Some songs wait a long time before the world finds them. “Fly-Day Chinatown” (フライディ・チャイナタウン) is one of those songs. It was sung by Yasuha (泰葉) and released in September 1981, and today it is loved by city pop fans all over the world.
About the song
“Fly-Day Chinatown” was Yasuha’s debut single. She wrote the music herself, the lyrics were written by Toyohisa Araki, and the arrangement was by Akira Inoue. When it was released, it reached No. 69 on the Oricon chart, so it was not a big hit at the time, and it slowly faded from many people’s memories.
Then, around 2020, during the city pop boom, a Korean DJ named Night Tempo played a remix of the song, and listeners overseas fell in love with it. The song was first released digitally in May 2022, and a 7-inch vinyl record came back in June of the same year. As of October 2026, it has been played more than 150 million times on Spotify.
The title is a little mysterious. “Fly-Day” is said to be a coined word that means “flying,” rather than “Friday.” Many listeners imagine the Chinatown of Yokohama, although the lyrics do not name a place.
What I remember
What I remember most is her singing. Her voice was so skillful, and her high notes were so clear and beautiful that they stayed in my heart for a long time.
I do not know much about music, so I cannot explain it well. But there is a part in the middle of the song, the instrumental break, where a low, bouncing sound moves along under the music. I think it might be the bass, and it is so, so cool! And I can hear a piano there, too, sparkling on top. Every time I listen, I think, "This part is the best!" It makes me want to move along with it.
Somewhere in the middle, the song also seems to change its key, as if the mood suddenly lifts. I love that part, too. If you know music well, I would be so happy if you could tell me more about it in the comments!
Listen
You can also listen to the whole album, “TRANSIT” (1981), on YouTube Music. The song is track 7.
A song that was loved later
I find it very touching that this song did not reach many people at first, yet it found its way to new listeners across the sea, so many years later. A song, it seems, can quietly wait for the right time.
The song is not easy to find as a CD at the moment. If you visit Japan, it might be fun to look for it in a record shop, or to listen to it on a streaming service.
Is there a song you loved long ago that has found new listeners today?
Thank you for listening with me. I hope this song stays in your heart, too.