[Folk and Children's Songs of Hokkaido] Songs of Hokkaido that continue to be loved across generations
The folk songs and children’s songs that resound across Hokkaido’s land carry the lives, joys, and prayers of people who have long faced its harsh nature.
Traditional music such as Esashi Oiwake and Soran Bushi has been passed down across generations and remains deeply rooted in many hearts today.
In this article, we introduce beloved classics—folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes—that have been handed down in Hokkaido and are still cherished today.
Why not lend an ear to these nostalgic melodies and feel the allure of music nurtured by the northern land?
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[Folk Songs and Children’s Songs of Hokkaido] Hokkaido Songs Loved Across the Ages (11–20)
Boat-Rowing Drifting Song
A folk song based on the work chants of fishermen from the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin.
It opens with the powerful shout of “Yāse-no,” vividly conveying the resilience of people who face the harsh forces of nature.
The lyrics weave in everyday life aboard the boat and scenes of the sea, and the melodic turns seem to bear deeply the pathos and warmth of those who live by the northern waters.
This work was completed by shaping the original song—personally researched by its author, Mr.
Matsumoto—into a more musical form.
It was included in the 1990s album The Complete Collection of Hokkaido Folk Songs, and in 2022 it was also recorded as a cover by Kohei Fukuda.
Red mountain, blue mountain, white mountain
Akai yama, Aoi yama, Shiroi yama (The Red Mountain, the Blue Mountain, and the White Mountain) was broadcast on NHK’s Minna no Uta in 1974 and became known nationwide.
Although it is a children’s song handed down in the Obihiro region, it is said to be the original tune for Hakushū Kitahara’s nursery rhyme Akai Tori Kotori (Red Bird, Little Bird).
The song depicts the four seasons of the Hidaka Mountains: the red mountain represents autumn, the blue mountain represents spring and summer, and the white mountain represents winter.
Esashi Oiwake
The “Mago-uta” from Shinano was brought to Hokkaido and became one of the representative folk songs of the region.
Esashi Oiwake is a folk song known for its complex melodic ornamentation and has been designated as an intangible folk cultural asset of Hokkaido.
It seems the more difficult it is, the more rewarding it is to sing, and there is even a national competition held every year where performers compete in singing this piece.
Soran Bushi
The powerful folk song Soran Bushi, born from Hokkaido’s landscape and still alive today.
Echoing the voices of fishermen at work, this piece gained nationwide popularity after being featured in the TV drama Mr.
Kinpachi in Class 3B.
It has been performed twice on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, helping to spread the appeal of folk music.
Today, it’s a staple for livening up school events like sports days and field festivals—a perfect song for making memories with family and friends.
Pechka (a type of Russian masonry stove)
A pechka is a fireplace made of materials like brick.
The children’s song “Pechka” originated in Northern Europe, then traveled to Russia, and is said to have reached Hokkaido around 1880.
Chatting in front of a pechka feels homey, warming both body and soul to the core, doesn’t it? It’s truly a song that seems perfectly suited to Hokkaido.
Hokkai-hama-bushi
Hokkai Hamabushi is a Hokkaido folk song that depicts the lively shores of Otaru and its fishermen during the prosperous herring fishing days.
It is said to have originally derived from Akita’s Hachiro-bushi.
The lyrics, filled with dreams wishing for bountiful catches on the majestic sea, and the vigorous tones of the shamisen leave a strong impression.
At the Hokkai Hamabushi National Competition, this piece is performed every year by folk song enthusiasts.
Folk and Children's Songs of Hokkaido: Beloved Hokkaido Songs Across the Ages (21–30)
This roadTaeko Ohnuki
I used to think this song evoked the image of Yanagawa, Hakushu’s hometown, but it seems he also had Hokkaido in mind.
I see—there’s a white clock tower in the lyrics, and it depicts Hokkaido, which Hakushu is said to have visited in his later years.
So it was the journey from Hokkaido to Yanagawa, then.