Kazuyoshi Saito’s masterpieces and popular songs

Fire DogSaitō Kazuyoshi

Kazuyoshi Saito 2008 FIRE DOG - COLD TUBE - I LOVE ME

A number with a Saito-Kazuyoshi-style 6/8 funk-rock flavor.

The solid guitar riff makes it an incredibly cool track.

Although Secchan is strongly associated with the image of solo acoustic performances, he also looks right at home as a rocker in this kind of band setup, showcasing the breadth of his output.

tokyo bluesSaitō Kazuyoshi

kazuyoshi saitou　 tokyo blues

It’s a light, cheerful kind of blues—a catchy number that makes you want to start dancing.

The lyrics carry a slightly languid, laid-back weariness, but they match the vocals perfectly, making it easy to picture the scenes as if they were moments from a drama or a film.

Ai StilOkamura Kazuyoshi

Kazuyoshi Okamura – “Ai Still” Music Video

This song poignantly portrays a man’s lingering feelings for a lost love.

Marked by a lively rhythm and roaring guitars, it was released in March 2024 by Okamura-Kazuyoshi, a new unit formed by Yasuyuki Okamura and Kazuyoshi Saito.

It carefully depicts the acceptance of a reality that can never be reclaimed, even as it celebrates happy memories of the past and the enduring beauty of a former lover.

As the third installment in a five-month consecutive digital release series, it drew considerable attention.

It’s sure to resonate with anyone seeking to heal the pain of heartbreak or struggling with love.

Put on your headphones and immerse yourself.

I want to be kinder.Saitō Kazuyoshi

Kazuyoshi Saito – I Want to Be Kind [Live at Nippon Budokan 2012.2.11]

A rock number widely known in living rooms across Japan as the theme song for “Kaseifu no Mita.” The lyric “We weren’t born in a loveless age” is especially striking.

This song and “Zutto Suki Datta” have PVs that pay homage to Beatles live performances, and this time Kazuyoshi Saito plays the role of John Lennon.

HummingbirdSaitō Kazuyoshi

Kazuyoshi Saito – Hummingbird [Music Video Short ver.]

In Japanese, a hummingbird is called a hachidori, a bird that can hover in place by flapping its wings rapidly like a bee.

Rather than sulking and staying stuck in the same spot, it’s an anthem to flap your wings and say “serves you right” to that gloomy version of yourself.

In the music video, I’m playing a Gibson guitar model called the Hummingbird.

Very, very strongSaitō Kazuyoshi

Kazuyoshi Saito – Very Very Strong ~ Eine Kleine [Music Video Short ver.]

Artist: This is Kazuyoshi Saito, also known for his friendship with author Kotaro Isaka.

Isaka decided to switch careers and become a writer inspired by one of Saito’s songs, but this track is a collaboration in the opposite direction—drawn from Isaka’s work.

The near-rap stream of words is striking, but the backing’s crunchy guitar tone is absolutely killer.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a textbook Telecaster sound—so satisfying that it’s essential listening not just for singer-songwriters, but for guitarists as well.

Where shall we go?Saitō Kazuyoshi

Kazuyoshi Saito — Where Shall We Go

A philosophical song that seems to say it all in the very first line: “We think about where we’re headed tomorrow.” Then, in the second line, “More than that, let’s enjoy tonight more than anyone,” it immediately spoils that mood—in a way that feels very much like Secchan, I suppose (lol).

And even after enjoying tonight more than anyone, we still end up thinking about where we’re headed tomorrow—and we end up forgetting it, too.