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

The City Where Love LivesALWAYS

The Town Where Love Lives (Image Song of Yame City, Fukuoka Prefecture)

This is the image song for Yame City in Fukuoka Prefecture.

The lyrics were written by Toshiyuki Abe, formerly of Tulip, and the music was composed by Tatsuya Himeno.

Rich in natural beauty and human warmth, the song perfectly suits the city’s image.

It’s pleasing to the ear and feels gently, warmly enveloping.

ALWAYS, the group performing this song, includes former members of Tulip.

A Ballad Dedicated to My MotherKaientai

Kaientai – A Ballad Dedicated to My Mother

This song, included on the 1973 album “Bokyō-hen” by the folk band Kaientai, which Tetsuya Takeda was a member of, was written by Takeda for his mother.

It unfolds like a story: the sung sections are very short, and most of it proceeds as spoken narration, almost like a recitation.

It begins with feelings like a letter from his present self to his mother, and the latter part is written in Hakata dialect as casual, affectionate scoldings—a mother’s loving words.

Looking back as an adult, you realize those scolding-like words were precious, and this song shakes the heart with the greatness and importance of a mother.

Hakata MirenGoro Noguchi

Goro Noguchi – Hakata Miren

Hakata Miren, released in 1971 as Goro Noguchi’s debut single.

Since he loved the guitar and leaned toward pop, debuting in enka at 15 may not have been what he wanted.

His catchphrase back then was “the adorable enka hopeful.” But listening to him sing it now, there’s so much flavor—it’s as if the sorrow of a woman repeatedly heartbroken rises up alongside the scenes of Hakata’s streets.

I truly hope he’ll sing enka again.

Flying PlumMasashi Sada

Dazaifu Tenmangu, Tobiume, Masashi Sada

This song, Tobiume, is included on Masashi Sada’s 1977 album Kazamidori.

Set at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine in Kyushu, it looks back on a past romance.

The title Tobiume comes from the name of a plum tree—the sacred tree—at Dazaifu Tenmangu.

While love feels fun and full of happiness at first, the song gently conveys the growing ache as the couple’s feelings start to miss each other and something begins to feel off.

If you’re familiar with Dazaifu Tenmangu, it’s a song that will surely bring its scenery to mind.

Chikuhō LullabyHaru

Chikuhō Lullaby — Haru — Onga River Rapeseed-Flower Version

It recounts childhood memories in Chikuho.

As the lyrics unfold in the local dialect, scenes and memories of Chikuho flow by.

The gentle combination of guitar and flute enhances the calm beauty of Chikuho, filling you with a tender feeling that brings nostalgic scenes vividly to mind.

Kurume Soroban Danceflower girl

Kurume Weaving Song (Kurume Soroban Dance)

It’s said that the Soroban Dance began as a work song for weaving Kurume Kasuri.

Today, it livens up the August Water Festival with a grand group dance of ten thousand people.

Here, children are dancing, but the lyrics seem to be about a loom girl at the age when she’s especially popular.

Mr. Sanshiro from HakataRumiko Koyanagi

Sanshiro from Hakata — Rumiko Koyanagi

It originally comes from the old folk song “Hakata Katchiri-bushi.” It’s a fun song that playfully gossips about various people.

Here, “katchiri” is rendered as “batchiri, batchiri.” Ms.

Rumiko, who is like a representative of Fukuoka—a place that has produced many entertainers—sings it stylishly.