[2026] A Collection of Classic Enka and Kayōkyoku Songs About Nagasaki [Local Songs]

Shianbashi BluesNakai Akira, Takahashi Masaru to Kororatīno

Shianbashi Blues by Akira Nakai and Masaru Takahashi with Corolatino

It’s a classic song that vividly and emotionally portrays the cityscape of Nagasaki.

The lyrics, which overlay the rain-soaked streets with a lost love, really resonate.

Released in April 1968, it became a major hit, reaching No.

3 on the weekly Oricon chart and No.

15 for the year.

The song sparked a Nagasaki boom and had a significant impact on tourism.

The performance by Akira Nakai, Masaru Takahashi, and the Corolatino brings out the full appeal of melancholy mood kayō.

Listen to it on a rainy day, and it will touch your heart even more.

When you visit Nagasaki, why not stroll through the city while listening to this piece?

Nagasaki Secret SakeFujiwara Hiroshi

[Promotional Video] Hiroshi Fujiwara “Nagasaki Shinobi-zake (Secret Sake of Nagasaki)”

Set against the exotic backdrop of Nagasaki, this song by Hiroshi Fujiwara tenderly sings of bittersweet memories of love.

Weaving in Nagasaki’s scenery—Dutch Slope, the lights of Shinchi, and the foghorns of Dejima—it conveys the pain of heartbreak and lingering attachment.

Especially noteworthy is the sound of the erhu used in the accompaniment; its plaintive, gentle tone adds depth to the piece and resonates with listeners.

Released by King Records in February 2021, the single reached No.

47 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and stayed on the charts for seven weeks, capturing the hearts of many.

It’s a perfect track for those who want to savor Nagasaki’s charm while feeling the stirrings of love and a touch of melancholy.

Nagasaki ShigureShimazu Etsuko

Nagasaki Shigure

A masterpiece by Etsuko Shimazu that sings of Nagasaki’s charming rainy scenery while portraying the bittersweet love of two people.

With evocative images like Dutch Slope and the lights of Maruyama woven throughout, the song expresses—through a gentle, wistful voice—the figures of people who, though bearing wounds from the past, strive to find new happiness.

Released in October 2018, this gem carries on the lineage of enka set in Nagasaki while being spun with a contemporary sensibility.

It’s especially recommended for listening when visiting Nagasaki or on a rainy day.

Through this work, Nagasaki’s allure and the warmth of its people will surely seep into the listener’s heart.

Nagasaki RegretMikawa Ken’ichi

Nagasaki Regret

When it comes to kayōkyoku songs about Chichijima in the Ogasawara Islands, Chichijima Blues is well-known, but there is also this masterpiece of enka themed around Nagasaki by Kenichi Mikawa.

Set against the emotionally rich scenery of Nagasaki, it is a gem of a song that passionately sings of lingering feelings for a lost lover.

Released in October 2006, it has been included in Mikawa’s complete works albums and has been loved for many years.

Real place names such as Nagasaki’s Dutch Slope and Shianbashi appear, and the rain-soaked streets symbolically express a woman’s heartrending emotions.

It’s a recommended track for those who want to reminisce about a trip to Nagasaki or soothe the pain of a broken heart.

Nagasaki nights are purple.Segawa Eiko

Eiko Segawa “Nagasaki Nights Are Purple” (Official Audio)

Set against the beautiful purple nightscape of Nagasaki, this classic song poignantly laments a lost love.

Released in March 1970, it became Eiko Segawa’s first hit single.

Although she experienced more than fifteen years without major hits afterward, she made a spectacular comeback in 1986 with “Inochi Kurenai.” This work won the Expectation Award at the 3rd Japan Cable Awards and peaked at No.

25 on the Oricon charts.

It embodies Segawa’s strong desire to express Nagasaki’s beauty and melancholy through the enka genre.

It’s a perfect song to play when visiting Nagasaki or when you want to indulge in nostalgic memories.

Invited to NagasakiSazankurosu

Southern Cross “Invited to Nagasaki” (Official Audio)

This work is a celebrated “Nagasaki-themed” song released in 1981.

Set against the charming streets of Nagasaki, its evocative scenes—such as rain-dampened cobblestones and the Shianbashi district—vividly color the passionate moments shared by lovers.

It’s included on the album Ai: Yuji Mori and Southern Cross Original Album, and was later featured on the best-of collection Southern Cross Best 28 ~Ashidematoi~, released in April 2024.

It’s a recommended track for those who want to savor the allure of Nagasaki while indulging in a mature romance.

It might also be perfect as BGM for a rainy-day drive.

Nagasaki StoryYuri Akemi

Nagasaki Monogatari (Akemi Yuri)

One of the signature songs by Akemi Yuri, a singer who epitomized early Showa-era Japan, is this piece set in Nagasaki.

Its lyrics, which portray the exotic scenery of Nagasaki and the tragic love of a woman named Jagatara Oharu, blend with Yuri’s sultry voice to deeply move listeners.

Released in 1939, this work is a song that fully conveys the charm of Nagasaki.

It is included on the album “Japanese Popular Song Stars (23) Akemi Yuri: Nagasaki Monogatari ~ Atami Blues,” released by Victor Entertainment in December 2019.

This song is recommended not only for those interested in Nagasaki’s history and culture, but also for anyone who wants to experience popular songs from the early Showa period.