Yoshi Ikuzo Popular Song Rankings [2026]

I’m going to Tokyo.Yoshi Ikuzo1rank/position

I'm going to Tokyo.

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.

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Oh, sake!Yoshi Ikuzo2rank/position

Oh, sake!

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.

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Snow CountryYoshi Ikuzo3rank/position

Snow Country by Ikuzo Yoshi

A masterpiece that sings of hope shining through the bitter cold, its bittersweet sense of life’s melancholy resonates deeply.

Yoshikazu Ikuzō’s vocals, tinged with sorrow yet brimming with strength, seep into the depths of the heart.

Released in 1986, it won the Gold Prize at the Japan Record Awards.

That same year, it appeared on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen and topped the Oricon charts—a work cherished by many.

Masterfully intertwining northern landscapes with the stirrings of love, this song was also used in regional tourism promotions and winter campaigns.

For many, it remains a treasured song of memories.

Why not spend a quiet moment listening to its heartwarming voice?

pinwheelYoshi Ikuzo4rank/position

[Full MV] IKUZO YOSHI “Kazeguruma” [Official]

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.

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Song of ThanksYoshi Ikuzo5rank/position

Song of Thanks

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.

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Drunken SongYoshi Ikuzo6rank/position

Drunken Song

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

Tachineputa.wmv (Yoshi Ikuzo)

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.