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?
- A classic song that sings of Toyama. The enduring heart of our hometown.
- [Folk Songs of Yamagata] The Heart of Our Hometown Passed Down in Song: Feelings Woven into Nostalgic Melodies
- Children’s songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes for March: fun spring hand-play songs.
- Kyoto’s folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes: the enduring spirit of our hometown passed down through song.
- Niigata’s folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes: the heart of our hometown passed down in song
- Tokushima’s Folk Songs, Children’s Songs, and Nursery Rhymes | Traditional Songs Rooted in the Region, Including Awa Odori
- [Folk Songs and Children's Songs of Akita] A curated selection of local masterpieces that evoke love for one’s hometown
- Folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes of Kumamoto: the enduring spirit of our hometown passed down through song.
- Folk songs, children's songs, and nursery rhymes of Hiroshima: the enduring heart of our hometown, passed down through song.
- Folk Songs, Children's Songs, and Nursery Rhymes of Aomori: Japanese Songs from Tsugaru and Hachinohe that Resonate with the Heart
- [Folk and Children's Songs of Hokkaido] Songs of Hokkaido that continue to be loved across generations
- Folk songs, children's songs, and nursery rhymes of Nagasaki: the heart of the hometown passed down through song
- Folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes of Osaka: the enduring spirit of our hometown carried on in song
Toyama’s folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes: The heart of our hometown passed down in song (21–30)
maimai
“Maimai,” a song sung in the Gokayama region of Toyama Prefecture.
It is also known for being arranged as a choral piece by Yoshio Mamiya, who composed the music for Studio Ghibli’s “Grave of the Fireflies.” This song is a folk piece dedicated to Hakusan Shrine, said to be the oldest wooden building in Toyama Prefecture, and is characterized by a melody that is calm yet carries a dignified air that naturally straightens your posture.
Set to that melody are lyrics depicting scenes of spring and winter.
Be sure to check out both the folk version and the choral version!
Nojita Ondo
The song playing for the “Nojita Odori” held in Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture is this ‘Nojita Ondo.
’ Originally danced to as a Bon Odori tune from this region, it gradually became difficult to hold the event on its original scale.
However, it was revived in 2023 after roughly 30 years.
Lyrics that evoke the scenery of Imizu City are sung over a lively melody, making you want to dance along.
Why not visit the area, take in the actual scenery, and listen to this song on the spot?
Ten percent interest per month
Toichinsa is a traditional folk song cherished in the Gokayama region of Toyama Prefecture.
It is said to have been sung while working, with hopes for a bountiful harvest.
The word “Toichinsa” is derived from the wren, which is called “Saichin,” and from the image of the bird playing near the water channel (toi).
The song expresses a mother’s wish for her daughter to grow up to be as diligent as a little bird, and its dance choreography incorporates birdlike gestures.
With its performances on traditional Japanese instruments, this Toyama folk song conveys the essence of Japan’s cultural heritage.
Household Head Shōda Rice-Planting Celebration Song
The “Oyakashō Rice-Planting Celebration Song” is a folk song passed down in the Oyakashō area of Asahi Town, Shimoniikawa District, Toyama Prefecture, and is particularly associated with the rice-planting season.
This region has long been active in rice production and has regarded rice planting as part of its festivals, with the “Oyakashō Rice-Planting Celebration Song” traditionally sung at banquets held in landowners’ homes.
Although agriculture has modernized over time, this traditional song and dance are still cherished and handed down by local residents today.
Yasaibushi
The “Yasakae-bushi” handed down in Kanayamachi, Takaoka City, is a work song for Takaoka metal casting, a craft with traditions dating back to the Edo period.
Among the casting tasks was a simple yet grueling step-on-board process that required 12 people to keep perfect time together.
To lift their weary bodies and spirits and to synchronize their steps, they naturally began to sing—this was the beginning of the song.
Shinkawa Ancient Deity
The bon odori song “Shinkawa Kodai-shin,” often performed at the Furusato Ryugu Festival in Namerikawa City, Toyama Prefecture, is a visually intense folk tune that pairs an up-tempo, rhythmic melody with fast-paced dancing.
Originally said to have been sung and danced to welcome ancestral spirits, it’s characterized in part by choreography that uses torches.
For local residents, it’s a staple festival chant that brightens summer nights.
Incidentally, “Kodai-shin” is believed to be a corrupted form of “Kodaiji,” a temple located in Niigata Prefecture.
Sansai Dance
It’s a lively, nursery-rhyme-style Bon dance song.
The gentle, simple melody leaves a strong impression.
It is danced every July in the grounds of Enryūji Temple in Umezawa Town, Toyama City.
Participants wear matching yukata and aprons, and only women and children take part.
Its origins are old, said to date back to around 1639 when Toshi Naoe, the first lord of the Toyama Domain, entered Toyama Castle.
It is an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Toyama City.