![[2026] The Heart of Our Hometowns Carried Through Song: A Roundup of Japanese Folk Singers, Including Young Talents!](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/Fo42X3IhQAU/maxresdefault.webp)
[2026] The Heart of Our Hometowns Carried Through Song: A Roundup of Japanese Folk Singers, Including Young Talents!
Powerful voices ringing out on festival nights; work songs passed down during rice-planting season… Folk songs that live on across Japan are a musical culture woven together with each region’s daily life and scenery.Many people may associate folk singers with something nostalgic and old-fashioned.But in fact, more and more female folk singers are taking on new forms of expression while faithfully carrying on tradition, and young artists are sharing the appeal of folk music with a fresh sensibility unique to their generation.In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of singers—from legendary figures who represent folk music to up-and-coming talents.You just might discover a voice from home that resonates in your heart!
[2026] The Heart of Our Hometown Passed Down in Song: A Collection of Japanese Folk Singers, Including Young Artists! (1–10)
Hanagasa OndoSaisei
Born in Hokkaido, Ayasei began studying folk songs at age 5, took up the Tsugaru shamisen at 7, and added the shakuhachi at 11, making him a “triple-threat” singer of song, Tsugaru shamisen, and shakuhachi.
He has won multiple national folk music competitions, claiming the 33rd Meijin title by winning the general division of the Dosanko Jinku National Competition, and was crowned Japan’s top elementary school performer at the Youth Competition of the Japan Folk Song and Dance Association.
He debuted in June 2019 at age 16 and received the Newcomer Award at the 61st Japan Record Awards at the end of the year.
His discography is notable for enka pieces that draw on folk material, as well as pure folk songs like “Tokachi Uma-uta” and “Tsugaru Jongara-bushi.” His standing performances—singing while playing shamisen or shakuhachi—are stunning.
Firmly grounded in tradition while embracing contemporary expression, Ayasei is highly recommended for anyone who wants to experience both the power of folk music and a fresh, youthful sensibility.
Hanagasa DanceShodai Suzuki Masao
Masao Suzuki was the legendary singer who made folk songs resonate across Japan in the Showa era.
Born in Marumori, Miyagi Prefecture, he made his record debut in 1931 and went on to record folk songs from all over the country, beginning with the ancient songs of the Soma region—amounting to as many as two thousand tracks.
From 1951 to 1956, he appeared a total of five times on NHK’s Red and White Song Contest, bringing the allure of folk music into living rooms with his resonant natural voice and crisp, articulate phrasing.
His performances were marked by meticulously crafted ensembles with shakuhachi, shamisen, and drums, and his contribution to establishing folk music as popular entertainment is immeasurable.
Cherishing regional songs and devoted to nurturing the next generation, Suzuki’s voice still conveys the warmth of home to many through reissue recordings.
For anyone who wishes to experience the roots of folk music, his work is a national treasure not to be missed.
Tsugaru Aiya-bushiRuri Takeno
Ruri Takeno, a native of Muroran, Hokkaido, began studying minyo (Japanese folk singing) at the age of four and has proven her talent by winning national competitions one after another since childhood.
In 2019, she won the youth division at the National Minyo and Folk Dance Championship, receiving both the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Award and the Governor of Tokyo Award—an achievement that significantly opened doors in her career.
She also holds a qualification as an occupational therapist while pursuing her performing arts career, an intriguing and unconventional background.
Building on the solid vocal technique honed through minyo, she has ventured into enka and pop music as well, achieving brilliant results such as earning a perfect score twice on TV Tokyo’s “The Karaoke Battle.” In her original work “Shikikachou / Hana Tsuzuri,” she also wrote the lyrics, infusing the songs with her love for her hometown.
While cherishing the allure of traditional minyo, she boldly explores new forms of expression; her singing is highly recommended even for those who have never experienced minyo before!
Mogami River Boat SongOtsuka Fumio
Fumio Otsuka, who grew up in Yamagata Prefecture immersed in folk songs as a “minyo boy,” studied under a local master from his junior high school years before moving to Tokyo to apprentice with Masao Suzuki I.
He debuted in 1966 as an exclusive artist with King Records, honing his craft while recording folk songs from Yamanashi and elsewhere.
In 1977, his dance-kayō piece “Shukuga no Mai” became a million-seller, a quintessential example of a popular hit in the folk music world.
In 2009, he received the title of Minyo Meijin (Master of Folk Song), and the following year he was named an honorary citizen of his hometown.
His singing—distinguished by a clear, pure upper register, articulate delivery, and skillful transitions between chest voice and falsetto—features breath control that never disrupts dance movements.
He’s a recommended artist for anyone who wants to savor the appeal of traditional Japanese folk music.
Ho-hai FestivalNakamura Hiroki Kazu
Tsugaru shamisen player Koki Nakamura took the stage for the first time at the age of one, inheriting the traditions of a family of folk singers.
At 14, he became the youngest winner of the All-Japan Tsugaru Shamisen Championship, and in 2022 he won the Individual Class A at the Tsugaru Shamisen World Tournament, earning the title of world champion.
He made his major streaming debut in April 2023 with the EP “AYUMI,” and released his first full album “TamiUta” in May 2024.
In 2025, he received the New Artist Award in the Popular Music category at the Music Pen Club Music Awards, the first ever in the field of traditional Japanese music and instruments.
His boundary-crossing activities—such as appearing in Yuzuru Hanyu’s ice show and performing with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra—powerfully showcase new charms of min’yō folk music.
He’s highly recommended for those who want to hear vocals that honor tradition while boldly exploring contemporary expression.
Sado O-kesa — Ore-Dressing Plant O-kesaKenmochi Yusuke
Yusuke Kenmochi, who received guidance from his father, Yutaka Kenmochi, from an early age, is said to have made his stage debut at just three years old.
He debuted in 2012 with the album “Onshin Denshin” on Nippon Columbia, then moved in 2019 to “Suirin,” Sony Music Labels’ imprint dedicated to Japanese music, releasing the mini-album “Uta.” Beginning with his victory at the 1993 Columbia National Folk Song Competition, he has gone on to win numerous titles, including the National Owase-bushi Competition and the Izumozaki Oke-sa National Tournament.
Though primarily a singer, he is a multi-talented performer who also plays shamisen and taiko, and his repertoire spans folk songs from various regions such as Niigata, Mie, and Aomori.
Raised in a family of folk musicians, Kenmochi’s voice blends tradition and innovation—an ideal match for anyone wishing to experience the enduring appeal of classic Japanese folk songs today.
Tsugaru Jongara-bushiHashimoto Daiki
Daiki Hashimoto learned the Tsugaru shamisen from his father in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and began full-fledged training at the age of 13.
He moved to Tokyo in 2004, built his career at the folk song tavern “Oi-wake” in Asakusa, and made his record debut in 2014 with the album “Minyo (Uta) no Tsubasa.” In 2007, he won the Excellence Award at the Tsugaru Shamisen Competition hosted by the Japan Folk Song Association, and in 2013, he achieved a double crown at the Japan Regional Folk Song Association’s National Competition, winning both the Thick-Neck Shamisen division and the Folk Song Highlights division.
His multifaceted talent—singing, shamisen, taiko, and zeni-daiko—has also shone in performances by Aya Shimazu and Ikuzo Yoshi.
Now based in Hitachiota, Ibaraki Prefecture, he performs nationwide while serving as a member of a regional revitalization cooperation team.
Hashimoto’s performances, which firmly preserve the traditions of folk song while embracing contemporary stage expression, are recommended for anyone seeking the fresh appeal of minyo.