Yoko Nagayama’s Popular Song Rankings [2026]

Shirakami-SanchiNagayama Yōko1rank/position

Yoko Nagayama “Shirakami-Sanchi” Music Video

Released in 2024, Shirakami Sanchi—an upright Tsugaru shamisen performance that epitomizes Yoko Nagayama—is already drawing attention as one of her signature songs of the Reiwa era.

Its major key gives it a fresh, bright, up-tempo feel, and the interplay between the shamisen ensemble and rock-style guitar is seriously cool.

It’s already a big hit at karaoke, and many people are surely eager to give it a try.

While Nagayama’s singing features her characteristic kobushi (ornamental vocal turns), the melodic development isn’t tricky, so we’d love for even enka beginners to take on the challenge.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

KOH-1

Report a problem

Night Cherry Blossom BluesNagayama Yōko2rank/position

Yoko Nagayama “Yozakura Blues” Music Video

As the title suggests, this is a single by Yoko Nagayama released in 2019, the Reiwa era, with a “Showa” theme while evoking a bluesy vibe.

The lyrics depict the feelings of a protagonist who, after the end of a romance, starts facing forward and walking again—and it’s delightfully clever that several titles of songs Yama-san has released so far make appearances.

While classic enka techniques like kobushi (ornamental turns) and vibrato are of course featured, the light, catchy melody has a relatively narrow vocal range and doesn’t require dramatic leaps in pitch, so overall the difficulty is on the lower side.

Definitely give it a try at karaoke.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

KOH-1

Report a problem

Love at Tsugaru Jūsan LakeNagayama Yōko3rank/position

Yoko Nagayama “Ko i no Tsugaru Jusan-ko” Music Video

The single “Koi no Tsugaru Jusanko,” released by Yoko Nagayama in 2014, is a classic local song themed around Tsugaru, as the title suggests, featuring a powerful shamisen melody that is quintessentially Nagayama.

It is based on the ancient tragic love story of the “Meoto-gane (Husband-and-Wife Bells),” passed down at Lake Jusanko in Goshogawara City, and it would be wonderful to sing it with the rich emotion that Nagayama herself brings to it.

While it isn’t exactly easy—given the fundamental enka techniques and the wide, dramatic pitch leaps—it isn’t an overly tricky melody either, so those familiar with singing Nagayama’s enka shouldn’t have major difficulties.

For beginners, the bar is somewhat high, but try tackling it little by little, focusing your practice on the parts that are harder to sing.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

KOH-1

Report a problem

Jonkara Onna-bushiNagayama Yōko4rank/position

Yoko Nagayama “Jonkara Onna-bushi” Music Video

It’s a masterpiece where Yoko Nagayama’s passionate singing shines, with the soul-stirring tone of the Tsugaru shamisen.

Set against the snowy landscapes of Tsugaru, the lyrics poignantly portray the feelings of a woman living as a wandering shamisen player, resonating deeply with the listener.

Released in June 2003, the song topped the Oricon enka chart.

It has been performed multiple times on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen and is known as one of Nagayama’s signature songs.

Her unique style of singing while playing the shamisen herself can be said to have opened up a new frontier in enka.

Packed with challenging elements such as Tsugaru dialect and folk-style phrasing, this piece seems to require considerable practice to master, even for those accustomed to enka.

Jongara Onna-bushiNagayama Yōko5rank/position

Yoko Nagayama “Jonkara Onna-bushi”

When it comes to enka with cool shamisen singing and playing, “Jongara Onna-bushi” stands out.

Released on June 25, 2003, it became a hit, reaching No.

1 on that year’s Oricon enka chart.

The song is modeled on a wandering Tsugaru-shamisen player, and the music video portrays the conflict between a mother and daughter who are both Tsugaru-shamisen players, with Yoko Nagayama playing both roles.

Don’t miss her vocals and expressiveness as she evolved from an idol into a full-fledged enka singer! Nagayama’s shamisen technique showcased at the beginning and in the middle of the song is also spectacular.

It’s a track you definitely should hear.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

miyabi

Report a problem

Yokohama SilhouetteNagayama Yōko6rank/position

Yoko Nagayama “Yokohama Silhouette” Music Video

This is a classic kayōkyoku song that layers a sense of helpless longing for love onto the twilight scene of the port city of Yokohama.

Released in June 1996 as a single by Yoko Nagayama, it was produced as the third installment in her kayōkyoku-oriented direction following “Suterarete.” Drawing on the solid vocal prowess she honed in enka, the song gently portrays a woman bearing the loneliness of the city night and a heart swelling with yearning.

In this work, she sets aside her powerful kobushi ornamentation and, over a refined, pop-tinged melody, brilliantly expresses the protagonist’s delicate emotional fluctuations.

It’s a track you’ll want to listen to when gazing at the harbor nightscape, lost in solitary reflection.

VenusNagayama Yōko7rank/position

Yoko Nagayama “Venus” Music Video

A quintessential Japanese dance music track released in 1986.

Its lyrics, portraying the charm and strength of a woman who calls herself the goddess of love, leave a vivid impression set to a glamorous Eurobeat rhythm.

It was also used as an insert song in the film “Don’t Mess with My Woman,” reached No.

10 on the Oricon chart, and sold over 160,000 copies.

For Yoko Nagayama, it’s an unforgettable song and a turning point in her career.

A must-have track for nighttime drives and livening up parties.