Hiroshi Itsuki’s New ‘Izakaya’ Song Is a Stirring Moment: A Duet with Mitsuko Nakamura, and Why ‘Yokohama Tasogare’ and ‘Chigiri’ Resonate Now

Picture it: late night in Shimbashi. You duck under the noren curtain and see a man sitting alone at the counter, nursing a glass. That scene comes to mind so easily because, for our generation, Hiroshi Itsuki’s voice is the very embodiment of “grown-up melancholy.” The other day, I heard his latest release and had to pick it up immediately. Even if you’re not a hardcore enka or kayokyoku fan, this is one album you don’t want to miss.

This time, the buzz is all about the duet “Izakaya” by the undisputed legend Hiroshi Itsuki and Mitsuko Nakamura, another heavyweight in the enka scene. The moment you see that title—“Izakaya”—it’s bound to strike a chord with any enka fan. In that classic song “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, with “Izakaya,” he dives into something more intimate, more intense—right into the heart of human emotion.

Actually listening to this new track, the first thing that hits you is the sheer atmosphere. The backing track is stripped down to the essentials, making the rich interplay of the two voices stand out even more. It feels like you’re right there in a corner of a tiny bar, eavesdropping on a slightly tipsy man and woman reminiscing about the past. Mitsuko Nakamura’s powerful, resonant voice and Hiroshi Itsuki’s emotive, vibrato-laden phrasing, honed by decades of experience, blend together in perfect harmony.

At this point, it’s impossible not to think of another one of his monumental works, “Chigiri.” With its iconic line, “Maybe I shouldn’t have met you that day,” that song grapples with fate and the acceptance of an inescapable bond. Years later, what “Izakaya” sings about feels like what comes after that intense “Chigiri”—a gentler, yet deeply profound connection, tinged with something akin to resignation.

This is precisely why this new song transcends the typical duet; it feels like the culmination of Hiroshi Itsuki as an artist. The man who became the darling of the era with “Yokohama Tasogare” in the 70s, who defined the aesthetic of the mature man with “Chigiri” in the 80s, has now, in the Reiwa era, found a new pinnacle with the perfect partner in Mitsuko Nakamura. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to call this the ultimate expression of “human emotion”—the very theme at the heart of enka.

Looking at the current music scene, with streaming services dominating and a revival of City Pop and kayokyoku happening among younger generations, this “Izakaya” from the titan Hiroshi Itsuki feels like both a tribute to past classics like Yokohama Tasogare and Chigiri, and a strong hint of a new standard being set.

Let’s break down what makes this song so compelling:

• Lyrics Dripping with Showa-Era Mood: Words like “whiskey,” “glass,” and “rain” pop up in the lyrics, building emotion like a scene straight out of a movie.
• The Dream Team: Hiroshi Itsuki & Mitsuko Nakamura: The “chemical reaction” between these two artists, who have each built monumental solo careers, as they bring out the best in each other’s singing is the song’s biggest highlight.
• A Lingering Echo That Invites Imagination: Could the protagonist from “Yokohama Tasogare” be the one in this izakaya, all these years later? The depth of this track sparks such delightful speculation.

In the end, timeless songs always gently fill the cracks in our hearts. Whether it’s a drink after work, a night lost in memories, or a quiet toast with someone special—this song “Izakaya” fits those moments like no other. From Showa to Reiwa, even as eras change, the stories of men and women that Hiroshi Itsuki sings will surely continue to light a spark in our hearts.

If you haven’t listened to it yet, I highly recommend putting on some headphones during a quiet evening and immersing yourself in the dramatic world woven by Hiroshi Itsuki and Mitsuko Nakamura. I’m sure you’ll discover your own “izakaya” within it.