A classic Japanese folk song passed down through generations of acoustic performances
A special feature on Japanese folk songs.
Folk music originally began as arrangements of traditional songs and spread in the United States.
From around the 1960s, it was also embraced in Japan, and, reflecting the times, songs with strong anti-war and anti-government messages were delivered.
Entering the 1970s, it became especially popular with more accessible, mainstream themes and reached a peak of commercial success.
Although Japanese folk has evolved to incorporate various elements, it retains an acoustic allure and a wistful mood, with lyrics that stand out and resonate.
By all means, take your time and immerse yourself in Japanese folk music!
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- [Snow Songs] Classic winter tunes themed around snow. Snow songs that touch the heart.
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- Classic Japanese songs about Earth: songs that include the word “Earth” in their lyrics
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- [Japanese Folk and Regional Songs] A Collection of Beloved Masterpieces from Across Japan, Brimming with Local Pride
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- I want to perform Vocaloid songs with an acoustic guitar! A collection of recommended tracks for beginners
- Nostalgic Children’s Songs, Folk Songs, and Nursery Rhymes: The Heart of Japan Passed Down Through Song
- [Night Songs] Classic masterpieces themed around the night. J-POP you’ll want to listen to at nighttime.
- A classic song about Oita. The enduring spirit of our hometown [2025]
Classic Japanese folk song masterpieces passed down through acoustic performances (1–10)
Love SongRyo Kagawa
A gem of a song that captures the journey of life and the struggles of love, carried by a gently soaking, soul-stirring melody.
It’s included on the album “Out of Mind,” released in November 1974.
Ryo Kagawa’s distinctive vocals and the simple yet resonant guitar tones vividly express the protagonist’s hesitation, anxiety, and faint stirrings of love.
The image of wandering from north to south feels like life itself, resonating deeply with listeners.
Perfect for anyone searching for their path or wrestling with love.
Also recommended as a companion for a nighttime walk.
loveChiharu Matsuyama
A warm song that gently embraces a bittersweet longing for love.
It delicately portrays the complex emotions of a woman and resonates deeply with listeners.
Chiharu Matsuyama’s powerful yet tender vocals perfectly capture the feelings of a woman weary from love.
Released in 1980, this work remains one of Matsuyama’s signature songs, beloved by many.
Recommended for those struggling with matters of the heart or holding deep feelings for someone special.
Why not listen to it quietly at night? It will surely be an experience that soaks into your heart.
Twilight looks lonelyN.S.P
It’s a song whose lyrical words and melody sink deep into the heart.
It delicately portrays the loneliness of twilight and expresses a bittersweet longing to be with someone.
NSP’s warm folk sound further enhances the song’s appeal.
Released as a single in July 1974, it has also been used as the departure melody at Ichinoseki Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen since March 2019.
It’s the perfect track for spending time alone at dusk or when you want to think of someone dear to you.
You can feel a comforting warmth that stays close to your heart—truly a masterpiece of Japanese folk music.
Timeless Japanese folk song classics passed down through solo performances (11–20)
Song of DepartureTsunehiko Kamijo & Rokumonsen
This song begins with the protagonist’s gaze lifting to the dry sky.
It carries feelings for days gone by and a determination to make a fresh start.
The words and tones woven by Tsunehiko Kamijō and Rokumonsen gently resonate with listeners’ hearts.
Released in June 1971, the work won the Grand Prix at the World Popular Song Festival, and later became a major hit, selling 700,000 copies as a single.
In 1974, it was included in a high school music textbook and has continued to be cherished by many.
It’s the perfect track for anyone about to take a new step forward—sure to inspire hope for the future.
Kanda RiverPrincess Kaguya
It’s one of Kaguya-hime’s signature songs, released in September 1973.
Depicting the lives and budding romance of students in the Showa era, the song became a massive hit, selling 1.
6 million copies.
There’s even a story that they declined an appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen because the lyrics contained a trademarked brand name.
Singing of modest yet happy days and a bittersweet farewell, the song vividly captures the feelings of young people at the time.
Everyday scenes—like promising to go to the public bath together or cooking curry rice—strike a chord.
It’s recommended for anyone who has experienced a breakup or wants to feel the purity of love.
Lingering Snowdolphin
Released in 1975.
Written and composed by Shozo Ise, it was originally a track on a Kaguyahime album.
It’s a classic that’s still widely sung at karaoke today.
In just a few short lyrics, you can picture the scene of a man seeing off his childhood friend at the station as she leaves to marry in the countryside, and feel his bittersweet sense that they may never meet again.
The term “nagori-yuki” (lingering snow) didn’t originally exist, but it’s a perfect title for this song.
Children Who Don't Know WarJiro's
The folk song released by Jiro’s in 1971 vividly captures the feelings of the postwar generation.
The purity of young people who grew up without knowing war and their wish for peace resound alongside a beautiful melody.
The song spoke for the youth of the time and sparked major debate over generational gaps and differing attitudes toward war.
After its release, it reached No.
11 on the charts in the folk genre and won both the New Artist Award and the Lyrics Award at the Japan Record Awards.
Its distinctive left-right separated vocal mixing also drew attention.
It’s a recommended track when you want to reaffirm your desire for peace or have conversations that bridge generations.