Folk Songs, Children's Songs, and Nursery Rhymes of Aomori: Japanese Songs from Tsugaru and Hachinohe that Resonate with the Heart
Aomori Prefecture is alive with a rich tradition of culture and performing arts.
In the lands of Tsugaru and Hachinohe, the emotive strains of folk songs still resound today.
Coupled with the powerful tones of the Tsugaru shamisen, Aomori’s folk music speaks deeply to our hearts.
In this article, we have carefully selected “folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes of Aomori,” born from the lives of people shaped by mountains, the sea, and a harsh climate.
We present timeless masterpieces that have been lovingly sung and passed down through the ages.
Won’t you lend an ear to the world of songs that can truly be called the heart of Aomori?
Aomori Folk Songs, Children's Songs, and Nursery Rhymes | Soul-Stirring Japanese Songs Living On in Tsugaru and Hachinohe (1–10)
An Apple’s Soliloquy
This is a children’s song told from the very endearing perspective of a bright red fruit narrating its own journey.
It vividly sings, with rhythmic expression, of being jostled by a train from fields in the far north to the markets of the big city.
Knowing that lyricist Toshiko Takeuchi drew inspiration while bedridden from a get-well gift of apples may deepen one’s sense of her yearning for a freer world and her feelings for her hometown.
The song was recorded in February 1940, sung by Junko Kawamura.
It has even been adopted as the arrival melody at JR Gono Line’s Fujisaki Station, and is cherished as a piece that strongly evokes Aomori.
Ho-hai Festival
A folk song from the Tsugaru region, notable for its striking yodel-like falsetto calls that seem to stretch on without end.
It depicts the everyday lives of people living alongside harsh nature: mountain wildflowers, bountiful rice ears, and a mother working through back pain.
The song’s greatest appeal lies in the beautiful contrast between the clear, prayer-like falsetto and the earthy, grounded chest voice.
This ebb and flow grips the listener’s heart.
Tsugaru-shamisen player Hiroki Nakamura performed this piece on his April 2023 EP, “AYUMI.” It has also been given a modern arrangement as the theme song for the local sake brand “Houhai,” further expanding the ways it can be enjoyed.
Nambu Aiya-bushi
One of the representative folk songs of the southern region of Aomori Prefecture.
In port towns, it has long been a beloved, cheerful song with hand dancing, often heard at drinking gatherings and celebratory banquets.
Its bright, rhythmic melody and the lively call at the very beginning of the song leave a strong impression.
Combined with the sprightly tones of the shamisen, it conjures up a bustling scene of people dancing in a circle.
Through this piece—carefully passed down orally by the people of Aomori—you can get a feel for the cheerful spirit rooted in Aomori’s ports.
Nambu Yosare-bushi
This is a lively zashiki-odori folk song that represents the southern region of Aomori Prefecture.
Counted among the seven great Nanbu folk songs, it features the brisk rhythm of the Tsugaru shamisen and cheerful calls and responses.
Just listening to it makes you feel like your body might start moving on its own.
The word “yosare” also carries a modest nuance like “please refrain,” giving the song a refined air beyond mere liveliness.
You can almost picture women at a banquet gracefully dancing with supple wrist movements.
As you listen to this song, why not let your thoughts wander to those warm moments when people gather together?
Nambu Jinku
This is a representative hand-dance song that has been passed down for over a century in the southern region of Aomori Prefecture.
It is said that a stylish song that was popular in Edo during the Tenpō era made its way north, where it took root, blending with the local language and climate.
Within its short 7-7-7-5 verses, it deftly weaves in moments of respite during labor and the subtleties of everyday life, resonating warmly with listeners.
This piece has no single identified author and has been cherished and sung among the people.
Today, it is an indispensable number in the region’s performing arts, appearing on albums that collect local Bon dance songs and being performed at community events.
Nanbu Niagata-bushi
A folk song said to have its origins in Niigata celebratory chants, beloved for its generous, light, and lively melody.
It has been sung as a hymn to the people responsible for the labor of carrying goods.
You can feel the resilience of people who find joy and celebration amid harsh work.
This piece is included on Mitsugu Koyama’s album “Tsugaru Shamisen: Mitsugu Koyama Folk Song Collection, Vol.
1,” as well as on the album “Oku no Yorimichi,” arranged by Yujiro Takahashi and Katsuaki Sawada.
Passed down to the present as the soul of the region, this song is perfect when you want to connect with the celebratory spirit rooted in Aomori’s climate and culture.
Nambu Oiwake
This is one of the folk songs that originated in Oiwake-juku in Shinshu, was passed down to the southern region of Aomori Prefecture, and beautifully fused with the local horse-driver’s songs.
The lyrics mention place names and signposts along the way, deeply expressing the melancholy and homesickness a traveler might feel at a fork in the road.
It is said that this piece has also been cherished as accompaniment for the regional “Nanbu Teodori” hand dance.
It was documented as a folk song in 1941 and was included on Kenji Yamamoto’s album Nanbu Oiwake: Kenji Yamamoto Aomori Oku-Nanbu Folk Song Collection, released in November 2001.
Shall we reflect on the lives of people who live in harmony with a harsh natural environment?