Folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes of Osaka: the enduring spirit of our hometown carried on in song
In this article, we feature folk songs and children’s songs related to Osaka!Osaka has long been a key hub of logistics, situated at the confluence of busy sea routes and rivers.
Because of that, Osaka’s folk repertoire includes pieces like the Yodogawa boat songs that evoke its deep history.
At the same time, there are newer tunes that symbolize contemporary Osaka, such as the Harukas Ondo inspired by Abeno Harukas.
Listen to the folk and children’s songs of Osaka—once called the “nation’s kitchen”—and immerse yourself in its long, rich history!
Osaka’s folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes: The heart of our hometown passed down through song (1–10)
Song of Osaka's Delicious Foods
As a children’s song or nursery rhyme, it might fall into the category of newer works.
That’s “The Osaka Delicious Foods Song.” Foods that are Osaka specialties—mainly flour-based dishes like takoyaki and okonomiyaki—are sung to a lively melody.
Also, for some reason the second verse boasts about funny things, featuring Tsutenkaku Tower and the Yoshimoto New Comedy troupe.
Sano's seduction
A richly narrative bon-odori song handed down since the Edo period in Izumisano City, Osaka Prefecture.
Its lilting 7-5 rhythm, delivered in a conversational style over shamisen and drum beats, resonates deeply.
It’s the kind of piece that makes you feel as if you’re watching a grand historical scroll unfold.
Highly regarded for its cultural value, it has been recognized as a component cultural property of Japan Heritage.
Why not give it a listen when you want to reflect on Osaka’s history and the lives of its people?
Kaizuka San'ya Ondo
This dance song, passed down in the Senshu region since ancient times, is a traditional performing art that truly embodies the spirit of the community.
Its origins are said to date back to 1583, when people danced for three days and nights to celebrate the birth of a new stronghold.
With short verses and lively chants layered one upon another, this work lifts the listener’s heart.
Don’t you feel that each sung phrase carries the joy of our forebears and their hopes for the future? Designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of the city in February 1998, it has been carefully preserved as a regional treasure to this day.
Just imagining people dancing in a circle while the drums resound with the distinctive chong-gake rhythm is enough to make one’s heart swell.
Ongo
It’s a nostalgic children’s song that conjures up the scene of kids parading in a line through the streets of Osaka on a summer evening.
An anonymous traditional song, it was preserved in a valuable recording on the album Folk Songs of Osaka, published by the Osaka Prefectural Board of Education in 1990.
Beyond the bustling image of the “nation’s kitchen,” you may discover another side of Osaka in the voices of children that once echoed through its back alleys.
It’s a song that evokes the warm spirit of a bygone hometown.
Hometown Ibaraki Ondo
Set in Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture, this is a heart-stirring original bon-odori song.
Featuring the vocals of Mayuko Hayashida, the piece stands out with its brisk tempo and familiar, catchy phrasing.
Just by listening, you can feel your body naturally start to move as if you were in the festival circle—such is its joy.
Woven into the lyrics are deep affection for one’s hometown and a warm message encouraging everyone to cherish and carry on local traditions together.
Performed for many years at the Ibaraki Festival, it has been embraced as a bon dance number that promotes the community.
For those connected to Ibaraki City, it may well evoke fond memories and images of the hometown landscape.
Gosha Dance
A celebratory local chant that has been handed down at Hine Shrine in Izumisano City, Osaka Prefecture.
Its origins lie in the travel songs popular during pilgrimages to Ise in the Edo period.
In 1965, its name was chosen through public submissions from parishioners, and it was dedicated along with choreography.
It is characterized by an energetic style where drum rhythms and spirited calls blend as one.
Carefully preserved by the hands of local residents, it is truly a song imbued with the heart of their hometown.
Why not experience the fervor of Osaka’s festivals and the warm prayers of its people?
Katano-bushi
This is a traditional Bon Odori song from the Kawachi region, believed to have originated in the mid-Edo period.
It is also known as a root of the Kawachi Ondo.
Each locality has passed it down with slight variations in melody and dance, and its simple, rustic tone may evoke images of one’s hometown.
In October 2018, a recording titled “Katano-bushi ~ Ishikawa Goemon ~,” arranged with orchestral accompaniment, was released.
Furthermore, in 2025, as part of a project related to the Osaka-Kansai Expo, an up-tempo arrangement of this piece aimed at younger listeners was introduced.
It is a fascinating track that lets you experience both traditional timbres and contemporary arrangements.