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

cicadaNagabuchi Tsuyoshi

Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi – Semi (Cicada)

This song was also released after they switched labels, and it even had a music video—I remember how happy I was at the time (lol).

The refreshingly clean tempo and the cool words Tsuyoshi lays down are absolutely electrifying…

I also heard it live at a concert, and seeing how much fun he looked like he was having made me enjoy it even more (lol).

FriendNagabuchi Tsuyoshi

Friend

It’s a song that seems filled with many feelings about friendship, and it shows someone trying earnestly and straightforwardly to face it.

I remember, even as an elementary schooler, loving this song, with Tsuyoshi’s gentle voice resonating over the slowly flowing melody.

O beloved messengersNagabuchi Tsuyoshi

Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi – O Beloved Departed (from “Stay Alive ARANA TOUR 2012”)

This song was composed after the earthquake, and I remember almost crying the first time I heard it.

In each and every word of Tsuyoshi’s lyrics, there is strength and kindness, making it a soothing song.

The melody also seems to express both sorrow and hope.

cicadaNagabuchi Tsuyoshi

Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi – Semi (Cicada)

This song portrays a man who, regretting his own weakness, strays onto a crooked path.

The “cicada” referenced in the title is used strikingly, conveying the sense of staking one’s life on a fleeting moment.

The powerful intertwining of acoustic and electric guitar tones evokes a blaze rising in the heart.

The image of pouring one’s emotions into the lyrics over a rhythm that drives forward with strength also serves to underscore the song’s message.

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Goodbye TrainNagabuchi Tsuyoshi

COVER Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi / Farewell Train

This song, included on his fourth album “Bye Bye,” released in 1981, is a hidden gem by Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi that has continued to be loved by fans.

When he debuted, Nagabuchi was a singer-songwriter known for delicate, sweet, clean-toned “songs from a woman’s perspective,” quite different from the rugged, masculine image he has today.

A lone samuraiNagabuchi Tsuyoshi

Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi cover song “A Lone Samurai”

This is another song I grew up listening to since I was little (lol).

When I was small, I loved going for drives while listening to this song.

Back then I listened to it while watching my father from behind the passenger seat, and that hasn’t changed even now (lol).

JEEPNagabuchi Tsuyoshi

JEEP

It’s a track that vividly conjures the image of a lone man racing down the bayside road before dawn.

As he confronts past regrets and lingering anxieties, a cup of coffee by the sea resets his heart, solidifying his resolve to move forward once again.

The brisk rhythm of the acoustic guitar and the faintly wistful harmonies seem to reflect the protagonist’s emotional nuances with striking clarity.

Released in July 1990 as the lead single from the landmark album “JEEP,” the song also speaks to Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi’s strong will—evident in the story that he declined commercial tie-ins to uphold his musical convictions.

For anyone feeling stuck, this song may quietly stay by your side and gently nudge you toward taking a step into tomorrow.