Tokyo Desert: A Collection of Kiyoshi Maekawa’s Easy-to-Sing Songs [2026]

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.

Kiyoshi Maekawa scored a massive hit in 1969 with Nagasaki wa Kyou mo Ame Datta, released as the lead vocalist of Hiroshi Uchiyamada and the Cool Five.

He went on to release other classics that left their mark on Japanese music history, such as Uwasa no Onna and Tokyo Sabaku.

After leaving the group in 1987, he has continued to perform for many years as a solo artist.

While he effortlessly handles everything from sultry low notes to soaring highs with stable and refined vocal technique, it’s interesting that he himself isn’t particularly fixated on the profession of being a singer.

From among Maekawa’s popular songs, we’ve selected a few that are relatively approachable for beginners.

Please take a look and use them as a reference for karaoke.

[Tokyo Desert] A collection of Kiyoshi Maekawa’s easy-to-sing songs [2026] (11–20)

It was rainy again in Nagasaki today.Maekawa Kiyoshi

Kiyoshi Maekawa “It Was Rainy Again Today in Nagasaki” (Lyric Video)

It was rainy again in Nagasaki today.Maekawa Kiyoshi

The classic song that marked vocalist Kiyoshi Maekawa’s memorable starting point, “Nagasaki wa Kyou mo Ame Datta” (“It Was Raining Again in Nagasaki Today”), was a smash hit released in 1969 by Hiroshi Uchiyamada and the Cool Five.

It’s also a quintessential ‘local song,’ and a popular Nagasaki-themed number alongside “Nagasaki no Onna” and “Nagasaki Blues.” It has since been covered by many singers, and Maekawa himself continues to perform it as a solo artist, so most people have likely heard it at least once regardless of generation.

The piece is in 4/4 time with a melody that’s essentially built on triplets, and it briefly weaves in a 2/4 measure at the climactic part of the chorus.

It’s best sung with careful attention to the rhythm.

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In conclusion

As I mentioned at the start, many of Maekawa’s hit and well-known songs are closer to kayōkyoku than to straight-up enka, so they might be easier to get into even for beginners to enka. That said, producing Maekawa’s signature lustrous low tones with clear enunciation isn’t easy. Please use this article as a reference and practice so you can recreate that cool, sultry vocal style at karaoke.