Yamada Kōsaku Popular Song Rankings [2026]

Theme and Variations: A Changing-of-Clothes Piece Dedicated to My MotherYamada Kōsaku15rank/position

Kosaku Yamada: Theme and Variations <A Changing-of-Clothes Piece Dedicated to My Mother> pf. Haruhi Hata

One of Japan’s leading composers, Kósçak Yamada, wrote the piano piece Theme and Variations “Koromogae Song Dedicated to My Mother” with deep affection for his mother.

Comprising 11 sections, this set of variations takes as its motif a hymn his mother loved, portraying her many facets.

Beginning with a majestic Andante, each variation possesses its own musical character—from quiet melodies that evoke tears to passionate performance indications—overflowing with the composer’s profound love.

Why not express this masterpiece, filled with a sincere longing for one’s mother, through your own performance?

Symphonic Poem “Flower of the Mandala”Yamada Kōsaku16rank/position

Kosaku Yamada, Symphonic Poem “Mandala no Hana” (The Flower of the Mandala), Takuo Yuasa conducting the Ulster Orchestra

Kosaku Yamada is a pioneering figure in Western music in Japan.

While he is generally strongly associated with children’s songs such as “Akatombo” (Red Dragonfly), he also left behind fully fledged symphonies.

This piece was inspired by a poem written by Yamada’s close friend when he sensed his father’s impending death.

National High School Baseball Championship Tournament MarchYamada Kōsaku17rank/position

March of the National High School Baseball Championship

A solemn yet rousing melody that graces the opening ceremony of the Summer Koshien! Crafted by a titan of Japanese music, Kosaku Yamada, this piece seems to turn the players’ dreams and sweat into sound.

Composed in August 1935 for the National Secondary School Baseball Championship in summer, this march has since stood as a symbol of the tournament, powerfully ushering the players as they enter.

Words like “glory” and “challenge” suit this work perfectly—it stirs the hearts of listeners and will undoubtedly continue to accompany unforgettable moments etched into baseball history.

Elegy: Variations on the Theme of ‘Moon over the Ruined Castle’Yamada Kōsaku18rank/position

Kosaku Yamada: Elegy – Variations on the Theme of “Moon Over the Ruined Castle” for piano. Hirotsugu Kita (pf.): Kita, Kosuke

Composed in 1917 as a solo piano work, Elegy—Variations on the Theme of “Kōjō no Tsuki,” left by composer Kōsaku Yamada, who had an immense impact on the history of Japanese music, is a tribute to and an expression of mourning for Rentarō Taki, the composer of “Kōjō no Tsuki.” Through eleven variations spanning from a prologue to a finale, it depicts a range of emotions—longing for past glory and for what has been lost among them.

By going beyond conventional variation form and adopting a poetic, introspective approach, Yamada enabled a deeper expression of feeling.

The melancholic melody imbued with a distinctly Japanese atmosphere is boldly arranged, allowing even listeners familiar with the original piece to experience it with fresh ears.

Variations in C majorYamada Kōsaku19rank/position

[Piano Pieces That Deserve More Recognition] Kósçak Yamada: Variations in C Major [Classical]

Kósçak Yamada is known as a composer who wrote numerous orchestral and choral works for children, as well as many piano pieces.

Among the masterpieces he left behind is Variations in C Major.

Within its bright, forward-looking atmosphere, an elegant melody is delicately drawn, resonating deeply with listeners.

Technically demanding, this piece is one that skilled pianists are especially encouraged to perform.

Please enjoy Yamada’s uniquely personal world, where the sensibilities distinctive to a Japanese composer blend seamlessly with the styles of Western music.

Overture in D majorYamada Kōsaku20rank/position

Kosaku Yamada, Overture in D major (1912)

This is Japan’s first full-fledged orchestral work, composed by Yamada Kōsaku, a composer who represents modern Japanese music.

Completed in 1912 while he was studying in Berlin, the piece is structured in a classical sonata form influenced by Mendelssohn and Schumann.

From the outset, a bright and vigorous theme is presented by the strings, and the development is marked by a rich flow and shifting contrasts.

Although it is a brief work of about three and a half minutes, it holds historical significance in the development of Japanese classical music.

Since its premiere at the Imperial Theater in May 1915, it has continued to exert a major influence on Japan’s musical world.

It is a recommended piece not only for classical music enthusiasts but also for anyone interested in the history of Japanese music.

Japanese-Style Shadow Play, No. 1: “Good Morning”Yamada Kōsaku21rank/position

Kósçak Yamada: Japanese-Style Shadow Play 1. No. 1 “Good Morning” pf. Nanako Sugiura

Kosaku Yamada, a composer who had a profound impact on the history of Japanese music.

Among his piano works—produced by a man who also strove to popularize classical music—Japanese Silhouettes is a must-hear piece, featuring melodies that evoke a distinctly Japanese character.

Built on a structure where the left hand follows the melody played by the right, it beautifully fuses pentatonic scales and rhythms with Japanese sensibilities.

Its gentle lines conjure the freshness of a Japanese morning, and one can sense the nostalgia the composer felt while far from home.

It’s a recommended work not only for piano learners but also for anyone wishing to rediscover the allure of Japanese music.