[Special Feature on the Yo-na-nuki Scale] Hit Songs and Classics That Evoke Nostalgia and a Sense of Wa (Japanese Aesthetics)

O-Shichi and the Night Cherry BlossomsNEW!Sakamoto Fuyumi

Fuyumi Sakamoto – Yozakura O-Shichi

A signature single by Fuyumi Sakamoto, who continues to lead the enka world.

Released in September 1994, it won the Composer’s Award at that year’s Japan Record Awards.

It has been performed multiple times on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, leaving a powerful impression with its passionate lyrics themed around cherry blossoms and flames, and a melody in the yo scale set to an up-tempo 16-beat.

One could say that the reason it continues to be loved beyond the enka genre lies in its effective use of the yo scale, where traditional Japanese melodies and contemporary rhythms are beautifully harmonized.

a walk in the parkNEW!Amuro Namie

"a walk in the park" (stage-MIX) | Namie Amuro | chd.

A classic produced by Tetsuya Komuro and sung by Namie Amuro.

It’s a comfortable track whose bittersweet yet gentle lyrics and groove conjure up the scene of walking through a winter park.

While it’s a sophisticated dance tune, the chorus melody actually incorporates the yo scale (pentatonic without the fourth and seventh), giving it a subtly nostalgic feel.

Released as a single in November 1996 and used in commercials for Hitachi Maxell’s UD series, this song could be considered one of Amuro’s signature tracks, where urban sounds blend with a distinctly Japanese pentatonic sensibility.

Tomorrow, when spring comesNEW!Matsu Takako

Tomorrow, when spring comes

Not only has Takako Matsu shone as an actress in numerous TV dramas and films, but as a singer she has also captivated listeners with her clear, translucent voice—this is her debut single.

Included on the album “Sora no Kagami” (Mirror of the Sky), it also became familiar as the CM song for NTT’s “Wakuwaku New Life Campaign” and for “Pocky.” In fact, the melody’s use of the yonanuki scale—especially effective in the chorus—lends a poignant resonance to the mixed feelings of hope and anxiety that come with a new season.

Its subtly nostalgic Japanese timbre vividly evokes listeners’ own springtime memories, making it a song that reaffirms a universal warmth.

globeNEW!Yonezu Kenshi

Kenshi Yonezu – Spinning Globe

A song by Kenshi Yonezu written as the theme for How Do You Live?, the film directed by Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki.

It took about four years to produce and was released as a CD single in July 2023.

Interweaving deep respect for Miyazaki with Yonezu’s own outlook on life, the piece features a gentle sound centered on piano and strings.

Its simple melody, incorporating the yo scale, heightens a sense of nostalgia and poignancy.

The lyrics, depicting a figure who keeps moving forward over the rubble while bearing loss, pair perfectly with a melody imbued with Japanese sentiment, creating a masterpiece that touches listeners’ inner landscapes.

Hate tell a lieNEW!Kahara Tomomi

Tomomi Kahala – Hate tell a lie (Audio)

This is the sixth single by Tomomi Kahala, a songstress who epitomized the J-POP scene of the 1990s.

Chosen as the CM song for Kanebo Cosmetics’ “Bronzelove,” it became a major hit alongside the commercial featuring Kahala herself.

While the driving, digitally infused sound produced by Tetsuya Komuro and her soaring vocals are striking, it’s also worth noting that the chorus melody incorporates the yo scale.

Perhaps the sense of nostalgia that peeks through the urban, sophisticated atmosphere stems from this scale, which resonates deeply with the Japanese sensibility.