![Mitsuhiro Mihashi Popular Song Rankings [2026]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_ky9DxHeb_o/hqdefault.jpg)
Mitsuhiro Mihashi Popular Song Rankings [2026]
Michiya Mihashi, who had been attracting attention in the folk song world since his teens and made his full-fledged debut in 1954 with “Sake no Nigasa yo,” is best known for which song? If you asked me that… there are so many “correct answers” that it’s hard to choose just one.
He was known for having a great number of hits, and even after his passing in 1996, his songs have remained in many people’s hearts and continue to be sung.
Mitsuhashi Michiya Popular Song Rankings [2026] (1–10)
ancient castleMitsubishi Michiya1rank/position
When it comes to timeless, melancholy Japanese classics, this song is the first that comes to mind.
Its lyrical poetry and rich melody blend beautifully, stirring the listener’s heart.
Through the image of a decayed castle, it poignantly sings of lost glory and nostalgia for bygone days—truly the essence of enka.
Since its 1959 release, it has remained beloved by many and is a karaoke staple.
Yet its difficulty is well known: Mihashi’s distinctive vocal timbre and expressive power, along with the wide-ranging melody, put any singer to the test.
Even so, it’s a song I especially hope those with a wealth of life experience will try.
From Apple VillageMitsubishi Michiya2rank/position
From the Apple Village is a song by Michiya Mihashi, released in 1956, that became a huge hit with over 2.7 million copies sold.
In the same year, it was also adapted into a film with the same title.
The lyrics overlay the apples shipped from the village with the image of a beloved who has left their hometown, poignantly expressing the loneliness of being unable to meet again.
Partings are painful both for those who leave and those who stay.
If you’ve ever seen off a friend or lover who left the countryside, you can probably feel these emotions as if they were your own.
Melancholy TrainMitsubishi Michiya3rank/position
A gem of a classic, woven from a universally memorable melody and a line steeped in nostalgia.
Michiya Mihashi’s expansive vocals—honed through his background in folk songs—richly convey the poignant sorrow of parting from a loved one.
With its universal themes that touch on the subtleties of life and lyrics that resonate deeply, the song invites empathy from many.
Since its 1956 release, it has been a massive hit, selling over 2.5 million copies, and was even adapted into a film the following year.
It is also a memorable piece that marked his first appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
This work is perfect for enjoying together while sharing a sense of connection.
We hope you’ll hum or clap along as you bask in nostalgic memories.
Thirteen SandhillsMitsubishi Michiya4rank/position
This piece has a long history: it was composed in the mid-Edo period and was originally a boatman’s song.
The current shamisen arrangement took shape thanks to the performance by Takahashi Chikuzan, a master of the Tsugaru shamisen.
The piece also makes frequent use of semitones, which are not commonly played on the Tsugaru shamisen.
Performances by Michiya Mihashi—both a singer and Tsugaru shamisen player—also contributed to the present-day version of “Jūsanshi no Sunayama.” Because it is relatively easy, beginners or those who want to learn the shamisen might consider starting with this piece.
Melancholy LakesideMitsubishi Michiya5rank/position
Lake Shinji, which lies in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, is a brackish lake and the ninth largest in Japan.
Michiya Mihashi composed a song themed around Lake Shinji.
Its melancholic melody pairs beautifully with the heartrending lyrics.
Stardust TownMitsubishi Michiya6rank/position
Michiya Mihashi was an enka singer born in Hokkaido on November 10, 1930, who enjoyed such popularity from the 1960s to the 1970s that people said, “Your day begins and ends with Mihashi.” In particular, his 1962 release “Hoshikuzu no Machi” (Stardust Town) is cherished by many fans as one of his signature songs.
The piece portrays the feelings of a lone traveler returning to his hometown, and Mihashi’s distinctive, soaring vocals resonate deeply with listeners.
With its melody and lyrics, the song evokes empathy across eras and generations, leaving a profound emotional impact.
Hokkai Bon UtaMitsubishi Michiya7rank/position
Hokkai Bon Uta is a folk song passed down in Hokkaido and is said to have originated in Ikushumbetsu, Mikasa City, which once prospered as a coal-mining town.
It spread nationwide after enka singer Michiya Mihashi’s record became a major hit.
Across Hokkaido, it is used as a song for Bon dances during the Obon season, and in Mikasa City, the Mikasa Hokkai Bon Odori is held every August to promote the city as the song’s birthplace.