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!
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Osaka’s folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes: The heart of our hometown passed down through song (1–10)
Taishi Town Song
A song that sings of the history of Taishi Town in Osaka Prefecture, a place associated with Prince Shōtoku, and its hopes for the future.
Set to a warm melody that would also shine in choral performance, it weaves together images of a tranquil landscape rich with fruit trees and pride in the history built by our predecessors.
You can really sense the residents’ pure love for their town.
The song was released in September 1976 as the single “Taishi Town Ondo / Taishi Town Song,” performed by Kenji Ito.
It’s also beloved as the music for the town’s calisthenics.
Why not listen to it when you want to quietly reflect on the scenery of your hometown and the warm lives of its people?
Makio Mountain Nobori-raising Ondo
One of the folk songs born in Izumi City, Osaka Prefecture, in the early Meiji period.
It is said to have begun as a travelers’ song sung while walking, with people raising banners during the public unveiling of sacred images at Makiōzan Temple.
A lively call-and-response overlays the cheerful Ise-ondo–style rhythm, conjuring up the bustling scene of a pilgrim procession.
The lyrics weave in local specialties like oranges, along with the scenery and atmosphere of the time, expressing affection for the region amid the merriment.
It may be the perfect piece when you want to attune your ears to Osaka’s long history and the prayers of the people who lived there.
Yokoyama Ondo
This is a bon odori song cherished in Kumatori Town.
Incorporating elements of joruri narrative music and kabuki, its lyrics weave in stories of pilgrims’ journeys and partings, evoking the lives of people in days gone by.
Over time, this ondo has evolved into a more danceable tempo—for example, tradition-bearer Kazuyoshi Kawai introduced the lively phrasing of the “Kawachi Ondo.” Perhaps its charm lies in the warm-hearted wish to let many people enjoy it while preserving tradition.
Osaka folk songs, children's songs, and nursery rhymes: The heart of our hometown passed down through song (11–20)
Kashii-san and dance
This is a passionate bon-odori song that has been lovingly passed down in Izumisano City, Osaka Prefecture.
To the powerful rhythm of drums resounding from atop the yagura, dancers repeat short phrases and dance through the night.
It is said to have originally been performed to lift the spirits of soldiers wounded in the Battle of Kashii during the Summer Siege of Osaka.
You can feel in the music the festival’s fervor that connects generations and a deep love for one’s hometown.
It is designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Izumisano City.
Kaikake Ondo
This is a Bon Odori chant that has been lovingly passed down in the Kaigake area of the Senshu region in Osaka.
Although it once died out after the war, it was brilliantly revived in 1990 through the efforts of local volunteers.
The 7-7-7-5 meter, punctuated by long interludes of flute and drum, seems to synchronize with the circle of dancers and their breathing.
Don’t you feel that the warm resonance of the music carries the spirit of those determined to preserve their hometown’s traditions? In March 2008, it was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Hannan City.
During the Kaigake Summer Evening Festival, you can still see local residents dancing together in a circle.
The scenery of the whole world
A play song long cherished in Osaka, it carries a warmth you can feel as you listen.
It celebrates the arrival of spring, conjuring a serene scene of watching a bush warbler chirp on a plum branch.
The wordplay that links the warbler’s call with the Lotus Sutra also shines with the refined wit unique to people of the past.
Listening to this piece, you can almost hear the innocent voices of children echoing through the town long ago.
Sumiyoshi Odori
This is a sacred and dynamic dedicatory dance song that has been passed down at Sumiyoshi Taisha in Osaka.
The lively rhythms marked by shamisen and drums seem to embody the very prayers of people wishing for a bountiful harvest.
During the rituals, charming young maidens dance with fans in hand.
Their presence overflows with vitality even amid the solemn atmosphere, lifting the hearts of all who watch.
Why not experience its sacred resonance and feel the breath of Osaka’s long history?