Naotarō Moriyama (森山直太朗, Moriyama Naotarō), born April 23, 1976, is a Japanese pop singer-songwriter known for his poetic lyrics and emotional ballads. He is the son of Ryōko Moriyama, a prominent folk singer often referred to as the “mother of Japanese folk music.”
Moriyama gained widespread recognition with his 2002 album 「乾いた唄は魚の餌にちょうどいい」 (Kawaita Uta wa Sakana no Esa ni Chōdo Ii), which featured the breakout hit “Sakura (独唱)”. The song became one of his signature tracks, widely praised for its poignant melody and seasonal sentiment, and has since become a beloved graduation anthem in Japan.
