[2026] The Heart of Our Hometowns Carried Through Song: A Roundup of Japanese Folk Singers, Including Young Talents!

Chakkiri-bushiichimaru

Chagiribushi — Folk Song

Ichimaru, a geisha singer who bridged classical Japanese music and popular music from the dawn of the Showa-era record industry through the postwar period.

She began her artistic path as a hangyoku (apprentice geisha) in Asama Onsen, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, and after moving to Tokyo, trained rigorously until she earned the professional title (natori) in Kiyomoto, Nagauta, and kouta.

Debuting in 1931 as an exclusive singer for Victor Records, she gained popularity with songs such as “Kirigirisu” and “Hamamachi Kashi,” which embodied the aesthetics of hauta and kouta.

After the war, “Shamisen Boogie” became a major hit, drawing attention for its fusion of tradition and modernity.

Her achievements were highly acclaimed: she received the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1972 and a Special Award at the Japan Record Awards in 1980.

As the head (iemoto) of the Edo Kouta Nakamura school, she also dedicated herself to preserving the classical tradition.

Ichimaru’s voice—uniquely harmonizing the projected tone of tatami-room performance with the characteristics of the recording microphone—is one of a kind.

She is highly recommended for anyone wishing to experience the refined beauty of traditional Japanese music.

Jōban Coal Mine SongMitsubishi Michiya

Mitsuhashi Michiya - Tokiwa Tanko-bushi

Michiya Mihashi, born in Kamiiso, Hokkaido, showed his talent for folk music from an early age, winning a national competition at the age of nine.

After signing an exclusive contract with King Records in 1954, his 1955 release Onna Sendō Uta became a major hit.

He went on to cover a wide range—from folk songs such as Hokkai Bon Uta, Hanagasa Ondo, and Sōran Bushi to popular songs including Aishū Ressha, Yūyake Tonbi, and Kojō—amassing a total of over 100 million records pressed over his lifetime.

In 1962, he received the Japan Record Award for Best Vocal Performance and appeared on Kōhaku Uta Gassen a total of 14 times.

His achievements in blending folk vocal stylings—marked by his resonant high notes and distinctive kobushi ornamentation—into popular music are immeasurable.

With a powerful voice grounded in Tsugaru shamisen technique, he helped elevate regional folk songs to national prominence, making him a singer especially recommended for those who wish to cherish the spirit of their hometown.

Hanagasa OndoAsakura Saya

LIVE(Tokyo , JAPAN) Minyo Hanagasa Ondo – (free use) No Copyright Saya Asakura

Saya Asakura, a native of Yamagata Prefecture, has been familiar with folk songs since childhood and began formal study in the second grade of elementary school.

During her elementary and junior high years, she won first place twice at national folk song competitions, marking her as a highly accomplished performer.

In 2012, she met producer solaya and garnered attention with her “Dialect Revolution,” arranging classic songs in the Yamagata dialect.

Her album River Boat Song -Future Trax- received the Planning Award at the Japan Record Awards, drawing notice as a win from an independent release.

Her unique style—melding folk-song ornamentation and kobushi vocal inflections with EDM and rock-inspired sounds—reflects a commitment to preserving tradition while exploring new forms of expression.

Her live performances, ranging from shamisen-and-vocal sets to full band arrangements, are also compelling, making her an artist highly recommended for those who want to enjoy the allure of folk music in a contemporary way.

OmoteyanAkasaka Koume

Akasaka Koume / Otemoyan

Akasaka Koume brought the performance skills she honed as a geisha in the red-light districts into the world of records from the early Showa era.

Born in Kawasaki, Tagawa District, Fukuoka Prefecture, she debuted as a singer in 1929 with the backing of figures like Noguchi Ujo, mastering a broad repertoire that spanned hauta, kouta, and folk songs.

Beginning with “Honto ni Sō nara” in 1933, she elevated the work songs and celebratory songs of Kyushu’s coal-mining region onto the national stage—an achievement that truly commands admiration.

After the war, she appeared a total of four times on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen between 1951 and 1956, and she received numerous honors, including the Arts Festival Excellence Award, the Medal with Purple Ribbon, and the Order of the Precious Crown, Fourth Class.

Her bright, lustrous timbre and the distinctive light flip at the end of her phrases—her unique kobushi—are techniques polished in the pleasure quarters.

Influencing the narrative style of enka as well, her singing is brimming with a unique appeal born from the fusion of earthy rhythms and urban chic.

She is a singer highly recommended for those who want to trace the roots of folk music or experience the song culture of the Showa era.

Scent of plum blossomsYonaha Tetsu

Scent of Plum Blossom, Yonaha Tetsu, 2005

Tetsu Yonaha, who has been familiar with uta-sanshin since childhood under his father’s guidance and studied Ryukyuan dance at the same time, was born in Okinawa in 1976.

After graduating from the Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, he has continued to work as a singer and sanshin player traversing Okinawan folk songs (shima-uta) and Ryukyuan classical music.

Starting with the Newcomer Encouragement Prize at the Ryukyuan Classical Performing Arts Competition in 1993, he went on to win the top award for sanshin in 1999 and became a bearer of the nationally designated Important Intangible Cultural Property “Kumiodori.” In 2022, he was also recognized as a bearer of the nationally designated Important Intangible Cultural Property “Ryukyuan Dance,” making him a rare artist who has mastered singing, sanshin, flute, drum, and dance across disciplines.

His notable works include the albums “Roots: Ryukyu Celebration Songs” and “Tunaka,” and in 2022 he released “ROOTS: Ryugaku Keisho Vol.

3 – Island Song Collection.” While grounded in the melodic turns of shima-uta and the dignity of Ryukyuan classical music, his flexibility—demonstrated by active collaborations with J-pop—is a major draw.

Highly recommended for anyone interested in experiencing Okinawa’s traditional music!

Tsugaru Yosare-bushiKishi Chieko

Chieko Kishi - Tsugaru Yosare-bushi / Chiekko Yosare

Chieko Kishi, nicknamed the “Shaking Minyo” singer, was known for her overwhelming vocal power nurtured by the Tsugaru homeland and her unique performance style of boldly swaying her body as she sang.

A child prodigy who made her stage debut at age seven, she fully returned to performing in 1975 and expanded her activities nationwide as a leading figure in Tsugaru folk music.

Her 1985 release Chiekko Yosare sold 200,000 copies, and in 1988 she even appeared on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen—an exceptional achievement for a folk singer—earning nationwide popularity.

Her bright, Tsugaru-dialect-laced banter and audience-engaging stagecraft radiated such a strong personality that she became a subject on impressionist TV shows.

While preserving traditional vocal techniques, Kishi ventured into the realms of enka and popular song, opening up new possibilities for folk music.

She is a singer we highly recommend to anyone moved by performers who express the heart of their hometown with their whole being.

Sakata Funakata-bushiInoue Chiharu

Sakata Funakata-bushi

Based in Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture, Chiharu Inoue grew up immersed in folk songs, with a father who taught shamisen and a mother who was a folk singer, and began serious study under her father at age 20.

In 2000, she won the Yamagata Prefecture Folk Song Championship to become the 43rd titleholder.

In 2001, she received the Prime Minister’s Award at the National Competition of the Japan Folk Song Association, and in 2002 she won the Grand Prix at the Japan Minyo Festival held at NHK Hall.

Having twice attained the top spot in Japan, she was officially recognized by her hometown as “Japan’s best.” In 2010, she released the album “Kaen” (Song Banquet) from Nippon Columbia, showcasing a repertoire focused on Tohoku-style folk songs.

Known for her lustrous melismas and articulate diction, she continues to connect traditional performing arts with contemporary local communities through collaborations such as performances with shamisen ensembles and health-exercise programs.

Highly recommended for those who want to enjoy singing that balances the earthy aroma of folk traditions with a modern stage sensibility.