Yoko Nagayama’s Popular Song Rankings [2026]

abandonedNagayama Yōko8rank/position

Yoko Nagayama “Suterarete” Music Video

A masterpiece of 1990s enka that portrays a heartbreakingly painful farewell at the end of a love given too selflessly.

Released in March 1995, this work cemented Yoko Nagayama’s status as an enka singer.

Born as a song for the NHK program “Comedy: Oedo de Gozaru,” it became a long-seller with about 325,000 copies sold.

The protagonist, who keeps defending the one who left by insisting she herself was at fault for believing the rumors, is so devoted that it tightens your chest.

That helpless love and lingering attachment are all the more accentuated here.

Its power is evident from its winning the 28th Japan Cable Awards.

When you’re burdened with the ache of a futile love, this may be the song that gently stays by your side.

evening cicadaNagayama Yōko9rank/position

Yoko Nagayama “Higurashi” Music Video

Branded as the “first year of enka,” this commemorative song, Higurashi, marked Ms.

Nagayama’s re-debut as an enka singer in 1993.

It is her biggest hit, a renowned piece widely recognized for being used as the theme song for the TBS drama Journey of Life and for her appearance at that year’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

Built on a 6/8 rhythm in a minor key, it embodies the classic style of enka, featuring fundamental enka techniques throughout.

While it can be a challenging song for beginners to enka, the melody is easy to remember, and anyone reasonably accustomed to singing enka should be able to manage it.

Because the pitch moves up and down rather dramatically, it’s easy to go off the melody, so be sure to listen carefully to the original before attempting to sing it.

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VenusNagayama Yōko10rank/position

Venus

Yoko Nagayama’s eighth single, released in 1986.

It’s a cover of Shocking Blue’s 1969 smash hit by the Dutch rock band, incorporating arrangements particularly inspired by Bananarama’s 1986 version.

Set to the Eurobeat rhythms that defined the ’80s, the lyrics strikingly portray an alluring female figure.

A woman who shines like a goddess takes the lead in love.

It also drew attention as an insert song in “Boku no Onna ni Te o Dasu na.” A signature blockbuster from Nagayama’s idol-singer era, it marked a turning point that led to her later shift to enka.

Its poppy, catchy sound still brims with undiminished charm today.

Back Then and Now ~The Flower Class of ’24~Nagayama Yōko11rank/position

Yoko Nagayama “Back Then and Now ~The Class of Flower ’24~” Music Video

When you come across the term “the Year 24 Flower Group,” those familiar with the history of shōjo manga might find themselves startled.

Pioneering creators in Japanese manga such as Keiko Takemiya, Moto Hagio, Minori Kimura, and Yumiko Ōshima are known as the “Year 24 Flower Group.” This song, “Ano Koro mo Ima mo ~Hana no 24-nen Gumi~” (Back Then and Now ~The Year 24 Flower Group~), is dedicated to those legendary shōjo manga artists of the baby boomer generation.

Rather than enka, it carries a strong Shōwa-era pop flavor, and Nagayama’s singing employs enka techniques sparingly, giving the impression of a more natural vocal style.

The melody seems approachable for newcomers to enka, and when you sing it at karaoke, try to keep the triplet rhythm in mind and pour your heart into expressing the message embedded in the lyrics.

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Joppari YosareNagayama Yōko12rank/position

Yoko Nagayama “Joppari Yosare” Music Video

A representative of Yoko Nagayama’s signature “standing shamisen” style, the single “Joppari Yosare”—with the striking word “joppari,” meaning “stubborn”—was released in 2018 as the second installment marking her 35th anniversary.

Beyond the cool, driving timbre of the shamisen that creates a powerful rhythm and beat, the lyrics depicting a stubborn woman’s heart are impressively intense.

Even those who aren’t particularly into enka might enjoy “Joppari Yosare” as a cool, rock-tinged kayōkyoku.

You’ll certainly hear stylistic elements like kobushi and vibrato throughout, but the melody is easy to remember, making it a great challenge for enka beginners as well.

For the sultry low notes, practice with special attention so you can evoke the same alluring nuance as Nagayama.

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Yoko Nagayama “Mane” Music Video

Released in 1996, Mane is a song inspired by Yoshiharu Habu that won numerous awards and was even performed at the 48th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

It stands as one of Yoko Nagayama’s signature tracks of the 1990s.

While it’s packed with classic enka techniques—such as rises and falls in phrasing, kobushi turns, and semitone catches—it’s still quite manageable for those who are reasonably accustomed to singing enka.

It’s also recommended as a practice piece for beginners.

Learning enka techniques through this song is a great choice!

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That’s why I’m scared.Nagayama Yōko14rank/position

That's why I'm scared.

The song introduced here, “Dakara Kowai no,” is a must-check masterpiece that lets you enjoy a different side of Ms.

Nagayama’s singing from enka.

Released in 2023 as the B-side to the single “Oishii Osake Nomer’ya Ii,” it exudes a mature, jazz-inflected mood, with Ms.

Nagayama captivating listeners not as an enka singer but with a jazz-vocal style.

While it presents a completely different kind of challenge than enka, the difficulty is relatively low from a jazz vocal perspective, and the melody line itself is easy to memorize and sing.

So even those who usually sing only enka should definitely give it a try!

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