[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?

Playlist

[Folk Songs of Yamagata] The Heart of Our Hometown Passed Down in Song: Feelings Woven into Nostalgic Melodies
	Title	Playlist	One point
1	My little knife.		Yamagata lullabies, healing in their gentle melodies.
2	Yamagata Bakuro-bushi		A Yamagata folk song that sings of a packhorse driver's feelings
3	Asahi Ondo		A local song that sings of young love with Mount Asahi as the backdrop
4	Okitama Otsu-e		A Yamagata folk Bon Odori song that brightens celebratory occasions.
5	Okitama Bon Odori Song		Bon Odori Songs of Okitama: The Spirit of Farm Work and the Soul of Hometown
6	Okitama Sake Brewer’s Rice-Washing Song		Sake brewery work songs of the Okitama region, the breath of the brewery workers
7	Chrysanthemums and Bellflowers		A dignified celebratory song from the Nagatoro region of Yamagata
8	Song for Celebrating a Bountiful Harvest		A Yamagata celebratory song praising a bountiful harvest, filled with joy and wistfulness
9	Yonezawa Obako		A folk song reflecting the scenery of Yonezawa, a melody of warm-hearted spirit
10	Backside macconokisa		The charm of heartwarming creative folk songs in the Yamagata dialect
11	Kakuma Harvesting Song		Yamagata’s brushwood-cutting song conveys the breath of nature and labor.
12	Yamagata Lumberjack Song		Yamagata’s lumberjack song, singing of the pride and joy of labor
13	I don’t like Shonai.		Yamagata’s Bon Odori folk song: a traditional performing art that connects hearts
14	Old Obako		The heart and emotion of Yamagata’s folk song, the Obako-bushi
15	Mogami River		Yamagata Prefectural Anthem: Deep Love and Pride for the Hometown
16	Hanagasa Ondo		The traditional dance of Hanagasa Ondo, a folk song from Yamagata
17	Agarashare		A Yamagata folk song, a celebratory song that sings of a sake feast
18	Mogami River Boat Song		The Mogami River Boat Song is a traditional folk song of Yamagata.
19	Safflower Picking Song		Drinking song of the Safflower Village, a folk song of Yamagata
20	Shonai Obako		A folk song whose dialect and melody from the Shonai region are captivating
21	Yonezawa Bon Uta		The Yonezawa Bon Song is a samurai dance from the era of Uesugi Kenshin.
22	red cherryYukiko Iwase		The Charm of Yamagata’s Children’s Song “Red Cherries”
23	Old Takahata Ondo		Passing down traditional folk songs through cosplay
24	Shichikaibushi		The Yamagata celebratory song 'Shichikai-bushi' is characterized by its repetition.
25	Bean-Grinding Song		The Mamehiki Song is a work song and a folk song from Yamagata Prefecture.
26	Sakata Funakata-bushiKeiko Kawasaki		A folk song passed down by sailors, sung at drinking gatherings.
27	Higashine SankaibushiIchimaru		A celebratory song from Yamagata, known for its three verses.
28	Rice Hulling SongSetsuko Sato		The Birth of the Yamagata Folk Song “Momisuri-uta”
29	Yamagata Tanto-bushiFumio Otsuka		Traditional straw-threshing songs that vary by region
30	Miuchi OndoIsao Hayashi, Kyoko Saito		The Ondo Born with the Birth of Miyauchicho
31	secret talkYoshiko Negishi, Keiko Tsutsuki		A nursery song that sings about children’s honest feelings
32	A town where snow fallsHideo Takashima		A moving song depicting a snowy town
33	Enya Makkagoe-n		Yamagata lullabies: diverse songs across regions
34	Daikoku Dance		Daikoku-mai is a traditional performing art in which people receive coins during the New Year.
35	New Hanagasa Ondo		Characteristics of the Yamagata folk song “Shin Hanagasa Ondo”
36	Mamurogawa Ondo		The Mamurogawa Ondo is a folk song brimming with the charm of Yamagata.
37	Stonecutting Song		The Yamagata stonecutting song has been passed down as a work song.
38	Hanazawa-bushi		From Yamagata folk songs: from work songs to parlor songs
39	Yamagata Bon SongKazuko Ito		Yamagata Bon Odori Songs: Tradition and Transmission
40	Shonai Haeya-bushiKame-taro Sato		Origins and Spread of Folk Songs Handed Down in the Shonai Region
41	Tsuyahime OndoYuki Nishio		Yuki Nishio’s song promoting Tsuyahime
42	Okitama shōgainai		Okitama Shōganai na, a celebratory song from Yamagata
43	Yamagata Soba OndoEiko Hoshikawa		Convey Yamagata’s soba culture through the Soba Ondo (soba folk song)
44	Sakata JinkuIshikawa Ie Miyokichi		A song sung in the geisha district of Sakata Port
45	Shinjō-bushiSaya Asakura		Shinjō-bushi is a brothel song that originated in Mamba-chō.