Kaori Kozai Popular Song Rankings [2026]

Osaka Te Quiero ~Because of You~Kouzai Kaori8rank/position

Osaka Te Quiero ~Because of You~ Kaori Kozai cover

Released in 2009 as Kaori Kozai’s 31st single.

This song portrays the bittersweet romance of a woman, imbued with the allure and melancholy of a mature woman.

Kaori Kozai’s delicate and beautiful vocals further emphasize the woman’s feelings, lending the piece a sultry elegance.

Elegy of the Uji RiverKouzai Kaori9rank/position

Ujigawa Aika

Kozai Kaori’s masterpiece “Ujigawa Elegy” is striking for its deeply moving melody.

Kozai Kaori is often said to excel most in works that evoke sensuality and heartache, and this piece is exactly that, featuring an incredibly sultry melody and vocals.

In the chorus, the pitch rises and falls a bit more dramatically, but there are no difficult kobushi (ornamental turns).

Aside from the kobushi at the end of the chorus, the vocal line is closer to Showa-era kayōkyoku.

Be sure to add it to your repertoire.

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Ryo

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Love Story of Cape ShionomisakiKouzai Kaori10rank/position

Love Story of Cape Shionomisaki

Kaori Kozai’s enka single “Shionomisaki Jōwa,” released in February 2003.

It’s a heart-wrenching song that pairs the image of waves crashing against a cape with an unrequited love, tightening the chest with sorrow.

Even knowing they can’t be together, she gazes out from a cape where a lighthouse is in view, thinking of the one she loves… Doesn’t it feel like a scene from a movie or drama springs to mind?

A Solo Summer FestivalKouzai Kaori11rank/position

Kaori Kozai – Lonely Summer Festival

When fireworks season and festival season come around, I bet some people can’t help remembering someone they used to love.

This song, Hitori Natsu Matsuri, sung by Kaori Kozai, an enka singer from Osaka Prefecture, is included on her 1998 album Best Selection.

As the woman wanders alone through a summer festival, recalling the past, the song makes you feel like you’re watching a drama or a movie.

It makes you wonder where the person she longs for has gone…

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Araki Jakkan

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Izakaya ‘Tsuruga’Kouzai Kaori12rank/position

Izakaya “Tsuruga” Vocals: Kaori Kozai Lyrics: Ryuichi Satomura Composition: Yuh Hijikawa

The lyrics tell the story of a female shop owner running her place alone, who spends an entire night talking with a customer that slips under the shop curtain and happens to resemble her younger brother who died young.

It has an enka-like feel, evoking the image of a man and woman sharing their life stories on a rainy night when no other customers come.

Autumn Love SongKouzai Kaori13rank/position

Kaori Kozai – Autumn Love Song

Kaori Kozai’s “Aki Koika” holds a special place even within her long career.

Released on April 27, 2016, it is a masterpiece that delicately portrays the bittersweetness of autumn and the stirrings of a faint romance.

The lyrics depict a woman’s feelings as she mourns a lost love and lets her thoughts drift on the autumn breeze—sentiments many listeners can relate to through their own experiences.

It’s especially recommended for solitary moments at autumn dusk.

Kaori Kozai’s emotionally rich vocals resonate deeply with listeners, leaving an unforgettable afterglow.

Echizen Love SongKouzai Kaori14rank/position

Echizen Love Song Kaori Kozai

Kaori Kozai’s enka masterpiece “Echizen Koibuta” has been beloved by many listeners since its release on December 19, 1994.

This song weaves together the majestic nature of Fukui Prefecture with a heartrending love story.

Its melody resonates deeply, and the words delivered in her clear, translucent voice evoke a profound longing.

It’s a recommended track not only for enka fans but also for anyone seeking a touch of nostalgia.