Folk songs, children's songs, and nursery rhymes of Toyama: the enduring heart of our hometown passed down through song
A special feature on folk songs and children’s songs from Toyama.
It includes folk songs related to Gokayama, known as a hidden enclave of the once-glorious Taira clan; folk songs unique to Toyama, famous for its medicines; and not only folk tunes but also well-known pieces like “Moon over the Ruined Castle,” composed by Rentaro Taki, who spent his boyhood in Toyama.
If you live locally, many of these pieces will surely feel familiar.
We also introduce Bon dance songs, so you might even catch a whiff of summer’s atmosphere.
Why not listen to regional folk and children’s songs and let your thoughts wander to Toyama’s natural and cultural landscape?
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Folk songs, children's songs, and nursery rhymes of Toyama: The heart of our hometown passed down in song (11–20)
Rita Nikata-bushi
The “Tonda Nikata-bushi,” handed down in the Tonda district of Tateyama Town, Toyama Prefecture, is a work song sung by people who labored along the Joganji River.
Because there are similar folk songs from other regions sung by boatmen, it is thought that local workers adapted a tune passed down by sailors and created their own lyrics.
Even today, it is performed on special occasions, such as celebrations, and continues to be passed down through song.
Members of the preservation society are diligently engaged in activities to carry on this tradition.
Tairyō-bushi
The song “Tairyō-bushi” is a folk tune handed down in Himi City, Toyama Prefecture, created as a song to pray for a big catch.
Himi City is a coastal port town in the northwestern part of Toyama, and the area is known for local specialties such as Himi beef and Himi udon.
“Tairyō-bushi” is one of the pieces that reflects the region’s rich fishing culture.
Listening to this song, you can feel the fishermen’s powerful joy and gratitude to the sea resonate in your heart.
It’s a track I highly recommend to all listeners who love Toyama!
Shin Fuseya-bushi
Shinfusedani-bushi, which evokes the history of Toyama Prefecture, is a cherished gem of local folk songs.
The piece has been passed down along the Fuse River basin.
It was originally enjoyed as a celebratory song, but later diversified into a work song.
Today, there are as many as 100 verses.
Because it is performed at festivals and other events, local children naturally encounter it often, and in this way it helps nurture the region’s identity.
Fukuno Yotaka-bushi
Rich in Toyama’s folk flavor, Fukunō Yataka-bushi is a folk song rooted in the traditional event known as the Fukunō Yataka Festival, and in 2004 it was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of the prefecture.
Born from the grand procession of illuminated lanterns, the piece captures the festival’s calls and lively energy.
Through lyrics that evoke lanterns coloring the May night sky and the atmosphere of the region, one can feel the history of Toyama.
It’s perfect for anyone who wants to experience local culture through music!
Sail Mast Raising Chant
“Hobashira Okoshi Ondo” is a folk song that colors the nostalgic, good old Toyama.
Cherished by various groups—including the Toyama Prefecture Folk Song and Dance Federation, founded in 1952—it has been carefully preserved and passed down to the present day.
Loved as a celebratory song for ships, it has also been sung and danced during prayers for bountiful catches.
Its distinctive melody and rhythm, which evoke Toyama’s history, reflect local festivals and everyday scenes, guiding listeners back to the warmth of their hometown.
Ecchu Owara Bushi
The Etchu Owara-bushi is a folk song passed down in the Yatsuo area of Toyama City.
There is a festival called Owara Kaze no Bon, known as a magical yet tranquil event that draws many tourists every year.
There, dancers perform to this song.
Toyama’s folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes: The heart of our hometown passed down in song (21–30)
Fukumitsu Medeta
Fukumitsu Medeta is a folk song handed down in the Fukumitsu area of Nishitonami District, Toyama Prefecture.
Due to the 2004 municipal merger, the area is now part of Nanto City, but it was formerly known as the town of Fukumitsu.
The song is performed on celebratory occasions such as weddings and 60th-birthday (kanreki) celebrations.
Today, organizations such as the Fukumitsu Medeta Preservation Society and the Fukumitsu Folk Song Association are at the center of efforts to carry on this tradition.