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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- A classic song about Oita. The enduring spirit of our hometown [2025]
Timeless Japanese folk song classics passed down through solo performances (11–20)
Parting at 22wind
Released in 1975 (Showa 50).
This is a duo formed after Kaguyahime disbanded, featuring Shozo Ise and Kazuhisa Okubo from the band Neko.
It’s a song that Shozo Ise wrote aiming for a hit, depicting the steps of a woman’s feelings leading up to choosing a breakup.
Interpretations vary, but during a time when student movements were still unsettled, many young men of that era weren’t interested in things like long-term plans or stability.
As a result, after five years of dating, the woman couldn’t trust the man and chose to marry someone who was thinking about the future.
So while it feels like a heartbreak song, it’s not quite heartbreak—it’s a song about parting.
early summerbutterbur sprout
A song by Fuyunotou that gently depicts the landscapes of Hokkaido.
Released in May 1975 as their third single, it helped boost their popularity as a folk duo.
The lyrics are striking, featuring local landmarks like the Clock Tower.
It delicately captures the scene of a quiet early-summer afternoon and the loneliness that lingers in the air.
Its acoustic charm and bittersweet melody resonate deeply.
Recommended for those who want to rediscover the appeal of Hokkaido or recall nostalgic scenery.
A track that makes you want to take a peaceful walk.
Examinee BluesTomoya Takaishi
A song that became a massive hit with 900,000 copies sold in 1968.
While vividly portraying the daily life of exam-takers, its lyrics weave in a self-deprecating perspective that resonates with listeners.
The light, country-and-western-style melody creates a charming contrast with the word “blues” in the title.
Combined with Tomoya Takaishi’s vocals and the clever touch of featuring an actual radio announcer, it brilliantly captures the feelings of test-takers at the time.
It’s a track packed with concerns unique to students preparing for entrance exams—being swamped with studying, friendships, parental expectations, and more.
It’s a classic that evokes nostalgia not only for current exam-takers but also for those who once were.
Be sure to savor this heartwarming folk song that brings back memories of youth.
Before winter comespaper balloon
Released in 1977 (Showa 52).
Lyrically, it feels somewhat similar to Fuki no Tō’s “Shiroi Fuyu,” but this song was written from the feelings of Etsujiro Goto, who proposed to Yasuyo Hirayama—now his wife, with whom he’s currently active as a duo—and didn’t receive a favorable reply.
The charm of this song lies in the female vocalist’s high register.
The two were members of the folk group Akai Tori and got married just before the group disbanded.
The Pattern of LifeWataru Takada
A song that nestles quietly against the ear sinks deeply into the heart.
Included on the 1971 album “Goaisatsu,” this piece is known as one of Wataru Takada’s signature works.
Set to a poem by the poet Baku Yamanokuchi, it features profoundly poetic expressions that portray the feelings of a protagonist who repeatedly sleeps rough.
The simple acoustic guitar accompaniment, steady yet poignant, draws out a quiet, lingering emotion.
While depicting people living under harsh conditions, the lyrics also offer glimpses of a longing for freedom, leaving a strong impression.
It is a moving song that could only have been woven by Takada, who himself experienced poverty and wandering.
ant (colloquial, little ant)Kenichi Nagira
A signature song by Kenichi Nagira that, using ants as a metaphor for the small presences and efforts of everyday life, sings of life’s hardships and loneliness.
Included on the album “On This Night…” released in July 1993, this piece carries a quiet yet resonant message for listeners.
In a simple folk style centered on guitar, the melody sinks deep into the heart.
The lyrics, characteristically Nagira, blend satire and humor while offering profound insight into human emotions and social issues—part of its allure.
It’s a quietly moving track that makes you want to listen alone on a calm night.
Classic Japanese folk songs passed down through solo performances (21–30)
PrayerTsuyoshi Nagabuchi
This is a folk ballad that feels like a raw cry of the soul, based on Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi’s real-life experience of suddenly losing the one he loved in his youth.
The sound of a single acoustic guitar strummed hard and his wrung-out vocals convey a visceral sense of irreparable regret and frustration.
This piercing prayer will surely seize the listener’s heart.
Released as a single in July 1979, it was also included on that year’s album Gyakuryu.
His solo live performance of the song has been praised as its very essence.
When you’re carrying deep loss, encountering the fierce emotions poured into this piece may paradoxically bring a strange feeling that your own sorrow is being purified.