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

Genkai SeaDandana Otoko

August 9, 2009 Dan Daotoko Genkainada -02- (Anjo City, Aichi Prefecture)

This song is about a father seeing off his son, who is about to leave this town.

Hiding his loneliness, the father rows the boat, doing his best not to show his tears.

The son understands his father’s feelings, yet says nothing and simply watches over him.

The father himself seems to embody the harshness of the Genkai Sea.

This was the debut song of Dandano, whose name has a notably pleasant ring to it, but he has since retired from his singing career.

Hakata WomanSaburō Kitajima

Hakata Woman

One of Saburo Kitajima’s “Woman Series,” Hakata no Onna (The Woman of Hakata).

It tells of a man who, unaware that the woman he loves is married, goes to Hakata to see her and pours out his pain.

Hakata seems to be a city where many come seeking someone and then move on, as so often sung.

It’s a song that expresses a pure, earnest feeling, different from Kitajima’s usual rugged, masculine image.

Beat goes on

Beat goes on: Fukuoka's beat never stops!

This song, “Beat goes on,” was created by musicians from Fukuoka who came together to face the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the subtitle “Fukuoka’s beat never stops!”, it was produced by Music Action Fukuoka, a collective formed by local live music venues and musicians.

The sound production is by Kenta Matsukuma, known for producing BiSH, and a total of 100 musicians took part, resulting in a track packed with an impressive lineup.

Above all, it’s a song that fills you with energy and power.

Light of hopeMasaaki Kimura

Fukuoka Prefecture Residents’ Song “Light of Hope” – Masaaki Kimura

Released in 1970, the song “Light of Hope” was designated as the prefectural anthem of Fukuoka.

The lyrics were created by selecting entries from a public submission.

True to the spirit of a prefectural song, it’s simple and easy for anyone to remember, and the title “Light of Hope” fits perfectly—an upbeat, bright piece.

It features familiar place names for Fukuoka residents, such as Genkai, Mount Hikosan, and Chikushino, and it’s a song that suits the morning wonderfully.

The song was released on vinyl, and the B-side track, “Fukuoka Ondo,” was established as the prefectural folk dance song.

I am rain.Sid

Sid, I am rain.

I hear that Mao, the vocalist, is from Kurume City.

Place names like Tenjin and Momochihama appear here, and it seems that whole area is a familiar, cherished place that Mao has long been attached to.

The tune feels sentimental rather than rock, but it’s a number whose aching pursuit of a lover quietly seeps into you.

Song in Hakata dialectAll 1 Brothers + Shion Hinata

Song in Hakata dialect

Among the many dialects across Japan, Hakata-ben—especially when spoken by women—is often said to be cute.

This song features a girl showing off Hakata-ben to the fullest, and its title is “The Hakata Dialect Song.” As you’d expect, it’s sung in Hakata-ben, but it also feels like a guide to recommended Hakata events and spots throughout the four seasons—spring, summer, fall, and winter.

You can enjoy that quintessentially Hakata-style cute tsundere vibe, like a girl inviting you on a date while saying, “Well, I guess I’ll go with you since there’s no helping it.”

Genkai Boat SongKiyoshi Hikawa

Kiyoshi Hikawa / Genkai Boat Song [Official]

This is a song by a young fisherman, fired up to head out to sea and bring in a big catch.

In his powerful performance, the still youthful and fresh Hikawa shows the strength of a Kyushu man.

Even though it sings of the rough Genkai Sea and manliness, it also reveals the softer side of a Kyushu man when it comes to his mother and his lover—that’s part of his charm.