A famous song about Fukuoka. The heart of the hometown passed down through song.

Hakata-kko JunjoTulip

TULIP Hakata-kko Pure Heart

Tulip is a band from Fukuoka led by Kazuo Zaitsu.

This song shares its title with a manga that ran in Manga Action from 1976 to 1983, but the manga came first; the title was used with permission from the manga’s author, Hosei Hasegawa.

Since Tulip hails from Fukuoka, they have several songs about the city.

As the title suggests, this one sings about Hakata, and it mentions not only the word “Hakata” itself but also place names such as Yamakasa—the festival that represents Fukuoka—and Nakasu, famous for its entertainment district.

OisaBatten Shojo-tai

Batten Shojo Tai 'OiSa' - Music Video -

Batten Shoujo Tai, a sister group of Momoiro Clover Z, is based in Fukuoka.

The word “batten,” which is also in the group’s name, is a Kyushu dialect conjunction meaning something like “but” or “however.” This song is included on the album Fan, which Batten Shoujo Tai released in 2020.

“Oisa” is titled after the shout “Oisa!” that’s called out when running fast during Hakata’s representative festival, the Yamakasa.

While it doesn’t actually name famous spots in Fukuoka, the chorus consists only of “Oisa,” and the song is highly addictive—you’ll find yourself playing it on repeat.

On the hill where the south wind blowsStardust Revue

"On the Hill Where the South Wind Blows" Stardust Revue [MV]

It’s included on the album “AQUA.” The title is a play on words between “Fuku Oka” (windy hill) and “Fukuoka.” It was also used as a commercial jingle for Best Denki in Fukuoka.

Although none of the members seem to be from Fukuoka, it’s a lively, uplifting song that takes a good look at the city of Fukuoka.

Hakata BluesSachiko Nishida

Sachiko Nishida - Hakata Blues

After “Tokyo Blues” became a huge hit, this is one of the subsequent entries in the blues series, “Hakata Blues.” It sings of a woman who, having lost her love, ends up in Hakata and can’t let go of the man she still longs for.

Come to think of it, even if Hakata is a place you’re visiting for the first time, maybe it’s a city that feels like it could change something.

Chidoribashi traffic jamTulip

"Chidoribashi Traffic Jam" by Tulip

Tulip is a folk band also famous for having Kazuo Zaitsu as a member.

Formed in Fukuoka with members who are also from Fukuoka, they have many songs that mention local place names, and this song, “Chidoribashi Jutai” (Chidoribashi Traffic Jam), is one of them.

It was written about Chidoribashi in Hakata Ward, Fukuoka.

The bridge is very small, and since it only has one lane, it’s known for getting congested.

You can picture the scene, and the song has a literary quality—a bittersweet piece that squeezes your heart.

Hakata à la modeHiroshi Itsuki

"Hakata à la Mode" Hiroshi Itsuki [Official PV]

Hiroshi Itsuki’s single “Hakata à la Mode,” released in 2013, is—as the title suggests—a love song about Hakata, set in Hakata.

Judging from the lyrics, it depicts a man who falls in love with a woman living in Hakata, travels there to see her, and dreams of the two of them living together—expressing his feelings from a male perspective for the one he loves.

Place and river names famous in the area appear, such as Hakata, Nakasu, Tenjin-Nishi, and the Naka River, and the lively, glittering atmosphere of Hakata at night vividly comes to mind.

Noh Kojima's Unrequited LoveYosui Inoue

Unrequited Love of Nokonoshima

This song, included on Yosui Inoue’s 1972 release Yosui II: Sentimental, is titled Nokonoshima no Kataomoi.

Nokonoshima is a remote island floating in Hakata Bay, famous for its flowers.

The island, known as a floral destination, conjures images of lush, beautiful nature.

It’s a love song that feels quintessentially Yosui Inoue—laid-back and unhurried, evoking a gentle sense of time.

The tender feelings for a cherished person come through softly, making you hope that this unrequited love will be fulfilled.