Yoshimi Tendo Popular Song Rankings [2026]

Dotonbori SentimentTendō Yoshimi1rank/position

[MV] Yoshimi Tendo / Dotonbori (Tonbori) Ninjō (Full Ver.)

Yoshimi Tendo is an enka singer highly acclaimed for her live performances.

With first-class qualities across the board—vocal power, expressiveness, and fine techniques such as kobushi—she also has songs that are relatively easy to sing.

Among them, the one I especially recommend is Dotonbori Ninjo.

It’s a robust enka number with the flavor of Kawachi Ondo, but most of the kobushi are the type that undulate at the start of each phrase, so it’s not particularly difficult.

Of course, if you aim to replicate every detail, the difficulty is high; however, since most of the Kawachi Ondo-style kobushi occur in the lower register, anyone who can control pitch in the low range should be able to sing it without issue.

By the way, the reading of the title is not “Dotonbori Ninjo,” but “Tonbori Ninjo.”

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Soran Festival SongTendō Yoshimi2rank/position

Yoshimi Tendo / Soran Festival Song (Full ver.)

Released in September 2012 to mark Yoshimi Tendo’s 40th debut anniversary, this work is an ambitious piece that elevates Hokkaido’s traditional folk music into contemporary enka as a “festival verse.” With a powerful narrative voice, it expresses gratitude to the mother sea and depicts the valiant figures of fishermen, amplifying a festive mood by mixing taiko-style rhythmic drive with the lift of brass.

Tendo’s distinctive vocal ornamentation (kobushi) deftly weaves in calls and responses, instantly drawing listeners in.

It charted around No.

50, a solid showing, and has been loved as a battle-tested track included on later best-of compilations.

Serving as a bridge between tradition and modernity, it’s perfect for moments when everyone wants to raise their voices together and get fired up.

Tanegashima Kamone OndoTendō Yoshimi3rank/position

Yoshimi Tendo “Tanegashima Kamone Ondo”

This is a beloved hit by Yoshimi Tendo that lovingly portrays Tanegashima, a remote island of Kagoshima Prefecture.

Set to a traditional ondo rhythm, it introduces the island’s many charms one after another: the deep blue of the Osumi Strait, the lush green land that hosts a rocket launch site, and Cape Kadokura, known for the arrival of firearms in Japan.

The song is included on the albums “Yoshimi Tendo Single Collection 1985–1991” and “Yoshimi Tendo Concert Selection,” released in June 2024, delighting many fans.

It’s a must-listen for anyone who wants to feel the allure of Kagoshima or who loves local-themed songs.

Daichan Counting SongYoshida Yoshimi (Tendō Yoshimi)4rank/position

Daichan Counting Song (Inakappe Taishō) / Daichan Kazoeuta

Inakappe Taisho is a TV anime that depicts the exploits of Daichan, also known as Daisamon Kaze, and is known for its theme song Daichan Kazoewuta, sung by Yoshimi Tendo.

It’s astonishing to learn that she was only 13 years old at the time of the recording.

Jindo MonogatariTendō Yoshimi5rank/position

[MV] Yoshimi Tendo / Jindo Monogatari (full ver.)

Inspired by the mysterious phenomenon in Jindo, Korea—where the sea parts and a path appears—this masterpiece movingly conveys the earnest longing to reunite with a loved one far away.

No matter the hardship, the feelings for a beloved never cease, and the strong prayer that one day they will meet again deeply resonates with listeners.

Released as a single in February 1996, it became YOSHIMI TENDO’s first million seller.

It won the Best Vocal Performance at the 38th Japan Record Awards that same year and was performed at the 48th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen in 1997, becoming a song cherished across generations.

Sung with heartfelt emotion at karaoke, it’s sure to spread warmth and inspiration to those who listen.

Your path of gloryTendō Yoshimi6rank/position

[MV] Yoshimi Tendo / Your Path of Glory (full ver.)

Yoshimi Tendo, a songstress who represents Osaka.

Discovered by Takajin Yashiki, she rose to public prominence.

Her vocal ability and expressive power are truly top-class, yet she has an approachable personality that has long endeared her to many enka fans.

Her hit number “Anta no Hanamichi” is a prime example.

Among her works, it’s one of the brightest, so it’s sure to get the crowd going.

This song features the distinctive twisting kobushi (melismatic ornamentation) characteristic of the Kawachi Ondo style, but since most of the ornamentation involves shifts of only two or three notes, you won’t encounter the complex kobushi heard in Tsugaru folk songs.

Instead, it calls for the powerful delivery typical of Kawachi Ondo.

As long as you can keep your pitch in check, it’s by no means a high-difficulty piece, so consider adding it to your repertoire.

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As long as life lastsTendō Yoshimi7rank/position

[MV] Yoshimi Tendo / Inochi no Kagiri (full ver.)

This work can truly be called the pinnacle of “life enka,” a song that celebrates the strength to overcome life’s joys and sorrows.

Released by Yoshimi Tendo in January 2006, the track spent 38 weeks on the Oricon charts and captured the hearts of many.

The determined resolve to live for a loved one and the single-minded pursuit of dreams supported by a mother’s words unfold like a sweeping epic.

Tendo’s deep, warmly enveloping voice brings a dramatic richness to the lyrics’ world.

When you find yourself at a crossroads in life or in need of the strength to look forward once more, this song may gently nudge you onward.