Songs of Iwate: The Heart of Our Hometown Passed Down in Song | A Collection of Classics to Enjoy While Thinking of Iwate
With melodies that resonate in the heart, Iwate’s beautiful scenery unfolds before your eyes.
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The culture rooted in this land and the lives of its people have become countless beloved songs that are still sung today.
The timeless history of the World Heritage site Hiraizumi, the mystical folklore of Tono, and the warm feelings of the people who live in the region.
The stories woven into each song are like a single painting capturing Iwate’s landscapes through the changing seasons.
In this article, we introduce gems of classic songs brimming with love for Iwate.
Why not let these songs stir your thoughts toward Iwate?
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[Songs of Iwate] The Heart of Our Hometown Passed Down in Song | A Collection of Classics to Listen to While Thinking of Iwate (1–10)
Bring it on! Iwateyoshitaka&eririn
Released in 2000, this piece is a campaign song for Iwate Prefecture, sung by a married couple living in Saitama.
The lyrics include Iwate’s famous spots and notable figures, and it’s said to still be loved by the prefecture’s residents.
With people like Kenji Miyazawa and Takuboku Ishikawa, Iwate has produced many historically renowned individuals.
The Wind of IhatovMitsutoshi Ambe
Ambé Mitsutoshi’s gentle singing gives voice to a hymn for Ihatov, the utopia envisioned by Kenji Miyazawa.
With golden-shining peaks, rivers where fish swim upstream, and boundless grasslands, this lyrical piece conjures vivid images of Iwate’s abundant nature.
Its poetry weaves themes of living in harmony with nature and the preciousness of local culture.
Originally included on the 1992 album “Yume no Tobira,” the song was also released in May 2014 in a “~reborn~” version featuring Misaki Usuzawa, a fellow Iwate native.
The warm melodies of guitar, piano, and strings are sure to vividly revive hometown scenes in the hearts of Iwate people living far from home.
FLY AWAYSaToMansion
A song created as the official cheer anthem for Iwate Prefecture’s professional soccer club, Iwate Grulla Morioka, with themes of challenge, hope, and taking flight into the future.
It was released to the world in July 2019 as SaToMansion’s fourth single.
The track is also included on the album “the umbrella,” released in June 2022, showcasing the band’s growth and maturity.
The music video was filmed at Iwagin Stadium together with about 200 fans and supporters, capturing a strong sense of unity with the local community.
It’s a song we especially recommend to those who want to feel nostalgia for their hometown while picturing the landscapes of Iwate, and to anyone carrying hopes and challenges in their heart.
[Songs of Iwate] The Heart of Our Hometown Passed Down in Song | A Collection of Masterpieces to Hear While Thinking of Iwate (11–20)
Ihatov SymphonyIsao Tomita
A symphonic work brimming with Isao Tomita’s love for Iwate, depicting the literary world of Kenji Miyazawa in grand sonic scale.
Released by Nippon Columbia in January 2013, this piece garnered attention for its groundbreaking use of the virtual singer Hatsune Miku as soloist.
Across nine tracks inspired by Miyazawa’s poems and fairy tales, the soundscape brilliantly evokes Iwate’s majestic nature and the mystique of its folklore.
Premiered at Tokyo Opera City in November 2012 to a sold-out audience on the first day, it was followed by a nationwide tour starting in Hanamaki, Iwate, the next year.
A gem of a masterpiece recommended not only for those from Iwate, but also for lovers of Kenji Miyazawa’s literature and anyone intrigued by new possibilities in music.
I think this is Iwate Prefecture.Go! Go! Setagaya All-Stars
This is a song that carries the spirit of Iwate on a gentle melody.
The playful spirit and affection in Tokoro George’s lyrics convey respect for Iwate’s cultural treasures, such as the Nanbu Cattle-Driving Song and World Heritage Hiraizumi.
Released as a single by Go! Go! Setagaya All Stars from YVS Records in March 2024, the piece was written and composed by Tokoro George himself.
Its humorous expressions and heartwarming message beautifully capture the everyday lives of local people and the region’s natural beauty.
It’s a track you’ll want to listen to when you need a break from a busy routine and wish to reflect on Iwate’s majestic nature and warm-hearted hospitality.
Alighting in the green townYumi Matsutoya
This is a piece composed by Yumi Matsutoya based on her impressions when she visited Iwate Prefecture in 1975.
It was later adopted as the image song for Iwate Hanamaki Airport.
Early summer in Iwate was so beautiful that Yuming couldn’t help but write a song—just imagining the scenery makes you want to visit, doesn’t it?
Soul of TohokuGroup Soul
A rock song filled with love and laughter, infused with the spirit and soul of Tohoku, sets Iwate’s heart ablaze.
Blending Group Tamashii’s unique humor with deep affection for the Tohoku region, this work bursts with hometown pride.
Released as a single in June 2004, it was created by Tohoku-connected members: lyrics by Kankuro Kudo from Miyagi Prefecture and music by Taku Tomizawa.
In 2014, an alternative version incorporating Buddhist-chant elements was also released.
It’s a piece that warms the hearts of people from Iwate living away from home—one to listen to while picturing Tohoku’s beautiful landscapes and rich culture.