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Karaoke Ranking of Popular Songs by Itsuki Hiroshi [2025]
This is a karaoke popularity ranking for the truly remarkable musician Ikuzo Yoshi.
In addition to his illustrious achievements as an enka singer—winning the Gold Prize at the JASRAC Awards and the Grand Prix at the All Japan Cable Broadcasting Awards for “Sake yo”—he also holds the distinction of being the first person to perform Japanese rap on television with “Ora Tokyo sa Iguda.” As a songwriter and composer, he has provided songs to a stellar lineup including Sayuri Ishikawa, Kenji Sawada, Masao Sen, and Hiroshi Itsuki.
Yoshi Ikuzo’s Most Popular Karaoke Songs Ranking [2025] (1–10)
I'm going to Tokyo.Ikuzo Yoshi1rank/position
Enka singer Ichi Ikuzō, known for his wide-ranging musicality from comic songs to songs in a female voice and heart-wrenching ballads.
Unusual for an enka singer, he also has the side of a singer-songwriter, and his original songs, for which he writes both lyrics and music, are full of creativity and have remained beloved across generations.
Speaking of Ikuzō Yoshii’s masterpieces, it has to be “Ora Tokyo sa Iguda,” doesn’t it? While it has elements typical of enka, it features many spoken-style parts, so the overall difficulty is on the lower side.
As a comic song, it really gets the crowd going, so be sure to add it to your repertoire.
Oh, sake!Ikuzo Yoshi2rank/position
Men in their 60s are the generation that experienced the dawn of kayōkyoku, rock, and folk music, and they can also be said to be very familiar with enka.
In particular, many have deep knowledge of modern enka, which differs from those based on traditional folk songs.
The song I recommend is Yosh Ikuzo’s “Sake yo.” As an enka piece, it is very easy to sing, with no kobushi that require complex pitch ornamentations.
The vocal range is also not wide—mid1 C# to mid2 F—so even men in their 60s, an age when projecting the voice can become difficult, should be able to sing it comfortably.
Snow CountryIkuzo Yoshi3rank/position
A masterpiece that sings of hope shining through the bitter cold, its bittersweet sense of life’s melancholy resonates deeply.
Yoshikazu Ikuzō’s vocals, tinged with sorrow yet brimming with strength, seep into the depths of the heart.
Released in 1986, it won the Gold Prize at the Japan Record Awards.
That same year, it appeared on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen and topped the Oricon charts—a work cherished by many.
Masterfully intertwining northern landscapes with the stirrings of love, this song was also used in regional tourism promotions and winter campaigns.
For many, it remains a treasured song of memories.
Why not spend a quiet moment listening to its heartwarming voice?
pinwheelIkuzo Yoshi4rank/position
Kazuo Yoshii’s masterpiece “Kazeguruma,” released in 2024, opens with an electric guitar that’s very characteristic of enka.
From there, the voltage settles as it moves into the A-melody.
As you can hear, however, this piece reflects strong pop elements rather than being pure enka.
The chorus in particular evokes 1970s and ’80s folk rock.
Naturally, there are fewer instances of kobushi (ornamental vocal turns), making this one of the easiest songs to sing in Yoshii’s catalog.
Drunken SongIkuzo Yoshi5rank/position
It is a single released by Ikuzo Yoshi in 1990.
Written and composed by Ikuzo Yoshi, it stands alongside “Yukiguni” and “Sake yo” as one of his signature songs.
The lyrics, which evoke a somewhat wistful feeling of drinking and the singer’s thoughts about a father living apart, are particularly memorable.
The song was performed at the 41st NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen.
TSUGARUIkuzo Yoshi6rank/position
A rap number by enka singer Yoshikazu Mera (Yoshi Ikuzo) performed in the Tsugaru dialect of his home prefecture, Aomori! Just listening to it, you can hardly tell what he’s saying, and it’s incredibly addictive.
Since it’s tough for people from other regions to imitate, those from Aomori should take the lead and sing it! And if there’s no one from Aomori around, brave challengers are welcome to give it a try!
Dear MomIkuzo Yoshi7rank/position
A masterpiece of the enka world known as one of Ikuzo Yoshi’s most tear-jerking songs, “To Mother.” As an enka singer, Ikuzo Yoshi is a rare singer-songwriter.
Because he writes both the lyrics and music for most of his songs, his work is compelling for its vivid sense of reality.
This song, sung by Yoshi, was created in memory of his late mother.
It is characterized by a deeply subdued atmosphere, and techniques such as kobushi (melismatic ornamentation) are kept to a minimum to serve that world view.
While it demands a high level of expressive ability, its overall difficulty as a typical enka piece is relatively low, so consider adding it to your repertoire.