Fujii Ayako Popular Song Ranking [2026]

Tsugaru Jongara-bushiFuji Ayako15rank/position

Fujii Ayako - Tsugaru Jongara Bushi.wmv

Tsugaru Jongara-bushi is a folk song from Aomori Prefecture sung with Tsugaru shamisen accompaniment.

Along with Tsugaru Yosare-bushi and Tsugaru Ohara-bushi (Kohara-bushi), it is one of the three major Tsugaru folk songs.

According to one theory, the name “Jongara” derives from the name of a monk, Jōzen, at a temple located in the castle town of Asaseishi in Aomori during the Sengoku period.

Akita OndoFuji Ayako16rank/position

Akita Ondo

Said to have originated in 1663, Akita Ondo is one of the oldest traditional folk songs.

It consists of two parts—the melody and the spoken introduction—and features a rapid, energetic tempo in which a fast-talking Akita-dialect patter, almost like rap, is sung to the rhythm.

The interjections layered over it are very pleasing, and together with the festival-style accompaniment, it creates a distinctive liveliness.

As a representative folk song of Akita Prefecture, it continues to be sung today and is carefully preserved as an important cultural asset.

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crimsonFuji Ayako17rank/position

crimson

Released in 1996, Ayako Fuji’s single “Beni” (read ‘beni,’ not ‘kurenai’) opens with a line that makes your heart skip a beat.

It’s a classic enka number characteristic of Fuji—expressing the complexities of a woman’s heart with a supple, alluring voice—and a reassuring masterpiece for enka fans.

As a quintessential enka song, it doesn’t feature particularly tricky melodies, so anyone accustomed to singing enka should have no trouble performing it.

Be mindful of the contrast between the leisurely, expansive melodic lines and the more rhythmical sections where the lyrics are slightly packed in, and sing it without forcing yourself.

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unlucky flowerFuji Ayako18rank/position

Ayako Fuji “Unlucky Flower” Music Video (1 chorus)

As the title “Hakyōka” (Unlucky Flower) suggests, this 1998 single features Aya-ko Fuji’s poignant vocals that movingly portray the ill-fated life of a woman heartbroken in love.

Composed by Keisuke Hama—who has created many classics in the history of Japanese kayōkyoku—the melody is in a major key yet refined and tinged with melancholy, which is truly wonderful.

Miyuki Ishimoto’s lyrics, contrasting a flower by the roadside with the protagonist’s life, are also deeply evocative.

While there is a soaring high note in the chorus, there are no intense kobushi (ornamental turns) or heavy vibrato overall, making it relatively simple and easy to sing for an enka song—so it’s a good recommendation for beginners.

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Rainy Night WineFuji Ayako19rank/position

Aya Fuki “Amayo-zake” Music Video (First Chorus)

This is a song by Aya Koizumi that sings of a woman’s aching heart as she drinks alone on a rainy night, thinking of the lover who left her.

What stands out is that it doesn’t merely lament the sorrow; her lustrous yet restrained vocal delivery quietly sketches the deep grief lying in the protagonist’s heart.

Released in March 1991 as her third single, it became a forerunner of “sake-themed” enka, paving the way for the later classic Kokoro-zake.

Its inclusion in the concert video Aya Koizumi First Recital: Ayayaka ni also shows how lovingly it has been performed over the years.

If you listen to it on a quiet night while thinking of someone dear, you might feel your nose sting with empathy.

Snow falls thick and deep.Fuji Ayako20rank/position

Ayako Fuji “Yuki Shimbin” Music Video (First Chorus)

Fujii Ayako’s single “Yuki Shinfuka,” released in 1998, is a celebrated song also known for marking lyricist Ishimoto Miyuki’s first collaboration with her in 11 years, since “Futarigawa,” an early-career track she released under the name Manami Murase, alongside the same-year release “Hakkōbana.” Its dramatic production—blending traditional Japanese instruments such as shamisen and shakuhachi with flowing strings to create a grand atmosphere—is striking, and Fujii’s dignified, commanding vocals make it one of her signature songs.

It’s also a karaoke favorite, though the song spans a wide vocal range and features frequent, busy pitch movements, which may feel challenging for beginners.

That said, the tempo is relaxed, and there are opportunities to breathe before the high notes and long tones, so take your time without rushing.

In the chorus, try singing with the feeling of unleashing pent-up emotion, delivering it powerfully!

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Snow WastelandFuji Ayako21rank/position

Ayako Fuji “Snow Wasteland” Music Video (1 chorus)

Fujii Ayako has several classic songs themed around snow, such as “Yuki Shimbin” and “Yuki no Hana,” and this “Yuki Koya” is one of them.

With lyrics of grand scale that depict the landscapes and seasons of Echigo, and a beautifully bittersweet melody by Keisuke Hama, Fujii delivers a commanding vocal performance.

The standout feature of this piece is the folk-song-style section incorporated midway through.

You can enjoy a vocal approach unique to Fujii, who comes from a folk background, but to be honest, it’s very difficult if you’re not used to that style of singing.

Since the overall melody is relatively easy to sing, it’s a good idea to listen to the original repeatedly and try to imitate the folk-style section as you practice.

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