[Special Feature on the Yo-na-nuki Scale] Hit Songs and Classics That Evoke Nostalgia and a Sense of Wa (Japanese Aesthetics)
The “yo-na-nuki” scale evokes quintessential Japanese sentiment and harmony.
The yo-na-nuki scale is a five-note scale that omits the fourth and seventh degrees, and it spread during the Meiji era as a stepping stone to familiarize people with Western music.
Despite its long history, this scale actually appears in music close to us—from massive hits everyone knows to the latest J-pop! In this article, we’ll introduce famous songs that use the yo-na-nuki scale effectively.
That song that feels somehow nostalgic, the one that draws you into its wistful atmosphere… The secret might just lie in the scale!
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[Feature on Yo-nanuki Scales] Hit and Classic Songs with Yo-nanuki Scales that Evoke Nostalgia and a Japanese Aesthetic (31–40)
Cotton HandkerchiefŌta Hiromi
Hiromi Ohta’s signature 1975 release “Momen no Handkerchief” was created by the ultimate duo: music by Kyohei Tsutsumi and lyrics by Takashi Matsumoto.
From the very first line it’s wonderfully refreshing—one of the purest and most genuinely great songs in Japanese pop.
Its breezy melody uses the yo-nanuki (pentatonic) scale, delivering a catchy, familiar tune you can sing along to after just one listen.
It’s the kind of song that makes you want to sing with it every time you hear it.
smileikimonogakari
Ikimono-gakari’s songs also use the yo-na-nuki scale, don’t they? Their catalog ranges from deeply moving ballads to fun, high-energy party tunes, but “Egao,” released in July 2013, is a gentle pop song that somehow puts you at ease.
This kind of tenderness is a hallmark of the yo-na-nuki scale.
Since it was also the theme song for the Pokémon movie, it’s a track the whole family can enjoy.
Bacchi DancerDOES
Listeners of the rock band DOES have likely felt that vaguely “Japanese” flavor in their music.
This comes from their use of the yo scale (yonanuki) and the Okinawan-style niro-nuki scale.
What’s remarkable is how often they employ these scales across many songs—and turn them into hits.
The yo scale’s catchy, familiar feel combined with their powerful, straightforward performance style—these two elements together form DOES’s identity.
Be sure to check out their other tracks too!
summer festivalWhiteberry
The girls’ band Whiteberry’s cover of JITTERIN’JINN’s “Natsu Matsuri.” This song really feels like the perfect moment for the yonanuki scale to shine, doesn’t it? The yonanuki scale is a nostalgic, Japanese-sounding scale used in enka and folk music.
I think this track makes excellent use of the atmosphere that scale brings.
It’s a wonderful rock tune that captures the traditional excitement of a summer festival—set to taiko drum rhythms—through a Japanese-style melody built on the yonanuki scale.
Sweetest DevotionAdele
“Sweetest Devotion,” a 2015 release by British singer Adele.
With its beautiful melody, it’s an empowering song that delivers a heartfelt message of love.
The strength of the chorus melody is remarkable, making it a great track to listen to when you’re feeling a bit down and need a push forward.
This song also uses the yo scale (pentatonic without fa and ti), so if you listen with that in mind, it may feel somewhat nostalgic—even though it comes from a foreign land.
[Special Feature on Yo-na-nuki Scale] Hit and Classic Songs (41–50) That Evoke Nostalgia and a Sense of Wa (Japanese Aesthetics) with the Yo-na-nuki Scale
Song of the Yoito-makeMiwA Akihiro
Akihiro Miwa’s song “Yoitomake no Uta.” Though it was released in 1966, it was performed at the 2015 Kōhaku Uta Gassen, moving many listeners with Miwa’s intense, soul-stirring acting and vocals.
It’s a masterpiece that draws you in whenever you hear it, and it also employs the yonanuki scale.
While the song’s world is very sad and piercing to the heart, there is a certain strength to it, and it seems that the yonanuki scale may be what makes it feel not only despair but also hope.
Ballerina in Red ShoesMatsuda Seiko
Akai Kutsu no Ballerina (The Ballerina in Red Shoes) is a 1983 release by Seiko Matsuda.
Compared to her other classic hits, it may be a bit less well-known.
Even so, its emotional depth and warm melody easily hold their own, creating a gentle, uplifting feeling.
The lyrics, written from the perspective of an ordinary girl, are particularly appealing.
Though it’s a classic from the Showa era, it’s a song I’d love for girls today to hear.
And above all, because it uses the yonanuki scale (a pentatonic scale without the fourth and seventh), it offers a nostalgic, comforting listening experience!