Yoshi Ikuzo Popular Song Rankings [2026]

acting like a handsome guyYoshi Ikuzo21rank/position

Ikuzo Yoshi “Pretending to Be a Handsome Guy” [Official] | Full Chorus MV

Ikuzo Yoshi is known for his versatile musicality that extends beyond enka to include even rap.

“Nimaime Kidori” is a single released in September 2025, and a long-awaited work that reunites him with his close ally, composer Makoto Sugimoto, for the first time in 13 years since 2012’s “Sono Mukashi.” It vividly portrays the raw, inescapably human clumsiness and bittersweet sorrow lurking behind a man who puts on airs and tries to look cool.

A masterpiece that conveys the astringency of life, its seasoned vocals resonate deeply in the heart.

Shirakami is my hometown.Yoshi Ikuzo22rank/position

Ikuzo Yoshi “Shirakami Is My Hometown” — I like it. Nishimeya Hometown Goodwill Ambassador.

This is a song about Shirakami-Sanchi, the World Heritage Site that spans Akita and Aomori Prefectures.

It’s by Enka legend Ikuzo Yoshi—where is your hometown again? I looked it up and it’s in Aomori, not Akita.

It’s a very good song that conveys the grandeur of Shirakami-Sanchi.

[Yoshi Ikuzo] IKZO × Soran BushiYoshi Ikuzo, hoka23rank/position

[Yoshi Ikuzo] IKZO × Soran Bushi

Just from looking at the title, you might think it’s Yoshikazu Mera singing Soran Bushi, but this video is actually a remix on Nico Nico Douga of Yoshikazu Mera’s “Ora Tōkyō sa Iguda” and “Soran Bushi,” and it’s put together in a very entertaining way.

Dear MomYoshi Ikuzo24rank/position

To Mom <50th Anniversary Album Ver.>

A masterpiece of the enka world known as one of Ikuzo Yoshi’s most tear-jerking songs, “To Mother.” As an enka singer, Ikuzo Yoshi is a rare singer-songwriter.

Because he writes both the lyrics and music for most of his songs, his work is compelling for its vivid sense of reality.

This song, sung by Yoshi, was created in memory of his late mother.

It is characterized by a deeply subdued atmosphere, and techniques such as kobushi (melismatic ornamentation) are kept to a minimum to serve that world view.

While it demands a high level of expressive ability, its overall difficulty as a typical enka piece is relatively low, so consider adding it to your repertoire.

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Ryo

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Jongara Love SongYoshi Ikuzo25rank/position

Jonkara Love Song Yoshikazu Ikuzo

This is an enka song that voices a man’s heart as he longs for the lover he left behind in his hometown of Tsugaru.

It’s a piece by Ikuzo Yoshi from Aomori Prefecture, released to the world as the B-side of the single “Yoimachizake” in January 1993.

The melancholy strains of Tsugaru folk music resonate deeply, conjuring up a stark winter scene where snow begins to dance.

Amid the biting cold, you can keenly feel the protagonist’s emotions as he thinks of his distant home.

Anyone living away from their hometown will be moved by this heartrending tale.

It’s a masterpiece to listen to quietly, alone, on a winter night.

Alone in the North CountryYoshi Ikuzo26rank/position

Alone in the Northern Country / Ikuzo Yoshi (with lyrics) cover T&Y

Ikuzo Yoshi, who always shows his humor on variety shows and as an MC, delivers this song earnestly and passionately, and it strangely hits me right in the heart—it’s a masterpiece.

From “Ora Tokyo sa Igu da” to this track, his range as a singer is unbelievably wide.

I’ma goin’ to Tokyo.Yoshi Ikuzo27rank/position

I'm going to Tokyo.

As you can tell from the title, Ikuzo Yoshi’s song “Ora Tokyo sa Igu da” is the ultimate “I’m heading to Tokyo!” anthem.

It’s humorously sung and super rhythmic, so listening to it really lifts your spirits.

I’d love to sing it for someone who’s moving to Tokyo!

We’re going to Tokyo.Yoshi Ikuzo28rank/position

Yoshi Ikuzo “I’m Goin’ to Tokyo” [From the video cinema “I’m Goin’ to Tokyo ~Pure Heart Edition~”]

A song that drew attention for its unique style of singing in the Tsugaru dialect.

Released in November 1984, it immediately captured the hearts of people across Japan.

The lyrics, brimming with humor, vividly portray the feelings of a young person heading from rural Aomori to Tokyo.

When it was performed on the TV show “The Best Ten,” there was reportedly a mishap where Ikuzo Yoshi became so nervous he couldn’t sing.

This work is a profound piece that satirizes the gap between the countryside and the city while also expressing love for one’s hometown.

How about listening to it together with older folks while sharing nostalgic memories?

Kita-ShinchiYoshi Ikuzo29rank/position

Kita-Shinchi

While the enka genre typically involves professional lyricists and composers writing songs for singers, Ikuzo Yoshi stands out as a singer-songwriter who writes and performs his own material.

From comic-song flavors to authentic enka, he has produced hits across a wide spectrum, and he has also left many ‘local songs’ themed around towns across Japan.

This track, “Kita-Shinchi,” is literally themed on Osaka’s famous entertainment district.

It was included on the album “35th Anniversary: Thanks to Everyone — A Journey of Poems,” and later self-covered on “50th Anniversary Album III — Bringing Yoshi to Your Town.” The song sits somewhere between enka and mood kayō, making it perfect for karaoke.

That said, keeping the rhythm is tricky, and simply matching the melody to the pitches won’t fully bring out the song’s appeal.

To capture the nuanced flavor of someone who has tasted life’s bittersweet experiences, practice until you can sing it with effortless ease.

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KOH-1

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South… spring and summerYoshi Ikuzo30rank/position

Ikuzo Yoshi “Nanbu… Spring and Summer” [Official] | Full Chorus MV

Ikuzo Yoshi is well known for songs that praise his hometown, and among them, the one I especially recommend for its ease of singing is “Nanbu…

Spring and Summer.” Its lyrics overflow with scenes of home and a deep nostalgia for them, and the melody is crafted with a warm tone to match.

With a very relaxed tempo, it features no fast, intricate kobushi (ornamental turns) or kobushi that span more than three scale steps, so even those who feel uneasy about enka should be able to sing it without trouble.

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Ryo

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