A classic song that sings of Nagasaki: the enduring heart of our hometown
Nagasaki Prefecture, located at the western edge of Kyushu, has the most islands of any prefecture in Japan.
Some of you may feel it often comes up in Japanese history classes.
It’s a region with a rich history, where many elements of Western culture spread throughout Japan via this very gateway.
In this article, I’ve compiled a selection of Japanese songs themed around Nagasaki.
Laying them out side by side, I feel “diverse” is the perfect word—there’s a wide range of genres and tracks represented.
I hope this helps you rediscover the charm of Nagasaki!
A famous song about Nagasaki. The enduring spirit of our hometown, passed down through song (1–10)
Rainy Hollander SlopeHamako Watanabe
Hamako Watanabe, who visited wartime China to offer comfort and had many hits themed on the Chinese mainland, counted among her hit songs “Ame no Oranda-zaka” (Rain on Dutch Slope), inspired by Nagasaki’s Oranda-zaka.
It was used as the theme song for the 1947 Shochiku film The Face of Hell.
Nagasaki nights are purple.Eiko Segawa
This is singer Eiko Segawa’s seventh single, released in 1970.
Set in Nagasaki, the song became her first hit since her debut and is considered one of her signature tracks.
It sings of an unforgettable beloved.
Close your eyesYumi Matsutoya
This song was created after a high school student from Narushima—one of the islands that make up the Goto Islands—sent a letter to a radio program.
It is a song about thinking of friends who have left the island and gone far away.
It became a beloved song of Nagasaki Prefectural Naru High School and is played when ships depart carrying island residents away, making it cherished throughout the island.
DEJIMA RhapsodyMilkShake
This is the fourth single released in 2017 by MilkShake, a local idol group based in Nagasaki City.
The song is themed around Dejima, set in Nagasaki during the isolation period.
It’s a unique local tune that sings of a town girl’s crush on a blond “Dutchman” (a term used back then for foreigners).
Nagasaki Holland VillageCircus
When you think of Nagasaki, isn’t the former Nagasaki Holland Village the first thing that comes to mind for many people? Although it closed on October 21, 2001, it was rebuilt in 2017 and is still operating today.
Its theme song, “Nagasaki Holland Village,” is performed by the four-member vocal group Circus.
You might recognize it from the commercials.
The beauty of the harmonies is striking, and just following the lyrics lets you feel the exotic atmosphere of Nagasaki.
It might even make you want to visit in person.
The Pomelo Vendor of NagasakiMinoru Obata
One of Minoru Obata’s signature songs—he debuted in 1941 and produced many hits—is “The Zabon Vendor of Nagasaki.” Zabon, also known as buntan, is a large citrus fruit cultivated in Shikoku and Kyushu.
It’s a local Nagasaki song, distinguished by his irresistibly sweet singing voice.
Everyone loves Nagasaki.ZINM
This is a Nagasaki homage song by the band ZINM, which was active mainly in Nagasaki.
After being featured on NHK Nagasaki, it was selected as the campaign song for a travel expo held in Nagasaki at the time.
The band also released an album compiling Nagasaki-themed songs and made a significant contribution to regional revitalization.