Kaori Kozai Popular Song Rankings [2026]

Nanbu Tawatsumi Uta (Jazz ver.)Kouzai Kaori26rank/position

Kaori Kozai – Nanbu Tawara-tsumi Uta

Nambu Tawaratsumi-uta is a type of Daidō-gei, in which performers go from house to house, visit gateways and guest rooms, present dances, and receive money or goods.

A jazz-mix performance by Kaori Kozai, who is also highly acclaimed as a folk song singer, offers a glimpse into a new side of minyo (Japanese folk music).

Love RegretKouzai Kaori27rank/position

Koimachibito

Kaori Kozai often uses a vocal technique called the hiccup style.

This technique involves briefly flipping the voice, and she frequently uses it to add kobushi-like ornamentation.

A classic song that makes extensive use of this distinctive kobushi is “Koi Miren.” Once you get used to hiccups, executing this kind of ornamentation is easy, and this piece also features a vocal line with gentle rises and falls in pitch.

Therefore, if you’re accustomed to the hiccup technique, you should be able to sing it without any trouble.

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Love BoatKouzai Kaori28rank/position

Koifune

It beautifully depicts the helpless yearning of a woman who can do nothing but stand before the river of fate with no boat to cross.

The ache of not being able to meet the one she longs for, and the way a forgotten lipstick revives memories of love, seem to be conveyed with searing clarity through Kaori Kozai’s rich, sultry voice.

Released as a single in May 1990, the song is a work by the golden duo of lyricist Ryuichi Satomura and composer Yuh Hijirikawa.

This piece became a cornerstone that led to her first appearance on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen with the 1991 smash hit “Ruren-sō,” making it a pivotal track from the early stage of her career.

When your heart aches from an unforgettable love, this song will gently stay by your side.

Love Town ShowerKouzai Kaori29rank/position

Kaori Kozai – “Koimachi Shigure”

Ko-zai Kaori’s masterpiece “Koimachi Shigure” is notable for its heartwarming melody and bittersweet romance.

Released in her later years, the song features vocals that emphasize emotion and expression rather than showcasing technique.

As a result, the kobushi—often a challenging aspect of enka—is relatively easy here, mostly condensed into turns that shift by just a single scale degree.

The Kawachi-ondo-style kobushi at the end of the chorus should pose no problem for those who have mastered the hiccup technique.

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channel markerKouzai Kaori30rank/position

Kaori Kouzai – “Miotsukushi”

When you think of Kaori Kouzai, her vocals that bring out a strong sense of allure are striking.

Of course, those kinds of songs are wonderful too, but in her later years her melancholic numbers have become even more refined.

That’s why I recommend Mio-tsukushi.

It’s based on enka, but features a vocal line closer to 1980s pop-leaning kayōkyoku, with little use of advanced techniques like kobushi.

By deliberately using breath—audible exhales included—you can add dynamics and infuse the vocals with a sense of wistfulness, so please use it as a reference.

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