Hiroshi Itsuki’s New ‘Izakaya’ Song Tugs at the Heartstrings. The Reason His Duet with Mitsuru Nakamura, Along with ‘Yokohama Tasogare’ and ‘Chigiri’, Resonates So Deeply Now
Late night in Shimbashi. You push aside the noren curtain and see the back of a man sitting alone at the counter, nursing a glass. That scene comes to mind easily because, for our generation, Hiroshi Itsuki’s voice is the very essence of “grown-up melancholy.” When I heard his latest release the other day, I had to pick it up. Whether you’re an enka or kayokyoku fan or not, this is one you don’t want to miss.
This time, it’s about a duet between the one and only legend, Hiroshi Itsuki, and another enka heavyweight, Mitsuru Nakamura. The track is called “Izakaya.” The moment you see that title, it’s bound to strike a chord with any enka fan. In his classic “Yokohama Tasogare,” Itsuki painted a bittersweet, beautiful twilight scene in Yokohama’s port town. Back then, he was singing about a “city” and a “farewell.” This time, “Izakaya” moves into a smaller, more intimate space, hitting right at the heart of human emotion and connection.
Listening to this new song, the first thing that surprises you is its “atmosphere.” The instrumental backing is kept to the bare minimum, letting the rich interplay of their voices take centre stage. It feels like you’re right there in the corner of a tiny bar, listening to two slightly tipsy people reminiscing about the past. Mitsuru Nakamura’s clear, vibrant voice and Hiroshi Itsuki’s seasoned, emotive “crying tone” blend together in perfect balance.
Of course, it’s impossible not to think of his other masterpiece, “Chigiri.” With its iconic line, “I wish I’d never met you that day,” that song was a confrontation with fate and an acceptance of an inescapable “bond.” Years later, what “Izakaya” sings about feels like what comes after that intense “Chigiri”—a gentler, deeper “connection” that carries a hint of resignation.
That’s why this new track transcends being just a duet. It feels like a culmination of everything Itsuki has expressed as an artist. He rose to fame as the star of the 70s with “Yokohama Tasogare,” and in the 80s, he defined the aesthetic of the mature man with “Chigiri.” Now, in Reiwa, he’s arrived at this new stage with the perfect partner in Mitsuru Nakamura. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to call this the ultimate expression of “human emotion,” the very heart of the enka genre.
Looking at the current music scene, with streaming dominating and a major revival of City Pop and kayokyoku among younger generations, this “Izakaya” from a giant like Hiroshi Itsuki feels like both an homage to his past classics like Yokohama Tasogare and Chigiri—and a hint that it might just become a new standard itself.
Let’s break down what makes this song so compelling:
- A lyric world dripping with Showa-era mood – Words like “whisky,” “glass,” and “rain” appear, weaving emotion like a scene from a film.
- The ultimate duo: Hiroshi Itsuki & Mitsuru Nakamura – These two artists, each with a monumental solo career, bring out the best in each other. The “chemical reaction” of their voices is the track’s biggest highlight.
- A lingering aftertaste that sparks the imagination – Could the protagonist from “Yokohama Tasogare” be the one in this izakaya, years later? The song has a depth that invites you to imagine these kinds of connections.
In the end, great songs always find a way to softly slip into the spaces in our hearts. Whether it’s that drink after work, a night you find yourself lost in the past, or a quiet moment you want to share with someone special—this song, “Izakaya,” fits those scenes perfectly. From Showa to Reiwa, even as times change, the “man and woman stories” that Hiroshi Itsuki sings will surely continue to be a light in our hearts.
If you haven’t heard it yet, I urge you to put on some headphones on a quiet night and immerse yourself in this dramatic world woven by Hiroshi Itsuki and Mitsuru Nakamura. I’m sure you’ll find your own “izakaya” waiting there.