Yoshi Ikuzo Popular Song Rankings [2026]

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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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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Blues of SorrowYoshi Ikuzo31rank/position

Ai no Blues — Yoshikazu Ikuzō

Ikuzo Yoshi’s classic “Ai no Blues” is memorable for its passionate vocal delivery.

Although it falls into the so-called ‘onnagata’ (woman’s song) category, Yoshi’s husky voice brilliantly conveys a woman’s sorrow.

One reason this piece is easy to sing is its frequent repetition.

From the A section to the B section, the same vocal lines are often repeated, and because these repeated parts don’t include kobushi (ornamental vocal turns), the overall difficulty naturally decreases.

There is a slightly higher passage toward the end, but the overall vocal range remains narrow, so it’s undoubtedly an easy song to sing.

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Ryo

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Women’s Counting SongYoshi Ikuzo32rank/position

Women's Counting Song

Among Yoshikazu Ikuzō’s songs, Onna no Kazoewuta stands out for its especially smooth melody.

While it follows the enka tradition, the piece flows with a smooth-jazz-like ease throughout, and compared to typical enka, it features far fewer occurrences of kobushi—the intricate pitch bends that require complex rises and falls.

It’s a work that should especially resonate with fans of adult contemporary.

Instead of techniques like kobushi, it calls for many expansive long tones, so be sure to stay mindful of sustaining those lines.

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Ryo

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passionate flameYoshi Ikuzo33rank/position

Passionate Flames — Ikuzo Yoshi

Ikuzo Yoshi is well regarded for his “onna-uta” (songs from a woman’s perspective), and among them, the track Joen is widely praised as a hidden masterpiece.

While its lyrics and melody exude a poignant melancholy, the vocal line is surprisingly straightforward, with gentle rises and falls in pitch.

There are few kobushi (ornamental turns), and the ones that do appear are often close to an extension of vibrato, so even those who feel uneasy about enka-style phrasing should be able to sing it without issue.

The song stays within a comfortable vocal range, making it easy to sing for both men and women.

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Ryo

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Elegy of a Port TownYoshi Ikuzo34rank/position

Ikuzo Yoshi 'Minato-machi Banka' MV (Released January 27, 2021)

Ikuzo Yoshi’s classic “Minato-machi Banka” is marked by a melancholy, lingering melody.

It’s a women’s song depicting a woman in a port town, beautifully expressing her feelings as she dotes on her husband who’s returned from fishing after a long time away.

Despite its powerful melody, the piece surprisingly features few advanced kobushi (melismatic turns).

They do appear, but when they do, the kobushi only span one or two scale steps, so the difficulty level as enka is quite low.

Consider adding it to your repertoire.

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drunk on menYoshi Ikuzo35rank/position

[Full] IKUZO YOSHI “Otoko Yoi (Man’s Intoxication)” — On sale now!

Among Yoshikazu Ikuzō’s songs, the masterpiece “Otokoyoi” stands out for its especially powerful melody.

It’s a straight-up ‘man’s song,’ crafted with a consistently forceful melodic line throughout.

There are many shout-style sections where the voice is driven hard, but because the emphasis is on sheer power, you won’t find ornamentations that demand delicate control, like intricate kobushi runs.

Even the kobushi at the end of the chorus is essentially an extension of the vibrato, so the difficulty level is relatively low.

Gentlemen with a rich, gravelly voice should definitely consider adding this piece to their repertoire.

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Ryo

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