Aki Yashiro’s Most Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

Boat SongYashiro Aki1rank/position

Boat Song Aki Yashiro

When the winter cold grows sharper, you can’t help but want to spend some quietly reflective time in a warm room.

A song that truly seeps into the heart in such a season is Aki Yashiro’s classic “Funauta” (Boat Song).

Released as a single in May 1979, it paints an adult scene of quietly enjoying a drink at a tavern in a port town.

It’s also well known for being played in the 1981 film “Station,” and many older viewers likely still remember the poignant scene it accompanied.

Its wistful melody has a mysterious power that seems to warm you from the core, even when you’re chilled.

Gather together over some hot tea and reminisce about memories of the Kōhaku Uta Gassen from those days.

Lucky Man’s SongYashiro Aki2rank/position

Aki Yashiro / Song of Lucky Man / TV anime 'Tottemo! Luckyman' opening theme / 1994

Aki Yashiro has left behind many classic songs, but among them, an unusually distinctive masterpiece that continues to be talked about is The Lucky Man Song.

This piece was released as the theme song for the popular anime Tottemo! Luckyman.

It’s fundamentally structured as a pop song, so it doesn’t have the difficulty of enka.

However, in the middle of the track there’s a section that pays homage to part of the famous song Funauta, which does require techniques like kobushi (ornamental vocal turns).

That said, the kobushi and vocal lines aren’t particularly difficult, so if you’re accustomed to singing enka or kayōkyoku, you should be able to handle it without any trouble.

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Tearful LoveYashiro Aki3rank/position

Aki Yashiro 'Namida Koi' (Tearful Love)

Aki Yashiro possesses a very unusual vocal quality for a singer.

Typically, as singers age, their lower register gains more heft, but in her case it was the opposite—she had a richer, deeper low range when she was younger.

One of the works released early in her career is Namida Koi.

Its slightly muffled, husky voice timbre leaves a strong impression, doesn’t it? As enka, this piece features relatively few kobushi ornaments and incorporates plenty of kayōkyoku (Japanese pop) elements, making it easy to sing even for those who aren’t fond of enka.

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Longing for RainYashiro Aki4rank/position

Aki Yashiro / Love in the Rain

This masterpiece, hailed as a monument of Showa-era enka, was released as a single in April 1980, born from the golden duo of lyricist Yu Aku and composer Keisuke Hama.

The lyrics poignantly capture the heartache of a woman after a breakup, seamlessly blending with a bright, rhythmic melody in exquisite balance.

Aki Yashiro’s sultry voice and distinctive phrasing are captivating, giving the song a familiar charm that anyone can hum along to.

The work won the 22nd Japan Record Award and was also featured in commercials for Vidal Sassoon and BOSS.

With its gentle, soothing atmosphere and memorable choreography, it’s a song that can be enjoyed while moving together with seniors.

It’s perfect for group recreation or karaoke, where everyone can sing and have fun together.

Woman Harbor TownYashiro Aki5rank/position

Aki Yashiro “Onna Minatomachi”

Onna Minato-machi is a single released by Aki Yashiro in 1977.

In fact, it’s a cover of the original song Onna Minato-machi released in 1973 by Yuji Minami and the Full Sails.

It’s a classic that was performed at the 28th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen and received a Special Award at the 10th All Japan Cable Broadcasting Awards.

With a richly kayōkyoku-influenced sound, it’s an ideal choice for karaoke, especially for those who aren’t yet accustomed to straightforward enka or who love Showa-era pop.

The rhythmical A melody with clearly articulated Japanese and light accents, as well as the distinctive vibrato sections that appear in the B melody and chorus, can make it easy to go off pitch, so be sure to focus your practice on those parts.

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KOH-1

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To Feel the FireYashiro Aki6rank/position

Aki Yashiro / Hon-uta “To Feel The Fire”

Aki Yashiro’s cover of Stevie Wonder’s “To Feel The Fire.” It’s performed in Japanese, with the arrangement giving the song a gentle, richly nuanced atmosphere.

Listening to it brings a sense of calm, almost a healing effect.

Accompanying Yashiro’s tender vocals, the piano and strings weave melodies that seem to envelop the listener.

As the song moves toward its finale, the yearning for true love grows stronger and stronger, stirring emotions that bring tears.

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SAKI

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Izakaya “Showa”Yashiro Aki7rank/position

Aki Yashiro – Izakaya “Showa”

Aki Yashiro’s classic “Izakaya ‘Showa’” leaves a strikingly somber impression.

Yashiro is renowned for her ‘men’s songs,’ and among them, this piece is exceptionally rugged and refined.

True to enka style, there are solid kobushi (ornamental turns), but most of them shift only one or two scale degrees, so it shouldn’t feel difficult.

Rather than a clean vocal tone, this song benefits from a weathered, husky quality, so it’s recommended to sing it when your voice feels a bit worn.

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Ryo

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