[Folk Songs of Yamagata] The Heart of Our Hometown Passed Down in Song: Feelings Woven into Nostalgic Melodies
Among the traditional songs passed down across Japan, Yamagata’s folk music possesses a uniquely moving charm.
In pieces like the Sagae Jinku and the Mogamigawa Boat Song, the daily life and culture of the region are woven into melodies filled with the pride and feelings of those who came before.
In this article, we introduce musical works Yamagata is proud of—from nursery songs sung since ancient times to folk tunes that continue to thrive today.
As you contemplate the tranquil landscapes of Yamagata, why not lend an ear to the world of its folk songs, where nostalgia and freshness coexist?
- [Yamagata Songs] Beloved local tunes and classic tracks celebrating majestic nature and hometown pride
- [Folk Songs of Yamagata] The Heart of Our Hometown Passed Down in Song: Feelings Woven into Nostalgic Melodies
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[Yamagata Folk Songs] The Heart of Our Hometown, Carried on Through Song: Feelings Woven into Nostalgic Melodies (41–50)
Yamagata Soba OndoEiko Hoshikawa
This is “Yamagata Soba Ondo,” sung by folk singer Eiko Hoshikawa.
It’s a relatively new song, created after the start of the Heisei era.
Noticing that there wasn’t a local song about soba, Ichiro Otaki wrote the lyrics, and Yoko Nagayama and Toshihide Hayabusa were commissioned to compose the music, bringing the piece to completion.
It’s said that if you visit soba shops in Yamagata Prefecture, you’ll find Eiko Hoshikawa’s CDs or posters in almost every store.
Sakata JinkuIshikawa Ie Miyokichi
Sakata Jinku is a lively drinking song from the geisha quarter, set against the backdrop of Sakata Port, which flourished from the late Edo period into the Meiji era.
It is said that the “Souja Omahenga-bushi,” a song that was popular in Edo, likely took root in this area as well.
Sakata is famous for its many rice warehouses, as it served as a distribution hub where rice from the Mogami River basin and the Shonai Plain was gathered.
The singer is Miyokichi Ishikawa.
Shinjō-bushiSaya Asakura
“Shinjō-bushi” is a lively drinking song that began being sung at the red-light district in Mamba-chō in 1873 (Meiji 6).
It originally came from a field-workers’ road song called “Kusakari Mago-uta” (Grass-Cutting Carter’s Song), which gradually changed as it was brought into Mamba-chō and transformed into a parlor song.
The singer is Saya Asakura, a singer-songwriter from Yamagata Prefecture.
In conclusion
In the heartwarming folk songs and nursery rhymes handed down in Yamagata, the feelings of the people who lived in those times are blended with the beauty of nature.
Why not take this opportunity to savor this lovely cultural gift, where rich scenery and simple singing voices intertwine?