A classic song about Nagano. The enduring spirit of our hometown passed down through song.

Karuizawa HotelMasashi Sada

Karuizawa Hotel / Masashi Sada ♭6

It’s one of the tracks from the original album “ADVANTAGE.” It was the theme song for the stage play “Karuizawa Suite” performed at the 2nd Masashing WORLD Concert held in 1985.

It conveys the loneliness of Karuizawa at summer’s end and the feelings of lovers who parted at a Karuizawa hotel.

A slightly capricious migratory birdKiyoshi Hikawa

Kiyoshi Hikawa / A Slightly Capricious Drifter [Official]

This song by Kiyoshi Hikawa, synonymous with matabii-style enka, is a local-themed tune that journeys from Miho no Matsubara to the Amagi Pass in Izu and, finally, from Komoro in Nagano to Kutsukake-juku—now Nakakaruizawa in Kitasaku District, Nagano—the 19th post station from Edo, where it stirs maternal feelings as it recalls the singer’s mother back home.

The Road of KinasaMieko Nishijima

Kinasa Road — Mieko Nishijima

As a singer-songwriter, he may be low-key, but he has had a long-lasting career.

His signature song is Ikegami Line, which might be considered something of a hidden gem.

His wistful, relaxed singing style was a bit different from folk singers of the time.

Kinanori no Michi refers to a village that actually existed in Kamikami District, Nagano Prefecture; the area is known for its autumn foliage and has a long-standing tale called the Maple Leaf Legend, which he turned into a song.

Northern Shinano LamentYukiko Noji

Yukiko Noji Northern Shinano Lament

It’s the theme song of a daytime drama that aired in the late Showa 40s (late 1960s).

Since it’s a fairly old daytime drama, all I know is that it’s a pure love story between a village girl and a young man from the city who aspires to be a painter.

Speaking of “Zesshō,” the older reference would be Kazuo Funaki, and a bit more recent would be the film starring Momoe Yamaguchi—both are tearful, tragic love stories.

If it’s titled “Hokushinano Zesshō,” then I don’t think the ending is a happy one.

Farewell, Hotaka.Dark Ducks

Farewell, Hotaka — The Dark Ducks

A song that originally was a military tune gradually gained new verses among mountaineers, and it is said to have lyrics up to the tenth verse.

Mount Hotaka, Japan’s third-highest peak at 3,190 meters, towers on the border between Matsumoto City in Nagano Prefecture and Takayama City in Gifu Prefecture.

No matter how much time passes, this famed mountain range known as the Northern Alps remains a summit that mountaineers aspire to challenge.

Song of the Rock Ptarmigan346

“Sanroku: Song of the Rock Ptarmigan” Illumination Festival in Yodagiri

The rock ptarmigan is a resident bird that does not migrate, enduring the cold even on alpine peaks in the dead of winter and remaining in place until the warm spring arrives.

It is designated as the prefectural bird of Nagano, Gifu, and Toyama.

This masterpiece can be heard as a message of encouragement to people placed in harsh, sorrowful circumstances, reflecting the nature of the ptarmigan.

Matsukawa OnDo!Akiko Kosaka

Matsukawa OnDo!

This song was created to commemorate the 40th anniversary of town status for Matsukawa in Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture, where the Tenryu River runs north to south.

The lyrics, composition, and arrangement were all done by Akiko Kosaka, who made a huge hit with “Anata.” Even in Nagano Prefecture, which has many famous tourist spots, regional revitalization remains an important issue for areas whose place names are still not widely known.