[Mighty Guy] A Selection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Akira Kobayashi

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

Born in 1938, Akira Kobayashi—known as the “Mighty Guy,” a true legend among legends and one of the last of the so-called silver screen stars—continues to work actively even now in the 2020s, well into his late eighties.

A towering figure who has left his mark on Japanese entertainment history as both an actor and a singer, he even wrote the lyrics himself for his long-awaited 2022 single, “Ganbare Wakazō” (“Hang in There, Young Fella”), hinting that he’ll keep energizing Japan through various activities going forward.

Kobayashi’s songs are also hugely popular at karaoke.

In this article, we’ve selected and compiled tracks that are especially easy for beginners to sing.

If you’re a younger listener curious about enka or Showa-era pop, be sure to check them out!

[Mighty Guy] A roundup of Akira Kobayashi’s easy-to-sing songs (11–20)

acting like a wifeKobayashi Akira

acting like a wife

acting like a wifeKobayashi Akira

Akira Kobayashi is known for his powerful singing, and perhaps because of that, he has a great many “men’s songs.” Even so, he does have some “women’s songs,” and among them, the one I especially recommend is Nyōbō Kidori.

It’s a kayōkyoku (Japanese pop) number, and maybe because it’s a women’s song, you won’t hear Kobayashi’s trademark powerful high tones.

There is a sustained high note near the end of the chorus, but he thins out his voice there, so as long as you pay attention to pitch, you should be able to sing it convincingly.

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Akira’s Soran BushiKobayashi Akira

Akira's Soran Bushi

Akira's Soran BushiKobayashi Akira

Interweaving the powerful calls of “Yaren” and “Soran,” it sings of the lives and loves of men who make their living on the fishing grounds.

Released as a single in October 1960, this performance served as the theme song for the film “The Prairie Migratory Bird.” Thanks to Masaru Endo’s supplementary composition, the melody gains dramatic contours, while the arrangement—featuring brass and strings—adds a pop sheen to the folk-style phrasing.

Akira Kobayashi’s signature taut high notes and clipped line endings make this a superb performance that highlights the gallantry of men of the sea.

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In conclusion

As mentioned at the beginning, Mr.

Kobayashi is now in his late eighties, yet he launched an official YouTube channel, and even after suffering a serious injury in a home accident in 2024, he has continued to work energetically with concerts and more—which is truly remarkable.

I’d be delighted if this article serves as a springboard for younger generations to discover the many classic songs sung by the eternal “Mighty Guy”!