Kiyoshi Maekawa’s Most Popular Songs Ranking [2026]
Hailing from Nagasaki, he is one of Japan’s leading singers.
He was discovered while singing at a cabaret in Nagasaki City and began his career by joining Hiroshi Uchiyamada and the Cool Five as the lead vocalist.
He is also known for having been married to Keiko Fuji.
- Ranking of Popular Songs by Hiroshi Uchiyamada and Cool Five [2026]
- Yoko Maekawa’s Popular Songs Ranking [2026]
- Tokyo Desert: A Collection of Kiyoshi Maekawa’s Easy-to-Sing Songs [2026]
- Karaoke Ranking of Popular Kenji Sawada Songs [2026]
- Keiko Fuji Popular Song Rankings [2026]
- Farewell Song: A goodbye song. A tearful parting song.
- Miyuki Nakajima’s Tearjerkers: Best Crying Songs and Popular Tracks Ranking [2026]
- Kenichi Mikawa Popular Song Rankings [2026]
- For people in their 50s: Songs that make you want to sing—perfect for driving
- [2026] A Collection of Classic Enka and Kayōkyoku Songs About Nagasaki [Local Songs]
- Takashi Hosokawa Popular Song Rankings [2026]
- Ranking of Popular Japanese Music and J-POP Artists Among People in Their 60s [2026]
- [2026] Japanese karaoke songs that get men in their 50s pumped up
Kiyoshi Maekawa Popular Songs Ranking [2026] (11–20)
Sing me a breakup songMaekawa Kiyoshi11rank/position
Writing it as “別れ曲” and reading it as “Wakare Uta” is truly brilliant, isn’t it? Among Maekawa’s songs, this popular 1993 release features lyrics by Toyohisa Araki—who also created the masterpiece “Otokoto Onna no Kakera”—and music by Takashi Toshimi.
It was even performed at that year’s NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, so many people will find it familiar.
Set in a gentle 6/8 tempo, it’s smooth and sultry, and Maekawa’s vocals, expressing the complexities of a woman’s heart, are simply exquisite.
Because the melody moves up and down quite a bit, be careful not to go off pitch, and try singing with a conscious focus on the contrast between low and high notes.
While the enka-style kobushi ornamentation is restrained, vibrato appears frequently; in particular, the powerful, ad-lib-like singing before the chorus is somewhat difficult, so make it a focus of your practice!
Tokyo DesertMaekawa Kiyoshi12rank/position
This is Tokyo Sabaku, the smash hit released in 1976 by Hiroshi Uchiyamada and the Cool Five, later performed solo by Kiyoshi Maekawa and even showcased at the Kōhaku Uta Gassen—truly a masterpiece among masterpieces! From the intro that seems to sob with melancholy to the lyrics of “Tokyo Desert,” which evoke urban loneliness yet a determination to keep living here, Maekawa’s dramatic, heartfelt singing is superb.
It’s often used in commercials, so many in the younger generation have probably heard it at least once.
It’s also a karaoke favorite, though the vocal range is very wide, leaping from quite low notes to high ones in one sweep, so singing the melody smoothly is by no means easy.
That said, the tune itself is very easy to remember, so try it out while adjusting the key to suit your voice.
Rose music boxMaekawa Kiyoshi13rank/position
One of Kiyoshi Maekawa’s signature solo songs, also performed at the 1997 NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, is “Bara no Orugōru” (The Rose Music Box).
With its moody guitar phrases, an instantly catchy chorus, and Maekawa’s irresistibly masculine delivery that poignantly conveys a woman’s heartache, it’s the kind of classic that makes you want to sing it at karaoke.
The production straddles enka and mood kayō, and the overall melody line is easy to sing, so even beginners who struggle with straight enka should find it approachable.
That said, clearly projecting the low notes and adding vibrato like Maekawa does is surprisingly difficult, making this a great practice piece for those who aren’t confident with their lower register.
The world of sorrowful loveMaekawa Kiyoshi14rank/position
This is a masterpiece you’ll definitely want to sing at karaoke—sitting somewhere between enka and mood kayōkyoku, with a wonderfully melancholic guitar that adds just the right flavor! Kiyoshi Maekawa’s “Kanashimi no Koi Sekai,” released in 1994, showcases his sultry, dapper vocals—truly outstanding.
While a free, expansive vibrato is ideal, even those who can’t do vibrato will find the melody very easy to sing and can fully enjoy it at karaoke.
If you’re aiming to sing like Maekawa, I recommend practicing so you can deliver smooth vibrato in both your low and high ranges.
I want loveMaekawa Kiyoshi15rank/position
In the world of enka and kayōkyoku, it’s quite common for male singers to perform lyrics that portray a woman’s feelings, and Kiyoshi Maekawa’s 1988 single “Ai ga Hoshii” is one such example.
It’s no exaggeration to call Maekawa a master of songs that express a woman’s heart; using keywords like a rainy night or alcohol, he vividly sings lyrics that, through skillful scene-setting, depict the loneliness and emptiness of a woman who seems to have just suffered a heartbreak.
The song leans more toward mood kayō than pure enka, with a fairly average vocal range and no difficult kobushi ornamentation, so even beginners to enka should definitely try it at karaoke.
Beside love and dalliance…Maekawa Kiyoshi16rank/position
This is a single released in 2005 by Kiyoshi Maekawa, whose mournful horn tones and refined strings leave a strong impression, radiating a timeless charm untouched by passing trends.
It’s a standout masterpiece that showcases Maekawa’s signature style as he richly sings of the sorrow in a woman’s complicated, conflicted heart, and it’s also very popular for karaoke.
While the overall sound and melody lean toward enka, the song retains a touch of kayōkyoku, making it accessible even for beginners to enka.
Feel the 6/8 meter and try to articulate each word clearly as you sing with a smooth, expansive delivery.
Hold meMaekawa Kiyoshi17rank/position
If you’re part of the generation that knows the 1990s well, you may remember the variety show “Shitte Dō Suru no!?” which aired for a short time.
The song used as its ending theme was Kiyoshi Maekawa’s 1996 single “Dakishimete.” It has the feel of a kayōkyoku ballad elevated by grand orchestration, and Maekawa’s singing seems to dial back enka-style techniques a bit.
The melody unfolds straightforwardly, making it approachable even for those not used to enka, but to be honest, executing the long-tone vibrato perfectly isn’t easy.
Rather than trying to sing it exactly like the original from the start, it’s best to practice with the mindset of gradually getting closer step by step.
The whistle in my chest still soundsMaekawa Kiyoshi18rank/position
In Kiyoshi Maekawa’s long career, this single “Mune no Kitete wa Imamo” (The Whistle in My Chest Still Blows), composed by the renowned Takashi Toshimi—who also crafted hits like “Otokoto Onna no Kakera” and “Wakare-kyoku demo Utatte”—was released in 2021 in the Reiwa era.
It has the feel of a wistful medium-tempo ballad, and structurally it’s very close to J-pop, so it seems like a song that’s easy for enka beginners to sing at karaoke.
That said, if you aim to nail it perfectly, vibrato is essential, so if that’s not your strong suit, this song might be a good one to practice your vibrato with!
It was rainy again in Nagasaki today.Maekawa Kiyoshi19rank/position
The classic song that marked vocalist Kiyoshi Maekawa’s memorable starting point, “Nagasaki wa Kyou mo Ame Datta” (“It Was Raining Again in Nagasaki Today”), was a smash hit released in 1969 by Hiroshi Uchiyamada and the Cool Five.
It’s also a quintessential ‘local song,’ and a popular Nagasaki-themed number alongside “Nagasaki no Onna” and “Nagasaki Blues.” It has since been covered by many singers, and Maekawa himself continues to perform it as a solo artist, so most people have likely heard it at least once regardless of generation.
The piece is in 4/4 time with a melody that’s essentially built on triplets, and it briefly weaves in a 2/4 measure at the climactic part of the chorus.
It’s best sung with careful attention to the rhythm.