[Hyogo Songs] A Collection of Local and Love Songs Set in Hyogo

Hymn to Kobe

[Vissel Kobe | Kobe Anthem] The players celebrate with the supporters to the tune of the “Kobe Anthem” | 2023 Meiji Yasuda J1 League, Matchday 33

When it comes to an anthem that stirs the soul of Kobe, this song is indispensable.

It’s a Vissel Kobe supporters’ chant set to the melody of a French chanson, with original lyrics created by the fans.

Written in 2005, ten years after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, it intertwines prayers for the city’s revival with devotion to the club.

The lyrics voice a powerful resolve to overcome hardship together and protect the beautiful port city, moving all who hear it.

It’s a classic filled with the bond between the city and its people—one that everyone who loves Kobe should hear.

Nun's SongTHUNDER

THUNDER “Nun’s Song” Music Video

A heartwarming reggae song that conveys love and pride for one’s hometown straight from the heart.

Created by THUNDER, an artist from Amagasaki City in Hyogo Prefecture, the track reflects on his roots and is included on his independently produced debut album Raion, released in 2011.

The song also drew attention for selling out 4,000 copies purely through word of mouth.

Memories of the town where he spent his childhood, recollections of the earthquake, and scenes of bustling shopping streets are portrayed with care over a warm, comforting sound.

It’s a piece that will quietly resonate with those who want to look back on where they come from, as well as with people working hard away from home.

Bluermilet

milet “Bluer” MUSIC VIDEO (Kobe Suma Sea World Official Theme Song)

This is a track included on singer-songwriter milet’s single “hanataba,” released in June 2024, which was selected as the official theme song for Kobe Suma Sea World.

Centered on a world “bluer than blue,” the lyrics portray the bond of life between humans and marine creatures, drawing listeners into a grand and mystical realm.

The anecdote of milet herself forming a connection with an orca adds depth to the dreamlike soundscape.

Listening to this piece as you explore an aquarium might let you perceive a different kind of brilliance in life than usual.

Shigure Moon in KinosakiHiroshi Oe

Hiroshi Oe “Kinosaki Shigure Moon” MUSIC VIDEO

This is a genuine local enka number by Hiroshi Oe that conjures up images of steam rising from hot springs and rows of willow trees.

Released in August 2023 to mark the 15th anniversary of his debut, it is set in Kinosaki Onsen, Hyogo’s famed hot spring town, and portrays a man’s lingering attachment to someone he parted with.

Oe’s rich, resonant kobushi vocal ornamentation further highlights the protagonist’s helpless feelings and stirs the listener’s heart.

The music video—featuring his first attempt at acting in a yukata and expressive facial performance—is also a highlight.

It’s the perfect song for when you want to immerse yourself in the mood of travel, or for nights when you’d like a companion to your sentimental feelings.

Memories of KobeRyotaro Sugi

Memories of Kobe

A song by Ryotaro Sugi, who hails from Kobe.

It was released as a single in June 2002.

The following year, a newly recorded version was included on the mini-album “Omoide no Kobe ’03.” Set against Kobe’s scenery—places like Motomachi and the city of slopes—the lyrics portray a man’s poignant feelings as he reflects on a love that has passed.

The descriptive imagery is so vivid you can almost smell the sea breeze, stirring a sense of nostalgia in listeners.

Sugi’s rich, resonant voice blends with the beautiful melodies crafted by masters of the enka world, creating a deeply moving effect.

Akashi StraitKaori Mizumori

Kaori Mizumori – Kazabana Strait Japanese enka folk song kayōkyoku waka with lyrics Enshū-nada new song 2023 Hyuga Cape Nichinan Coast Parting Sorrow…Takachiho new release

This is a song by Kaori Mizumori, the queen of local-theme songs, depicting a woman gazing out at the sea from Suma in Kobe toward Akashi as she waits for her beloved.

The pain of being apart and her single-minded devotion are expressed through Mizumori’s signature, soaring vocals, and listening to it makes your heart ache.

The track is included on the album Kayō Kikō VIII: Aki no Miyajima, released in September 2009.

The album itself spent 40 weeks on the charts, showing how enduringly popular it is.

Please take your time to savor it along with the beautiful seascapes of Hyogo.

Kinosaki Love SongTakashi Hosokawa

Kinosaki Love Song

This is a signature ballad by Takashi Hosokawa, marking the milestone of his 30th anniversary as a singer.

Set in Kinosaki Onsen, a famed hot spring in Hyogo Prefecture, it poignantly sings of memories of a lost love fading beyond the steam.

Local words like “straw craft” intertwine with the protagonist’s helpless emotions, gently soaking into the listener’s heart.

Released in January 2005, the song also served as the title track of that year’s album, “Takashi Hosokawa Complete Collection: Kinosaki Koi-uta (Love Song).” A monument to the song stands at the site itself, and it is cherished as a classic that stirs the spirit of travel.