Soran Bushi: The heart of Japan passed down through song

Fuyumi Sakamoto - Fuyumi~~Soran BushiFuyumi Sakamoto

Fuyumi's Soran Bushi ~ Fuyumi Sakamoto Cover by Fan Ruie

This is the Soran Bushi performed by enka singer Fuyumi Sakamoto.

Since it’s called the “Okiage Ondo,” I initially thought it would feel more fitting if a man sang it, but her powerful voice, resonating from deep within, made me think, “A woman’s Soran Bushi works too.”

Soran Bushi, Hokkaido folk songMasanobu Anagura, Royal Knights

Hokkaido Folk Song: Soran Bushi (High Quality Audio)

It is a traditional folk song that began as a work song for fishermen in Hokkaido.

In the 1980s it was included in high school music textbooks and has been performed many times on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, making it widely beloved.

The lyrics weave in phrases that symbolize lives lived against the backdrop of the sea and the bonds of community, conveying Hokkaido’s nature, culture, and history.

With its rhythmic melody and the characteristic call of “Sōran,” it is often performed at festivals and events and is deeply connected to traditional culture such as dances and Bon Odori.

Why not raise your voices together and sing it while feeling the climate of Hokkaido and the lives of its people?