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Kozo Murashita’s Most Popular Songs Ranking [2026]
Kozo Murashita, whose guitar technique earned him the nickname “genius” since his amateur days and whose gentle, warm singing voice captivates listeners.
In his signature song Odoriko (The Dancer), he evokes a certain wistful, melancholy masculinity.
Here, we present a ranking of Kozo Murashita’s most popular songs.
Kozo Murashita’s Most Popular Songs Ranking [2026]
First loveMurashita Kōzō1rank/position
When the warmth of spring beckons and a melody you can’t help but hum comes to mind, it’s Kozo Murashita’s masterpiece that inevitably surfaces.
The lyrics, which conjure up images of after-school playgrounds and twilight scenes, awaken faint memories of distant days.
Released in February 1983 as his fifth single, it was also included on the album “Hatsukoi — Asaki Yume Mishi —.” It became a major hit, reaching No.
3 on the Oricon charts, and has been covered by many artists across generations and featured in commercials.
With a tenderness that gently accompanies its wistfulness, this song is perfect for the walk home after a class reunion or a leisurely stroll beneath the cherry blossoms.
The moment the intro begins, it has a mysterious power to transport you back to who you once were.
dancerMurashita Kōzō2rank/position
This signature song by Kozo Murashita, with lyrics that gracefully capture youthful naivety and aching first love, strikes straight to the heart—a work that deftly weaves in delicate emotional nuances.
Released in August 1983, it sold around 100,000 copies and reached No.
24 on the Oricon weekly chart.
It’s recommended for those who want to resonate with the bittersweetness and fragility of love, or savor a deeply lyrical track that lingers in the soul.
RomancecarMurashita Kōzō3rank/position
This is a single released by singer-songwriter Kozo Murashita in November 1992, which was also included on the simultaneously released album “Nameless Star.” It was one of Murashita’s own favorite songs and was played at his funeral.
Ferry to MatsuyamaMurashita Kōzō4rank/position
It’s a song deeply connected to Ehime, sung by Kozo Murashita—known for classics like “Hatsukoi.” Set on a ferry traveling from Hiroshima to Matsuyama, it paints a heart-wrenching scene of parting.
The beautiful Seto Inland Sea bathed in the evening sun seems only to accentuate the protagonist’s helpless sorrow.
In the wonderful lyrics, woven by Murashita’s tender, wistful voice, one can’t help but feel profound love.
Listening to this bittersweet melody while on a sea voyage would surely etch the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea even more deeply into your heart.
YukoMurashita Kōzō5rank/position
This is a single released in 1982 by Kozo Murashita, captivating for its poetically beautiful expressions.
Unlike the tender feelings of first love in his big hit “Hatsukoi,” this song portrays a different kind of romance—an admiration for an older woman.
Why does unrequited love tighten the chest so much? The melancholy lyrics and melody only amplify those emotions.
If you’ve fallen for an older woman, you’ll find yourself relating even more, and if you substitute the name with the person you care for, the sentimental mood becomes irresistible.
moonlightMurashita Kōzō6rank/position
This is a song by Kozo Murashita, a singer who passed away at a young age.
Many of Murashita’s songs have beautiful, heartrending lyrics and melodies, and this is one of his masterpieces.
In this song, the couple in love may have parted ways under the moonlight.
younger brotherMurashita Kōzō7rank/position
Kozo Murashita was a singer-songwriter who gained popularity with catchy lyrics set to wistful melodies.
Although he passed away at a young age, his songs are still loved by people of all generations.
Among his works, the one I especially recommend is Otouto (“Younger Brother”).
Strictly speaking, it’s not a song about an actual younger brother; rather, it portrays the feelings of a woman who still longs for a lover she treated like a younger brother.
Many women may find a lot to relate to in it.
