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

loveHoshino Gen

Gen Hoshino – Koi (Official Video)

Gen Hoshino’s hit song “Koi.” At first glance it sounds quite pop and might not strike you as a piece built on the yo-nuki scale that evokes a traditional Japanese atmosphere.

However, the melody—gently holding a calm, tender mood—is quintessentially yo-nuki.

It’s a subtle seasoning that reveals Hoshino’s seriousness as a composer, hinting at the brains behind the smile.

Thanks to this, the chorus leaves a powerful impact and a friendly catchiness that sticks in your ear.

Behind its massive success lay unmistakable craft and intuition.

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Murakami Shinpei

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Spring ThiefYorushika

Yorushika – Spring Thief (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

A song by the male-female rock duo Yorushika, who made their major debut in 2019, and their fifth digital release.

Chosen as the theme song for Taisei Corporation’s commercial, it’s a track whose gentle melody—carried by acoustic guitar—lingers in the ear, with lyrics that liken flowers to life and the wind to time.

The melody built on the yo scale, which creates a distinctly Japanese resonance, gives the entire piece a soft atmosphere, and together with the bittersweet lyrics, results in a song with a unique sense of weightlessness.

You could say it’s a track that reaffirms the comfort of the yo scale—a sound that feels timeless even within modern music.

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Hoshino Takashi

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swallowYOASOBI

"Tsubame" / YOASOBI with Midories Official Music Video

A song performed by the male-female duo YOASOBI, who turn novels into music, together with the elementary school unit Midories.

Chosen as the theme song for NHK’s children’s SDGs program “Hirogare! Irotoridori,” it’s a heartwarming number featuring a story told from the perspective of a small swallow and a pentatonic “yo-na-nuki” melody that conveys hope for the future.

Released as a single in October 2021, it was later included on the album THE BOOK 2.

With a light rhythm set to a contemporary sound and the familiar, approachable contours of the yo-na-nuki scale blending with the children’s voices, the piece fosters a sense of unity in listeners.

It reaffirms the comfort of a universal melody beloved across generations.

cherry blossomKetsumeishi

Ketsumeishi “Sakura”

The 14th single by Ketsumeishi, a group popular for their style that fuses rap with approachable melodies.

Released in February 2005, it reached No.

1 on the Oricon chart and became a long-running hit despite having no tie-in.

The music video featuring Masato Hagiwara and Emi Suzuki also drew attention, and its poignant lyrics about recalling a past lover, set against the imagery of cherry blossoms dancing in the season, captured many hearts.

The chorus melody makes effective use of the yo scale, achieving a superb harmony between hip-hop beats and a distinctly Japanese, wistful melody—truly a masterpiece.

It’s a nostalgic track that you’ll want to listen to with the arrival of spring.

LemonYonezu Kenshi

Kenshi Yonezu – Lemon

A single by Kenshi Yonezu written as the theme song for the drama “Unnatural.” While it centers on the sorrow and sense of loss after losing someone dear, the melody in the chorus—strikingly built on the yo scale—resonates deeply with listeners.

Released in March 2018, the song strongly reflects his experience of losing his grandfather during production, imbuing it with a sound in which personal pain seems to transform into a universal prayer.

By effectively incorporating the yo scale, which evokes traditional Japanese sensibilities, into a contemporary sound, it accentuates a bittersweet poignancy, like the bitterness of fruit.

A masterpiece that will go down in music history, its lyrics’ worldview and Japanese-inflected melody are profoundly moving.

Kitearashi

Arashi – Kite (Arafes 2020 at National Stadium) [Official Live Video]

This is the 58th single by Arashi, a five-member idol group that has maintained strong popularity even after going on hiatus in 2020, with each member continuing to shine individually.

It’s the first song that singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu provided to Johnny’s, written specifically as the “NHK 2020 Song.” Carried by expansive, majestic strings, the piece features the evocative sound of the yo scale, which gives it a touch of nostalgia, and lyrics written entirely in Japanese that stir the heart.

It’s a grand, deeply moving song that gives you a powerful push forward when you feel like you’re about to falter.

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Hoshino Takashi

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PerfumeEito

Perfume / Eito (Official Music Video)

This is the debut song by singer-songwriter Eito, which became an explosive hit through social media and video platforms.

Characterized by the sound of acoustic guitar and unadorned lyrics based on real experiences, it expresses complex feelings toward a former lover in down-to-earth words.

Released digitally in April 2019, it was later included on the album “Sukkarakan.” The song became a social phenomenon, winning a Special Award at the 35th Japan Gold Disc Awards.

The melody in the chorus uses the yo scale (pentatonic without the fourth and seventh), which may create a nostalgic familiarity and addictive quality for Japanese listeners.

The blend of contemporary lyrics with a melody that evokes traditional Japanese sensibilities gives the song an approachable charm that makes many listeners hum along without thinking.