![[Songs of Aomori] A collection of local songs depicting the grandeur of nature and the warmth of its people.](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/RyL5kmlNOUg/maxresdefault.webp)
The fertile fields and the Tsugaru Plain stretching serenely, the majestic Hakkoda Mountains, and the grand Sea of Japan.
Songs born from Aomori’s nature-rich land are loved not only by its residents but by many people far and wide.
In this article, we introduce captivating pieces woven with Aomori’s scenery and sentiment—from local songs cherished by the community, to popular ballads set in Aomori, to hometown tunes by artists hailing from the prefecture.
Please enjoy them while reflecting on the land of Aomori and the hometown that resides in each of our hearts.
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- [Hometown Songs] A curated selection of popular Japanese tracks that fill your heart with nostalgia
- [Akita Songs] A Collection of Gem-Like Local Tunes Filled with Love for Hometowns
- [Local Songs] Recommended tracks packed with Japan’s nationwide classics and hometown pride
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- Miyagi Songs: Popular tracks that celebrate famous sights and specialties, and timeless pieces filled with love for home
- [Songs of Fukushima] Thinking of my hometown | A heartwarming collection of classic songs celebrating the beautiful “Fukushima”
- [2025] Masterpieces that sing of Hokkaido: The enduring heart of our homeland passed down in song
- A classic song that celebrates Niigata. The enduring spirit of our hometown passed down through song.
- The Spirit of Japan: A Collection of Famous and Popular Shamisen Pieces
- A famous song that sings of Okayama. The enduring spirit of our hometown, passed down through song.
- The soul’s cry woven into Japanese elegies: unraveling supreme masterpieces that resonate with the heart.
- [Yamagata Songs] Beloved local tunes and classic tracks celebrating majestic nature and hometown pride
[Aomori Songs] A collection of local tunes depicting majestic nature and the warmth of its people (1–10)
Jongara Love SongIkuzo Yoshi
This is an enka song that voices a man’s heart as he longs for the lover he left behind in his hometown of Tsugaru.
It’s a piece by Ikuzo Yoshi from Aomori Prefecture, released to the world as the B-side of the single “Yoimachizake” in January 1993.
The melancholy strains of Tsugaru folk music resonate deeply, conjuring up a stark winter scene where snow begins to dance.
Amid the biting cold, you can keenly feel the protagonist’s emotions as he thinks of his distant home.
Anyone living away from their hometown will be moved by this heartrending tale.
It’s a masterpiece to listen to quietly, alone, on a winter night.
TSUGARUIkuzo Yoshi
A rap track by Ikuzo Yoshi, performed in the Tsugaru dialect from his hometown in Aomori! The intense dialect—so strong that you can barely tell what he’s saying just by listening—is the biggest charm of this work.
If you listen closely to the lyrics, you’ll hear a parent’s love calling to their child who moved to the city to “come back,” along with slices of everyday life that will make you chuckle.
Released in September 2019, this song is addictive and unforgettable after just one listen.
For people from Aomori, of course, and for anyone who hasn’t been able to return to their hometown for a while, it might make you want to feel the warmth of family.
I’ve fallen for you.Ishihara Junko
From the skies of Tsugaru where snow dances, to the freezing Sea of Japan—set against the stark scenery of the northern country, this is Junko Ishihara’s debut work, which brilliantly portrays a burning, single-minded love.
The protagonist’s bittersweet yet passionate desire to see the one they love—even if it tears them apart—comes across directly through a sprightly, enka-style melody infused with pop elements.
Released in October 1988, the song also drew attention for its innovative style, with Ishihara performing as an “idol-enka” singer in a mini-skirt.
It’s the perfect listen when you want to let your mind wander to the landscapes of Aomori.
Tsugaru Nakase-bushiTakashi Hosokawa
This is an authentic enka piece that powerfully evokes the harsh winter scenery of Tsugaru and the fervent emotions of the people who live there.
It’s a commemorative work released in May 2025 by Takashi Hosokawa to mark his 50th year in the performing arts, portraying the heartrending feelings of a woman shedding tears over an unattainable love.
Against the backdrop of Tsugaru’s rough, snow-swept sea, the heroine’s sorrow seems to intertwine with the poignant tones of the Tsugaru shamisen.
Hosokawa’s powerful vocals bring into sharp relief a figure who, burdened by feelings beyond her control, still strives to live with all her might.
It’s a song to savor slowly while thinking of one’s hometown.
Tsugaru Sakura StoryMiyuki Kawanaka
A heartwarming, human-spirited enka born from feelings for a late best friend.
Sung by enka artist Miyuki Kawanaka, whose clear voice captivates fans, the song was released in February 2017 as the first entry in a series commemorating her 40th year in show business.
Brimming with the seasonal atmosphere leading up to the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival, it richly portrays the spring of Tsugaru.
The lyricist’s bittersweet emotions are woven into the piece, and there’s a touching anecdote that it came into the world because Kawanaka herself fell in love with it.
Why not listen closely on a night when you’re reminiscing about your hometown or someone dear?
Oirase Travel SentimentsKiyoshi Hikawa
This enka song unfolds in the heart like gazing at a single landscape painting, portraying the beautiful scenery of Oirase Gorge in Aomori.
It’s a number by Kiyoshi Hikawa, included in the masterpiece “New Enka Masterpiece Collection 3 — Miren Gokoro,” released in June 2016.
Against a backdrop of vibrant nature—glittering snowmelt and moss-covered rocks—it depicts the feelings of someone on a solitary journey, thinking of a cherished person.
For those striving away from their hometown, hearing it may cause the grandeur of nature to overlap with the protagonist’s emotions, resonating deeply in the heart.
Aomori StationMani☆Lover
This is a song by Manila-ba, a three-piece band from Aomori.
The band’s name is short for “Maniac Lovers.” Released in April 2005, Aomori Station was their second single; it was initially a regional release but later went on sale nationwide.
It’s a simple, folk-like tune.