Niigata’s folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes: the heart of our hometown passed down in song
Niigata Prefecture is known for hosting traditional Bon dances and festivals, as well as for its large area of rice cultivation and high yields.
We’ve selected many folk songs and children’s songs related to Niigata, including pieces themed around Sado Island.
Folk songs, which are often performed at festivals, convey a lively, festive atmosphere through their rhythmic sounds.
It’s also recommended to explore the background behind songs like “Sado Okesa,” which are beloved across Japan.
Be sure to listen to the folk and children’s songs that showcase the charm of each region of Niigata.
- A classic song that celebrates Niigata. The enduring spirit of our hometown passed down through song.
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Folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes of Niigata: The heart of our hometown passed down in song (11–20)
Niigata Funakata-bushi
Named “Niigata Funakata-bushi” by Setsumi Suzuki, this song was passed down by sailors of the Kitamae-bune trading ships that plied the Sea of Japan from the late Edo period into the Meiji era.
Influenced by pieces such as Izumo Prefecture’s lively drinking song “Izumo-bushi” and Niigata’s “Shimbo Kodaiji Kuzushi,” it evolved over time and is said to have been widely sung in Niigata’s geisha districts until the early Showa period.
Its difficult melodic phrases were simplified into the form heard today.
Aikawa Ondo
The Aikawa Ondo was created to console the magistrate of the Sado gold mine and is also called the “Gozen Odori” (Dance Before the Lord).
A narrative Bon dance song style from the Chugoku region was brought in, and during the Bunsei to Tenpō era, Yamanaka Yoshinori shaped it into the form known as Aikawa Ondo.
The version of the ondo that remains today, while having lost some of its freewheeling spirit, has become a folk song renowned for its dignified dance and singing.
Echigo ZesshōMichiya Mihashi
Echigo Zesshō, sung by Michiya Mihashi, was created to commemorate the 30th anniversary of his singing career and was released in 1982.
The lyrics were written by Hiroshi Yokoi and the music was composed by Seiichi Sakurada.
It powerfully conveys the raging Sea of Japan and the freezing cold of the snow country.
Hane OkesaKaori Kizu
Kaori Kizu’s “Hane Okesa” is truly a treasure that conveys the heart of Niigata.
Carrying the folk songs inherited from her father close to her heart, Kizu returned to us in 2022 with the album “Shin Minyo Ichiban,” which features folk songs from various regions.
Through melodies that are rhythmic yet somehow nostalgic, she evokes Niigata’s rich history of rice cultivation and the lively spirit of Bon Odori festivals.
Her beautiful voice conjures images of Niigata’s land and is sure to resonate with listeners of all generations.
A wholeheartedly recommended track for those who love Niigata and for anyone wishing to experience Japan’s traditional culture!
Hymn to the Snowy MountainsEisaburō Nishibori
From the late Taisho to the early Showa period, students from Kyoto University visited Sasagamine for ski training camps.
It is said that the origin was when the students who gathered there sang a parody of the American folk song “Oh My Darling, Clementine.” This parody was passed down and later became famous when it was performed by the male vocal group Dark Ducks.
At Myoko Kogen Sasagamine in Myoko City, there is a monument inscribed with the lyrics of this piece.
Nagaoka JinkuKazuko Ito
Nagaoka in Niigata Prefecture has flourished as a castle town and a key hub for river transport on the Shinano River ever since Masanari Makino was granted a fief of 100,000 koku in Tenna 4 (1684).
The Nagaoka Jinku, known for its flamboyant performance style, is often introduced in contrast to the Iwamuro Jinku.
During the Obon season each year, the sounds of flutes, drums, and gongs ring out from all around, as people sing and dance in lively celebration.
Niigata’s folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes: The enduring heart of our hometown (21–30)
Echigo LullabyMakiko Kosugi
Echigo Lullaby is a folk song of unknown lyricist and composer that has long been passed down in Niigata Prefecture.
Whether in the mountains or asleep, you can hear the sound of the waves.
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It tells of the hardship of a child who must mind a younger sibling—the mother scolds, the baby won’t stop crying—and it makes you sympathize with some unknown someone.