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?
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Aomori Folk Songs, Children's Songs, and Nursery Rhymes | Japanese Songs from Tsugaru and Hachinohe that Resonate in the Heart (41–50)
Tsugaru Kobi-ki Uta (Tsugaru Woodcutter’s Song)Kikuyasu Katsuyō
Its origin lies in songs sung in unison when people working in the mountains sawed timber.
Woodcutters would come as seasonal migrant workers during the winter off-season from farming—farmers from southern Aomori to Iwate, as well as from Hiroshima Prefecture.
Perhaps for that reason, the song spread nationwide, but it split into east and west: east of the Kinki region it is called the Nanbu Kobi-uta (Southern Aomori/Iwate Woodcutters’ Song), and to the west it is known as the Hiroshima Kobi-uta (Hiroshima Woodcutters’ Song).
Kenryō-bushiTakeshi Narita
It’s pronounced “Kenryō-bushi.” It’s a folk song sung at celebratory occasions such as New Year’s around Aomori City, but it’s said to have originated in Shibata City, Niigata Prefecture.
It is sung in Akita, Aomori, and Hokkaido, as well as in Nagano and Ishikawa, and depending on the region it is also called “Nikata-bushi,” “Niigata-bushi,” “Matsuzaka-bushi,” “Matsuzaka,” or “Kengyō-bushi.” Kenryō-bushi is thought to be a corrupted form of these names.
Waiha BushiUntake Narita
In the Tsugaru dialect, “Waiha” means something astonishing.
When Master Narita Untyoku, a pioneer in the world of folk songs, spent about nine months overseas (in places like Saipan) to promote folk music, he composed a new folk song for Aomori using the word “Waiha,” inspired by his homesickness.
You can really feel the sentiment of remembering one’s hometown and thinking, “Aomori is a wonderful place!”
In conclusion
From the mountains of Tsugaru to the beaches of Hachinohe, Aomori’s folk songs vividly depict nature and the lives of its people.
Though times change, the tones of Aomori’s folk music and the warmth of its children’s songs—cherished and passed down with care—will continue to gently embrace the homeland within our hearts.