Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

oneNagabuchi Tsuyoshi15rank/position

Hitotsu

Many people still remember Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi singing “Hitotsu” from Kadonowaki Elementary School in Ishinomaki—an area affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake—during the 62nd NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen broadcast on December 31, 2011.

The following February, it was released as his 45th single.

The piano accompaniment and solemn strings, combined with Nagabuchi’s gentle yet powerful vocals and melody, are enough to bring tears to your eyes.

The song spans a wide vocal range and the chorus includes fairly high notes, so it can be somewhat challenging overall to sing at karaoke.

However, the melody itself is simple and easy to follow.

Because it’s a straightforward ballad that leaves little room to hide, prioritize singing it with heartfelt emotion.

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KOH-1

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YujiNagabuchi Tsuyoshi16rank/position

Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi – Yuji (from ARENA TOUR 2010-2011 TRY AGAIN)

Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi’s classic song “Yūji” was written with an image of a friend from his youth.

It depicts a sense of nostalgia for one’s adolescent years and is a popular number that gets the crowd united and fired up at live shows.

The powerful folk-rock sound alone makes you feel the era in your bones.

It’s a pretty masculine track, so it might not resonate as much with some women, but in both theme and release period, it’s truly a quintessential youth anthem.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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FriendNagabuchi Tsuyoshi17rank/position

COVER Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi/Friend

Included on the 1996 album “Kazoku” (Family).

Theme song for the drama “Fire Force.” Born in 1956.

A singer-songwriter from Kagoshima Prefecture.

Released as the first work following a comeback after an arrest for violating the Cannabis Control Act.

The slow ballad melody combined with vocals that speak to a friend makes for an achingly heartfelt experience.

Let’s be happyNagabuchi Tsuyoshi18rank/position

Let's be happy

Artists from around this generation often sing in their chest voice rather than relying on falsetto, so their vocal ranges aren’t that high.

I bet some of you have sung this song at ceremonies quite a bit.

The piano and strings in the background sound beautiful, and it seems like it would feel great to sing.

The tempo isn’t fast, so you can sing calmly and with care.

The verse has that distinct Nagabuchi style, so if you focus on it too much you might end up sounding like an impression of him (lol).

I feel like you shouldn’t worry too much about the Nagabuchi flavor—sing it in your own voice.

In the chorus, if you sing boldly, like “I’m a great singer!” your voice will come out solidly and you’ll enjoy singing it.

In the end, it’d be awesome if you could get everyone involved and turn it into a big sing-along!

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Kubota Mami

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Serenade of TearsNagabuchi Tsuyoshi19rank/position

Serenade of Tears

When you think of Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi, most people probably picture his hard-hitting songs that channel raw masculinity.

But this song, “Namida no Serenade,” is from the period before he arrived at his current style, when he was singing folk and kayōkyoku; it was released as a single in 1980 (Showa 55).

Unlike today, his voice here carries a pleasantly resonant high tone, which is striking.

Sung from a woman’s perspective about love and heartbreak, the song tells of a harsh breakup—being dumped because the other person found someone new.

It leaves you thinking, “You’d be better off forgetting a guy like that right away.”

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utatane

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Soap bubbleNagabuchi Tsuyoshi20rank/position

Soap bubble

Boosted by the popularity of the tie-in TV drama of the same name, Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi’s 24th single became a million-seller.

Released in October 1991, it topped the Oricon weekly chart and sold over 1.1 million copies in total.

The lyrical guitar-riff intro and the folk-rock sound centered on acoustic guitar lend the entire track a wistful atmosphere.

Recorded in Los Angeles with top American session musicians, it achieves a grand, expansive sonic image.

The lyrics are emotional, portraying someone who, while confronting the injustices of society, keeps struggling to launch their dreams again and again.

It’s a track you’ll want to hear if you’ve faced setbacks but are trying to look ahead, or on nights when you want to savor life’s bitterness and hope at the same time.

summer festivalNagabuchi Tsuyoshi21rank/position

summer festival

“Natsumatsuri” by Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi is a song about going to a summer festival with his girlfriend.

It’s included on his 1994 best-of album “Itsuka no Shonen.” Seeing her in a yukata, having such a great time, he sings of a pure feeling—wanting to stay together like this forever.

The lyrics, depicting their time at the festival, paint such vivid scenes that you can picture them just by listening.

For anyone planning to go to a festival with their partner, this is a track you’ll surely relate to!

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SAKI

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