Japanese ondō: a seasonal tradition everyone can enjoy.
We’ve gathered classic and must-hear picks of traditional Bon-odori songs recommended by our studio staff—fun for everyone from adults to kids.
It’s a playlist sure to delight festival-loving Japanese listeners!
Japanese ondo: a seasonal tradition everyone can enjoy (1–10)
Hometown Ibaraki Ondo
Set in Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture, this is a heart-stirring original bon-odori song.
Featuring the vocals of Mayuko Hayashida, the piece stands out with its brisk tempo and familiar, catchy phrasing.
Just by listening, you can feel your body naturally start to move as if you were in the festival circle—such is its joy.
Woven into the lyrics are deep affection for one’s hometown and a warm message encouraging everyone to cherish and carry on local traditions together.
Performed for many years at the Ibaraki Festival, it has been embraced as a bon dance number that promotes the community.
For those connected to Ibaraki City, it may well evoke fond memories and images of the hometown landscape.
Gosha Dance
A celebratory local chant that has been handed down at Hine Shrine in Izumisano City, Osaka Prefecture.
Its origins lie in the travel songs popular during pilgrimages to Ise in the Edo period.
In 1965, its name was chosen through public submissions from parishioners, and it was dedicated along with choreography.
It is characterized by an energetic style where drum rhythms and spirited calls blend as one.
Carefully preserved by the hands of local residents, it is truly a song imbued with the heart of their hometown.
Why not experience the fervor of Osaka’s festivals and the warm prayers of its people?
Katano-bushi
This is a traditional Bon Odori song from the Kawachi region, believed to have originated in the mid-Edo period.
It is also known as a root of the Kawachi Ondo.
Each locality has passed it down with slight variations in melody and dance, and its simple, rustic tone may evoke images of one’s hometown.
In October 2018, a recording titled “Katano-bushi ~ Ishikawa Goemon ~,” arranged with orchestral accompaniment, was released.
Furthermore, in 2025, as part of a project related to the Osaka-Kansai Expo, an up-tempo arrangement of this piece aimed at younger listeners was introduced.
It is a fascinating track that lets you experience both traditional timbres and contemporary arrangements.
Sumiyoshi Odori
This is a sacred and dynamic dedicatory dance song that has been passed down at Sumiyoshi Taisha in Osaka.
The lively rhythms marked by shamisen and drums seem to embody the very prayers of people wishing for a bountiful harvest.
During the rituals, charming young maidens dance with fans in hand.
Their presence overflows with vitality even amid the solemn atmosphere, lifting the hearts of all who watch.
Why not experience its sacred resonance and feel the breath of Osaka’s long history?
Sano's seduction
A richly narrative bon-odori song handed down since the Edo period in Izumisano City, Osaka Prefecture.
Its lilting 7-5 rhythm, delivered in a conversational style over shamisen and drum beats, resonates deeply.
It’s the kind of piece that makes you feel as if you’re watching a grand historical scroll unfold.
Highly regarded for its cultural value, it has been recognized as a component cultural property of Japan Heritage.
Why not give it a listen when you want to reflect on Osaka’s history and the lives of its people?
Makio Mountain Nobori-raising Ondo
One of the folk songs born in Izumi City, Osaka Prefecture, in the early Meiji period.
It is said to have begun as a travelers’ song sung while walking, with people raising banners during the public unveiling of sacred images at Makiōzan Temple.
A lively call-and-response overlays the cheerful Ise-ondo–style rhythm, conjuring up the bustling scene of a pilgrim procession.
The lyrics weave in local specialties like oranges, along with the scenery and atmosphere of the time, expressing affection for the region amid the merriment.
It may be the perfect piece when you want to attune your ears to Osaka’s long history and the prayers of the people who lived there.
Yokoyama Ondo
This is a bon odori song cherished in Kumatori Town.
Incorporating elements of joruri narrative music and kabuki, its lyrics weave in stories of pilgrims’ journeys and partings, evoking the lives of people in days gone by.
Over time, this ondo has evolved into a more danceable tempo—for example, tradition-bearer Kazuyoshi Kawai introduced the lively phrasing of the “Kawachi Ondo.” Perhaps its charm lies in the warm-hearted wish to let many people enjoy it while preserving tradition.