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 Japanese blues song. Japanese blues to lose yourself in the sound and vocals (1–10)
Coloration BluesEGO-WRAPPIN’
EGO-WRAPPIN’, whose distinctive sound is highly regarded by devoted music aficionados.
Their music often blends early-Showa-era jazz and kayōkyoku with contemporary funk and neo-soul, but this track, “Shikisai no Blues,” is crafted with a relaxed jazz flavor.
Despite the title including “Blues,” the melody leans more toward jazz elements.
Recommended for those who enjoy laid-back, mature tunes!
Crying in the rainYanagi Jōji & Rainīuddo
This is a signature song by George Yanagi & Rainy Wood, a blues band with an R&B base.
It was released in 1978.
Now this is bluesy! George Yanagi’s sultry, husky vocals intertwine with the flowing, wet sound in an incredibly cool way—absolutely irresistible.
The guitar tone is gorgeous too, and listening during the damp rainy season or in the heat can leave you feeling refreshed.
The lyrics, which seem to stand by a lone-wolf kind of man, also feel fitting for the colder months.
It’s a track overflowing with mature charm.
My chest hurts.Yūkadan
Yukadan, one of Japan’s leading blues bands—pronounced “Yūkadan.” Their song Mune ga Itai (“My Chest Hurts”) is a passionate blues number that builds gradually and bursts with heat in the chorus, and it’s one of their signature tracks.
Vocalist-guitarist Atsuki Kimura’s raspy voice is incredibly cool, making you feel as if your chest is being squeezed.
It’s a beautifully melancholic song.
I think it has a quality that will resonate with younger generations as well.
GLIM SPANKY and BRAHMAN also covered it at The Cover’s Fes, so it’s a track I’d recommend to fans of those artists too.
Bobby Sox BluesSeno Ryūichirō
A signature work by Ryuichiro Senoo, who had a major impact on Japan’s blues scene.
The lyrics, which satirically portray youth culture and trends, are striking, sharply capturing shifts in young women’s values and behavior.
Included on the album “Messin’ Around,” it was also released as a single in August 2007.
Senoo, known as a master of the blues harmonica, delivers a distinctive performance that meshes perfectly with his emotive vocals, leaving a deep impression on listeners.
Despite its laid-back atmosphere, the song has a depth that prompts reflection on how young people live, making it a track that can be enjoyed across generations.
It’s a sad color, isn’t it?Ueda Masaki
Masaki Ueda, a vocalist from Kyoto with roots in soul and blues, sings with a low, husky tone that clearly exceeds what you’d expect from a Japanese singer.
His classic “Kanashii Iroyane,” released in 1982, tells in its lyrics the feelings of a woman who, though in love, must part from her partner for some reason.
Rather than straight, hard-driving blues, the song is crafted in a way that can be heard as both blues and soul.
What Do You Want?Rei
A song by singer-songwriter Rei, who started playing classical guitar at age four and made her major debut at seventeen.
Included on her second album HONEY, released in 2020, the track’s thrilling guitar work and soulful vocals really raise the energy.
Its arrangement is technical yet imbued with the distinctive melancholy of the blues—sure to impress longtime rock fans.
It’s a number that lets you enjoy classic, straight-ahead blues, a style rarely heard in today’s J-pop scene.
Walkin’ BluesZa Gōruden Kappusu
A deeply flavorful track that inherits the blues tradition while adding a distinctly Japanese interpretation.
Released in 1968, this song is known as a signature work by The Golden Cups.
The lyrics, which sing of lost love and loneliness, carry a poignant melancholy that seeps into the depths of the heart.
With powerful guitar riffs and richly emotive vocals blending in exquisite harmony, this piece stands as a true landmark of Japanese blues rock.
Despite its relaxed tempo, it brims with a stirring charm that moves the listener.
It’s perfect for a late-night drive or for sipping a drink on a quiet evening.
Highly recommended not only for blues fans but also for anyone interested in the history of Japanese music.