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 that sing of Gunma’s nature and the spirit of its people (31–40)

Female KokuteiFutaba Yuriko

Onna Kokutei (Female National), by Yuriko Futaba, released in Showa 32 (1957), record source

Onna Kuni Sadaniha Yuriko

Yuriko Futaba, who made a huge hit with ‘Kishibe no Haha’ in 1972 and was energetically active in the public eye, announced her retirement in 2010; however, she is extremely dedicated when training her disciples.

When I saw her doing vocal exercises with Ayako Fuji on TV about one or two years ago, I could hardly believe that such vocal power belonged to someone over 80.

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Love in TakasakiTomoe Mihara

Love in Takasaki (Tomoe Mihara)

Love in Takasaki Mihara Tomoe

This is a song written and composed by Takasaki-based musician Koji Ogawa to help raise Gunma’s profile.

Since it’s a local song, it’s filled with place names unique to the area—like around the Takasaki Castle ruins and neighborhoods packed with restaurants.

The melody has a mood kayō (vintage pop-ballad) vibe, but it’s actually a love song.

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Maebashi BluesYutaka Sugano

Maebashi Blues — by Yutaka Kanno himself

Maebashi Blues, Yutaka Sugano

Hmm, what a nice voice.

As I thought, it’s Yutaka Kanno, the original lead vocalist of Southern Cross.

After Mori Yuji & Southern Cross disbanded in 1985, Yutaka Kanno made his solo debut in 1987, and he’s been captivating audiences with his singing at local dinner shows and the like.

The mention of the Ryōmō Line’s last train really makes it a local song, doesn’t it?

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Yearning: A Man’s Straw HatMikado Chūji

Chuji Mikado / Nostalgic Man’s Kasa (Hat)

Longing for Home: The Man in the Bamboo Hat, Sanmon Chūji

Describing the wandering drifter as an autumn pile of fallen leaves is, in a way, rather stylish among the lyrics of the matabi series.

The lines about a lone man, a traveling crow—where and why did he stray from the path, and how many times did he apologize to the mother in the palm of his hand—are truly moving.

Chuji Mikado is from Izumi, Osaka Prefecture, and in 1984 he received the Excellent Newcomer Award at the Nippon Hoso Cable Music Awards.

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Kogarashi MonjirōEisaku Okawa

Eisaku Okawa / Kogarashi Monjirō / Seijirō

Kogarashi Monjirō Eisaku Ōkawa

When it comes to the opening theme of Kogarashi Monjirō, the only thing that comes to mind is Tsunehiko Kamijō’s “Dareka ga Kaze no Naka de,” which had a grand image quite removed from typical period drama music.

As for Eisaku Ōkawa’s song—does it sing about Monjirō’s fate? Monjirō is said to have been born in Mikazuki Village, Nitta District of Jōshū, and in his hometown there are places like a memorial hall that honor it as Monjirō’s birthplace.

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[Songs of Gunma] Exquisite masterpieces celebrating Gunma’s nature and the spirit of its people (41–50)

Oboro moonlit night on the Jōshū roadAiko Moriyama

Song: Aiko Moriyama - “Oborozukiyo no Joshuji” (Performed by the artist) HD 1080p60

A Misty Moonlit Night on the Joshu Road — Aiko Moriyama

It’s interesting to have a young woman sing about a lone male drifter, isn’t it? When you think of Jōshū, there are so many images of traveling crows and the chivalrous underworld, and it’s true that there are also a lot of love songs as local tunes—but it’s all quite extreme.

Aiko Moriyama herself is an enka singer from Tochigi Prefecture.

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Migratory birds of the moonRitsuko Aoshima

Migratory Birds of the Moon - Yukino Ichikawa - cover by Ritsuko Aoshima

Ritsuko Aoshima, the Migratory Bird of the Moon

Matsuida mentioned in the lyrics refers to Matsuidamachi, Annaka City, Gunma Prefecture, the 16th post station from Edo on the Nakasendo’s sixty-nine stations.

The film “Yataro-gasa” is sung with Matsuida-juku as its setting.

Though the protagonist may look like a yakuza, his love is pure, and he never forgets duty and human compassion—it’s a really cool song.

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