[Songs of Aomori] A collection of local songs depicting the grandeur of nature and the warmth of its people.

Aomori Rock MinisterThe Human Chair

Aomori Rock Minister

This is a quintessential Ningen Isu track that shouts a twisted love for their hometown over a hard rock sound.

At first listen it may come off as humorous and self-deprecating, but beneath that lies a fierce affection and pride for their birthplace, Aomori.

The anecdote that they incorporated in-train announcements from their trips home into the lyrics also conveys a deep attachment to everyday life back in their hometown.

The song was included on the album Rashomon, released in October 1993, and was also selected for the best-of compilation The Swindler and the Air Man: Ningen Isu Masterpieces.

It even became a local commercial jingle in Aomori—truly an officially recognized local anthem.

dodarebachiThe Human Chair

Ningen Isu “Dodarebachi” LIVE (Ningen Isu/Dodarebachi)

This is a song brimming with a rustic, homegrown charm, sung entirely in the Tsugaru dialect.

Performed by the Hirosaki, Aomori–born band Ningen Isu, it appears on their classic album Odoru Issun-boshi, released in December 1995.

The fusion of heavy sounds with folk-like melodic turns conjures vivid images of Tsugaru’s harsh natural environment and the resilient people who live there.

Infused with a warm, endearing quality that only a hometown accent can convey, this piece is sure to give you a gentle push when you find yourself thinking of home.

Love in the Setting SunSelf-styled Tourism Association

Aomori Prefecture Local Song 'Love in the Setting Sun' / Unofficial Tourism Association

This is a lyrical number whose travel-inspiring guitalele and somewhat wistful ocarina tones deeply touch the heart.

Created by the duo Katsute ni Kanko Kyokai—Miura Jun and Anzai Hajime—it centers on Aomori.

From the title evoking Dazai Osamu’s birthplace, the “Shayokan,” you can sense a bittersweet, unfulfilled love with a woman of the north, poignantly sung against backdrops like Goshogawara and the Sannai-Maruyama archaeological site.

Released in February 2008, this local song features a nostalgic melody that resonates in the chest, making you want to experience Aomori’s majestic nature and the warmth of its people.

Lake TowadaSaburō Kitajima

Lake Towada

Set against the majestic scenery of a lake stretching across the border between Aomori and Akita, this is a life-themed enka by Saburo Kitajima that sings of the profound depths of existence.

The protagonist, reflecting on his own path by the lakeside, is portrayed through a powerful vocal performance.

The song’s appeal lies in its lyrical worldview, where the quiet of nature resonates with the cry of the human soul.

Released as a single in January 1999, it was also included on the album “Saburo Kitajima Complete Collection: Lake Towada / Root.” It’s a piece that will resonate deeply when you want to face yourself at a turning point in life, or when you wish to align your heart with the nature of your hometown.

Cape TappiKaori Mizumori

Kaori Mizumori [Cape Tappi] with Lyrics – Lyrics by Koyomi Asa / Music by Hideo Mizumori

This is a celebrated song by Kaori Mizumori that overlays the poignant emotions of a heartbroken woman onto the desolate natural scenery of Aomori.

Released as a single in October 1999, it was also included on the album “Kaori Mizumori Complete Collection ~Tappi Misaki~.” Set at the northernmost tip of the Tsugaru Peninsula, the piece powerfully conveys the sorrow of a protagonist traveling alone while carrying feelings for someone she cannot forget.

Give it a listen when you want to immerse yourself in the travel atmosphere of Japan’s northern regions and the lyrical storytelling unique to enka.

straitIkuzo Yoshi

strait

A single by Ikuzo Yoshi released in May 1987.

Issued while “Yukiguni” was a massive hit, this song portrays a woman’s feelings as she longs for the Tsugaru Strait.

This work, which helped establish Yoshi’s position as a bona fide enka singer, was also performed at his second appearance on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

Tsugaru Strait – Winter SceneSayuri Ishikawa

Tsugaru Strait Winter Scene / Sayuri Ishikawa (fingerstyle cover)

It’s Sayuri Ishikawa’s smash hit released in January 1977.

It’s a quintessential local song depicting people heading to Aomori by overnight train and transferring to the Seikan ferry, and it’s also a classic that remains in the history of Japanese popular music.

It has been performed nine times on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen.