A classic of Japanese blues. Japanese blues that lets you get drunk on the sound and vocals.
What songs come to mind when you think of the blues?
Originally, it was music born from African peoples who had immigrated to America, beginning with songs that expressed the sorrow and laments of the poor.
Compared to jazz, which is centered on instruments, I think the blues has a special appeal in that you can enjoy it mainly with guitar and vocals.
Japanese blues is very rich in flavor and is perfect for listening to at a relaxed pace!
That groove that makes you drunk on the sound and the singers’ emotive expressiveness—blues moves the heart in every era.
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A classic of Japanese blues. Japanese blues to get lost in the sound and vocals (41–50)
Weekday Bluesback number
A coupling track from the single “Watagashi,” it’s a refreshing, fast-paced rock number.
The guitar in the intro really stands out, doesn’t it? Rather than a bluesy vibe, it has a slightly nostalgic feel that gives you energy—one of those songs.
It asks, “What does it mean to be yourself?” and I really want people who are struggling with the present to listen to it.
It sings about the importance of living your best within the circumstances you’re given.
True to its title, “Weekday Blues,” it’s a song that stays close to everyday life, so it’s one I want to keep on heavy rotation.
Two People’s BluesYoshi Ikuzo
A song by singer-songwriter Ikuzo Yoshi from Aomori Prefecture, known for signature hits like “Yukiguni” and “Orah Tōkyō Sa Iguda.” It was included as the B-side to his 67th single, “Minatomachi Banka,” released in 2021, and is a number that expresses feelings for a close friend who has passed away.
While many may associate Yoshi primarily with enka, the rugged melodies spun from his powerful vocals carry a bluesy pathos wrapped in the atmosphere of enka.
It’s a masterpiece of blues that could only be born from a Japanese sensibility—be sure to check it out!
BOMBER GIRLKondō Fusanosuke & Oda Tetsurō
This is a collaborative single released in 1992 by Fuyunosuke Kondo—also a member of B.B.
Queens, famous for Odoru Pompokolin—and Tetsuro Oda, a melody maker behind numerous hit songs.
Oda’s sultry vibe and Kondo’s funkiness intertwine, and the resulting cool, seasoned sound is incredibly stylish.
They say it was crafted to showcase Kondo’s bluesy qualities to a broader audience.
It’s catchy yet masculine in mood and vocals, letting you fully enjoy its bluesy character.
Blues of HTHE BLUE HEARTS
This is a song written and composed by Masatoshi Mashima, sung as if pouring out a sense of frustration with the world and a stagnant, heavy heart over a blues groove.
The raspy vocals feel like they speak for those pent-up emotions, and many listeners may find their chests tighten in response.
The track appears on the classic album “BUST WASTE HIP,” released in September 1990.
The album is known for staying on the Oricon charts for 266 weeks and features a sound steeped in bite and depth from a period when the band was “trying to break free from predictable harmony.” It’s a perfect listen for nights when you’re overwhelmed by harsh reality and want to quietly tune in to the voice of your own heart.
Yanagase BluesMikawa Ken’ichi
This is a single by Kenichi Mikawa released in April 1966, and along with “Niigata Blues” and “Night in Kushiro,” it is sometimes regarded as one of the three major hits in his local-themed song series.
In 1967, a film based on this song was released.