Great enka masterpieces and hit songs of the 2000s

Castle of White CloudsHikawa Kiyoshi

Kiyoshi Hikawa / Castle of White Clouds [Official]

It’s a single that unfolds like a grand historical tale, woven from bygone glory and the passage of time.

Released by Kiyoshi Hikawa in 2003, it’s included on the album “Kiyoshi Hikawa: Enka Masterpiece Collection 3 ~ Castle of White Clouds.” Set against the backdrop of a decayed castle, its poetic worldview strikingly contrasts the transience of human life with the eternity of nature.

The scenes recalling the once-valiant young warrior depicted in the lyrics deeply move the listener.

A classical orchestration that transcends the bounds of enka fuses beautifully with Hikawa’s passionate vocals, stirring the heart with an overwhelming sense of scale.

It’s a masterpiece to savor on a night when you want to dwell on the romance of history.

Two FlowersFuji Ayako

Ayako Fuji “Futari Bana” Music Video (1 chorus)

This is a single by Ayako Fuji, released in August 2000.

Many listeners were likely moved by the earnest figure of a woman who dedicates herself to the one she loves, supporting him with a smile even in hard times.

The song is a classic number created by a leading enka duo: lyricist Yasuteru Miura and composer Hideo Mizumori.

At the 51st NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen that year, it was performed as the eighth act for the Red Team in a duet with Joji Yamamoto, gracing the stage with brilliance.

Listening to it while quietly reflecting on the journey you and your longtime partner have walked together may fill you with gratitude for one another.

It’s a masterpiece that reminds us of the happiness found in everyday life and the warmth of an unwavering bond.

Lonely-for-Company TavernMiyama Hiroshi

Hito-koi Sakaba - Hiroshi Miyama - with lyrics - MP4

It was released in 2009 as Hiroshi Miyama’s debut single.

The song reached No.

17 on the Oricon Singles Chart, and in September 2010, one year and three months after its release, sales surpassed 100,000 copies, earning it a Gold Disc certification.

With a rhythm that pairs well with hand claps and a lively, uplifting feel, it’s an enka number that brings the audience together as one.

Snow in HimiHarada Yuuri

Yuri Harada - Snow of Himi (Enka Hyakusen)

Released in 2004 as Yuri Harada’s 22nd single.

This local-themed song is set in Himi City, Toyama Prefecture, and is a poignant enka with memorable lyrics about a woman from Himi who still longs for the man who left, her single-minded feelings growing stronger.

It has become one of Yuri Harada’s famous songs, showcasing her heartfelt rendition of a sorrowful woman’s emotions filled with melancholy.

Kanazawa Nostalgia SongMatsubara Takeshi

Kanazawa Nostalgia Song

Released in 2005 as Takeyuki Matsubara’s debut single.

Set in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, the song’s lyrics are based on Hiroyuki Itsuki’s previously published paperback Kanazawa Bōkyōka.

After its release, it became a representative “local song” of Kanazawa, with Kanazawa Bōkyōka adopted as background music in the concourse of JR Kanazawa Station.

Tottori Sand DunesMizumori Kaori

Kaori Mizumori - Tottori Sand Dunes

It was released in 2003 as Kaori Mizumori’s 11th single.

Thanks to the song’s long-running success, Mizumori made her first appearance on NHK’s 54th Kōhaku Uta Gassen on New Year’s Eve 2003.

Following the hit, she became known as the “Queen of Local Songs,” continued to release hits in the subsequent years, and has appeared on Kōhaku for 22 consecutive years.

duckweedKouzai Kaori

Ukinegusa / Kaori Kozai / cover by Masa

It was released in 2000 as Kaori Kozai’s 18th single.

Although it peaked at No.

30 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart, it won the Best Vocal Performance Award at the 42nd Japan Record Awards.

Following the hit of “Mugonzaka” in 1993 and a subsequent lull, this became Kaori Kozai’s first hit of the 2000s.