Hachiro and composer Manjome Tadashi, who was also the producer of the movie. It is considered to be the first hit song in Japan post World War 2.

 

5. Otomi-San

Artist - Kasuga Hachiro

‘Otomi-san’ is an enka song released in 1954. This old song tells us about a love that is forbidden, and why it is forbidden. The song also tells us why this love should be forbidden. The song is based on ‘Yowa Nasaki Uki Nano Kogushi’, a Kabuki play.

 

6. The Stardust Memory

Artist - Koizumi Kyoko

‘The Stardust Memory’ is a song released by the singer-actress Koizumi Kyoko. Koizumi is known for her roles in ‘Ama-chan’ and ‘Shokuzai’. The song ‘The Stardust Memories’ had topped the Oricon Charts in 1985.

 

7. Sore Ga Daiji

Artist - Daijiman Brothers Orchestra

‘Sore Ga Daiji’ is a popular 90’s song that has had many remakes made. One of the most popular remakes is by Asakura Azumi, Nakamura Manami, and Hara Yumi. Their cover was featured on ‘The Idolm@ster Station!!! Nouvelle Vague’. But it would still be safe to say that no matter how many covers and remakes come around, the original track has a vibe the just can’t be recreated.

 

8. Kita Na Yadokara

Artist - Miyako Harumi

‘Kita na Yadokara’ is an enka song released in 1975. The song had topped Oricon Charts and also won the 18th Japan Record Awards’ Grand Prix Award. ‘Kita na Yadokara’ was featured in the episode ‘The Great San Francisco Chase’ of ‘Lupin 3, Part 2’.

 

9. Ame No Midosuji

Artist - Ouyang Fei Fei

‘Ame no Midosuji’ was Ouyang Fei Fei’s debut single. The song was released in 1971 and sold over 1 million units. Fei’s single had also reached the no.1 position on the Oricon Charts. ‘Ame no Midosuji’ was composed by The Ventures, and its lyrics were written by Hayashi Haruo. Fei had won the ‘Best Newcomer’ price at the 13th Japan Record Awards.

 

10. Kaette Kita Yopparai

Artist - The Folk Crusaders

‘Kaette Kita Yopparai’ was part of the self-produced album, Harenchi. Only 300 copies of the album were released. Harenchi was the last album The Folk Crusaders released before they dissolved the 3 members (originally 5, but 2 left at an early stage).