[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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[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
When I Was Your ManBruno Mars
Bruno Mars’s classic “When I Was Your Man”—I was surprised too—but this heartbreakingly resonant song actually uses the yo-nanuki (pentatonic) scale.
It’s a piano-and-vocal number that Bruno sings with great emotion, and the approachable melody that matches the song’s relaxed tempo is exactly the hallmark of the yo-nanuki scale.
The yo-nanuki scale is used quite a lot in music from overseas as well, and if you look into it, I think you’ll find plenty of surprising examples like this one!
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!
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.
In conclusion
When you realize that the melody you’ve been casually humming is actually built on the traditional yo scale (yonanuki onkai), the way you hear it changes dramatically.
Now that you know the secret behind its nostalgic, warm resonance, try savoring one of your favorite songs anew.
Your enjoyment of music is sure to broaden once again.