Japanese rokyoku: the traditional Naniwa-bushi narrative song

From the world of Japanese rōkyoku—also known as Naniwabushi—here are classic masterpieces recommended by our studio staff.

This is a valuable playlist that conveys Japan’s spirit of duty and human compassion to the present day.

Playlist

Japanese rokyoku: the traditional Naniwa-bushi narrative song
	Title	Playlist	One point
1	Rōkyoku LullabyFirst-generation Kasugai Ume-uguisu		One of the rōkyoku performers who was active during the postwar rōkyoku boom.
2	Mito Komon’s Travels: The Arrowhead ChapterSecond-generation Hiyoshigawa Shūsui		In Osaka, he has long been renowned as a master of the art of keren-yomi (showy, flamboyant delivery) …
3	Date Sōdō (the Date Clan Disturbance)Futaba Yuriko		Yuriko Futaba, known for the hit song 'Ganpeki no Haha'...
4	Chushingura: The Loyal Retainers’ Vindicator (The Loyal Samurai’s True Vendetta)Haruo Minami and Hideo Murata		A venerable master of the Showa era who, like others, moved from the world of rokyoku into the world of popular music...
5	Ishimatsu’s Journey on the Sanjukkoku BoatTora Zō Hirosawa II		When asked, “What’s the first thing that comes to mind in a rōkyoku phrase?” …
6	The Day I MarryMadoka Kikuchi		Born in 1976. Since childhood, she has been a girl rokyoku performer...
7	Osen the BarrelmakerYuriko Haruno II		Even the great Danshi Tachikawa was enamored with her—the leading female rokyoku performer of our time...
8	The Tale of Tenpō Suikoden: The Flower Banquet at Sasagawa (Part 1)Katsutarō Tamagawa II		Sixth president of the Japan Rōkyoku Association. A byword for Katsutarō and…
9	Sado Love Story (I)Suzu ki Yoneru waka		It begins with the familiar line, “To Sado, to Sado…”
10	Kimura’s plumMichiko Fuji		Entered apprenticeship under the female rokyoku performer Fuji Kotorō in 1994.
11	Kannon Sutra with Song: The Opening Volume of Kichigorō’s TaleHiroshi Mikado		The ninth president of the Japan Rōkyoku Association. Speaking of Mikado Hiroshi, “...
12	Akagaki Genzo: Articles of Prohibition on AlcoholTōchūken Un’emon		A legendary rōkyoku performer of the rōkyoku world who was active from the Meiji to Taishō periods...
13	Palanquin GhostUn Sakai		Born in 1898. At 16, he studied under Tochuken Un'emon...
14	Chawan Row HouseUrataro Higashiya the Second		Born in 1942. Entered Tōkeraura in 1955...
15	The Tale of Tenpō Suikoden: Hirate’s Dash to the RescueFukutaro Tamagawa II		In 1968, he became a disciple of the third-generation Tamagawa Katsutarō. In 19...
16	Raiden Odawara SumoShodai Kyoyama Koediwaka		Born in 1926. In 1941, he became the first Kiyoyama Kō…
17	stowaway to the United KingdomHirozawa Hyōuemon		Born in 1897. Partly due to his naturally poor voice, for a long time…
18	Heisei Women’s AffairsKeiko Haruno		Tutor Keiko from ‘Susume! Denpa Shōnen’…
19	Golden FlowerEast Musashi		As his “favorite naniwabushi narrator,” Danshi Tatekawa...
20	Bunzaemon of Kii no Kuni (Kinokuniya Bunzaemon)Umechūken Ōdō		Born in 1902. On prewar SP records, he...
21	Jingorō’s CrabKikuharu Hirosawa II		Born in 1914. The biological child of the first Kikuspring Hirozawa (Hirozawa Kikuharu), and...
22	Yako Sanji: Pilgrimage to the Great Temple (Part 1)First-generation Azumaya Ura Taro		One of the figures who supported the postwar boom in rokyoku. Japan Rokyoku Association…
23	Samurai Sentiments from the Kaga DisturbanceThe Second Kyoyama Kōedewaka		Born in 1954. In 1973, under his father, the first-generation Kyo…
24	Konya Takao (First Half)Takeharu Kunimoto		When he passed away at the end of 2015 at the young age of 55...
25	The Miraculous Deeds at TsubosakaAyataro Naniwatei		Having lost my sight to illness in early childhood, I walked a path filled with many hardships...
26	The demon couple of SendaiNanafuku Tamagawa		While working at a company, he studied rokyoku under the tutelage of Fukutarō Tamagawa...
27	Kibun’s Homeward-bound ShipSaburō Tenryū		Born in 1915. A prewar professional sumo wrestler (later…
28	Umbrella Cherry BlossomTakako Sawa		Born in 1939. In 1954, he became the second-generation Hirosawa…
29	Ash-dust Travel Chronicle (Part 1)Sagami Taro I (First Generation)		Born in 1900. After entering the field at 17, before the war...
30	The Tale of the Tempō Suikoden: The Last of Hirate Masakō (Hirate no Saké Brewer)Shodai-me (Third Generation) Tamagawa Katsutarō		Born in 1933. In 1948, he became the second Katsuta...