A famous song that sings of Okayama. The enduring spirit of our hometown, passed down through song.

Wild BoyTakao Horiuchi

“Nofūzo” is probably an unfamiliar word, but in the Okayama dialect it means “cheeky” or “impertinent.” The song was originally written by Hiroyuki Yamamoto as a message to his son, and it has been covered by various singers.

This video is the version sung by Takao Horiuchi.

I really love the Okayama dialect folk songGood economic times

I really love the Okayama dialect folk song

The dialect spoken in Okayama Prefecture is called Okayama-ben.

The word “mongee” in the title means something like “tremendous” or “amazing.” It’s not so far removed from standard Japanese, so people who aren’t from Okayama can probably understand it to some extent when they hear it.

Okayama People User ManualEthylnite no Kosuke & RESTA

Okayama-jin Torisetsu / Kana Nishino (Male Version) — Theme song of the film “No Longer Heroine”

“Torisetsu” was originally a song by Kana Nishino and was used as the theme song for “No Longer Heroine.” Its derivative work, the male-version “Torisetsu,” became a hot topic online, and this is one of the many cover versions that were made.

The lyrics are about characteristics of people from Okayama Prefecture.

Wasyu Travel SentimentsMinami Kouzuki

Yasuhiro Takeuchi, Hiroko Takeuchi, Washuzan Sky Festival, Washuzan Travel Sentiment, Mother’s Back, and others.

This song was created by the NPO “Association for the Scenic Preservation of Mount Washuzan,” which operates in Kurashiki City, to convey the charm of Mount Washuzan.

You can purchase the CD sung by the Duke Aces at the Washuzan Visitor Center.

This video is a cover version by Minami Kōzuki.

Amazing Okayama!Yuki Katsuragi

Theme song “Monge Okayama!” Yuki Katsuragi

This is a local song sung in a husky voice by singer Yuki Katsuragi from Kawakami Town in Okayama Prefecture, and it also uses the word “mongee” here.

You can really feel the hometown pride.

The footage of Yuki Katsuragi wearing a sailor-style school uniform is quite striking as well.

Woman of KurashikiKasuga Hachirō

Kurashiki Woman — Hachiro Kasuga — Local Song Okayama, Vol. 10

Kurashiki City is a major city boasting the second-largest population in Okayama Prefecture, and a variety of local songs have been created there.

This song is one of them, expressing lingering feelings for a woman the singer met in Kurashiki.

Note that the character in the title for “woman” (女) is read as hito.

Kurashiki BluesMiyuki & OG3

Kurashiki Blues - Miyuki & OG3 - Local Song Okayama, Vol. 8

This is a song whose lyrics weave in place names from Kurashiki City in Okayama Prefecture.

Set against the backdrop of neon-lit streets, it portrays the relationship between a man and a woman.

The lyrics can be interpreted as leading to their eventual breakup.

Kurashiki often seems to be chosen as the theme for this kind of mellow, sentimental song.