Kasuga Hachiro Popular Song Rankings [2026]

Otomi-sanKasuga Hachirō1rank/position

Otomi-san, nostalgic songs, Kabuki, popular songs

A quintessential enka classic of the Showa era, this song poignantly depicts the bittersweet fate of a man and a woman.

Based on a Kabuki play, the story artfully portrays vivid Edo-period scenery and the complex emotions of the two lovers.

Incorporating elements of Okinawan music and kachāshī, its lively rhythm paired with Hachiro Kasuga’s clear, soaring vocals creates a pleasing resonance.

Released in August 1954, it sold 400,000 copies in just four months and was later covered by many artists, including Mina Aoe and Harumi Miyako.

Evoking warm nostalgia, it’s a perfect piece for recreation—easy to sing together with cheerful handclaps.

Woman of NagasakiKasuga Hachirō2rank/position

Woman of Nagasaki

The song released in 1963 and performed by Hachirō Kasuga is known as a pioneering enka/kayōkyoku piece set in Nagasaki.

Against the backdrop of Nagasaki’s beautiful scenery, its lyrics richly portray the sorrow of parting, perfectly matched by Kasuga’s clear, transparent voice—no doubt powerfully capturing the hearts of listeners at the time.

Issued as a single by King Records, the work has remained beloved over the years and was re-released on CD by the same label in 1990.

It’s an ideal song for those planning a trip to Nagasaki or anyone wishing to bask in nostalgic memories.

Sorry, please forgive me.Kasuga Hachirō3rank/position

Sorry, please forgive me.

Hachiro Kasuga’s “Gomen yo Kanben na” is a moving classic released in 1957.

Filled with apology and affection for a loved one, this song is sure to touch many hearts.

The lyric “I never let you say you loved me” conveys the feelings of someone who couldn’t be honest.

For seniors, it may be a song that brings back memories of their youth.

How about listening to this song and reflecting on memories with someone special? It’s likely to give you a gentle, heartwarming moment.

Parting Cedar (Farewell Cedar)Kasuga Hachirō4rank/position

Wakare no Ipponsugi

This is a quintessential Showa-era masterpiece that sings of the bittersweet feelings of someone leaving their hometown.

Hachiro Kasuga’s clear, beautiful voice resonates deep in the heart.

Released in December 1955, it became a massive hit with 500,000 copies sold.

The following year, a film of the same title was produced, turning it into a social phenomenon.

The melody, inspired by Bizet’s opera Carmen, is memorable and easy to sing.

Why not hum it while thinking of your hometown? Its relaxed tempo makes it easy to sing.

Cape AshizuriKasuga Hachirō5rank/position

Cape Ashizuri ~ Hachirō Kasuga / Asizuri-misaki ~ Hachiro Kasuga

It has the same title as Ichiro Toba’s “Ashizuri Misaki,” but it’s a different song, sung by Hachiro Kasuga.

It was released in 1959.

The lyrics were written by Takahashi Kikutaro, known for “Sake wa Namida ka Tameiki ka,” and the music was composed by Yoshida Yakkenji, affectionately nicknamed “Dr.

Daya.”

Woman of AizuKasuga Hachirō6rank/position

Hachiro Kasuga's 'Woman of Aizu'

The stage setting is Wakamatsu Castle in Aizuwakamatsu City, but locals call it Tsuruga Castle.

As befits a song from the Aizu region, the lyrics refer to it as Tsuruga Castle.

In the rain, surely without even holding an umbrella, you can almost see across time the back of a man searching for the woman he loved.

Woman of KurashikiKasuga Hachirō7rank/position

Kurashiki Woman — Hachiro Kasuga — Local Song Okayama, Vol. 10

Kurashiki City is a major city boasting the second-largest population in Okayama Prefecture, and a variety of local songs have been created there.

This song is one of them, expressing lingering feelings for a woman the singer met in Kurashiki.

Note that the character in the title for “woman” (女) is read as hito.

Month Month Fire Water Wood Gold GoldKasuga Hachirō8rank/position

Month Month Fire Water Wood Gold Gold

When it comes to Japanese military songs, “Getsu-Getsu-Ka-Sui-Moku-Kin-Kin” (Monday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Friday) rivals “Warship March,” composed by Tokichi Setoguchi, in name recognition.

The title phrase “Getsu-Getsu-Ka-Sui-Moku-Kin-Kin” is said to have spread from a remark by Yuzo Tsuru, who, observing that the Imperial Japanese Navy trained without taking days off, complained to a colleague, “At this rate, it’s like Monday-Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday-Friday-Friday,” and it eventually became the basis for the song.

Thereafter, it came to be used among the public as a phrase praising tireless work, reflecting the diligence of the Japanese even back then.

The melody is, of course, martial and spirited, but it also has a bright character—perhaps intentionally, so that ordinary citizens could sing it—and it’s the kind of tune you might even hear on variety shows.

It is especially familiar to the generation of grandparents who lived through the Showa era and the war.

The Last Train of the Red LampKasuga Hachirō9rank/position

The Last Train of the Red Lamp

A song etched in the hearts of many as a quintessential masterpiece of the Showa era.

Released in 1952, it was also used the following year, 1953, as the theme song for a film of the same title.

Hachiro Kasuga’s clear, pristine voice beautifully conveys the sorrow of parting and the hope of reunion.

The lyrics, which vividly depict a farewell scene on a station platform, resonate deeply with listeners.

It is a piece that condenses the feelings of farewell and reunion held by people who lived through the turbulent postwar era.

A song we especially recommend to those who have experienced parting from someone dear.