Enchanting Harmony: Classic Songs by a Japanese Male Duo
Male two-person music groups have had so many moments in the spotlight, haven’t they?
They’re what we call duos—what kind of groups do you like?
The classic example would be artists like Yuzu or Kobukuro, known for songs with beautiful harmonies woven from two voices, but the snappy call-and-response style you hear in some tracks is another big part of a duo’s charm!
What’s more, two-person groups that only play instruments, or a pairing of one vocalist and one instrumentalist, are also called duos.
In this article, I’ll introduce plenty of recommended songs from a variety of male duos!
Please take your time and enjoy the finest harmonies and performances.
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[Enchanting Harmony] Classic Songs by Male Japanese Duos (21–30)
Blue BenchSasuke
This is the debut single by Sasuke, a male duo from Saitama Prefecture formed by high school classmates.
Upon release, it was an indie recording sold only at a single store in their hometown of Ōmiya, yet 500 copies sold out the same day.
Demand from across the country continued unabated, and the song ultimately made history by selling 5,000 copies at that one store alone.
It’s one of Sasuke’s signature songs.
The bittersweet lyrics and the melody that expands on that world are so pleasant, and it’s a number where you can enjoy the beautiful harmonies unique to a male duo.
anticlockwiseAfter the Rain
After the Rain is a music duo formed by Soraru and Mafumafu, both of whom are popular vocalists.
Their song Anti-Clockwise, included on their second album Izanaware Traveler, features an impressive, fast-paced ensemble driven by piano and strings.
Mafumafu’s piercing high tones and Soraru’s cool mid-to-low register harmonize in a way that draws listeners into the song’s world.
With its driving rock sound and thrilling melody, it’s a cool track that’s sure to raise your spirits.
Azusa No. 2karyūdō
This was the major debut single by the sibling duo Kariudo from Aichi Prefecture.
It became a huge hit in 1977 and is famous for putting the then-newcomer Kariudo on the map.
The song proceeds with a gentle, subdued tone, then surges dramatically in the chorus, creating striking dynamics that seem to carry the heroine’s complex emotions.
With its beautiful harmonies and perfectly synchronized vocals, it showcases the unique appeal that only a sibling duo can deliver.
Gray and Blue (+Masaki Suda)Yonezu Kenshi
Kenshi Yonezu, who has become one of Japan’s leading singer-songwriters, and Masaki Suda, whose expressive range continues to expand as he thrives not only as a singer but also as an actor.
Released in 2017 and widely talked about, Gray and Blue is said to have come to fruition from a convergence of feelings Yonezu had toward Suda.
It’s a song brimming with Yonezu’s passion—his unwavering desire for Suda to sing it—that lets you feel the fragility of youth, the strength that keeps faint memories shining, and the heat of emotions rekindled.
Suda’s vocals layered over it make the piece deeply emotional.
That paper airplane splits the cloudy sky19
19 is a male duo consisting of Kenji Okahira and Keigo Iwase.
Although they are strongly associated with the image of a duo, there was actually one more member when they first debuted.
That member, 326, supported 19 on the visual side not as a performing artist but as an illustrator—a rather unusual lineup.
Their famous song “Hate no Nai Michi” (Endless Road), themed around moving to Tokyo, reached No.
2 on the Oricon charts.
Full of memoriesH₂O
Many of you have probably heard or sung this song as a choral piece in music class.
Originally, however, it wasn’t a choral work; it was a signature song by the Japanese folk duo H2O, performed in a singer-songwriter style.
With lyrics and a melody that are familiar and approachable, it remains a steadfast favorite both as a hit folk song and as a choral piece.
WOW WAR TONIGHT ~Sometimes You Gotta Start a Movement~H Jungle with T
WOW WAR TONIGHT: Sometimes You’ve Gotta Start a Movement is a groundbreaking track by the unlikely duo H Jungle with t, a collaboration between music producer Tetsuya Komuro and Downtown’s Masatoshi Hamada.
Beyond the buzz of two popular celebrities teaming up, the song shines musically as well, blending a reggae-tinged rhythm with fresh electronic sounds.
Its busy, jungle-style beats paired with the passionate vocals of a beloved TV personality inspired and encouraged listeners.