![Yoshi Ikuzo Popular Song Rankings [2026]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/6SqA0SZ4vIw/maxresdefault.webp)
Yoshi Ikuzo Popular Song Rankings [2026]
Alright! Here we go! …From lighthearted songs that match the comical image of his name to enka that moves you deeply.
Ikuzo Yoshi is a singer with many sides.
He even delivers performances on variety shows that rival those of comedians.
Here is a ranking of Yoshi’s popular songs.
Yoshi Ikuzo Popular Song Rankings [2026] (1–10)
I’m going to Tokyo.Yoshi Ikuzo1rank/position
Enka singer Ichi Ikuzō, known for his wide-ranging musicality from comic songs to songs in a female voice and heart-wrenching ballads.
Unusual for an enka singer, he also has the side of a singer-songwriter, and his original songs, for which he writes both lyrics and music, are full of creativity and have remained beloved across generations.
Speaking of Ikuzō Yoshii’s masterpieces, it has to be “Ora Tokyo sa Iguda,” doesn’t it? While it has elements typical of enka, it features many spoken-style parts, so the overall difficulty is on the lower side.
As a comic song, it really gets the crowd going, so be sure to add it to your repertoire.
Oh, sake!Yoshi Ikuzo2rank/position
Men in their 60s are the generation that experienced the dawn of kayōkyoku, rock, and folk music, and they can also be said to be very familiar with enka.
In particular, many have deep knowledge of modern enka, which differs from those based on traditional folk songs.
The song I recommend is Yosh Ikuzo’s “Sake yo.” As an enka piece, it is very easy to sing, with no kobushi that require complex pitch ornamentations.
The vocal range is also not wide—mid1 C# to mid2 F—so even men in their 60s, an age when projecting the voice can become difficult, should be able to sing it comfortably.
Snow CountryYoshi Ikuzo3rank/position
This is a classic ballad written and composed by Ikuzo Yoshi himself, released on February 25, 1986.
It vividly portrays a snow-laden scene and a poignant woman’s heart, becoming a huge hit that even reached No.
1 on the Oricon charts.
I think many of you have heard the chorus.
The A section is relatively calm, so you can sing it without forcing your voice, but the song’s structure goes straight into the chorus without a B section; the chorus suddenly soars and includes high notes.
If you raise the intensity phrase by phrase, the excitement will build and your voice will come out more.
If you sustain the long notes firmly, it should feel great to sing.
pinwheelYoshi Ikuzo4rank/position
Kazuo Yoshii’s masterpiece “Kazeguruma,” released in 2024, opens with an electric guitar that’s very characteristic of enka.
From there, the voltage settles as it moves into the A-melody.
As you can hear, however, this piece reflects strong pop elements rather than being pure enka.
The chorus in particular evokes 1970s and ’80s folk rock.
Naturally, there are fewer instances of kobushi (ornamental vocal turns), making this one of the easiest songs to sing in Yoshii’s catalog.
Song of ThanksYoshi Ikuzo5rank/position
Among Yoshikazu Ikuzō’s songs, the classic “Arigatō no Uta” is especially beloved for its cool, understated melody.
The piece leans strongly into folk and blues, highlighted by bluesy guitar bends.
Of course, since it’s an Ikuzō song, enka elements appear here and there, but the kobushi vocal ornament shows up only about once per verse.
The vocal range is also narrow, so even those who can’t hit high notes can sing it comfortably.
Because the arrangement develops while keeping essentially the same vocal line, start the song with a slightly restrained delivery, then gradually raise the intensity to give the entire performance dynamic contrast.
Drunken SongYoshi Ikuzo6rank/position
Released in 1990 by Ikuzo Yoshi, this work is a masterpiece that portrays the feelings of a man quietly drinking alone in a corner of the city.
From the very beginning, it sings of a man thinking of a woman in the falling rain, and in the chorus the calls from the Soran Bushi ring out strikingly.
Its distinctive structure fuses elements of Tsugaru folk music with an enka ballad, colored by a weeping guitar and female chorus that vividly evoke the atmosphere of a tavern.
A classic that condenses a bittersweet love story, the vigor of the Soran Bushi, and many other elements.
Please enjoy its flavor, which differs slightly from the orthodox Soran Bushi.
Standing Neputa (Giant Neputa Float)Yoshi Ikuzo7rank/position
Ikuzo Yoshi is a singer-songwriter from Aomori Prefecture, born in 1952.
One of his well-known songs, “Tachineputa,” released in 2001, is a grand piece themed around the traditional Tachineputa festival in his hometown of Goshogawara.
The song incorporates the festival chant “Yattemare” into its lyrics and portrays the lively atmosphere of the celebration.
Through many of his songs, Yoshi continues to share his love for and the culture of his hometown.
“Tachineputa” can be considered one of his signature works that encapsulates these feelings.
In an age when we have fewer opportunities to experience summer festivities, I hope this song lets you feel a brave and passionate side of summer.