Yamada Kōsaku Popular Song Rankings [2026]

red dragonflySakushi: Miki Rofū / Sakkyoku: Yamada Kōsaku1rank/position

Red Dragonfly | With Lyrics | 100 Selected Japanese Songs | Red Dragonfly of the Evening Glow

This is a nostalgic work that layers feelings of longing for childhood while gazing up at a red dragonfly flying in the sunset sky.

Rofu Miki infused the poem with memories of his hometown in Hyogo Prefecture, and Kosaku Yamada set it to a beautiful melody.

The poem was published in 1921 and set to music in 1927, and it has been sung across generations ever since.

It was featured in the 1955 film “Koko ni Izumi Ari” and on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” in 1965, and has long been widely cherished.

On an autumn evening, why not hum it as you watch the red dragonflies by the window? Its gentle triple-meter melody is easy to sing, and if you gather to sing it together, it’s sure to spark fond reminiscences.

Pechka (a type of Russian masonry stove)Sakkyoku: Yamada Kōsaku2rank/position

Pechka Minoru Uchimoto (vocal) / Lyrics by Hakushu Kitahara / Composed and arranged by Koscak Yamada [Record]

Pechka, the Russian fireplace and oven.

Watching the fire burn on a cold winter’s day is truly soothing, isn’t it? Here is a song about that pechka.

It was included in the Manchuria Song Collection published in 1924 and was reportedly composed at the request of the South Manchuria Education Association for people emigrating to Manchuria at the time.

Since the winters in Manchuria were said to be very cold, this song must have suited the setting well.

In its final section, although the piece is in a major key, it employs chords from the parallel minor of the same tonic, creating a distinctive atmosphere.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Pechka (a type of Russian masonry stove)Sakushi: Kitahara Hakushū / Sakkyoku: Yamada Kōsaku3rank/position

Pechka (Winter Children's Song)

This is a nursery song that paints a warm scene of people gathered around a fireplace, talking on a cold, snowy night.

Created by the golden duo of Hakushū Kitahara and Kōsaku Yamada for children living in Manchuria, it was included in the 1924 collection Manchurian Songbook: For Elementary Grades 1 and 2.

Later, it was featured on NHK’s Minna no Uta from December 1965 to January 1966, and gained wider popularity thanks to visuals by picture-book artist Rokurō Taniuchi.

You can almost feel the quiet of the night as they gaze into the fire, savoring the aroma of roasted chestnuts and the crackle of sparks.

Even when it’s cold outside, the warmth of time spent with family seeps into the heart—making this a perfect song for winter.

Song of the Railway SpiritSakushi: Kitahara Hakushū / Sakkyoku: Yamada Kōsaku4rank/position

[JNR Company Song] Song of the Railway Spirit — With Lyrics, Remastered Audio

Composed in 1935 as the official company song established by the Ministry of Railways, this piece is a powerful march created by the renowned duo representing Japan—poet Hakushu Kitahara and composer Kósçak Yamada.

As suggested by phrases like thundering iron wheels, service to the nation, and a great family of 200,000, the song celebrates the sense of duty and pride of the employees who supported the railways—the nation’s main artery.

It is a work we especially recommend to those with fond memories of railways or an interest in the history of Japanese rail transport.

Kayano-KeyamaSakushi: Kitahara Hakushū / Sakkyoku: Yamada Kōsaku5rank/position

Kosaku Yamada “Kayanoki-yama” Tenor: Hitoshi Hatano

Kayano nuts, which are roasted and eaten, and whose oil—extracted from the nuts—is used for lamps and as hair oil, are one of autumn’s seasonal delights.

The piece “Kaya no Kiyama no” depicts a grandmother roasting these kaya nuts over the irori hearth.

As the weather gradually turns colder in autumn, gathering around the irori to enjoy the flavors of the season is truly charming.

For those who had an irori at their family or grandparents’ home, it may feel nostalgic, and for those who have never seen one, the song may feel fresh and new.

The scenes evoked by the lyrics and melody carry a sense of nostalgia that fits perfectly with the quiet, bittersweet mood of autumn.

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SAKI

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This roadSakushi: Kitahara Hakushū / Sakkyoku: Yamada Kōsaku6rank/position

This Road | With Lyrics | Radio Kayō (Radio Songs) | One Hundred Selected Japanese Songs | This is the road I once walked

This classic that portrays the beauty of Japan’s changing seasons is a masterpiece of lyrical song, with music by Kósçak Yamada set to a poem by Hakushū Kitahara.

Its bright, gentle melody and vividly scenic lyrics blend in perfect harmony.

The soothing, healing tone of the piece reminds us of the joy of singing.

Since its release in 1927 in a recording by Yoshie Fujiwara, it has continued to be loved by many.

It’s an ideal song for a music recreation activity everyone can enjoy together.

Why not spend a heartwarming moment sharing fond memories as you listen?

waiting in vainSakushi: Kitahara Hakushū / Sakkyoku: Yamada Kōsaku7rank/position

Machibouke by Himawari 🌻 with Lyrics | Shoka | Machibo-ke |

This work was created by the famed duo of Hakushu Kitahara, a leading figure of modern Japanese poetry, and composer Kósçak Yamada.

Based on an old Chinese folktale, it portrays a farmer who, after getting a taste of accidental good fortune, stops working.

It begins with a lively rhythm and a cheerful mood, but as the story unfolds, the once-rich fields fall into ruin, culminating in a bleak winter landscape—its hallmark progression.

The somewhat plaintive melody pairs well with the feeling of the season shifting from autumn to winter.

First released in 1924 as a children’s song, it was later broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” starting in August 1973.

The narrative draws you in deeply, making it perfect for savoring the lyrics on a long autumn night.