[Song of Osaka] A selection of passionate, warm-hearted Osaka tunes
When you think of songs about Osaka, what tunes come to mind? While traditional local songs have become fewer, there are still many moving classics like Dreams Come True’s “Osaka LOVER” and Masaki Ueda’s “Kanashii Iro Yane.” From songs filled with the determination not to lose to Tokyo, to nostalgic hometown ballads, tracks that name-check local places, and even playful, humorous numbers—there’s a wide variety.
In this article, we’ve carefully selected “songs of Osaka” across a broad range of genres, from enka and kayōkyoku of the ’70s–’80s to recent J-pop.
We present masterpieces brimming with Osaka’s unique warmth and humanity, as well as passionate tales of love.
- [Local Songs] Recommended tracks packed with Japan’s nationwide classics and hometown pride
- The soul’s cry woven into Japanese elegies: unraveling supreme masterpieces that resonate with the heart.
- [Kyoto Songs] Masterpieces that sing about Kyoto — songs themed on the ancient capital. The enduring heart of our hometown passed down in song.
- Folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes of Osaka: the enduring spirit of our hometown carried on in song
- [Hyogo Songs] A Collection of Local and Love Songs Set in Hyogo
- Railway songs from across Japan: Japanese classics themed around trains.
- A classic song about Oita. The enduring spirit of our hometown [2025]
- [Hometown Songs] A curated selection of popular Japanese tracks that fill your heart with nostalgia
- [Hiroshima Songs] The Heart of Our Hometown Passed Down in Song | A Curated Selection of Timeless Classics Loved Across Generations
- The Spirit of Japan: A Collection of Famous and Popular Shamisen Pieces
- Japanese sign-language songs; sign-language song(s)
- A classic song that sings of Nagasaki: the enduring heart of our hometown
- [Let's Enjoy Japanese Festival Songs!] Songs about festivals. Famous songs related to festivals.
[Osaka Songs] A selection of passionate, big-hearted Osaka tunes (81–90)
Midosuji at twilightSumiko Sakamoto
This is a song released by Sumiko Sakamoto in 1967 that depicts the scenery of Midosuji in Osaka.
Sumiko Sakamoto is a singer from Higashisumiyoshi Ward, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, and this has become one of her signature songs about her hometown of Osaka.
In 1977, she also released a disco-arranged version of the song.
The Two MidousujiHiroshi Uchiyamada and the Cool Five
Released in 1975 by Hiroshi Uchiyamada and the Cool Five, this song overlays a woman’s bittersweet feelings of love with the image of rain pouring down on Midosuji, heightening the sense of sorrow and longing.
It is a little-known gem regarded as an Osaka-themed song by Hiroshi Uchiyamada and the Cool Five.
In conclusion
Have you found a favorite Osaka-themed song? From bittersweet, deeply moving tunes to energetic tracks filled with Osaka-style humor, there are so many classics.
Osaka songs, with their sense of familiarity, are perfect for karaoke! Whether you’re from Osaka or not, why not sing while thinking fondly of your hometown?