The fiery soul and the roots of folk felt in Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi’s classic song

You are in the middle of a shining life.NEW!Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi

These are the words Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi offered to students who spent the pandemic and are now graduating.

Some of them must feel they had more they wanted to do, that they wanted to spend more time with everyone.

But with Nagabuchi’s words, perhaps the days they’ve lived until now came to feel like a special time.

There’s no meaning in comparing your life to someone else’s.

Whatever it may be, that time is something special that only you can live.

In your life, you are the one who shines the brightest.

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JunkoNagabuchi Tsuyoshi

Junko

“Junko,” a masterpiece that defined Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi’s early career, was released as a single in 1980 and became a huge hit, topping the Oricon charts for eight consecutive weeks.

The lyrics—an unbroken stream of a heartbroken man’s bitter lament—are both achingly lonely and somehow a bit comical, while the wistful melody showcases Nagabuchi’s exceptional talent as a singer-songwriter.

Though the melody has a folky vibe, the sound arrangement bounces with a funk-like flair.

It’s also a karaoke staple, so be sure to master it and get the crowd going!

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KOH-1

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CLOSE YOUR EYESNagabuchi Tsuyoshi

CLOSE YOUR EYES – Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi

It’s the theme song of the film “YAMATO,” and a very warm piece.

If you listen while thinking of someone dear to you, I think the song will resonate with you even more.

With its gentle, quiet tone, it might help you relax and fall asleep if you listen before bed—together with Tsuyoshi’s kind words.

CheersNagabuchi Tsuyoshi

Cheers

Kanpai is a song created for a friend’s wedding and released as the title track of the third album.

In addition to the original version, it became a signature piece supported by listeners across generations, thanks to its inclusion in elementary school music textbooks and the many cover versions by various artists.

It’s a heartwarming number that guarantees a rousing group sing-along at karaoke after events.

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Soap bubbleNagabuchi Tsuyoshi

Soap bubble

I think it has some similarities to “Tonbo,” but I might like this one more than “Tonbo” (lol).

I’m not really sure why, but this one just feels right, and when it gets to the chorus, I often find myself humming along.

Song of the Old Man of Nishi-ShinjukuNagabuchi Tsuyoshi

Song of the Old Man of Nishi-Shinjuku

This is a deeply human song that portrays the life of a bar owner in Nishi-Shinjuku—awkward in some ways, yet unwavering in his principles.

The father’s oft-repeated catchphrase may inspire some listeners to live fully in the present so they won’t look back with regret.

Released on the August 1990 album “JEEP,” the track was also used as an insert song in the drama “From the North Country ’92: Departure.” For those standing at a crossroads in life or hesitating before a new challenge, it carries a warm yet powerful message that gently, firmly nudges you forward.

bare faceNagabuchi Tsuyoshi

bare face

If you only know Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi as the passionate singer with a husky voice, you might be surprised when you hear a song like Sugao, where he sings beautiful melodies in a clear high tone.

It’s a track from his 1979 album Gyakuryū, which became his breakthrough in the early stages of his career.

The tune carries a folk-rock flavor steeped in a distinctly ’70s sense of melancholy.

And don’t forget to carefully read the lyrics, which are very characteristic of the ’70s: the perspective shifts from a woman in the first verse to a man in the second, giving it a diary-like, autobiographical narrative quality.

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