唄

歌／唄 only; Esp. 唄 for folk songs and shamisen songs

song; singing

歌 only

classical Japanese poem (esp. tanka)

歌／詩 only

modern poetry

Intransitive verb

to sing

Esp. 歌う, 詠う

to sing of (love, beauty, etc.) in a poem; to express in the form of a poem; to recite (a poem)

humming; crooning

lullaby

kouta; traditional ballad accompanied by shamisen

singer in a nagauta performance

long epic song with shamisen accompaniment (developed in Edo in the early 17th century)

(style of) folk song

sailor's song; boat song; sea shanty

barcarolle

traditional Okinawan folk music

festive poem or song

congratulatory form (of waka)

an utai (noh chant) piece for recitation

accompanied singing in which the singing is emphasized over the instrumental part (emphasised)

var. of folksong; var. of koto or shamisen music; medley of (Japanese) songs

Buddhism

song praising the virtues of the Buddha

Buddhism

chanting of Buddhist hymns

work song

spinning song

work song

Kabuki

song sung behind the scenes

Kabuki

song sung behind the scenes

uta-sanshin (variety of Okinawan folk music)

singing and playing the sanshin; vocals and sanshin

catchphrase; promotional line; slogan

singer; vocalist

nagauta singer (in kabuki)

singer of noh chants

first line (of a poem); first bars (of a melody)

children's song; nursery song