[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.
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[Osaka Songs] A selection of passionate, warm-hearted Osaka tunes (21–30)
Osaka Love DropletKaori Mizumori
A song whose warm melody and deeply emotive lyrics gently embrace a wounded heart.
Released in March 2025, it is Kaori Mizumori’s 30th anniversary debut single.
Mizumori is known for numerous regional songs such as “Tottori Sand Dunes” and “Kumano Kodo,” and in this work, too, her characteristically gentle voice richly evokes the cityscape of Osaka.
It’s a love song that encourages listeners with a message to keep moving forward—overcoming the sadness and loneliness experienced in life and walking on with hope.
Osaka RhapsodyChisato and Mari Umihara
This is a song by the sister manzai duo, Unabara Senri and Unabara Mari.
It might be easier to recognize if I mention that the younger sister, Unabara Senri, later became active under the name Emiko Kaminuma.
The song depicts a lover walking through the neon-lit streets of Osaka at night, and it includes several specific place names, making it easy to imagine exactly where the characters are in the city.
It conveys the flashy, fun cityscape of Osaka at night, brimming with light—an atmosphere that remains vivid and unfaded despite the passage of time.
A woman born in OsakaKenichi Hagiwara
When it comes to Osaka’s local songs, this one is indispensable: the hit “Osaka de Umareta Onna” crafted by BORO.
In terms of release order, Kenichi Hagiwara actually put out the single first in 1979.
It tells the love story of a woman born in Osaka and a man who moved to Tokyo, and the longing and bittersweet feelings for one’s hometown gradually sink in.
Shoken’s passionate delivery and the bluesy mood strike right at the heart.
It has a timeless quality that resonates even today, making it the ultimate Osaka song packed with the spirit of the city.
Osaka StrutUlfuls
Although this song is often heard in Kansai and strongly evokes the atmosphere of Osaka, it is actually a cover of Eiichi Ohtaki’s “Fussa Strut part 2.” That said, only the sound and maybe a single word of the lyrics remain from the original—there’s a huge difference in the amount of information packed into the songs.
With lyrics that conjure up the streets of Osaka and dialogues in Osaka dialect that bring the characters to life, it incorporates an abundance of flashy, chaotic elements, resulting in a track that truly captures the feel of Osaka.
Osaka City Streetcar Song
A song with a pleasing seven-five rhythm invites you on a journey through springtime Osaka.
Starting in Umeda, it sings its way through the era’s celebrated spots—Dojima, Shinsaibashi, and on to Tempozan—so vividly that the city’s lively scenes come to life before your eyes.
Don’t you feel the excitement of people swaying along in the streetcars? It’s said this piece was created in 1908 as a PR song for the Osaka Municipal Tramway.
As you listen to its nostalgic melody, you can sense the bustle of the old, beloved “City of Water.”
I love you, Osaka.Kanjani Eight
This is one of the tracks from Kanjani Eight’s third single, released in 2005.
As you might expect, when it comes to Osaka—once known as the nation’s kitchen—the city has a strong image as a commercial hub.
The song portrays Osaka as a city of business, weaving in depictions of conversations among its quirky residents.
It conveys a vivid sense of Osaka’s lively warmth, its exuberant, flashy, and delightfully chaotic atmosphere.
The fact that Kanjani Eight’s members like to ad-lib comedic bits in the song also feels quintessentially Osaka.
Osaka ElegySharam Q
If you’re going on a date in Osaka, the love song you absolutely should listen to is Osaka Elegy.
It’s a track by Sharan Q, a band from Osaka, included on their 1996 album GOLDEN Q.
With breezy guitars and brass-accented, moody sounds, it exudes a mature vibe.
Yet, in contrast to that sophistication, it also conveys a warm, cozy feeling—like you can picture a couple strolling happily together along Midosuji, a landmark in many Osaka songs, and around the Dotonbori area and Ebisubashi-suji Shopping Street, famous for Osaka’s gourmet delights.
Its catchy melody also makes it a great pick to sing and enjoy at karaoke!