[Folk Songs of Yamagata] The Heart of Our Hometown Passed Down in Song: Feelings Woven into Nostalgic Melodies

red cherryYukiko Iwase

Red Cherries (Iwase Yukiko)

This is “Red Cherries,” sung by Yukiko Iwase.

The lyrics are by Yoshihiko Sawawatari, and the music is by Ryokichi Takaoka.

It’s a charming children’s song unique to Yamagata Prefecture, famous for its cherries.

The lyrics vividly depict scenes that even people unfamiliar with Yamagata can picture, such as a small child too short to reach the red cherries and the flow of the Mogami River.

Old Takahata Ondo

“Old Takahata Ondo” is a folk song handed down in Takahata Town, Higashiokitama District, Yamagata Prefecture, and nowadays there is also a “New Takahata Folk Song.

” This video is a bit unusual in that cosplayers are performing the dance.

It seems they are trying to pass on a tradition that would fade away unless someone carries it forward, using the uniquely modern platform of Niconico, and I’m impressed by their spirit and initiative.

Shichikaibushi

Folk Dance Nanakai-bushi

This is the “Shichikaibushi,” a folk song handed down in Higashine City, Yamagata Prefecture.

It is sung on celebratory occasions.

Composed in the 5-7-5-7-7 poetic meter, the final 7-7 lines are repeated to make seven verses, which is why it was originally called “Shichikaibushi” (Seven-Repetition Song).

The character for ‘kai’ (repetition) was later replaced with the homophonous character meaning ‘stair’ or ‘level,’ resulting in the current name “Shichikaibushi” (Seven-Level Song).

It is an unusually structured and amusing song for a folk tune.

Bean-Grinding Song

Mamehiki-uta (Bean-Grinding Song) — Yamagata Folk Song — cover by Seikou

Mamehiki-uta is a work song that was sung when pulling bean stalks from the field or knocking the beans out of their pods.

It is also referred to as the weaving song of the Date region in Fukushima Prefecture.

However, at the East Japan Folk Song Competition held in 1950, Momosei Saito, a folk singer from Yamagata Prefecture, won first prize, and today it is regarded as a folk song of Yamagata.

Sakata Funakata-bushiKeiko Kawasaki

Sakata Funakata-bushi, Keiko Kawasaki

It is said that the Izumo-bushi, which originated around Shimane Prefecture, was brought to Sakata Port by sailors and passed down there.

That song later developed as the Sakata Funakata-bushi in Yamagata Prefecture and as the Akita Funakata-bushi in Akita Prefecture.

Accompanied by shamisen and sung lively, it is a rollicking drinking song.

The vocalist is Keiko Kawasaki.

Higashine SankaibushiIchimaru

Mikai-bushi (Ichimaru) 2

Higashine Sangaibushi is a folk song handed down mainly in Higashine City, Yamagata Prefecture, as well as the Kitamurayama and Nishimurayama regions.

It is an ozashiki celebratory song performed at festive occasions—such as New Year, harvests, and weddings—and was also sung by geisha as the first congratulatory song when invited to banquets.

It came to be called “Sangaibushi” because three verses form a set.

Rice Hulling SongSetsuko Sato

Rice Hulling Song (Satō Setsuko)

This is the “Momisuri Song,” sung by Setsuko Sato.

In 1932 (Showa 7), when the NHK Sendai Broadcasting Station planned to air Yamagata folk songs and tried to feature the Momisuri Song, they found no versions had survived.

They therefore asked Tohdan Ariumii, a folk singer from Yamagata City, to create it, and the “Momisuri Song” was born.

It is a parlor song based on the “Kaitsuki Song” found within the “Sake Brewing Songs.”