Hiroshi Itsuki’s New ‘Izakaya’ Song is a Heartwarming Affair: His Duet with Mitsuko Nakamura and Why ‘Yokohama Tasogare’ and ‘Chigiri’ Resonate Now

Late night in Shimbashi. Ducking under the noren curtain, you see the silhouette of a man, alone at the counter, nursing a glass. That scene springs to mind, probably because Hiroshi Itsuki's voice, for my generation, is the very embodiment of "adult melancholy". I recently caught wind of his latest release and just had to get my hands on it. Even if you're not an enka or kayokyoku fan, this is one record you won't want to miss.

This time, the buzz is all about the duet between the undisputed veteran, Hiroshi Itsuki, and another leading light of the enka world, Mitsuko Nakamura, on the track "Izakaya". The moment you see that title, any enka fan will feel an immediate connection. In that classic song "Yokohama Tasogare", Itsuki painted a poignant, beautiful twilight scene over the port city of Yokohama. If back then he was singing about "a city" and "farewell", then with this new track, "Izakaya", he's delving into something more intimate, more fervent—right into the heart of human emotion.

Listening to this new song, the first thing that strikes you is its sheer "atmosphere". The instrumental backing is stripped back to the bare essentials, allowing the rich interplay of the two voices to take centre stage. It feels as if you're in a cosy corner of a real pub, eavesdropping on a tipsy man and woman as they reminisce about the past. Mitsuko Nakamura's poised, vibrant vocals and Hiroshi Itsuki's weathered, emotive "crying voice" fuse together in perfect, exquisite balance.

Naturally, this brings to mind another of his landmark songs, "Chigiri". With its iconic line, "I wish I'd never met you that day," it grapples with questions of fate and the acceptance of an inescapable "bond". Decades later, what "Izakaya" seems to sing about is something far gentler—a deep-seated "connection" tinged with resignation—that lies beyond the intense passion of that earlier "Chigiri".

That's why this new track transcends the typical duet and feels like a culmination of Itsuki's artistry as a performer. He was the darling of the era in the 70s with "Yokohama Tasogare", established the aesthetic of the mature man in the 80s with "Chigiri", and now, in the Reiwa era, with the perfect partner in Mitsuko Nakamura, he's reached a new artistic peak. It's no exaggeration to say this might be the ultimate expression of "human sentiment", the very theme at the heart of the enka genre.

Looking at the current music scene, we're in the age of streaming, with a huge revival of "city pop" and "kayokyoku" among the younger generation. Against this backdrop, this "Izakaya" from a titan like Hiroshi Itsuki feels simultaneously like a homage to classics such as Yokohama Tasogare and Chigiri, and a strong contender for a new standard in its own right.

Let's break down the appeal of this song.

• Lyrics dripping with Showa-era atmosphere – Words like "whisky", "glass", and "rain" evoke a cinematic emotional landscape, setting the scene perfectly.
• The powerhouse duo: Hiroshi Itsuki & Mitsuko Nakamura – The "chemical reaction" between these two solo artists, each with such storied careers, as they bring out the best in each other's vocal artistry, is the song's greatest draw.
• A lingering sense of "what comes next" – The depth of this song invites you to imagine: could the protagonist from "Yokohama Tasogare" be the same one now sitting in this izakaya, years later? It’s wonderfully evocative.

Ultimately, great songs are those that gently fill the "gaps in people's hearts". Whether it's a drink after work, a night when memories come flooding back, or a quiet toast with someone special—this "Izakaya" fits those moments perfectly. From Showa to Reiwa, even as times change, the "stories of men and women" that Hiroshi Itsuki sings will surely continue to light up our hearts for years to come.

If you haven't heard it yet, I urge you to put on your headphones in the quiet of the evening and lose yourself in the dramatic world woven by Hiroshi Itsuki and Mitsuko Nakamura. I'm sure you'll find your own "Izakaya" waiting there.