Miyagi Songs: Popular tracks that celebrate famous sights and specialties, and timeless pieces filled with love for home

Miyagi Sendai Goza-in OndoKunoichi Field

Zain Ondo of Sendai–Miyagi [Highlights Introduction Edition]

Every region puts a lot of effort into their tourism PR songs, and they’re fun to watch and listen to.

This “Gozain” is a dialect word from Miyagi Prefecture meaning “Come visit, even as soon as tomorrow,” and they’ve used it cleverly in the title.

In the PV, a guy dressed in armor and a kabuto helmet introduces various sightseeing spots.

When I visited before, I also saw some pretty handsome guys doing tourism PR in different areas.

Tanabata DanceChiyoko Shimakura

Tanabata Dance Chiyoko Shimakura

Speaking of famous festivals in Sendai, there’s the Tanabata Festival.

While Tanabata festivals are now held in regions all across Japan, Sendai’s Tanabata Festival is one of Japan’s representative festivals, handed down as a traditional event dating back to the time of Lord Date Masamune.

The song “Tanabata Matsuri,” sung by Chiyoko Shimakura, was released in 1962, and even more than half a century later, it is still played as music for Bon Odori.

Theme song of Yagiyama Beny LandFusako Amachi

Theme song of Sendai Yagiyama Benyland

I don’t know if it’s true or not, but this is the song from Benyland, a beloved relaxation spot for Miyagi residents, which people say anyone from Miyagi has heard at least 100 times.

This song is also cherished as a parody cheer song used by the professional baseball team Rakuten Eagles, based in Miyagi Prefecture, during scoring opportunities.

Zunda Festival SongTo the citizens of Kakuda City, Miyagi Prefecture

Zunda Festival Song, Kakuda City, Miyagi Prefecture

It’s also a PR song created with the cooperation of citizens who take pride in the fact that the only festival in Japan (and the world) where “zunda” is the star is in Kakuda City.

Using locally grown Kakuda edamame and rice and highlighting an authentic flavor, their zunda mochi is said to be the best.

Every year around late September, during the harvest season, the Kakuda Zunda Festival is held.

Zunda Mochi DuoRitsuko Ōwada

Fortnite with my big brother! Just regular Duos or sometimes Rumble.

When it comes to Sendai’s zunda mochi, it seems this Kitakami Kyo Dango Honpo is the place to go.

The lyrics to this song were written and composed by none other than Takashi Yanase, famed for Anpanman, and it’s said the mochi was so delicious that the tune came to him right away.

According to legend, one of Lord Date Masamune’s retainers, Jinta, hastily mashed edamame with his camp sword (jintachi) to make the mochi; from names like Jinta mochi, jintachi mochi, and mame-uchi (zuda) mochi, the term evolved into “zunda mochi.” As expected, Masamune’s gourmet tastes were the starting point here as well.

Inn in AkiuKazuo Chiba

Kazuo Chiba Akih o no Yado Enka Hyakusen

The three major hot springs in Miyagi Prefecture are Akiu, Naruko, and Sakunami, but people who don’t know the readings often get them wrong.

I myself used to read Akiu as “Akiho” at first.

It’s Akiu Onsen.

The song portrays a secret love in a mature enka style with a sultry touch.

Kazuo Chiba has been active as a singer for over 35 years, but he used to be an employee of the Japanese National Railways (now JR).

I love it! Gyutan-tanMo-tan

I love it! Gyutan-tan

Speaking of Sendai, the nationally famous food has to be beef tongue! I’ve had it a few times, and it’s truly delicious.

Domestic beef tongue has a delicate flavor and tenderness—it’s a real treat, though it’s also quite pricey.

As for the song promoting beef tongue, for some reason the image character is a girl wearing a cow costume, and the singing style is made to sound somewhat childlike.