Lovely nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs

[Songs of Gunma] Exquisite masterpieces that sing of Gunma’s nature and the spirit of its people

Accompanist / Piano InstructorYuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

When you hear place names from Gunma, do a nostalgic melody and lyrics come to mind? Songs themed around Gunma Prefecture are wonderfully diverse—from children’s songs and traditional school songs to enka, J-pop, and anime tunes! Many masterpieces vividly portray the atmosphere of hot spring towns, the grandeur of the mountains, and everyday life, and just hearing them makes you want to visit Gunma.

In this article, we’ve gathered songs related to Gunma Prefecture.

Why not discover Gunma’s lesser-known charms through music?

[Songs of Gunma] Exquisite masterpieces singing of Gunma’s nature and the spirited hearts of its people (21–30)

Joshu MatsugoroHiromasa Shimizu

Joshu Matsugoro “Hiromasa Shimizu” song by Mayu

Joshu Matsugorō Shimizu Hiromasa

Hiromasa Shimizu became a singer after winning the NHK Nodo Jiman contest’s 2006 Grand Champion title, making his enka debut while attending the Gunma Prefectural School for the Blind.

Influenced by his grandparents, he grew up listening to enka from a young age and naturally learned to add the characteristic kobushi vocal ornamentation.

“Ikaho no Onna yo” was created with the image of the hot spring town of Ikaho in mind.

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Harvest Moon over Mount AkagiTaro Shoji

Taro Shoji Meigetsu Akagiyama

Harvest Moon Akagi Mountain Taro Tokairin

Mount Akagi is one of Japan’s 100 Famous Mountains, located in the center of Gunma.

When you think of Mount Akagi, it has to be Kunisada Chūji.

His famous line, “Even Mount Akagi, only for tonight… parting from my dear companions…,” is still passed down today.

The singer Taro Shoji, who performed it standing perfectly straight and motionless, left a strong impression.

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Bubble MissionNaomi Shindo

Kalifa – AWA MISSION [AMV] (LYRICS)(SUB SPANISH)(SUB ENGLISH)(Naomi Shindo) Kalifa (Naomi Shindo)

Foam MISSON Naomi Shindo

This is the Gunma edition of the 47 Cruise CD from the globally hit anime ONE PIECE, taking you on a tour across Japan.

It’s designed with the mission of finding pirates who have fled into a hot spring town, so the lyrics are filled with imagery of Gunma Prefecture throughout.

It’s also amusing that they sing about a “Show Girl” doing yumomi (the traditional hot-spring water-stirring dance).

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Cabbage White Paperpeaberry

Peaberry “Cabbage White Paper” (Music Video)

Cabbage White Paper Peaberry

It’s a refreshing remark.

I completely agree with the idea that the vegetables Grandma made were so different from those in the city that they could be truly enjoyed.

It’s a wonderful lyric, expressing gratitude to the grandmother who gave you memories of spending joyful summer vacations in the countryside when you were little, and declaring that you will now carry on her strength and kindness.

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Yuno no Sato TsuzuriEtsuko Nakamura

Etsuko Nakamura Yuno-no-Sato Tsuzuri

Yuno-no-Sato Tsuzuri Etsuko Nakamura

As the title suggests, this is a local song that features Ikaho, Minakami, and Kusatsu—famous hot spring areas in Gunma Prefecture.

The singer is Etsuko Nakamura, who made her professional debut in 1995 (Heisei 7), making her quite a veteran.

Her breakthrough came when she won the Grand Prix at the National Competition of the National Musicians Association, earning the endorsement of the renowned Toru Funamura.

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Night Spinning WheelMegumi Misawa

Night Spinning Wheel Megumi Misawa

Night Spinning Wheel, Megumi Misawa

It’s a quite well-known local song in Gunma Prefecture.

Set to a proper mood-kayō (mood ballad) style, it skillfully weaves in silk thread—registered as a World Heritage in 2014 as the silk production from the Tomioka Silk Mill—and even includes the names of Gunma’s urban centers from verses one to four, which surely boosts its popularity.

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Little Cherry Blossom OsenYukino Ichikawa

Song Ameba Pigg ’10 Kozakura Osen

Osen Kozakura, Yukino Ichikawa

It talks about cherry blossoms scattered across the back, but a cherry-blossom blizzard on the back inevitably evokes a strong image of Tōyama no Kin-san.

He, however, was a magistrate, whereas this is probably a bold-tongued woman barking, “Heads or tails?” The Jōshū accent also strongly conjures the image of a wandering gambler, and since it’s a woman, perhaps that’s why they went with cherry blossoms.

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