Lovely nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs

A classic Japanese folk song passed down through generations of acoustic performances

POPS writer/editorKEI
Since discovering music during my school days, I’ve mainly listened to Japanese and Korean pop. I have experience writing articles for sites like Utaten. 2000s J-pop and 2010s K-pop were especially the soundtrack of my youth. With the mindset that “good is good,” I enjoy music across genres. Thanks to past work environments and their influence, I was exposed to lots of classic rock and kayōkyoku (Japanese popular songs), which may have broadened the scope of what I love. At RAG MUSIC, I currently focus on K-pop and J-pop. I strive to edit with a feel for the scene and an eye for hit potential.

A special feature on Japanese folk songs.

Folk music originally began as arrangements of traditional songs and spread in the United States.

From around the 1960s, it was also embraced in Japan, and, reflecting the times, songs with strong anti-war and anti-government messages were delivered.

Entering the 1970s, it became especially popular with more accessible, mainstream themes and reached a peak of commercial success.

Although Japanese folk has evolved to incorporate various elements, it retains an acoustic allure and a wistful mood, with lyrics that stand out and resonate.

By all means, take your time and immerse yourself in Japanese folk music!

Masterpieces of Japanese folk songs passed down through singing and playing (91–100)

Into the DreamInoue Yosui

Yosui Inoue – “Into the Dream” Music Video

Into the DreamInoue Yosui

Yosui Inoue is one of the greats among folk singers.

Released in 1973, this song was his first hit.

With its uniquely enchanting pop sensibility, it has been covered by various artists, including Yuki Saito.

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In conclusion

Up to now, we’ve been introducing Japanese folk songs. Have you found any favorites? While researching, I noticed that many singers whose names still come up often are centered around the emblematic musicians who could be called the faces of folk. In recent years, a lot of Japanese songs have technical and tricky melodies, but looking back made me appreciate once again the value of songs you can sit with and really listen to.